David Villa

[Spy Bee]

I`m not really impressed with Gerrard behind Torres, more often than not it does not suit him at all and it restricts his movement.

With respect; that's madness.

[Kevin D]

I would play Gerrard in his best position, starting from the right in a three behind the striker.

 

I`m not really impressed with Gerrard behind Torres, more often than not it does not suit him at all and it restricts his movement.

 

I'm not sure how you've come to either of those conclusions but damn it, I'm intrigued.

[Xherdan]

Surely any team could accomodate a player of Villa's qualities?

[JohnnyH]

I`m not really impressed with Gerrard behind Torres, more often than not it does not suit him at all and it restricts his movement.

 

Seriously. Are you autistic?

[ScottyT]

Surely any team could accomodate a player of Villa's qualities?

 

Of course, but at the expense of your best players?

 

I'd rather the manager stuck with a familiar settled system and bought the players to suit that, rather than just signing square pegs to fit round holes.

[Code]

It's hardly cutting edge going back to two strikers is it?

 

You could have a case if Gerrard/Torres wasn't as good as Villa/Torres. We'd also lack the genuine wide players to make a 4-4-2 work effectively, and if we buy Villa we certainly won't be getting any of those.

 

Currently, we're at our strongest in midfield, so why change it?

 

It depends how you see it, I would say we never really play 4-4-2, we usually set up 4-2-3-1.

 

The difference is that I think a striker will do a better job in the link player role than a midfielder unless its one of the "specialist link players" we have at the top level of international football (read Riquelme)

 

Its got everything to do with the movement, and a striker will more often than not be better than a midfielder to receive the ball with his back to the goal linking play or turn with the ball himself.

 

Gerrard is best when he comes from behind getting into open spaces and a striker moving backwards a couple of yards while the other one is finding space in front of them will give us a lot more options than we have now using the best player we have to arrive in those spaces such a player is supposed to create in this role.

 

People usually use how many goals Gerrard scored from the position behind Torres last season as some evidence for how this role really suits him, but how did he actually score most of those goals?

[ScottyT]

All true, and there's no reason why we can't switch to a traditional set up for a few games, especially at home. But again you're missing the most important ingredient...wide players...quality ones at that. No 4-4-2, great strikers or not, is complete without them.

 

Currently we make up for that by employing a system that suits our two best players.

[Xherdan]

Of course, but at the expense of your best players?

 

I'd rather the manager stuck with a familiar settled system and bought the players to suit that, rather than just signing square pegs to fit round holes.

 

 

I dont think it would be at the 'expense' of our best players but rather to support them. A 4-3-1-2 formation with Gerrard Torres and Villa would be the best world football in front a midfield three of Xabi, Masch & Barry. Now thats tasty.

[Kevin D]

Gerrard right, Babel/Riera left?

[Heinze]

I dont think it would be at the 'expense' of our best players but rather to support them. A 4-3-1-2 formation with Gerrard Torres and Villa would be the best world football in front a midfield three of Xabi, Masch & Barry. Now thats tasty.

the midfield would be way too congested imo. we've seen what a genuine wide player(riera when hes having a good game) adds to the team. trying to go through the middle should always be an option but not the ONLY option.

[Xherdan]

the midfield would be way too congested imo. we've seen what a genuine wide player(riera when hes having a good game) adds to the team. trying to go through the middle should always be an option but not the ONLY option.

 

 

 

Obviously this is all hypothetical but width can also be provided by wing backs similar to the tactics adopted by Spain during the Euro's and WC qualifying campaign. Bob and Fabio would suit these roles IMO. With the current squad we have we could revert to several differnt formations with one or two subs.

[Code]

Gerrard scored 11 goals last season in the league, his best tally ever so lets have a look.

 

1. Aston Villa away - direct free kick.

2. Arsenal home -direct free kick.

3. Fulham home - penalty.

4. Newcastle away - rolling free kick from Lucas, shot from Gerrard.

5. Bolton home - penalty.

6. Reading away- Reina to Torres to Gerrard, he came from behind and scored.

7. Derby away - Gerrard moves the ball from the back, passes to Benayoun who passes to Torres, Torres shoots and a derby player clears the ball straight to Gerrard.

8. Sunderland home - penalty.

9. West Hame home - Gerrard scores a great goal from outside the box.

10. Newcastle home - Pass from Torres in behind the defense, chips the keeper.

11. Blackburn home - Gerrard moves the ball from midfield, plays a one-two with Lucas and scores.

 

So there you go 5 of Gerrard`s goals in the league last season came from open play and most of them when he came from deep.

