Pav couldn't trap a bag of cement, is useless in the air, and has limited pace, other than that he would be perfect as a lone striker, reminds me of Bentner, goes through some awful form patches and then strikes gold for a few games, a reasonable player but will not take us to the next level.
Could Pav be the answer?
- Thread starter JerryGarcia
- Start date
With a brilliant 10 alongside him (a genuine deep-lying striker) and a philosophy of keeping the ball on the deck then yes, but that's probably true of Robbie Keane, too.
In European two-legged ties, we could do worse than Big Crouchy up top on his own.
In European two-legged ties, we could do worse than Big Crouchy up top on his own.
dontcallme
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I like Pav I just don't see him as a lone striker. He's good at attacking crosses and links up well with our other strikers at times but his holding up, pace and all round game isn't suited for a lone striker.
Defoe seems to score without help from his strike partner and although he isn't a typical lone striker he is the best suited from a bad bunch for the role.
I'm hoping to see Keane and Pav get a few games together next season.
Defoe seems to score without help from his strike partner and although he isn't a typical lone striker he is the best suited from a bad bunch for the role.
I'm hoping to see Keane and Pav get a few games together next season.
Spurs_Bear
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That has no relevance to anything though does it? As the manager of the national team Hiddink can only choose Russian players obviously, so him playing Pav up front on his own either shows poor decision making from 'one of the best managers in the world', or shows that the Russian striking options are even worse than Englands!
I think you've actually proved the point......seeing as Russia didn't qualify for the World Cup playing this tactic! Hardly the best advert!
Coyboy
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Crouch would be far better on his own, trouble is we would need a Frank Lampard to get 20 odd a season which will be harder to find than a number nine who works hard, holds the ball up, makes chances for others and scores enough for a team supposedly going for the title. His name is Drogba.
Hence, Chelsea won the league.
Hence, Chelsea won the league.
dontcallme
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True but I don't think Crouch would work well on his own up-front with our choice of midfielders.
mil1lion
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He does it for Russia, but international football is different. The centre backs in the EPL are generally more physical. I think he could do a job as a lone striker, but I wouldn't want to rely on him as the main man. He should be a squad player instead.
michaelden
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yip but you have just proved SS57 & company wrong so feel their wroth! ;-)
I can't see how anyone can say he doesn't put in a shift, make space around hin or hold up and link the the play better than the rest of our forwards. And then to boot they "forget" that he played upfront on his own admirably before.
I'm a yes
JerryGarcia
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I've not watched many Russia games so I can't comment but I do remember him being awesome at the Euros. I'd like to see him given a game up front on his own in one of our friendlies just to see what he's like with our current players.
I don't agree with the people who said he can't head the ball or hold it up and bring others into play. He's scored some great headers although he's no Les Ferdinand, but who is these days (apart from Les himself)? All I know is that Pav's goals played a vital part in us reaching fourth and he scored them under pressure when we needed them the most. He deserves a lot more respect than he gets.
Spurs_Bear
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:grin:....That is such a mythical thing....it has NEVER happened! Not once have we seen any indication of any of what you said from him, in 2 years!
JerryGarcia
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Ahhh, the old "won't take us to the next level" comment. It's normally reserved for Harry after he inherited it from Jol :grin:
Have Pav's goals not already play a big part in taking us to the next level then? The Champions League level.
JerryGarcia
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i don't think any of our current crop can do the lone striker role sufficiently well
hence harry's reluctance to play it doubtless
i've been hoping all summer for a new striker so we do have that option -
one month and a few, probably hectic, days to go
Time is ticking away alright, I would have hoped we'd have brought someone in by now so that they could have had most of the pre season with us.
As for Pav, I think I agree that he's better with a strike partner but I'd still like to see him given a chance if we don't bring in a better option.
Spurs_Bear
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That is a terrible cliche I have to admit.
But in answer to the last part, his goals played 'a' part but not a 'big' part, certainly no bigger than Keane or Crouch's goals even.
As usual he was most effective in the Cup.
