Surely if it's a choice between playing 32 year old CF Defoe on the left or right of a front three, or 27 year old speed merchant Lens then it would be madness to choose Defoe? Regardless of where Lens has played before Dick has to work with what he's got.
I agree mate, I've always maintained we aren't and will not get the best out of Defoe by not using him as our main striker. You can visibly see the frustration from time to time with him being played there. Play him as our main striker and I think he's got another 2 seasons in him of pushing 15 goals.
Exactly mate, he's a poacher not a fitness freak bombing up and down the wing for 90 minutes. I think him and Lens could link up well, I'm picturing Lens beating his man and sliding a ball on the ground into the near post or centre for Defoe to tap in.
If lens isn't up front I think he'll be on the right. I've researched like **** only found two instances of Dick playing him the Left. Whether he doesn't rate him as an inverted forward or what I don't know. One think is for certain though, Lens' most productive football has come under Dick so what ever he wants to do with him I expect him to get the best out of him.
I can't wait to see Lens in action for us, I think he's going to be great. I'll bow down to your knowledge regarding where he plays, he looks fairly two footed from what I've seen but generally speaking I like to see pacey right footed players on the right and vice versa. Cutting inside every time gets very predictable. We've been crying out for one or two genuine class players to make something happen and we've got it in Lens I believe. Can't wait for the season to start.
Depends for me the inverted forward diffinatly has a role to play in dicks systems. Dick loves his 443 and variates the front three it like **** depending on who he's playing. He plays the tight front three. CF---CF---CF The stretched front three RF--------------CF--------------LF the two up with support striker SS CF-----------CF and the out and out striker CF-----------CF ST Just depends on his options for these potions and what sort of Midfield options he has behind him. Very interesting season a head of us. Gus was two dimensional and predictable to the point of boring. Dick is neither.
