by LFC2007 » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:34 pm
His goal against L'Allemagne was just immense, he assumed his natural position on the shoulder of the CB and initially it looked like it'd be a fairly routine job for the full back - keep body in front of the ball and clear. However, Torres' strength, desire, acceleration and balance prevailed, the finish was as natural as you'll see from a striker. Unbelievable goal.
Great vision, and positioning from Xavi as well btw, he saw that Frings was out of position and placed himself in the hole ready for the pivot and pass.
Re. the lone striker role and our style of play - I don't think our support play is currently good enough (it may change depending on who we sign, as well as other factors) for us to be successful throughout the season. It was successful enough in the last part of the season, but against quality defenders it's much tougher, and against top teams Torres finds himself fighting a losing battle due to a lack of support. When good defenders become aware of the main threat i.e. Gerrard/Torres, we need other players to help out - to create space, to play cute passes, and to score. Otherwise, over time, the threat becomes all the more predictable and easier to nulify. Two options would suffice, IMO, 1) Change to a 4-4-2, sign a nimble-footed forward who can turn on a sixpence, Arshavin or similar, to support Torres 2) Stick with the 4-5-1 and set about getting greater support from a number of areas. This means; i) Keep Alonso and purposefully instruct him to get forward more often, or ii) Sell him, sign Barry - who naturally gets forward more and supports the play. As a necessity to this option, we'd also need to sign a top quality winger who can support the play, create and score.
As an addendum to both options, at least one of our FB's has to support the play more often - Dossena by all accounts has a good engine and a cultured left peg.
It (playing with a lone striker) worked with Spain for the reason that their support play was excellent (but partly due to the fact that the German defence was sh!te). This relates to them playing in a 4-5-1, and a 4-4-2 - Throughout the tournament Iniesta, Xavi, Silva and Fabregas were more than prepared to assume threatening positions - making runs into the box, and if not scoring, then creating space for someone else. Unsettling defenders, and making it difficult to predict where the threat would come from.
FWIW, I don't think we currently have enough in our squad to support the play successfully. Kuyt on the right can hold the ball up well, get in positions to help others out, but in terms of posing a threat whilst supporting others, he fails. The support is there, the threat isn't (extent-wise), and just being there to pick it up isn't enough at the top level. Pennant despite being poor at holding up the ball, offers a bit more trickery, a more cultured cross, but poses little goal threat and doesn't get near the box. On the left, Babel is threatening in open spaces, but in a typical game where defenders close down effectively - he's easily nulified, and he's never a left winger anyway.
In the FB positions, we have nobody who stands out. Most top teams have at least one high quality full back, we don't. Cole, Evra, Clichy - all much better than any of our FB's. All support the play very well.
In conclusion, our support play has to be much better, it has to pose a threat.
