N'Gog and Torres

[Leo No.8]

N'Gog was excellent at times tonight I thought. As well as taking his goal well, his movement keeps getting better and he played some outstanding passes including a crossfield ball with his left early in the second half which was exceptionally good.

 

He linked well with Kuyt in particular and could have set two goals up for him by picking him out in the box. I think the young lad is really making a good case for continued playing time and seems to be getting better every game.

 

We looked better as a team playing 4-4-2 tonight with Gerrard and Mascherano in the middle. I was wondering whether people think Torres and N'Gog could work as a partnership in the same formation?

 

I think they may have potential playing together and may offer us more pace and movement in the final third than we've had so far this season. Would be interesting to see I think anyway, those two together hasn't been something I'd thought of till now.

 

The shape tonight and the way N'Gog linked with another front man (which he has rarely had before) made me think about it.

[betterman]

N'Gog was excellent at times tonight I thought. As well as taking his goal well, his movement keeps getting better and he played some outstanding passes including a crossfield ball with his left early in the second half which was exceptionally good.

 

He linked well with Kuyt in particular and could have set two goals up for him by picking him out in the box. I think the young lad is really making a good case for continued playing time and seems to be getting better every game.

 

We looked better as a team playing 4-4-2 tonight with Gerrard and Mascherano in the middle. I was wondering whether people think Torres and N'Gog could work as a partnership in the same formation?

 

I think they may have potential playing together and may offer us more pace and movement in the final third than we've had so far this season. Would be interesting to see I think anyway, those two together hasn't been something I'd thought of till now.

 

The shape tonight and the way N'Gog linked with another front man (which he has rarely had before) made me think about it.

 

I think two up front is the way forward for us right now.

 

Not because I'm convinced by N'Gog, but I think we need to change the system badly and it seems the most sensible option given the players available to us. And it's more positive.

 

Nothing stopping Aquilani coming into a 442 either, I'm even beginning to think a wide right/roaming brief might not be the worst thing for the skipper right now. But that's another day's work.

[floyd the barber]

would love to see it....wont happen though

 

We were very open first half...lots of space for wigan in the midfield at times, cant see Rafa dropping the 2 defensive mids...especially for the big games

 

To be honest, i thought gerrard looked lost at center mid.....

 

N`gog was excellent though, definetly has done a fine job as back for torres

[digs_nz]

Havent yet watched the game, very very interested to see how the formation worked. Did it change back when Torres was subbed on?

 

Using a 4-4-2 (for now, anyway) is valid because we could use Gerrard out right, Aquilani and Masche, and Kuyt/Torres/Ngog up front. With that setup, our right is absolutely immense. The Left is a much greater worry

[David Hodgson]

N'Gog was excellent at times tonight I thought. As well as taking his goal well, his movement keeps getting better and he played some outstanding passes including a crossfield ball with his left early in the second half which was exceptionally good.

 

He linked well with Kuyt in particular and could have set two goals up for him by picking him out in the box. I think the young lad is really making a good case for continued playing time and seems to be getting better every game.

 

We looked better as a team playing 4-4-2 tonight with Gerrard and Mascherano in the middle. I was wondering whether people think Torres and N'Gog could work as a partnership in the same formation?

 

I think they may have potential playing together and may offer us more pace and movement in the final third than we've had so far this season. Would be interesting to see I think anyway, those two together hasn't been something I'd thought of till now.

 

The shape tonight and the way N'Gog linked with another front man (which he has rarely had before) made me think about it.

 

I thought Rafa balanced the team well at the start. The key decision being Gerrard at centre mid. Ngog clearly benefitted from having a partner in Kuyt, who properly played his striker's role this time.

[Rimbeux]

I didn't think Gerrard was all that good there, however it looked like he'd not played there in a while and was being consumed with the need to put himself about rather than control the game. With the way we set up mentally, having two up front at least gives the lads up there a fighting chance

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I was a little disappointed not to see NGog given a chance next to Torres - I would have pulled Dirk.

NGog is doing everything expected of him, he's scoring goals, got good movement and confidence.

Movement was sadly lacking from elsewhere last night - has Gerrard forgotten how to play centre mid? cos too often the game seamed to pass him by last night.

[Bogman]

Not a world beater by any stretch of the imagination, but hats off to N'Gog.

For a young lad from a foreign country, in his first season, he's growing in confidence and he's settled in well and I thought he played very well last night.

