David Villa goal from last night

[HJohal]

David Villa to play in a 4-3-3 on the right.

[Rashid]

On the right? David Villa, are you feeling alright?

[Unrighteous]

I think you've just convinced me that you are retarded. We need a player to play Gerrard's position? WHAT?!

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON? Rafa has FINALLY solved our CM issue and you want him to buy someone who, probably, cannot perform the function as well Ste?

Right.

[Rashid]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous

I think you've just convinced me that you are retarded. We need a player to play Gerrard's position? WHAT?!

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON? Rafa has FINALLY solved our CM issue and you want him to buy someone who, probably, cannot perform the function as well Ste?

Right.

Gerrard's position is not behind Torres, for me it is in Central Midfield. We need a different type of player to play behind Torres.

There are many players better than Gerrard as linking the play up front. Steven is a dynamic player, not a link man.... he is no Bergkamp or Aimar is he?

[Unrighteous]

EDIT: MY APOLOGIES FOR QUOTING RASHID

In a sustained attack, in this formation, the width is to be provided by the fullback. David Villa would be positioned to the right of Torres but would have freedom to move centrally into the box, or drop to the edge of the box, or whatever but GETTING NEAR THE BOX.

It would defeat the idea of this formation to have him sitting wide right in a sustained attack. Say, Aurelio/Arbeloa/Rafinha on their respective flanks(remember Rafinha is two footed and comfortable on either flank).

Now, in a forward movement attack, Villa's skill and mobility will work well with Torres' skill and mobility, and also, Ryan Babel's skill and mobility to cause gaps of space to appear in the opposition backline. ALL THREE FORWARDS would command considerable respect with their ability to move and hurt the opposition with strikes, passing, and pace.

Add Steven Gerrard joining the attack behind the aforementioned three forwards and we will have one of the most potent attacks in the World.

Do I need to call Stu Monty into this thread to teach you tactics, again?

[Rashid]

Originally Posted by Unrighteous

EDIT: MY APOLOGIES FOR QUOTING RASHID

In a sustained attack, in this formation, the width is to be provided by the fullback. David Villa would be positioned to the right of Torres but would have freedom to move centrally into the box, or drop to the edge of the box, or whatever but GETTING NEAR THE BOX.

It would defeat the idea of this formation to have him sitting wide right in a sustained attack. Say, Aurelio/Arbeloa/Rafinha on their respective flanks(remember Rafinha is two footed and comfortable on either flank).

Now, in a forward movement attack, Villa's skill and mobility will work well with Torres' skill and mobility, and also, Ryan Babel's skill and mobility to cause gaps of space to appear in the opposition backline. ALL THREE FORWARDS would command considerable respect with their ability to move and hurt the opposition with strikes, passing, and pace.

Add Steven Gerrard joining the attack behind the aforementioned three forwards and we will have one of the most potent attacks in the World.

Do I need to call Stu Monty into this thread to teach you tactics, again?

Stu Minty and tactics? Right.

Any player who plays on the right or left of the three will often find himself wide, often tracking back to help the full back too... it is not an easy position to play.. they will find themselves deep winning the ball back etc.

None of that is Villa's game... plus he won't want to do it.

To play right in a 3 you need a player who can score goals but is also comfortable playing against a full back... so Joe Cole? Yes, Ronaldo? Yes, Ronaldinho? Yes.... David Villa? No.

As for Gerrard behind the striker... I think we saw what we needed to see against United... simply not his best game when it comes down to it... we need a real specialist here.

[HJohal]

On the right? David Villa, are you feeling alright?

Rafa's 4-2-3-1 has never been about wingers, though he may need to improve the full backs in order implement successfully.

In midfield we have a 'destroyer' who can play short - Mascherano alongside a playmaker who can play long and spread play - Alonso.

Torres is naturally the main striker with three supporting runners where the starting/defensive positions are only rigid. Currently these roles are occupied bu Babel, Gerrard and Kuyt. Villa could easily play in one of these positions and has the attributes to do so. He would also gurantee a minimum of 10-15 goals a season. If you can get Babel doing likewise we then have the goal support we need to challenge for the title.

I cannot understand the obession with wingers when world class wingers are in short supply, very expensive and often do not produce, Ronaldo and Messi are probably the exceptions in the modern game. Most top teams are now looking at full backs to supply the width.

[Unrighteous]

EDIT: AGAIN, APOLOGIES FOR QUOTING RASHID.

He had 43 minutes which included one very good shot(that I recall I was too fuming to remember much else of the match). What the fuck do you expect from him 10 v 11 from a deep Midfield position?

You say he won't want to do it. I'm sorry but you don't know that. You say that it's not his game.... He takes on defenders all the time...

You are going to sit there and say that David Villa, a very pacey, intelligent, creative, hardworker is less likely to track back than fucking Ronaldo or Ronaldinho? You've a very odd way of trying to win arguments.

We need all three of those players to have ability to run at opposition players. Kuyt can't really do it but he whips in a cracking cross. I think that Villa can do two things. Come inside with the ball, beat players, and make things happen ---- fill in for Torres when injured. Those are two things we need in spades on that flank and in our squad.

