do you want us to sign David Bentley?

[silverlining]

Originally Posted by Paul

When I talk about pace being a prerequisite, I've maybe not been clear enough. I don't for one second believe that every player in the team needs to Henry-fast; what they must not be though, is Kuyt/Pennant/Finnan/Aurelio/Alonso/Voronin/Crouch/Riise/etc slow. We can afford to carry two or three less mobile players, but when you've only got three players with genuine pace in your entire squad, then that's a problem. Adding more of the same will not resolve that problem. From what I've seen of Bentley, he's pedestrian over more than three to five yards.

Why did Benitez take so long to work out the importance of pace? And has ANY manager bought so many pedestrian players?

Alonso, Crouch, Pennant, Morientes, Garcia, Kuyt, Josemi, Pellegrino, Aurelio, Zenden, it's fucking astonishing.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by silverlining

Why did Benitez take so long to work out the importance of pace? And has ANY manager bought so many pedestrian players?

Alonso, Crouch, Pennant, Morientes, Garcia, Kuyt, Josemi, Pellegrino, Aurelio, Zenden, it's fucking astonishing.

I reckon he initially believed that he could out-think the managers who use pace all the time as an alternative to paying the premium pace adds to a transfer fee. I hope he now knows he can't (not over an entire season, at least).

[TK421]

Pace is only useful if it is allied to decent technique in my view. Henry had great pace and technique which is what made him so dangerous, but then you have players like Cissé and Rommedahl who are lightening quick but not very good on the ball.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by TK421

Pace is only useful if it is allied to decent technique in my view. Henry had great pace and tecnhique which is what made him so dangerous, but then you have players like Cisse and Rommedahl who are lightening quick but not very good on the ball.

Well, d'uh. And, like, obviously.

*Tries to think of a few more patronising put downs.*

*Struggles.*

Div.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by TK421

Pace is only useful if it is allied to decent technique in my view. Henry had great pace and technique which is what made him so dangerous, but then you have players like Cissé and Rommedahl who are lightening quick but not very good on the ball.

Correct. The best players in the world are the ones who have both pace and technique as well though, generally, so I think we need to be looking for a combination of the two if it's possible.

Bentley is just another random average English player who would choke at a big club. I'm amazed that anybody actually wants us to sign him, because the mistakes and lessons to be learnt are there for all to see.

[Stu Monty]

Originally Posted by silverlining

I'd be very interested to know if there was any question that you couldn't satisfactorily answer with "attacking fullbacks"

q: How does one effectively accommodate the tribal nature of Iraq politics within the fundamental tenets of democracy?

a: with attacking full-backs.

Fuck me, it works!

Dammit. I really want to think silverling is just a nailed on cunt for annoying me when he is disagreeing with me (and being blatantly wrong) but when he's being a cunt to other people I end up laughing my bollocks off.

[spider-neil]

for me obviously if a player has pace this is a bonus, there are certain positions you can get away with slow players but every single position in a team can benifit if the player is quick.

if you have pace in the back line your defense can hold a higher line.
if you have pace at fullback your fullbacks can attack more and have the pace to get back and defend.
if you have pace in attack you can hit the ball over the top.

the closer to goal you get the more you can get away without pace 'as long' as you are quick over the first five yards on the ground (fowler) or in your head i.e. kenny

now obviously in an ideal world I would want someone like robinho someone who is absolutely jet heeled AND clever but players that like cost a fortune because they are like gold dust, so what do you do? you inject pace into other areas, you purchase players that are lighthing quick to provide the service from a deeper area because even world class fullbacks are going to be far more getable than above average wingers, then pace in the wide area because less of an issue because the winger doesn't have to provide the width so they are pushed closer to goal and when you are in around the penalty box its less about pace and more about brains.

THIS is why I want bentley but lets be clear here I ALSO want alves otherwise buying bentley is POINTLESS.

[Section_31]

Not arsed really, squad player with 'potential' and I've seen enough of them to last a lifetime.

[westderbian]

Nah, don't need another squad player. Next.

[PaulMcC]

Not sure at all. I think he's good technique, crossing and set plays.

Think i'd want someone quicker.

[Rashid]

Neil I am sick of your use of capital letters... but then starting sentences with undercase.. sort it fella.

[TheViper]

I'm a bit late on the Pires talk, but he is exactly the type of player we need. He wasn't as good as he was just by playing with henry and cole - his movement and awareness were superb, and his first touch better than anyone i have have seen with the exception of Zidane. Scored so many big goals to - exactly what our wingers and others (bar gerrard and torres) don't. Of course playing with good full backs and henry helps, but he would still have been mint otherwise. And he was fucking quick for the record, remember him rinsing gerrard on numerous occassions. Bentley is a good player as he is skillful, a good passer and is intelligent - but I he isn't quick enough to play on the right in our current system (if i'm talking from where we really want to be), even with a fast right back. However, this is not a perfect world and he is much better than pennant or dirk (as expected given dirk is a striker not a damn winger). So while he would improve the team, Blackburn would want too much cash for him so I don't think it would be sensible to buy him. Will be interesting to see how he does tonight against the french.

[PaddyBerger15]

Originally Posted by Stu Monty

He also had, by quite some distance, the stupidest facial hair ever to grace football in this country.

Brian Kilcline, Gary Birtles, Billy Bonds and David Cross, oh and Frank Lampard senior. I win.

[silverlining]

Originally Posted by PaddyBerger15

Brian Kilcline, Gary Birtles, Billy Bonds and David Cross, oh and Frank Lampard senior. I win.

Frank Lampard Sr has a head shaped like a fucking anvil.

Ditto his knobhead son.

[TheHitman]

Surely this man is up there for facial hair....

[benolad]

Originally Posted by Brownie

Correct. The best players in the world are the ones who have both pace and technique as well though, generally, so I think we need to be looking for a combination of the two if it's possible.

Bentley is just another random average English player who would choke at a big club. I'm amazed that anybody actually wants us to sign him, because the mistakes and lessons to be learnt are there for all to see.

I'm with him on this. Someone mentioned Danny Alves, would be boss if we could get him. Failing that maybe Mancini? Fuck knows how much we'd have to spend for them mofos though, money we don't seem to have

[Brownie]

Alves is a pipe dream I think, unfortunately. I really like him though, he's fucking quality.

[Liam]

If Benitez signed Bentley I would lose faith. We are better off just saving the money as he isnt much better than Pennant, if at all.

[DJLJ]

Originally Posted by Stu Monty

Dammit. I really want to think silverling is just a nailed on cunt for annoying me when he is disagreeing with me (and being blatantly wrong) but when he's being a cunt to other people I end up laughing my bollocks off.

Gotta agree, he really is on fire in this thread.