so this Redknapp reincarnation we've signed

[Molby]

I can see Rafa tearing him a new one on a regular basis

 

It's amazing how much like Redknapp he is

he plays like him and he even moves like him; the way he swings his body when he plays a long right footed pass it's like watching Redknapp's ghost

 

 

but there are a few traits that Rafa will most certainly beat out of him; whether it's lack of fitness or just the way he plays, he is wide open to losing the ball or not blocking up spaces where counter attacks can happen

 

when you see that happening in our CM it's quite a shock because we're so used to that not happening to us and if anything it makes you appreciate the work that our other midfielders do

 

but my money is on the fact that there's gonna be a serious bit of reprogramming going on in terms of the defensive tactical side of things

 

somewhere in there, is a brilliant player for us I think

 

btw I didn't put this in the Aquilani thread as that's about whether he should be playing or not where as this is tactical and may even become interesting....or maybe not

[anny road]

I can see Rafa tearing him a new one on a regular basis

 

It's amazing how much like Redknapp he is

he plays like him and he even moves like him; the way he swings his body when he plays a long right footed pass it's like watching Redknapp's ghost

but there are a few traits that Rafa will most certainly beat out of him; whether it's lack of fitness or just the way he plays, he is wide open to losing the ball or not blocking up spaces where counter attacks can happen

 

when you see that happening in our CM it's quite a shock because we're so used to that not happening to us and if anything it makes you appreciate the work that our other midfielders do

 

but my money is on the fact that there's gonna be a serious bit of reprogramming going on in terms of the defensive tactical side of things

 

somewhere in there, is a brilliant player for us I think

 

btw I didn't put this in the Aquilani thread as that's about whether he should be playing or not where as this is tactical and may even become interesting....or maybe not

 

 

New player, new team, 9 months out

 

I think we dont need to be overly worried about the traits you are worried about

[smithdown]

Redknapp?

 

That's fighting talk that is

[Chili Palmer]

Redknapp?

 

That's fighting talk that is

 

 

I would say that his % of forward passes will be a hell of alot higher than Redknapps.

 

I thought in the first 30 minutes his positioning was quite good in regards to covering space, it did deteriorate after that which hopefully can be down to fitness.

[whitewidow]

I can see Rafa tearing him a new one on a regular basis

 

It's amazing how much like Redknapp he is

he plays like him and he even moves like him; the way he swings his body when he plays a long right footed pass it's like watching Redknapp's ghost

but there are a few traits that Rafa will most certainly beat out of him; whether it's lack of fitness or just the way he plays, he is wide open to losing the ball or not blocking up spaces where counter attacks can happen

 

when you see that happening in our CM it's quite a shock because we're so used to that not happening to us and if anything it makes you appreciate the work that our other midfielders do

 

but my money is on the fact that there's gonna be a serious bit of reprogramming going on in terms of the defensive tactical side of things

 

somewhere in there, is a brilliant player for us I think

 

btw I didn't put this in the Aquilani thread as that's about whether he should be playing or not where as this is tactical and may even become interesting....or maybe not

You are Robbie Earle and I claim my £5.

[Flasher]

Since this is tactical, I have to say that the fact he was passing the ball forwards, with purpose, was a joy to watch.

 

I have been so fed up of watching the straight forward easy passes sideways, backwards and sometimes forwards that we can all do.

 

Alonso passed with purpose, AA does the same.

 

Very refreshing to see.

[Molby]

New player, new team, 9 months out

 

I think we dont need to be overly worried about the traits you are worried about

 

 

It's not number 1 on my list of things to worry about

but it won't fix itself either...the boy will need to be integrated in to Rafa's way of doing things, for sure

[anny road]

It's not number 1 on my list of things to worry about

but it won't fix itself either...the boy will need to be integrated in to Rafa's way of doing things, for sure

 

its the same with any player and any manager

 

if he is bright enough he will do it

[Chili Palmer]

Since this is tactical, I have to say that the fact he was passing the ball forwards, with purpose, was a joy to watch.

 

I have been so fed up of watching the straight forward easy passes sideways, backwards and sometimes forwards that we can all do.

 

Alonso passed with purpose, AA does the same.

 

Very refreshing to see.

