Yeah good point actually YV, we'll definitely need at least one more winger come to think of it. I read that Rodriguez's buy out clause was something like £24.5m (wish I could find the article and post it) and Porto would probably want something near to that if they were to sell. So yeah I suppose that could be spent on a striker but question is who? I'm still unsure over Damiao being this "top" striker some have said and I genuinely can't think of too many that we could attract, IF we got Champions League next year that'll of course boost chances of getting top players but I still find it hard to see a striker who's a genuine "upgrade". Maybe if City are looking to get rid of Dzeko we could put a cheeky bid in? Or also Mario Gomez? He's only started a handful due to an early season injury and Mandzukic's form so MAY BE he'd be interested in a move away? Villa could be another option... All these though would depend on Champions League I think.
Was only pulling your leg Roo. Everyone knows Lewandowski's destined for Stoke please log in to view this image
Regarding squad. - i was also going to put this in my reply but I got so carried away with my essay, that I forgot! I think the only issue with this 4-6-0 is that it would require a lot of coaching and training to master. it seems like it's much more of a "way of football" and i don't think you can just flick between this style and another. Therefore, I think you'd have to have the right kind of substitute too, as switching back to another formation might be messy in the sense that you'd never really master the original style. It seems like an art form, from what I've seen. But as usual, I could well be wrong! RE Ade, what he does, isn't anything major and it's certainly not very often, but it's the fact he's just... there. The opposition doesn't ignore him because he's there. They have to keep an eye on him, which essentially means that if/when he gets the ball, one of their players at least, has to do something him to deal with him, which means more space for bale. it's just little things and his presence that make that bit of difference. - You wouldn't get any of this (as little as it is) if there was no target man. But I agree, he's still bloody poor.
If anything I think he pulled Vermaelen into the direction of the pass But I suppose he could be credited with drawing him out of position... Still been **** though
as for strikers - I think we need to seriously consider someone who can head a ball. Our threat from set pieces has been lacking for so long. We've got players in the team who can shoot well, and we've got players who will set up opportunities for others. But we don't have any attacking players who can header a bloody ball! it's ridiculous when you think about it. Having that threat from the amount of set pieces we get, might actually have made the difference this season in some of our scorelines. 2-1's might have been 4-1's, for example. - That'd certainly help the goal difference, eh? A Mario Gomez style player is what we need IMO. powerful strike, will be in the right place at the right time for tap ins, can head the ball... and just a general "goal hanger".
That's what the summer would hopefully be for, getting them trainied and used to it with practice in matches (providing AVB even wants to do a 4-6-0 that is! ). As for Ade, yeah naturally defenders would need to still be on their toes but then the argument for taking him out and replacing him with say Rodriguez and going with the 4-6-0 would then no doubt result in teams focusing all efforts on stopping Bale, allowing Rodriguez and Lennon (plus help from others behind) to then capitalise on the space. PLUS lets not forget, the form Bale's in, the opposition could have the whole back 4 on him and I think he'd still find a way through and cause havoc! It's been breathtaking to watch him at times this season. Like I said previously all IF's and BUT's but we seem to building a team that could eventually suit such a formation.
To go back to the 4-6-0 formation, I cannot see spurs adopting this however, if we were too that does not mean a player like Ade or decent wingers as mentioned would not be good subs. Arsenal and more recently Barca have been found out playing teams who park the bus and hit them on the counter. This is essentially what we are doing now against alot of teams, as it means we can open them up. We are good at this game. What we struggle with is other teams doing it to us, which is where the 4-6-0 comes in. If they are not attacking we do not need two dm's, we could throw in another winger/floater such as a the mentioned rodriguez or Modric/siva type. I can't think of a better couple of teams to emulate than Madrid and Utd. Both play with wingers, both can counter very effectively and bot can control the game when necasary.
Its not easy to see all the time, but even the **** pundits have been commenting on his selfless runs in the channels. Ultimately in making those runs as a forward you hope whoever has the ball has seen you, and you receive the pass, but if you've dragged a defender and one of your team-mates exploits that space then fine, its just as productive.
I think that's luck more so than anything to be honest Notso, the likes of Bale (and Lennon as seen on Sunday) are working their socks off to get into scoring positions (probably because they can't rely on Ade!) and so they're in the right place at the right time, or maybe it's just the fact no one wants to pass to Ade anymore . There's been so many other aspects of his game that have been shocking though even if we give him a thumbs up for exploiting/ creating space - finishing for a start, to me a striker, especially a lone one, MUST be a good finisher and so far, he wouldn't hit a barn door. Then there's hold up play, his first touch has more often than not gone to opposition as has his passing. Then there's aerial threat, bar his header vs West Ham, how many times has he won headers from corners/ crosses or from when Hugo knocks it long? He's what, 6'3/ 6'4, he should be winning a fair few headers in my opinion. And then finally there's work rate, Ade has looked so laid back and uninterested it's infuriated me at times, when he also gets knocked down or knocks a shot/ pass wide, he either lays on the ground or sticks his hands on his hips for 5-10 seconds while the opposition are countering and leaves us short... It's not on.
To be fair to Adebayor on the header winning front, he's up there with Peter Crouch for the softest fouls being given against him. There was one against the Spammers where he was clearly pushed in the back and Webb still gave them a free-kick. He seems to have become too aware of this and now doesn't challenge strongly enough, which is annoying.
I agree with the main gist of being off form , **** spells happen, but I can't say I've seen disinterest. Bale is just as guilty of loafing around on the deck after a foul not being given (apart from W.Ham!)....lets have some consistancy please!
If you're an international coach I think there is a good case for picking your best 10 outfield players irrespective of their normal position and choosing tactics and formation to suit. If you are a club coach you also have the option to sign players to fill holes in the squad. But I still think it is more risky to spend 20m on a striker who may turn out to be as good as Giroud say when you can buy two or three good attacking midfielders for the same money
"In regards to Ade, he hasn't been running the channels, closing down defenders and for a guy of his height, he's barely won many aerial challenges. This is why I and many others so frustrated with him, I can live him being in a goal drought but his work rate attitude and general play has been shocking, it's pretty much like playing with 10 men with him on the pitch." SOS - Totally respect your opinion mate, but have to disagree. You only have to look at his movement for Bales goal on Sunday to see that. And I was watching his involvement throughout the game and he was pulling the CB's out to create the exact space that allows the runs from deep. He also chased across the park and closed down the keeper for the 65 mins or so that he was on. The guys is clearly not in the goal-scoring form of last season (and heaven knows we WILL need him to regain that at some point), but from what I have seen it is not from want of trying. So to criticise work rate and attitude isn't really fair.
A big attacker like Ade is also a valuable defender against the oppositions set pieces. Who does that in a team without such an attacker? For all his attributes I think you'll notice if Defoe plays instead of Ade that (1) we will be weaker defensively and (2) Bale's purple patch will slow down a bit - he needs someone ahead of him, I don't agree with what people say that he can do everything himself. Defoe will not be passing to him either!
That is a good point vimhawk, some teams we put out are short and Ade does help out at corners, not a reason to pick him, but something else thats a missed positive contribution, can't really rely on JD to get back to defend set pieces!
