I still don't get people's issue with Ruiz, we are a team that does not score enough or create enough and he is our most creative player with most assists last season so why drop him. Just watched the West Brom highlights and I know you can't judge somebody from 5 minutes but his movement looked great, he created the first Berbatov offside goal, he created the chance that Berbatov volleyed an inch over, he created the one on one where Myhill saved at Bebatov's feet and he started and almost finished the move when he hit the bar I know he's not great defensively but we would be worse off going forward big time
I agree. I've defended Ruiz a lot on these pages and I think that the good things he does are often overlooked. But team selection is getting complicated. The problem is where to put Ruiz and also accommodate our other attacking players. His ideal position is behind the main striker, but if Bent plays that's also the best place for Berbatov. Would you leave either of them out for Bryan? I think Bent has to play when fit - his tendency to play on the defender's shoulder and make runs stretches the play and creates space for those behind him, whereas Berba's instincts have him dropping deeper. There is a case for saying Bryan is a more natural partner for Bent than Berba is, but when all three are fit, that isn't likely to happen. The question is then one of team shape - will we make more chances with a 'proper' winger on the right, or with Ruiz drifting inside and looking to thread the ball through? The issue has been ducked with Bent's injury, and now with Bryan himself looking to be out for a spell, but when everyone is fit there are going to be some interesting selection dilemmas for Jol.
I totally agree and have been silently pondering this for a few weeks now. In an ideal world (and to quell my curiosity) I'd like to see us win the next 10 games (putting us safe from relegation), then Berba gets an in-growing toe nail (the perfect non-serious injury) that sees him ruled out for a fortnight - then we could see how Ruiz plays behind Bent! Just to add another quandary into this puzzle, do we know Taarabt's best position yet? I seem to recall him playing particularly well in the hole behind Cisse a couple of seasons ago. It's nice to have options. But ironically, we're in the opposite stable position from a few years back (after the great escape) when our back 5 played the entire season and we didn't really have a decent squad to rotate, make changes and try different formations. I'm still a massive Woy fan....hypothetically, i wonder what he would do with the current squad??
Plus I'll throw Kasami's name in the hat for that position if he gets a decent run and keeps improving! I honestly can't recall the last time we had this strength and depth in one position (it's just a shame that MJ wasn't this attentive regs the LB position)!
I agree with captain. Ruiz in the hole with bent stretching the defence would be fantastic. Unfortunately, as we all know, the chances of berbatov being dropped are very slim. To be fair to berbatov he did score 15 goals last season so he does justify his inclusion. Jol tends to like playing with width so with 2 wingers. Personally, I would love to see us play a 4 - 2 -3 - 1 with Parker and Diarra marshalling the back four and Tarrabt, berbatov and Ruiz or kaka or Kasami interchanging with bent up top.
I agree with you about Roy, but he'd probably sell (or never ever have signed) Ruiz, Bent, Berbatov, Taarabt and Kasami. He wasn't afraid of flair by any means - he signed Duff and Gera after all - but he wouldn't have found room for anyone who didn't work back for the team or who lacked positional discipline. that accounts for four of the five I mentioned. The exception is Bent who plays on the defender's shoulder, rather than Roy's preference of playing with his back to goal to hold things up. That's why Zamora was the perfect target man under Roy, but a square peg in a round hole under Jol.
I think Captain said it as it is. Ruiz has three main problems. Firstly he is too slow, secondly does not use his right foot and finally he does not understand his position. Last year he was playing in the hole behind Berba. He rarely made a move in the box and wasted his time in the middle. Gera was slow too but he was in the box scoring goals or creating chances. Ruiz did that in a couple of games last season and did well. Last Saturday he was on the right. He was leaving his position but as other said in separate threads and analysis the gap was covered by Kasami and Parker. Probably something that was worked in training. If he can't play the winger role, and he can't as he is slow, then is Jol to blame for using Kasami and Ruiz in the same team. Another analogy is Dempsey, he was leaving his position many times but was making runs in the box which saw him being the first scorer season before last. Finally, defensively. He is not even attempting to chase an opponent. When he does it, and he did it last Saturday, he can win the ball as he is technical player. Something like Dembele. He was a master on tracking the opponent and just taking the ball. Obviously I am not in part of his fan club but I think we can do without him. He has an opportunity last year to shine with the departure of D&D and Murphy. Now I believe it's time to give a chance to other players to prove themselves. I would never wish for him to be injured but maybe a good opportunity for Jol, himself and other players to push him to the next level.
I think FFC Madness misreads my position. I'm a fan of Ruiz, and I'm not trying to point out what's wrong with him. I'm just saying he's not a 'Roy' player. Actually, as Roy always liked his wingers to cut inside, maybe he would have more chance of making Roy's team than some of the others in my list.
