Is he good enough? I can't make up my mind about this guy. Sometimes he holds the ball well and brings others in to the game, yet when played as a striker has one golden chance and comes close each time, but doesn't managed the final product. Today was a good example I think. He did his 'bit' for the team, hit the bar but certainly for a large part of the game was quite anonymous (or so I thought). How do the rest of you see him?
I like him personally. He brings more of that "Holt" quality upfront in his chasing of balls and closing of defenders. He even dips into the midfield to try and win it back and I like that. Him and Hooper seem to be at least showing some better understanding upfront and he does provide that focal point to get the ball up to. For me I think he is worth his place.
He is a bastard and we need that. Defenders know they have been in a game when they play against him and he sets things up for others.
I think he is very limited and has no pace or first touch. I suppose he does offer some physicality but does not win as many in the air as thought. Today he was knackered and Beccio should have been on much earlier.
I would rest him on Tuesday in favour of giving LB a real chance to put up or shut up ! I thought LB won nearly every header he had in the short time he was on and although we've not had the chance to see it yet due to his limited chances, at Leeds he clearly had an eye for goal, that is something I feel is missing from Elmanders game. But I don't think either will influence the mauling we're likely to get?
I guess the fact he is a regular starter for Sweden, playing a pivotal role alongside Ibrahimovich, means he must be absolute rubbish. Doesn't really matter if he lacks pace and first touch and can't head the ball, or come to think about it, do anything very well. Ibrahimovich just does it all on his own.
Fine, that's that cockroach of a thread stamped on from a great height because it doesn't fit in with his majesty's ideals - whose opinion shall we assassinate next robbie BTW, Thai's thread was entitled 'The Elmander debate' - so why the **** can't we have one?
To be honest Robbie ibrahamovic does pretty much do it on his own ! I'm not sure why the attack ? He's hardly set the world on fire this season & I dont think he was coming in for any stick either?
Robbie, just my opinion of Elamander. If you feel he is a quality centre forward that brings everything to the game then you are welcome to that view. I thought he was bought as a back up myself. He did really well though against Bury. And Sweden are a really class side with loads of striking options to choose from. Agree with Chippy about Becchio being better in the air but again just my opinion. Feel free to critique this view.
Oh and another view, I would think anyone playing next to Ibrohamovic should have a decent game. I suppose Old-man-ders closest challenger is Berg at Panathanikos or possibly a couple from Malmo or Gothenburg.Yep really blessed with quality strikers these Swedes. Do quite like Olsen though.
And just to clarify, I feel he does give his best and works hard with as I said, a physical presence, however I do not find him a particularly skilful player, or has a good first touch or any pace.as I say again, just my opinion.
Actually I would quite like , dare I say, Ola Tovenien instead of Elmander. Perhaps I am wrong about the Swedes.
He's clearly not fantastically gifted, but he seems an intelligent player. I think playing in a team which had cohesion and confidence he would do OK. The problem is the whole team, not any individual player. Their confidence is looking very fragile.
Surgeryman, I think your dismissal of his international credentials is a little unfair. He is consistently chosen ahead of Toivonen, and has managed to clock up 76 caps in an era that has included Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson. Perhaps these Swedes have been blessed with rather higher quality strikers than England?! Clearly he deserves a bit of credit. A 1 in 4 international strike rate isn't awful either. That said Elmander is coming to the end of his career and his PL form has often been questionable. Personally I think he is a useful backup, with some different attributes to the others, and his experience probably brings something to the pitch and to the dressing room. I'd like to see more of Bechio though.
Yeah I wonder why we bought a striker that was scoring for fun in the championship to warm our bench. What I have seen of Becciho I have thought good I would like to see him given a fair crack at the whip.
If his flick volley from the free-kick had gone in yesterday then I'm certain any thread about Elmander last night or today would be entirely different and people would be discussing how great he is. About an inch and a half, they're the kind of tiny margins we're talking about. (Feel free to add in your own "that's what the wife always says" joke here )
That's right,maybe a centimetre would have been enough to have diverted the flight path of the ball over the line,maybe a five degree angle over eight feet.Fortunately it didn't matter thanks to the two Hoo's.Great game by Wes BTW.I hope those who have predicted his demise take note.
Swedish Dave, just want to say your reply is exactly what this thread is supposed to be about. Debating Elmanders case with relevant points to put across another perspective yet I feel you have respected another's viewpoint. Munky is your real name Justin?
