Maybe AVB/Levy/Baldy have seen a trend over the last few years where we tend to rely heavily on a small number of players (or just 1) for our creativity and the end result is them leaving and screwing us: Berba, Modric, VdV, Bale(???) So now we're going for a total-football approach to creativity.
I completely agree with you on Sig. I also see what you're saying regarding being assured about our options in that creative role, as we have plenty of effective yet very similar players at the club. I just feel that Holtby has a lot going for him and to not back him now when he's only been at the club for half a season would feel a little harsh from the management, when they clearly rated him strongly enough in January to bring him in early from Schalke. I am of the opinion that if he was given the responsibility for the no.10 position, or as the creator in a 4-3-3 as may be more likely, then he would deliver for us. How that would fit in with Bale roaming around would remain to be seen of course as he likes to crop up in the middle and that may leave us light on the left. I can see why you're skeptical on the matter, I guess thats just a difference of opinion and that is fine by me If we bought in a player like Eriksen to play that role then I would hardly complain of course! But unless we sell Holtby or Sig I don't think its going to happen, and IMO those two players are here to stay this year. Unless AVB is considering Holtby to play a lot deeper and replace Hudd if/when he is sold in which case we may need that extra player. But again how do we keep all these midfielders happy?
I'm just pleased he didn't continue the stripes from his eyebrows into it. Wouldn't have surprised me if he did.
he needs more hair on his upper lip. There is a bit, but its not enough and it looks like there is none there when compared to his lucious beard.
I would not be surprised in the slightest if Sig is sold. - remember he was nearly sold to reading in Jan for £10-12m. Like i've said, I don't want him to go, but I can see AVB thinking that he's not quite clicked (a bit like dempsey) and if he can get decent money for him, he could be replaced with an "upgrade". Holtby definitely won't be. But we have to bear in mind he's had no preseason. We saw the impact of this with the likes of Adebayor and Dempsey. - That is something we must consider with Holtby too. I think i've made my opinion clear, I just hope we get it right. I don't think I can take another season of frustrating midfield play that is completely lacking ideas or a spark. We made that mistake last season, let's hope it doesn't repeat itself.
Apparently, since getting rid of his "go faster stripes", Aaron Lenon's speed has decreased by 1/10th of a second over 60metres. #RooFacts
Holtby has become the forgotten man and considering how rarely he was used last year and hasn't featured at all in pre season (unless injured) its likely he was only signed last year because he was cheap and AVB probably never heard of the player until he arrived. If Holtby is to show the ability he showed agaisnt Norwich (and only norwich) wasn't a fluke, then he would need a run of games in his best position yet looking at our current midfield options, at best he will be thrown on as a sub or given the odd start, therefore I can't see any future at the club.
Good points BB. I must admit thoughts like this have crossed my mind, and the Madrid story didn't ease them. IF he has passed his medical, there should be an announcement by now, unless of course, as you indicate, he hasn't signed, and it isn't 'done'.
Hi Roo, I disagree. I think they've been announced faster than normal, or certainly at the same speed. Take Soldado, for example. That was announced quickly, indeed as the OS claim all deals are announced quickly. At one time I think we tended to wait for medicals, but we announced this before the medical. Similarly with Chadli, the deal was announced before it was 'tied up', so the deals haven't bee been slow to be announced at all AFAIK. In fact they've been faster out of the blocks than they used to be. So why is this one 'so slow?' Because, IMO, and I agree with BB's thinking here, the deal hasn't been 'done' yet, and it may be because of the reasons indicated by BB.
Sorry, I meant that the time between the agreement and the medical being passed seems to have taken ages in this window. The Soldado agreement was reached/announced days before the passing of the medical. I've never known it take that long between the two in the past. Perhaps you're right. Maybe there's still bits to tie up. That was also the same with Soldado and some final negotiations with agents made it drag out longer. It does seem strange that he was having photo's taken with Spurs fans at WHL on Saturday though. - Don't ya think?! IMO, it's just something small that needs ironing out, but until it's sorted, there wont be an official announcement.
Hi Roo, I hope you're right, but the club have been very keen to 'jump the gun' this season, doubtless because of ITK and the rest of it. That they haven't with this, and given he was at the Lane, to me it means he hasn't signed. Something is holding this up. It may be something small, as you say. It may be he/his agent/whoever/ is playing us like Cardiff. If I hadn't seen Captain Daws walk out on Saturday, I'd be pretty frantic about it at this stage. But given Daws should play and Kab has a very good chance, I'm not so worried. I'll still feel a whole lot better if/when the OS announce the deal though.
I don't know about Holtby being a forgotten man Boss, I believe he has been injured which would explain his recent absence. He was on the Asia tour so he must have picked it up there. I would be very surprised if he was sold, I don't think he was a Levy signing because AVB was settled in by January and therefore would be having a say at that point. I agree with you regarding the lack of opportunities though, he may find it difficult to break into the starting XI unless he grasps his chances fully when they come his way.
Don't get me wrong, I can see potential in Holtby but he won't play behind the striker as in the CAM role, ideally his best role is a deep laying centre mid, but that area is congested with our recent signings and last year we was so desperate for a spark of creativity, AVB called upon Hudd, who has zero future at the Lane. Take Dembele, he is 1st choice, yet aside from that first half agaisnt Man Utd, has he truly been outstanding? rather hit and miss I would say and he plays every game hes fit, yet a player like Holtby won't be allowed the same chance to bed into the team, and I just can't see how he can force himself into the team unless there is an injury crisis and he performs as he did agaisnt norwich away.
Dembele is excellent when he does what he does well - ie go past players using his power and technique. It is when he doesn't manage to impose himself in this way that his limitations are exposed, he doesn't pass outstandingly well and he's never going to be a proper playmaker and this is even more glaringly obvious when he stops going on his runs forward. Unfortunately we saw this all too often last year. We're crying out for a proper playmaker, which is why I slightly questioned Paulinho's signing as although he is clearly a talented footballer, he is another similar player to Sandro and Dembele who will be expecting to start more often than not. I think he will be a good signing but he probably won't solve one of the two most glaring problems in the team, which is the lack of a true playmaker like Modric. And as you say although Holtby could potentially be the answer to this problem given a run of games to hit form, it is looking unlikely that that will happen right now.
Yes Dembele has some superb qualities but overall for me he hasn't shown enough, and one of the reasons last year Bale was so good through the centre was because Dembele was scared to go forward and essentially was just feeding Bale, but as you say and to be honest a few of us have been saying it for ages, he isn't a playmaker and we're crying out for a central player who can create, keep the ball, pick a pass and drive forward. Paulininho is a player we have only seen play at international level and none of us truly know what hes capable of, so personally I'll keep quiet on the guy until I see him perform in the league and what positions he takes up, and how he interacts with other players but its clear he will be a goal threat, which is much needed. Also, the system I expect we will play, a variation of 4-2-3-1 needs that VDV player in behind the striker, but instead we opted to use Bale in a free role, so possibly AVB doesn't want a VDV or someone inbetween as in his mind Bale is going to fill that role, but we all know Bale is a direct/quick burst player and because of that we need someone behind with some guile and vision which is why you would think on paper Holtby could be that man, yet aside from that Norwich game he has done nothing, so he has to improve if he wants to fight for a place.
