Well it does matter because square pegs in round holes don't work. 2 DMs who can't control the play when we have it didn't work last season and I can't see it working this season either. Bale, Lennon, Sigurdsson and VDV(to a lesser extent) are more direct players, they thrive off working off the ball until they have the space to take advantage. VDV is capable of good passes but it's not part of his natural game to play so deep. So how do we get the ball to our best attackers in the right areas without a playmaker sitting deeper? I thought Sandro and Parker would work to but frankly we were unable to control the tempo of the games and struggled to create chances because our best attackers ended up back to goal and outnumbered as we weren't able to open up teams. In other news AVB has already said that Gollum Ballbag was talking **** about Modric's transfer being delayed by our pursuit of a replacement.
Twitter goal record looks decent. That is the extent of my knowledge on him though. Lone front man capable?
Valencia are skint! Soldado would be a solution - he playes the sole striker in a 4-2-3-1, and is good for 15 goals a season in La Liga, although he doesn't create many goals in the way Ade (or Vucinic) do. However, he can't be habitually offside like Defoe is...can he?
HI PNP, that's your view not mine. I bet AVB goes with two holders against Toon, and I will back that call if he makes it. I expect Sandro and Livermore to play, obviously you could argue they are more than 'holders', but for purposes of this debate I'm seeing them as 'holding DMs'. To repeat, I think we have at least 6 mids in front of Hudd ATM, (including Parker) and possibly 7. It would be no surprise if Hudd is shipped out.
I'm saying it doesn't matter for all the reasons I've outlined. Basically Hudd won't be starting against toon, IMHO, so he can't influence the game much from the bench can he? After the Toon game, I'll see if I'm thinking more positively about Hudd's place in our team/squad.
I wouldn't expect Hudd to either as I don't think AVB sees him as fully fit yet and might opt for caution over creativity in a tough away game. I still think we're better off with a passer like Huddlestone next to a more defensive player like Parker than playing two defensive players who aren't great at linking up defence and attack, and I'd be surprised if AVB doesn't see it like that too. Anyhow I guess we'll just agree to disagree.
I get the feeling someone at Sky did something remarkably boneheaded... £35m = £35m â¬35m = £27m $35m = £23m Yup, they used the wrong currency when using a currency converter.
just seen an interview on ssn with AVB. didnt have a lot to say about modric, other than that levy is dealing with it. but did say that we will be getting another striker, as "2" is an unrealistic amount for a prem season. he also said that we'll be replacing modric with another midfielder and used the words "we'll look into that next week". So, looks like it'll be Ade, Defoe and Kane. - ridiculous considering Kane is unproven and a youngster. if we an injury to Ade, and Kane fails to show he's ready for the prem, and we're stuck with Defoe. total insanity. Top four is way out of our depth this season, even with a Modric replacement. Is levy really not going to learn from the Pav/Campbell/Bent scenario? unbelievable jeff.
Given how difficult it's been to get 1 striker in I wouldn't expect him to say he wants 2 strikers undermining our current strikers as well as setting a tough task that we might no be able to live up to in the final 2 weeks of the window. Not saying I'm right but you can understand why he'd give that answer even if it's not the truth.
I've been saying for a week we may have VDV in the striker's role at some point, like Spain did with Fabregas at the Euros. Coulibaly will feature one way or the other, at this rate!
just having him say "we will be getting a striker" is music to my ears. 2 would be great, but 1 is a must
As long as it doesn't mean Coulibaly and Lancaster get promoted to the first team. And, seriously, why haven't we flogged Obika yet? The lack of strikers is making me nervous, knowing he's lurking in the shadows!
Make of this what you will - http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/7995948/Moutinho-coy-over-future Moutinho has barely been on our radar for the past 3 weeks and now he's the one with the comments about his future? Sounds to me like it's a 'come and get me' almost - or is that just wishful thinking?
I suspect he is like most players in the portugal league, they don't want to p1ss off their team and fans but have a desire to move to a big league, the trouble for us is that porto seem to have their players tied up on long contracts and demand huge fees, they arent mugs!
Not quite sure what to make of this - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...am-transfers-raul-meireles-on-chelsea-1264867 It's probably paper BS - but if true then hmm *scratches head*
He's Portuguese, he plays for Chelsea and played for Porto, we need a new player in his position... classic join-the-dots journalism. Vague possibility that it's true, I guess, but not really a Levy signing, for me.
I wonder how long Avb united front with Levy on our constant net spend of 0 , when the team goes belly up. Never wanted him but Levy is giving him no chance, even to maintain our position. I feel very sorry for him as we may be his final nail in his career coffin.
I know what you're getting at SF, but I wouldnt be that brutal just yet. it's terrible how we've not got a balanced squad together for the start of the season (even if there were more additions to come) , but lets wait now and see what happens by august 31st. If we only used the modric money to "strengthen" then it's a total shambles. Modric's replacement will cost a massive chunk of that money, which leaves no cash for 2 strikers or a goalkeeper. I'll be furious if we don't spend any more than what we get for Modric. it's impossible to compete and it's unfair on AVB.
