I don't think pedro will work in the prem there. I'm not even sure if firmino will. If you said ok... we are going to play 4-2-3-1 and coutinho pedro and firmino will play behind X sure thats great... but we are more likely to be 4-3-3 with the midfield we have so I see him as an extra guy to add to the list. the striker is the main thing. there must be someoone who can stretch a defense out there for us.
I don't for the record think its too easy to create changes when we run away from goal and allow sides jsut to pack their half snd shut down our creative players. my three issues are: 1. gk can't sweep 2. CBs want to play deep 3. no striker running in behind forcing opposition deeper points 1 and 2 will not be addressed this season. Point 3 must be.
That's just an assumption due to the way Villa play. Until we see how he trains/plays with the team we shouldn't just assume that he's only good as a big target man. He's got more to his game than the traditional target men, so to just say he wouldn't be in tune is a bit flippant. For all we know he could fit infront of those 2 like a dream. He certainly wouldn't be my first choice and I would take Pedro over him, but to dismiss his ability to link up with Firmino and Coutinho without them ever playing or training together is slightly harsh
Benteke could turn out to be very good for all I know. But he was practically anonymous at Villa last season until Timmy came in and started lumping balls to him, and only then did he start to thrive. I've also seen him play for Belgium who are more technical and again, he struggles. For potentially £25m, it's a big risk to see if he can adapt to our style and existing players. For that much, we should know exactly what we're getting.
Surely it would make more sense to look at Benteke whilst Lambert was manager since he tried to get Villa playing football.
Get rid of Skrtel and we will see a naturally higher line IMO. I maintain midfield is still a problem - if we have Can as a DM, with Hendo and Milner ahead, then it's strong physically and workman like but it lacks drive and ability to carry the ball (bar Can). Get a solid DM and it protects the defence, and allows us to play Can and may Coutinho deeper who can then drive forward without worrying about covering space.
True but bar his one good season, he has struggled since. It sounds harsh to discredit a good season but the point of doing so is that a lot of strikers have had 1 good season. Michu, Ricketts spring to mind.
A jedi should control his feelings... That's true... apparently Enrique likes him but I imagine it's the second. Seems like they wouldn't mind keeping him or losing him too much. With Turan in now and probably someone else with the presidential election always bringing big signings... it's not too unlikely they'll look to shift him while they can.
I agree about a DM but following your thought pattern, if we were to get a recognised DM, we'd need to buy two new CMs to play in front of them too. AKA; change the whole midfield.
How does every one think Firmino would do in CM? I ask this becauseCoutinho said in an interview tat Rodgers saw him as a CM. But when Coutinho started the season in CM he struggled and got replaced by Allen. That was Rodgers plan for the season instantly down the pan. Maybe Rodgers still has that plan in mind. I doubt it, but maybe.
Think it's a pity we weren't in for Alderweireld last year or this summer. Good player... a class above Southampton and could be a real success somewhere. Spurs will be a lot more fluid at the back with him beside Vertonghen.
yup turan singing is ridiculous. turan and pedro = one and the same so i don't see why the F barca did that bar the outgoing guy showing he can.
terrible. he's a forward use him as such. the english prem is rough and tumble. he'd be lost in there. Rodgers is a spoofer though. coutinho at cm is just silly talk from him.
decent player but we were unsure as he was technically limited. how does it improve spuds btw? not really does it?
Coutinho played CM in the 3-2 vs City didn't he? He had a brilliant time linking things up and pressing... and his goal obviously Though by that stage our tactic was pretty much all out attack. Not a long term solution and wastes Coutinho. EDIT: Would disagree on Alderweireld think he's a very tidy CB. Would improve on Skrtel here and whoever plays beside Vertonghen at Spurs. Not saying he's brilliant mind. But worth having.
We can move Can into central midfield as one option. And as critical as I have been on Henderson, he won't have to do Gerrard's running now which means he can focus on his offensive game - it will be interesting to see how he copes. It also allows Coutinho to start in a deeper position. @MITO - agreed but when I say carry the ball, I don't mean carry 60-70 yards. Coutinho is brilliant at receiving the ball, turning and beating a man thus creating space. Unless we have Barca-esque technical players, playing by just passing alone won't work.
erm....... that was a different era.... two fit strikers and a stelring who was bothered. do that on any given sunday as it were and he'll get blown off it.