 

Can hold the play up, knows where the goal is and could be a very good signing.

[richwilks]

Not a world beater by any stretch of the imagination, but hats off to N'Gog.

For a young lad from a foreign country, in his first season, he's growing in confidence and he's settled in well and I thought he played very well last night.

 

Can hold the play up, knows where the goal is and could be a very good signing.

 

2nd season isn't it?

 

Agree with the rest though, the kid is head and shoulders above what came on for Torres last year at Villa Park. He looked lost that day and way out of his depth but his confidence has improved and his all round game has come on massively. He looks very dangerous with the ball at his feet in tight spots and he's actually pretty good in the air.

[Bogman]

2nd season isn't it?

 

Agree with the rest though, the kid is head and shoulders above what came on for Torres last year at Villa Park. He looked lost that day and way out of his depth but his confidence has improved and his all round game has come on massively. He looks very dangerous with the ball at his feet in tight spots and he's actually pretty good in the air.

 

 

Yeah could be, everything's a blur.

[Coyler]

Think that there's a huge tying of hands in that Gerrard doesn't look like he's going to be happy unless he's back playing off Torres like the end of last season. Rafa finally played with the two up front last night instead of applying the Torres formation to a non-Torres XI, which wasn't really paying off in the recent past. When Torres was coming on, he changed it all around back to the Gerrard/Torres formation.

 

Don't think he's going to play Torres in a non-Torres formation when we're trying to get back on our feet.

[johngibo YPC]

Don't think he's going to play Torres in a non-Torres formation when we're trying to get back on our feet.

 

Good. Kuyt up front on his own give me nightmares. And although i think Ngog plays ok on his own up top, he looked better with a partner last night. Which Molby and DH have been banging on about for a while to be fair to them. Still hate our 4-4-2 though

[Buzz]

How about a Brazil 4-2-2-2? then Masch and Lucas could both play, Aquaman and Gerrard, Tog n' Gog. Width from full backs and front 4 on the break - works for Brazil.

 

 

Yeah I know, we 'aint Brazil and Kuyt's not in the line up.

[Hassony]

that's the formation barnes used so successfuly with both celtic and tranmer

[Dan]

Think that there's a huge tying of hands in that Gerrard doesn't look like he's going to be happy unless he's back playing off Torres like the end of last season. Rafa finally played with the two up front last night instead of applying the Torres formation to a non-Torres XI, which wasn't really paying off in the recent past. When Torres was coming on, he changed it all around back to the Gerrard/Torres formation.

 

Don't think he's going to play Torres in a non-Torres formation when we're trying to get back on our feet.

 

Where are you getting this from?

[Coyler]

Where are you getting this from?

I said that's how it looks. He didn't look all that into it even when he was playing with him at the start of the season but he's perked up visibly the last times Torres has come on.

[Guest PaulMcC]

Can't beat N'Gog scoring goals.. Unless you're torres.

[Guest PaulMcC]

I didn't think Gerrard played well in centre midfield and i'm not sure a Torres-N'Gog partnership would work.

Edited December 17, 2009 by PaulMcC

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

6 in 15 is a perfectly respectable return so far this season, esp considering his 15 games haven't been anything like 15 x 90mins

[Guest PaulMcC]

8 starts and 7 subs appearances.

 

Most of the sub appearances have been for under half an hour too.

[Alonso]

PL stats:

 

David NGog 10 appearances (4 starts) totalling 412 minutes 4 goals

 

Michael Owen 13 appearances (3 starts) totalling 411 minutes 2 goals

[Zoob]

PL stats:

 

David NGog 10 appearances (4 starts) totalling 412 minutes 4 goals

 

Michael Owen 13 appearances (3 starts) totalling 411 minutes 2 goals

 

Yeah, but how many goals has Ngog scored against Championship teams in the Carling cup?

[Guest PaulMcC]

PL stats:

 

David NGog 10 appearances (4 starts) totalling 412 minutes 4 goals

 

Michael Owen 13 appearances (3 starts) totalling 411 minutes 2 goals

 

What's the stats for all competitions. Goals to minutes?

[Alonso]

What's the stats for all competitions. Goals to minutes?

Not sure got these stats off the PL fantasy football site!

[Zoob]

Doesn't have total minutes played, but for all competitions:

 

Owen, 8 starts, 14 sub appearances, 7 goals

Ngog 8 starts, 7 sub appearances 6 goals