Sabre wrote:Well, I'm going to disagree. It's time I make a shout the "He's just not suited to Premiership football" issue. I hope you'll enjoy the discussion because that's the fun part of forums, anyway.
I've seen the first part now. Min 23, Morientes is looking to Gerrard expecting his pass, he doesn't see Fowler's run and starts a wrong run, offside. A mistake that can be seen nearly in every game of every week in the Calcio, in the EPL and in the Liga.
And the commentator of the FOX, quickly reveals us something that every guy that knows a bit of football knows "That's Morientes fault, he's seeing all the defence line, he can't do that run" , which is true, and I agree, and just after that he says that "Morientes hasn't adapted to the EPL". Which I disagree, he just made a mistake. What he didn't say and is also obvious as the first great revelation is that Gerrard waited too long to give that pass, which is also a fact that I think many would agree.
The fact you make a mistake doesn't mean you're not adapted, it's just that you've made a mistake, if you make a lot of them, you're in a bad form, end of. I just wouldn't say that Kewell is not adapted to a top league, or to la liga, just because today he crossed one ball and went far beyond the second post, it's just a mistake.
The "Let's bash Morientes Empire" (I'm just from the "camp" defending Morientes, we are few in numbers) say that Fowler was in the box in the positions where a forward is supposed to move to. Probably Morientes would gladly do that if he wasn't instructed to go down to ask for the ball, by Rafa. He does that dirty task for a forward, and in that task of holding the ball against a pressing opponent it's quite normal to give some balls away, IMHO. He also made a decent volley, and a good combination with Fowler, that ended in a decent cross and a decent header of Fowler.
My first point, in the "Morientes is not that" camp, we believe that it might be fair to say that Morientes was not good enough, but definitely not awful.
My second point, The EPL is one of the best and one of my favourites, but football is football, and I think that there's too much hype about the difficulty to adapt to the EPL. Alonso is not pacy, and he didn't tackle that well back in Spain, but he adapted quickly, if you see what I mean. Class is class. Morientes is not in his best form, but that doesn't mean he would never make it in England. Honest.
I also consider the reviews of some of my mates of Fowler's game benevolent. I like that, since I'm always patient with the players that are just arrived. But hey, don't be so harsh with Mori, I'm also dissapointed that he doesn't score that much, but if Crouch had some protection when he wasn't scoring (and I was among those protectors), I think Morientes deserves more moderated critics.
Now I'm ready to be footballistically flamed.
Gerrard waited the pass perfectly for Fowler who had made a superb run.
Morientes made a mistake and it was clearly as a result of a lack of confidence. A confident Morientes is intelligent enough to see that situation and stop, lacking confidence rational thought and natural things don't happen. You over compensate and phuck things up.
What i do agree with 100% is that it wasn't down to adaptability reasons. Anyone can make a mistake.
I also agree with you saying Fowler and Nando linked well. I thought they shown promise, but Nando needs to sharpen up and toughen up. He's got the brains and he's got the technical ability, physically he's very average and this lets him down and i question his mental toughness. I think part of the mental toughness is down to confidence, or rather a lack of...
Fowler is a similar player to Raul and i think a fully fit and fully condfident Morientes upfront with Fowler in the same condition could be absoloutely lethal.
The statement about adapting to the league is also spot on in my opinion. If you've got it, you adapt, if not, you don't. The right qualities are essential, only good players have the right qualities.
Fowler played well today Sabre, his link up and use of the ball was impressive and he worked hard. He didn't really have a chance all game, he set Morientes up though and we all know what Fowler's record is like against Arsenal so it would be a perfect game for him.
Its like Owen against Newcastle, all strikers have clubs they score bucket fulls against... Fowler's teams are Arsenal and Villa...
Rafa... take this into account on tuesday mate.
4 bookings in two seasons... Good goin for me that. 