 

He would have scored most of these goals even if he played at RB and maybe one or two of them came because he played in the position behind Torres, if we get a player like Villa who likes to drop deep and moves Gerrard out wide as his starting position I`m sure we can improve on this. ;)

[The Dude Abides]

 

The Gerrard-Torres combo is good, but its not great and certainly not perfect

 

Its fan-fucking-tastic. Again, its so obviously the wings that need improving. And yes, when Villa is playing you don't see the best of Torres, which is the exact opposite of Gerrard in that position. Non starter.

[Xherdan]

Its fan-fucking-tastic. Again, its so obviously the wings that need improving. And yes, when Villa is playing you don't see the best of Torres, which is the exact opposite of Gerrard in that position. Non starter.

 

Signing Villa is a Non-starter for you assuming we had the available funds?

[ScottyT]

Signing Villa is a Non-starter for you assuming we had the available funds?

 

Taking into consideration the current system and players in creative positions, if the money was available for say a quality wideman and full back or David Villa, who would you choose?

[Code]

Taking into consideration the current system and players in creative positions, if the money was available for say a quality wideman and full back or David Villa, who would you choose?

 

David Villa without a doubt, Gerrard is the "wide" man we are looking for anyway, we need wide players with the ability to come inside and the ability to go past the fullback on the outside and also get in behind the defense on blind runs for Alonso to pick out.

 

Gerrard ticks all these boxes, not many other players do and like I have said earlier I doubt we will get either Messi or C.Ronaldo( I would take Villa over C.Ronaldo though)

[Xherdan]

Taking into consideration the current system and players in creative positions, if the money was available for say a quality wideman and full back or David Villa, who would you choose?

 

Based on the current system a man for wide right is more pressing than a full back, so I would go for a man for that position. People seem to be taking it as written that the Gerrard behind Torres formation is one that will be used going forward as opposed to it being a formation developed to best deploy our current players.

[ScottyT]

It's not going to happen. Ignoring the obvious fact that he doesn't want to play there and won't, Gerrard is not a wide player, his instinct is to come inside and roam, which is fine if you have a flying full back, but we don't.

 

The current system is evolving nicely and we need to improve not dismantle it.

[Maldini]

[castle_red]

I remember we were linked with Mauro Camoranesi a couple of years ago when Juve got relegated. Reckon he'd be a cracking short-term signing, and should be cheap at 31/32.

[Lupin]

Just don't see this - never mind all the money end of things, owners looking to sell and all those other impenatrables - Villa is not the best foil for Torres and vice versa. Playing the way we do, the way Rafa wants us to play with Torres at the pointy end and Gerrard in behind, rather than Villa adding value to that system I reckon his team mate at Valencia may do a more constructive job - David Silva.

[lawrie]

Gerrard scored 11 goals last season in the league, his best tally ever so lets have a look.

 

1. Aston Villa away - direct free kick.

2. Arsenal home -direct free kick.

3. Fulham home - penalty.

4. Newcastle away - rolling free kick from Lucas, shot from Gerrard.

5. Bolton home - penalty.

6. Reading away- Reina to Torres to Gerrard, he came from behind and scored.

7. Derby away - Gerrard moves the ball from the back, passes to Benayoun who passes to Torres, Torres shoots and a derby player clears the ball straight to Gerrard.

8. Sunderland home - penalty.

9. West Hame home - Gerrard scores a great goal from outside the box.

10. Newcastle home - Pass from Torres in behind the defense, chips the keeper.

11. Blackburn home - Gerrard moves the ball from midfield, plays a one-two with Lucas and scores.

 

So there you go 5 of Gerrard`s goals in the league last season came from open play and most of them when he came from deep.

 

He would have scored most of these goals even if he played at RB and maybe one or two of them came because he played in the position behind Torres, if we get a player like Villa who likes to drop deep and moves Gerrard out wide as his starting position I`m sure we can improve on this. ;)

 

Perhaps you could do the same for Gerrard's assists?

[nelly88]

I dont think it would be at the 'expense' of our best players but rather to support them. A 4-3-1-2 formation with Gerrard Torres and Villa would be the best world football in front a midfield three of Xabi, Masch & Barry. Now thats tasty.

 

i read that and a little bit of wee just came out of me...that IS tasty! :drool:

[Carra_is_legend]

David Villa without a doubt, Gerrard is the "wide" man we are looking for anyway, we need wide players with the ability to come inside and the ability to go past the fullback on the outside and also get in behind the defense on blind runs for Alonso to pick out.

 

Gerrard ticks all these boxes, not many other players do and like I have said earlier I doubt we will get either Messi or C.Ronaldo( I would take Villa over C.Ronaldo though)

 

Agreed.

 

I also see why people wouldn't want to disturb the Gerrard/Torres combo, but the way I see it, we do NEED another striker when Torres is not playing. And the same striker should combine well when Torres is playing. I think Villa is the guy for both.

[WaltonRed]

I think Villa is the guy for both.

 

Lets hope Rafa does to.