How things change....

[pablo73]

A couple of years ago we had a midfield that was just not worthy of our strikeforce. The partnership between Berbatov and Keane was the envy of the Premiership and with Defoe and Bent in reserve the old cliche of "an embarrassment of riches" was impossible to deny. Our first choice midfield of Malbranque, Zokora, Jenas and Lennon was decent but clearly not in the same league.

Now, in my opinion, we have the reverse problem. Our strikeforce is not in anywhere near as good as our midfield. With VDV, Huddlestone, Bale & Modric, backed up by Lennon, Kranjcar, Jenas & Palacios, to name but a few, it's hard to think of a stronger midfield in English football. We have three decent, but very inconsistent, strikers, but not one outstanding one.

Impossible I know, but imagine what the Berbatov and Keane partnership of a couple of seasons ago would have done ahead of our current midfield. Challenged for the title I would say.

I guess this is a very long way round of saying all I want for Christmas is a new centre forward. Lets try and find one fit to tie the boots of our first choice midfield and I genuinely believe we could go from a very good team to a great one.

 

[camaj]

Exactly, except we still end up playing Huddlestone or Jenas.

Keane is probably the best striker we have but he needs time and patience to get back to his best but Harry clearly isn't prepared to give him that time and a lot of the fans clearly aren't pushing for that either. Then we have Pav who can be a consistent scorer and has the intelligence to break tough teams down, however it's almost the same story with him, he needs to be trusted enough to get on with it rather than dropped for a worse player if he goes a game without scoring.

Niavely I thought Pav and Defoe might start today, clearly I was wrong. I only saw MOTD but Crouch looked useless, his best chance managed to be wasted when he got his hand in the way of the ball and prevented it from dropping. One league goal all season (two if we count the tap in Skirtle robbed him of). Just not good enough.

 

[dvdhopeful]

I thought Crouch was decent today but I'm not going to start that debate again.

OP is absolutely right - I think the January transfer window will be vital for us and if there is a striker around that is available and 'Arry believes can make the difference, even if it means spending a little over the odds, I hope Danny will back him. Getting CL once is fantastic, but getting it year on year is what matters. If we can keep the lure of the CL alive, I genuinely believe we are only 2 players and a little injury luck away from genuine challengers.

It feels as though the old guard are changing or at least not the forces they were, we must make sure we are one of the new guard who take their place.

 

[StockSpur]

vdv has to play behind the lone striker, for speeds sake it has to be defoe, crouch on for the last 20 minutes, but the tactics have to suit the players on the pitch at the time.

 

[There's always next year]

vdv has to play behind the lone striker, for speeds sake it has to be defoe, crouch on for the last 20 minutes, but the tactics have to suit the players on the pitch at the time.

Defoe can stretch defences, but I'm not convinced he has the intelligence or strength to play as the lone striker.

Personally, I'd like to see him given the opportunity and maybe between now and January we can try it.

 

[MendD3]

Our keepers, defence and midfield is incredible imo, but upfront meh.

I agree Keane is our best striker, but will never get a long run out to get sharp and some form together, we need to now replace Keane and Pav for a world class player like Dzeko, use Defoe as an impact sub, cup game starter and cover for injuries plus when 442 is used. Crouch for Europe, they don't no how deal with him, whilst prem defenders do.

 

[DJS]

---------------Gomes---------------

Hutton--Dawson--King--Assou-Ekotto

--------Huddlestone--Modric---------

Lennon-------van der Vaart------Bale

--------------Benzema--------------


:hump:

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I'd be tempted to start Allen and Jordan up front till we can sign some decent forwards.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

---------------Gomes---------------

Hutton--Dawson--King--Assou-Ekotto

--------Huddlestone--Modric---------

Lennon-------van der Vaart------Bale

--------------Benzema--------------


:hump:

Perfect line-up, especially with an in-form Corluka and a fit again Woodgate offering some serious competition too.

 

[Coyboy]

There's no such thing as the perfect line up. That would do a job a lot of the time, but in many games we will need Palacios and/or Jenas. And God knows whether Benzema would come here or be any good.

 

[There's always next year]

There's no such thing as the perfect line up. That would do a job a lot of the time, but in many games we will need Palacios and/or Jenas. And God knows whether Benzema would come here or be any good.

Benzema looked pretty good for France v England the other week, although he was up against Jagielka and Lescott, so probably not a good gauge.

I will be surprised if Madrid allowed him to leave on loan considered the amount of money they spent. If they did, I would expect his wages might be beyond us.

 

[MendD3]

Fuck his wages, if we get someone like Benzema on LOAN it would surpass VDV signing as deal of the season!

 

[dvdhopeful]

Isn't Higuain injured for 2 months? Doubt they'd let Benzema leave if that is the case.