 

Its also how quickly he plays the pass which we have been missing (granted, Lucas has improved in this aspect but still a bit to go)

[Molby]

its the same with any player and any manager

 

if he is bright enough he will do it

 

 

no it's not, not all players are asked to modify their game - depends on their style and the team style and their proposed function in the team

 

I remember 2 of Rafa's big name forward signings from not too long ago

neither one altered their game much...one went on to be brilliant and the other got shipped out early doors

 

and being bright enough? he only has to watch a video to see it

he's probably watching it right now

 

 

what I'm saying is that I hope the joy doesn't come out of his game, following theinevitable modifications/disciplines that will be placed on him

[johngibo YPC]

It's not number 1 on my list of things to worry about

but it won't fix itself either...the boy will need to be integrated in to Rafa's way of doing things, for sure

 

Could be another reason why he hasn't figured more

Lots to learn off the ball in a Rafa team

[Molby]

Could be another reason why he hasn't figured more

Lots to learn off the ball in a Rafa team

 

 

am seriously wondering about that

 

it's as good a theory as any so far about his non-appearances

[Damian_de]

What, better than Rafa's doing it just to annoy fans? Shirley not.

[johngibo YPC]

what I'm saying is that I hope the joy doesn't come out of his game, following theinevitable modifications/disciplines that will be placed on him

 

I think thats more on what he will be doing off the ball though

I'm sure he will be given plenty of freedom when he has it

[Malcolm X]

Could be another reason why he hasn't figured more

Lots to learn off the ball in a Rafa team

 

You could be right.

[tomasjj]

Its also how quickly he plays the pass which we have been missing (granted, Lucas has improved in this aspect but still a bit to go)

 

 

Agree.

Several times I noticed that he shifted the ball in an instant because he had already copped on to where his teammates were before he got the ball.

[D.Boon]

f*** the negatives. It was a breath of fresh air to see someone so comfortable with the ball and forward thinking in a red shirt.

[Roscoe]

what he seemed to do brilliantly was find space. acres of it. one could argue that this means that when we haven't got the ball he isn't picking anyone up or closing down the opposition space. when we get the ball back it should mean we are a hell of a lot quicker at moving the ball up the pitch into threatening areas (a major weakness at the moment), but it does mean we might not be so good at protecting the back 4 (who need all the protection they can get at the moment).

 

it's a tricky one for sure.

[Molby]

f*** the negatives. It was a breath of fresh air to see someone so comfortable with the ball and forward thinking in a red shirt.

 

 

yes that's exactly what Rafa's thinking today

[Leo No.8]

f*** the negatives. It was a breath of fresh air to see someone so comfortable with the ball and forward thinking in a red shirt.

 

Exactly - especially in the central midfield area.

 

He tries things with the ball, quick passes, flicks and playing it without looking at times which is something we certainly haven't seen in a long time in central midfield, it actually made me nervous at times. If Rafa wants to knock those traits out of him though then I don't know why he bought him, because its what he's good at and its what we need in the middle.

 

He gets around the pitch a lot, wants the ball all the time and moves it quickly (and at times with an element of risk) which results in fluidity. From what I've seen before these are his strengths - stop him doing these things and we would be left with a Redknapp clone, and my memory of Redknapp was of a very good passer of the ball who went sideways too often.

Edited December 10, 2009 by Leo No.8

[Eskimo]

I've not seen him play before so can't say if its a question of fitness or whether thats just his game. It did feel a little weird mind not seeing a dominant "defensive" CM pairing though, not sure if thats a good or bad thing yet!!

 

Having said that I think Masch game has suffered since Alonso' departure and as the more senior of the Lucas/Masch combo I feel that he's been under more pressure to deliver higher up the pitch as Lucas doesn't seem capable. Maybe the introduction of AA will allow him to get back to doing what he does best, protecting the back 4 and god knows they need it.

 

Also with Glenn' ability going forward it may allow Kuyt to tuck in to plug the gaps should AA get caught out.

[yellow jumper]

mascherano's been our best outfield player for a couple of months i'd say. not sure i agree that he and lucas are incapable of forming a decent partnership, just think we're very stretched and they basically need to be playing in a tight midfield like barcelona or arsenal's with the option of a xavi or a fabregas ahead of them. perhaps the introduction of aquilani might act in doing that.

 

not sure what it'd mean elsewhere though.

[fred milne]

In the short-term at least, I think we will still be seeing a lot of Lucas, unless Rafa decides to move Gerrard back into midfield.

[yellow jumper]

i'd give gerrard one of the wider roles in the barca-style 433 to begin with, and then depending on how aquilani was getting on look to get gerrard involved in the central three against weaker oppo.

Edited December 10, 2009 by george lees

[tomasjj]

i'd give gerrard one of the wider roles in the barca-style 433 to begin with, and then depending on how aquilani was getting on look to get gerrard involved in the central three against weaker oppo.

 

In games where Gerrard is crowded out, I often wonder if it would have been easier for him to find space out wide, in a similar way that Yossi does when starting out on the left and then cutting in.