Bamaga man wrote:Ladeulcateg wrote:I've already said I'd overestimated the lad. But be no means is he a bad player. He's still a bloody a good player and provides good width and is easily good enough to start in this side. Especially as it is.
The thing that makes me laugh is he's no worse than Agger in terms of ability, yet because the players around him aren't suited to his strengths he gets abuse from the clueless. He plays infront of a full back who wouldn't know an overlap if it bit him on the, on the left theres been absoloutely nothing due to playing a pub player in games and a left back in others there and upfront theres absoloutely
Its like playing a slow defender in an open style with a high line... or like playing a long high ball to a small striker... or like trying to play Robbie Fowler onto the end of through balls from deep positions what require pace.
So its the players around him that are hindering his game, I take what your saying about the crosses. But that isnt the be all and end all to being a winger. If he was that good a crosser he'd pick out the players where they are, he doesnt look up, he just crosses it. He offers no goal threat what so ever, looses the ball far to oftern when he's dribbling the ball. If he offers such great width i.e hugging the touchline why is an overlap needed from Finnan.
Finnans gone forward (with a nose bleed on numerous occasions) and Pennant never picks out the pass, he's got the Milan Baros disease his heads constantly down and rarely looks up.
Mate he's an average run of the meal prem footballer certainly no more and no less. End of.
I myself play left wing. Its a hell of a lot easier to play with an overlapping full back than one who simply sits and expects you to do all the attacking. Finnan never offers the overlap to Pennant unless he gets a bollocking from the line, Alonso or Gerrard. As good as Finnan is he often leaves Pennant to fend for himself.
You then go onto his crossing. My points clear. No-ones ever there. The forwards don't get into the box and when they do they just stand still which is pathetic. You can't go past players and pick someone out everytime, its about putting the ball in an area and saying to the forwards, there ya go, attack that. When a good striker is on the pitch IE Fowler thats what happens and chances come of it.
And anyone who's even remotely played the game to a minimal standard knows the use of an overlap. Its an option and creates space. It can pull players out of position and also help you pass your way to the by line, it also allows a winger to get into the penalty area, cut inside... there are thousands of uses for it. There are times when you sit there thinking, if Finnan's down the line its a simple ball, then you see Finnan standing there looking lost inside his own half level with the centre backs.
I'll have that he offers no goal threat. Something I've always acknowledged.
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