Franco Vazquez

[Sweech]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/23/totte...or-palermo-midfielder-franco-vazquez-5116697/

http://m.bleacherreport.com/article...azquez-the-right-target-for-tottenham-hotspur

I know, Vazquez' teammate Dybala is all the rage this year, but on a cursory glance of Vazquez' stats he should be getting some attention too.

I'm not going to pretend I know much about players in the Italian league (because I dont) so I wanted to see what others thought. I also included what I found to be a surprisingly (for bleacher report) informative article on Vazquez.

To me I don't see it as he seems like he'd be playing in he crowded position we already will have with Eriksen/Pritchard/Dembele and doesn't have the pace we could use out wide.

I'm also pretty sure he just made his debut for Italy against England, did anyone see how he did?

 

[Blackcanary]

I really like him as a player and can definitely see why he would appeal to Poch - his work rate is fantastic and he has genuine creativity to his game. I think it would work if you play him down the middle and Eriksen out wide (where he's very effective). Agree that it's not really a 'must upgrade' position though, unless Poch wants to shift Dembele on.

 

[Sweech]

I really like him as a player and can definitely see why he would appeal to Poch - his work rate is fantastic and he has genuine creativity to his game. I think it would work if you play him down the middle and Eriksen out wide (where he's very effective). Agree that it's not really a 'must upgrade' position though, unless Poch wants to shift Dembele on.

If we shift Eriksen out wide we better have some real pace on the other side is the only thing I'm worried about.

I've considered Eriksen or Pritchard out wide so they can both be in the same team together, but again pace can be an issue.

 

[Dharmabum]

I still can't believe that some fans have yet to see, and understand, that Eriksen is NOT a WF but a typical playmaker - and it's in that position he's played his best games for Spurs.
It would be much rather see that Spurs spend money on a pacey RWF with ball skills and an eye for making goals and good in assists rather than put Eriksen there, who prefer to play as a CMF anyway...

 

[Sweech]

I still can't believe that some fans have yet to see, and understand, that Eriksen is NOT a WF but a typical playmaker - and it's in that postion he's played his best games for Spurs.
It would be much better if Spurs spend money on a pacey RWF with ball skills and an eye for making goals and good in assists rather than put Eriksen there who prefer to play as a CMF anyway...

I understand what you're saying, but the point is to put Eriksen out wide against certain teams to afford him the best space so that the team can get him the ball as often as possible. This is especially crucial against teams that like to pack the space between the lines. It's not even so much that Eriksen can't make plays in congested areas so much as it's hard for our other players to get him the ball in those areas. We've seen us try to use Dembele instead against those teams to mixed success, but I'd rather see Eriksen in the starting 11 anyway we can.

Same thing that's done to Muller with Bayern, although he's more of a poacher than a playmaker, but he doesn't have the standard winger skill set or athleticism, but putting him out wide can afford its own advantages.

This all being said the team clearly has a need for speed on the wings and his discussion does not supersede that.

 

[DaSpurs]

I understand what you're saying, but the point is to put Eriksen out wide against certain teams to afford him the best space so that the team can get him the ball as often as possible. This is especially crucial against teams that like to pack the space between the lines. It's not even so much that Eriksen can't make plays in congested areas so much as it's hard for our other players to get him the ball in those areas. We've seen us try to use Dembele instead against those teams to mixed success, but I'd rather see Eriksen in the starting 11 anyway we can.

Same thing that's done to Muller with Bayern, although he's more of a poacher than a playmaker, but he doesn't have the standard winger skill set or athleticism, but putting him out wide can afford its own advantages.

This all being said the team clearly has a need for speed on the wings and his discussion does not supersede that.

Spot on, Sweech.

We play Eriksen wide because we've played him in two high systems which congest his space and he's not got the zip to alleviate himself into space, and Sherwood played him wide because as he himself said we lacked a passer from deep who could get him the ball, so he put him wide since all we did was pass sideways anyway. And while he is "more effective" statistically out there under such circumstances, what those stats don't account for is the wide defensive hole it leaves for us. It doesn't account for things like how many times Ibe was given the ball in our recent trip to Anfield (27 fuckin times) and consequently was allowed to beat Rose to the tune of 5/6 times in one-on-ones alone.

More importantly, we have a desperate, copious, embarrassing need for pace. This player doesn't fulfill that need, and in fact we have been terrible about opening up space for ourselves in the congestion, hence I see this:

"In an analysis of Vazquez, ESPN FC's Nick Dorrington noted 'he can struggle when teams specifically focus on constricting space between the lines,' something Spurs have had issues with at times this season."

and instant reaction

That is about the last thing we need more of.

 

[PrettyColors]

Great player, and we could go on about his relative merits all day, but if we truly want more creativity in the side, a deep-lying playmaker is an absolute must. Mason and Bentaleb are great players with potential but a player like Cabaye (or one of his ilk) would be the most impactful signing we could make, even moreso than a budding star Depay in my opinion.

Tactically, we are too slow to release the ball from CM and lack the ability to utilize the little pace we do have.

 

[DaSpurs]

Great player, and we could go on about his relative merits all day, but if we truly want more creativity in the side, a deep-lying playmaker is an absolute must. Mason and Bentaleb are great players with potential but a player like Cabaye (or one of his ilk) would be the most impactful signing we could make, even moreso than a budding star Depay in my opinion.

Tactically, we are too slow to release the ball from CM and lack the ability to utilize the little pace we do have.

I agree, I still think we're heavily lacking a genuine playmaker and frankly the numeric (clearly not tactical) replacements for Modric didn't come close to filling the void. However, I like what Mason offers and think he can only improve, and I remain hopeful a continuing to grow in confidence Carroll can also become this kind of player for us.