stmichael wrote:He barely ever makes runs into the six-yard box any more. That's how he got the majority of his goals earlier in the season, but for some reason he's changed his style.
It's not Rafa playing him too deep (not on Saturday anyway) -he was meant to be the lone striker who would arrive in the box to finish off moves. Instead, he constantly dropped deep without going forward again and offered NOTHING.
And even when he gets inside the box he's too static a lot of the time. There was a moment in the second half on Saturday where this was apparent. Pennant had made a good run to the byline and was looking to pick out Kuyt with a low cross. