Morning all! After two clean sheets on the bounce I was just wondering if people have changed their views about Vics value to the side. He's a tank and is only going to get better. Its no coincidence for me that we started leaking goals when he picked up his injury. I know he's had his fair share of critics on here but have you had your mind changed in the last two matches?
No. But only because I always thought he was a great buy. Saturday's match confirmed for me that we have some excellent central midfield players. Morgan has been a favourite of mine since he got to the club. The Morgan/Cork pairing seemed to be the business last season, and I confess I was unhappy that Cork found himself on the bench when Wanyama arrived. The fact that we appeared not to miss Morgan on Saturday showed how far we've come. Cork's form is a key factor, of course. So too the consistent strong performances of Steven Davies. If these two scored the goals that they should the press would be all over them. But you're right, Lamballana, he gives us something else - he makes us difficult to beat. In the last two games he played like a man who had recovered his form. The injury has obviously taken a big chunk out of his season. He bossed it against a very physical Villa team, and then showed real guile to go with the toughness against a genuinely good Everton team. In both games, I'd stopped having my heart in my mouth every time the ball went near him! I'm not sure how we would accommodate it, but seeing Wanyama/Schneiderlin/Cork playing together would be interesting. I still think that Lovren is our best buy; Osvaldo was clearly the worst. Vic is now really showing his worth and I for one can't wait to see a whole injury-free season from him
In truth Vic has had his good and bad games......The roll that he plays in the team is kinda unique to him I guess, so while others will try to emulate his roll he is a one off. His experience too at playing the exact roll he does play, also adds to that uniqueness, where as others, while not doing a bad job is not quite the same. (If that makes sense). So for me it is no surprise that we tend to be tighter when he is playing. All players have their good, bad and indifferent days as well as their outstanding ones it is the very nature of football. He does not deserve any more criticism than any of the others that play regularly. While some may be no better than average I am of the opinion that Vic is a grade higher and will more than prove his worth over time.
Agree with you there Beddy. I think the thing that I noticed about him against Everton is that he didn't lose possession in the way that he has before. I think some of the negativity is born of the fact that people will notice if he get his pocket picked several times or misplaces passes several times in a short time. A few more performances like the Everton game and he will look like as good a buy as Lovren.
I would still like to see Vic, Corky and Morgan start the game together and with JRod on the bench this is the time to have a look because you can't drop Stevie D as he is playing so well...have a look Boroc, Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Snidders, Victor, Corky, Davis, Lallana, Lambert A very solid team
Don't think I have criticised big Vic on this or any forum, have certainly not been overly impressed with his distribution and decision making at times but he does give us great options in midfield. If you read the Celtic boards before his arrival the same weaknesses in his game are discussed, but he's still young and will only get better. For me its great to see such competition with Morgan, Jack, big Vic, JWP and Steve Davis all jockeying for position?
He's being much more careful with possession now. He's trying less of the 40 yard through balls that he just can't do, and instead playing it safe most of the time - shown by how his passing accuracy has been over 90% against both Everton and Cardiff. That said, I've always been a big fan of his, everyone knows that, I'm just glad he's playing well now and winning some people over.
Beddy - no, not really as we have seen on Saturday with Vic sitting deep it gives the freedom to Corky to go forward and although he doesn't pose much of a direct goal threat his extra pressing higher up the pitch, his unending energy and quick passing would add real value This set up would be best suited when playing the top teams, everyone saw Chelsea simply out muscle us twice this season in the middle of the park and this set up would not be so easy to bully
I understand where you are coming from.........but you said it yourself....Corky isn't enough of a goal threat....Spider, Davis or Corky for that matter while very good players, lack that ability which we need badly.
The trick here is to hear from the people who have been very critical of him (LFF anywhere?) rather than some of us that would be tempted to come on the thread and say "no opinion change, always thought he was ace".
Can't judge him directly as not been to a game this season (because of my health), but he seems (looking from the outside) as a player who needs to play himself in. He got better after a couple of games when he first arrived and then needed to gain confidence again after injuries. A good run with no injuries and I'm sure we will see the best of him. Good that this is one area we have two equally good players...need that kind of cover LB, CB, GK and striker. Hope to be able to see them all in action for myself next season.
I have been hugely critical of him. I think he has been beyond poor much of the time. That said I thought he was excellent against Everton. The first thing, as Dan said above, is that he hardly gave the ball away at all. In this sense he looked like a different player. I have also been critical of his positional sense. At times he has just run around chasing the ball like a schoolboy. But again, there was no evidence of this in the Everton game. Whether or not he is better suited playing with Cork than Shneiderlin I don't know but its like I'm watching a different player. Of course he is a solid barrier and Fonte made some comments that suggests that he likes having him around. He certainly won a fair number of headers. It was also noticeable how much further forward he allowed Cork to play. Will we yet see a Cork goal this season? I'm not completely converted yet. If Cork is worth £3m then no way is he worth £12m. However, Everton have a decent team and Cork and Wanyama basically stopped their midfield from having any part in the game. Add that to Davis and Lallana's more creative stuff and you have a top class midfield. I hope they get two more chances to gel culminating in a demolition of Man Utd. I'm coming around. I really hope this squad will stay together for one more season. If Wanyama can continue in this vain there must be genuine hope that we can do even better next year.
How much is Cork worth? Surely not only 3 million. He is still young, English and a good EPL player. I think 8-10.