[spider-neil]

buying villa would fling 4-2-3-1 out the window, all to accomadate one player when said mentioned formation gets the best out of several positions.
with 4-4-2 we need 5 new players (2 fullbacks/2 wingers/striker)
with 4-3-2-1 we need 3 new players (2 fullbacks/1 winger)

for the record I don't suit babel is suited for 4-4-2

[westderbian]

Can I be the first to say that this lad looks alright and might be worth looking at as a furture purchase.

As well as him I'll also include Ronaldinho, Eto and Quaresma in that bracket. You heard it here first people.

[James Dean]

It was a nice goal. If he does it again I'll applaud it.

[Spooky]

Originally Posted by HJohal

Rafa's 4-2-3-1 has never been about wingers, though he may need to improve the full backs in order implement successfully.

In midfield we have a 'destroyer' who can play short - Mascherano alongside a playmaker who can play long and spread play - Alonso.

Torres is naturally the main striker with three supporting runners where the starting/defensive positions are only rigid. Currently these roles are occupied bu Babel, Gerrard and Kuyt. Villa could easily play in one of these positions and has the attributes to do so.

Indeed, esp as Babel could play in any of the three positions. Assuming Gerrard stays central, Villa could have his pic of left or right of Gerrard

I cannot understand the obession with wingers when world class wingers are in short supply, very expensive and often do not produce, Ronaldo and Messi are probably the exceptions in the modern game.

And even Ronaldo is doing his best work coming in as more as a sort of auxiliary striker than a winger.

[G Richards]

Let us suppose we buy David Villa. He is a clear upgrade on all of our strikers, apart from Nando, and even then he is in a similar class to Nando.

Does he score? Yes.
Does he have good skill? Yes.
Is he fast with the ability to play on the shoulder? Yes.
Does he work hard? Yes.
Can he play up front on his own ahead of the three in 4-2-3-1? Yes.
Can he play up front in a two? Yes.

So, let us stop right now and acknowledge that that is a lot of boxes ticked right there, and (if we had the money of course!) he would be well worth bringing in.

The main unknown, and the question we are getting stuck on, is whether or not Villa can play in a three behind the one main striker.

At this point I'd like to suggest that we are possibly being a bit too rigid in our thinking, since hopefuly the attacking four (Torres, Babel, Gerrard, Villa) would be well capable of giving any defence plenty to think about.

NB - if we did sign Villa we should also sign someone who offers width, but that should come in the form of a pacy, overlapping fullback.

[Remington]

The real question is what other teams that are interested. Silly money...

[OnizukaEikichi]

torres and villa can swap positions at times if we use this current formation anyways. Which fullback will wanna face torres or villa in one game?

[Walton Park]

I think it depends on who will own the club and how much money we have to spend.
If signing Villa means it takes the entire transfer budget then I would leave it. Dont get me wrong I would have him tommorrow but priorites come first.He is brilliant and would be a great partner for Torres.
Fullbacks and right hand sided midfielder for me.

If we had anything left after the fullbacks and midfileder then a cut price Owen could be a cheap option?

[AvB]

Originally Posted by HJohal

Rafa's 4-2-3-1 has never been about wingers

Well.. At Valencia he had Vicente.

[Remington]

I don't think it's the case of "we need one winger" or "we need two more full-backs" but rather the need for more talent, more match-winners in the team. We got this rotation big squad system now and we're getting use to it. We also have a modern Sun Tzu in charge of the tactic. Finally we've practiced and learned lots of useful formations. What we need - and what counts in the end - is an upgrade on class. One-two more world class players would take us all the way, no mater what position. To be honest, how many absolute elite professionals (talking £20 million guys here) has Arsenal got; Fabregas, Adebayor? United: Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Rooney? Chelsea: Terry, Lampard, Drogba? You might want to subtract or add 1-2 out of that list. However, look at Liverpools spine; Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres. Our best is no worse then the others. Some might even argue that our tops are higher then the rests.
Get us Villa, Alves, Diego or whom ever and it's in the bag. Those players are highly valued for a reason. They're match winning characters that the opponents fear and they'd turn their team mates into top players aswell. They take on players, they create space and they're a certain goal threat. We need just that.

[twelvesmallsteps]

Originally Posted by Remington

I don't think it's the case of "we need one winger" or "we need two more full-backs" but rather the need for more talent, more match-winners in the team.

but you said it yourself really. we have a spine - a central line - of very good players. we lack quality on the sides, both backs (in terms of offensive quality) and on the right wing.

[Remington]

Originally Posted by tribun3

but you said it yourself really. we have a spine - a central line - of very good players. we lack quality on the sides, both backs (in terms of offensive quality) and on the right wing.

Unfortunately, that was what came through, but what I was struggling to express isn't the need for a stronger spine - we're on level with the so called top four on that point. What we lack is deeper depth, greater possibilities (to speak with Rafa); players that can change a game with their mere presence. You see Rafa trying to do that today with his symptomatic Pennant and Crouch substitutions. A player like David Silva is an excellent example of that _perfect_ versatility; he can play in numerous positions and when he switches from left flank to attack or right flank to central midfield it makes a difference. Or when Phillip Lahm switches side, or when Alves gets himself involved in the forwards play... Yes, the above mentioned are all wingers/full-backs but those players are valuable wherever they play. And the same goes for the popular Rashid picks Diego or Agüero. Simply great players. Splash the whole budget one player if necessary, and if possible, make it Villa.