Another hypothetical question; does anyone think Ruiz could amend his game and play the slightly deeper 'Danny Murphy' passing role? Granted he needs an extra second or 2 on the ball, but he might get a bit more time and space in the centre? Would he get clattered every time or could Parker and Boatang protect him?
Your last point is the main one for me Madness. We've talked before (as has Jol) about getting the balance right. We all know that the No.10 position (in modern parlance the man behind the striker) is one of the most coveted by PL teams and Jol has to decide on who that is at Fulham. Be it Bryan or Kasami or Taarabt behind Berbatov OR Berbatov behind Bent. What he must resist is continually playing more than one and people out of position. One major impact is that we lose a significant part of our offensive play that the fullbacks can offer. This has been particularly evident with Riether in the last three games. He's had to stay back because there is no cover in front; when he takes the ball forward there is nobody running beyond the opposing fullback or able/willing to take the ball and allow him to make the breaking run. Consequently we don't put enough pressure on the oppposition, make ourselves easy to defend against and the opposition invariably have a spare man as an outlet.
Im a Hammersmith Ender but think I must be watching a complete different player to you guys? The Ruiz I see gives the ball away for to often and due to his lack of physical presence gets knocked off the ball far far to easily. Yes he pulls off the off cracking pass but not that often and it doesn't go close to making up for his short comings. Ill double check I'm watching the right player at the Everton game as the one you guys describe sounds like a decent player.
i'm the same as the last post. i'm not sure he's good enough for the EPL. I was confident he'll be sold in Jan certainly if Jol's not here i think he'll go - thats another subject. Not sure we'll see him against Everton. Ruiz takes ages to get over the injuries, remember the ankle? On twitter he's saying its not as bad as first thought but still will keep him out.
Ruiz is certainly good enough for the epl even if he is not the star player we hoped he might be, the criticism that he gives the ball away to much is often down to the fact he is the one player trying a attacking forward creative pass! We lack creativity as it is without putting pressure on Ruiz to pass safely backwards cus he to scared of trying a forward pass that might not come off. Also technically he is the only player anywhere near on Berbatovs level. Selling him would be scandulous
I think most players play some misplaced passes in a game and get knocked off the ball. Is be interested to see his passing stats. It might just be that he's passing more than anyone else. Law of averages means he will miss some. I'm reminded of a quote about basketball player Shaw Oneill and his free throw points ratio but I can't remember the details. Similar to my point about Ruiz passing more often. I think.
This link gives you some basic stats about shots on target, shots in total, etc, but nothing on pass accuracy, although OPTA will be able to supply that it's not something that we can just go on their website and get. Interesting that last year he had 53 shots but only 20 were actually on target - I guess that means forced the keeper to make a save. For an attacking midfielder less than 1 per match doesn't seem too good, but depending on the role he was being asked to play in a game would have an effect on his ability to get a shot off on target. If he's shooting from a way out the chances are it will go astray What is very telling is that in his big season in Holland he scored 24 goals from 24 shots of which 24 were on target. Now, either this is wrong or the Dutch goalkeeps were awful because he has more than doubled his shots since joining us yet his goalscoring has dropped by a massive 92%. http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/137779/bryan-ruiz?cc=5739
Here is another link - this one shows Bryan having a 78.9% passing success rate. http://www.whoscored.com/Statistics As you'll see he is listed as No. 649 in the ranking of players. Ahead of him at Fulham are Aaron Hughes (No. 289) and perhaps significantly, Pajtim Kasami (No. 306).
It's so frustrating to watch him loose the ball by either an opponent tackling him or when he is knocked off the ball by the slightest of physical contact. I get the argument about him giving the ball away because he is looking for an opening but when he isn't he still gives the ball away cheaply. Despite his constantly poor performances Jol persists in starting him and trying to accommodate him. We'd he better sticking a Bryan shirt on the MJ statue and playing that in Ruiz position. It would still give the ball away loads but at least it wouldn't be knocked over by the lightest breeze from the Thames! Like C-Craven I hope he goes in January as the team will be better without him.
I wonder if Jol would continue to do this if he had got Ruiz on a free transfer? Dropping him would almost be an admission that he made a mistake and spunked £10m up the wall. I still think Ruiz can still come good. He just needs a bit of reassurance and confidence. Plus if he keeps starting, there's a better chance of selling him in Jan and recouping some of his transfer fee.
Just for the record, Bryan's contract ends summer 2015 with an option for a further year. Still a decent amount of time left therefore if we do put him up for sale.
Well he's injured now, so we'll smash Chelsea on Saturday, yes? Like we smashed Sunderland and Burton without him at the beginning of the season, right?