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As has already been opined, I don't think any of our strikers could effectively play the lone role in a 451. I'd say the least worst would probably be Crouch but it's a moot point. As for Pavlyuchenko, he obviously has assets but overall I think he's an average premiership striker and I'll be surprised if he's still here when the window closes.
JerryGarcia
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Agreed, I wasn't suggesting he played more of a role than the others. It was the whole team that got us to fourth.
mil1lion
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It really depends on who we play though. There will be a number of games where we'll be camped in the opposition half. So we could play either Defoe or Pav as an out and out striker, because they'll have players close to them anyway. We'll also keep the ball along the ground and rely on the movement of players around them.
It's really the games where the team is stretched that we currently have a problem. Especially away from home and on bigger pitches. We don't always have midfielders close to the front man/men, and the defence are further back which lead to long balls forward.. Those are the games where we lack the quality of a lone striker, if not then we'd need 2 strikers.
So the pace in defence is just as important, because it could be the difference between whether the defence drops deep or plays closer to the halfway line. If we keep Walker in the squad, we'll have Walker, Bassong and King as 3 quick centre backs. So we could push the defence further forward and allow the midfield to link up front.
It also helps to have quick wide players. So we can afford to push forward, but still have the pace to get back if we get caught on the break. I'm not 100% convinced we really need a big powerful striker. He still needs strength in the Premier League, but not necesarily a Drogba type. Just a striker who is intelligent, makes clever runs and pulls defenders with him.
I think Pav can do this, but lacks consistency. Crouch already offers us a longer ball option. Defoe can play on the shoulder of the last defender. So for me, the missing link is a striker who makes himself available to play along the ground and get into the box when Lennon and Bale get past their fullbacks.
The best thing about the Keane and Berbatov partnership was their intelligence. The best thing about the Klinsmann and Keane partnership was their intelligence. We lack a bit of that up front now.
It's really the games where the team is stretched that we currently have a problem. Especially away from home and on bigger pitches. We don't always have midfielders close to the front man/men, and the defence are further back which lead to long balls forward.. Those are the games where we lack the quality of a lone striker, if not then we'd need 2 strikers.
So the pace in defence is just as important, because it could be the difference between whether the defence drops deep or plays closer to the halfway line. If we keep Walker in the squad, we'll have Walker, Bassong and King as 3 quick centre backs. So we could push the defence further forward and allow the midfield to link up front.
It also helps to have quick wide players. So we can afford to push forward, but still have the pace to get back if we get caught on the break. I'm not 100% convinced we really need a big powerful striker. He still needs strength in the Premier League, but not necesarily a Drogba type. Just a striker who is intelligent, makes clever runs and pulls defenders with him.
I think Pav can do this, but lacks consistency. Crouch already offers us a longer ball option. Defoe can play on the shoulder of the last defender. So for me, the missing link is a striker who makes himself available to play along the ground and get into the box when Lennon and Bale get past their fullbacks.
The best thing about the Keane and Berbatov partnership was their intelligence. The best thing about the Klinsmann and Keane partnership was their intelligence. We lack a bit of that up front now.
Gassin's finest
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I'm a yes, I think Pav could definately do a job as a lone striker, but only if he understands that you can't just hang around up top and expect the ball, you have to put the endeavour in to make it work. If Pav applied the work rate required then he more than has the ability to hold it up, create space etc.
But I agree in that ideally he's best with a partner who will drop off or go wide, allowing Pav to stay in and around the box where, let's be honest, he's lethal and can score from anything. Right, left, header, long range... he's got the lot when finding the net.
Personally, I really want Pav to stay. The only striker I would want us to replace is Keane, and that's only if he actually leaves.
But I agree in that ideally he's best with a partner who will drop off or go wide, allowing Pav to stay in and around the box where, let's be honest, he's lethal and can score from anything. Right, left, header, long range... he's got the lot when finding the net.
Personally, I really want Pav to stay. The only striker I would want us to replace is Keane, and that's only if he actually leaves.
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