Could Pav be the answer?

[JerryGarcia]

Could Pav be the answer to our need for a lone striker? I'm trying to think of games where he's played up front on his own and been the main man and I'm finding it hard to think of any. I admit, as much as I like the guy, he never really convinced me that he was a top striker but if he stays with us then this will be his third season in England and he should be fully settled. I just have a feeling that in a 4-2-3-1 he could score a lot of goals if he gets the required service.

What do the rest of you think? It all depends on the formation that Harry uses but could he do the job to a high enough level?

 

[LukaMotion]

I don't think any of our current crop of striker could play up top alone to a high enough standard.

Pav is probably the least capable of doing this in my eyes, as at least with JD and Keano they would be making runs and drawing defenders out of position allowing the midfielders to exploit the space, and with crouchy he can hold the ball up sometimes and bring the midfielders into play.

Pav, for me, needs another forward to play off of and link with.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I think he'd be better on his own than Defoe and Keane and with Harry's belief in him from the start of the season he could be better than we have seen from him so far. The three behind him would obviously need to do a lot of work as well and get forward so he's not left out of the game. If we had Modric, Ozil (dream land) and Lennon pushing up then I'm sure he'd do well.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

The simple answer to the question posed is no. No. No.

No.

 

[SpurSince57]

No.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

He's the most capable player we have of doing that #9 role, but he doesn't have the physical presence or hold-up play to do it.

 

[SpurSince57]

He's the most capable player we have of doing that #9 role, but he doesn't have the physical presence or hold-up play to do it.

So, no.

Not the brightest of evaluations, really.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

He's the most capable player we have of doing that #9 role, but he doesn't have the physical presence or hold-up play to do it.

If he possesses none of said skills (which I agree with), how does that make him the most capable?

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

If he possesses none of said skills (which I agree with), how does that make him the most capable?

Because he's more capable than Keane, Defoe and Crouch. Best of a bad lot.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I don't think he'd be as bad as you all think but don't get me wrong, I hope we bring someone else in too. If we don't sign another striker though, for me he did enough last season to warrant our full support and I'm sure he could reach 20 goals if he was a regular starter.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Because he's more capable than Keane, Defoe and Crouch. Best of a bad lot.

More opinion as fact then with nothing to back it up. Pretty standard.

Pav has nothing that the others don't have, and I include Keane in that. So if none of them have what it takes to be this 'number 9'....I still fail to see how he is most capable?

Just trying to see things from the DA point of view for a change.

If the original question had been something along the lines of 'Leeds are looking for a replacement for Beckford to ignite their Championship charge, should they go after Pav?'.......then the answer might have been 'yes'.

 

[Spurger King]

I'd be happy to see Pav get another season with us (and maybe alongside Defoe he could do well), but in answer to your question, no he wouldn't be any good as a lone striker.

He doesn't have the aerial ability, or the hold-up play. Right now I'd say Crouch is the most suited as a lone striker, which pretty much underlines exactly why we need a decent number 9 to join us in this window.

 

[spurs2986]

Now before you watch this just imagine ITK have dropped the bomb that we are after a hot-shot number 9 called Roman Pokerchenko you've never seen him before whats your assesment in terms of the no 9 everyone is calling for?

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[kcmei]

no

 

[LukaMotion]

Basing a footballing opinion of a player from a youtube video is about as accurate as from football manager.

Still, saying that, even in this vid he still looks like a player that scores by being in the right place at the right time, not one that holds the ball up and brings others into play.

Most of his goals come from moving slyly into position when the defenders not paying attention, and he finishes well from 12 yards out. I still think he needs another forward to play off of otherwise he tends to get a bit dejected and misses what opportunities come his way.

Just so people don't think i'm bashing pav here, I firmly want him to stay at the club next year as i rate him, just not as a lone striker, and luckily for us, i don't think Harry does either.

 

[Spurger King]

Now before you watch this just imagine ITK have dropped the bomb that we are after a hot-shot number 9 called Roman Pokerchenko you've never seen him before whats your assesment in terms of the no 9 everyone is calling for?

Well firstly I'd be wondering why I'd never noticed him playing in a Spurs shirt at White Hart Lane :wink:.

I see your point to an extent, but I've seen highlight videos of Jenas that would have the uninitiated claiming he was the new Zidane (or the old Taarabt maybe?).

That video doesn't show how he would cope upfront on his own, it doesn't show him bringing others into play, and it doesn't show his worst performances.

I like Pav. I think he showed a huge amount of character to come through for us the way he did when he was given his chance, and I'd like to see him stay and be given more opportunities. But JerryGarcia posed a sensible question about whether he could cope as the lone striker, and I don't think any video evidence would support this.

 

[mpickard2087]

Im willing to be optimistic and say it could work. You would have to accept that his work rate would leave a lot to be desired but with Bale and Lennon on either flank providing constant width he may not have to drift wide often and leaves him to do his job of scoring goals.

 

[beats1]

More opinion as fact then with nothing to back it up. Pretty standard.

Pav has nothing that the others don't have, and I include Keane in that. So if none of them have what it takes to be this 'number 9'....I still fail to see how he is most capable?

I shocked at the amount of people that said no and if anyone has seen russia play they would know that hiddink has played him there quiet a bit, and he is one the best managers in the world

Hiddink would play him up front, then at around 60 mins if remember correctly bring on Pogrebnyak or sometimes pav would play the last 30 mins upfront by himself even when they were losing, so that arshavin would behind him

 

[fridgemagnet]

Could that Hulk fella from Porto be the answer, he seems to have vanished off the radar but i remember him being big powerful and quick.

 

[nickspurs]

So, no.

Not the brightest of evaluations, really.

classy, really classy.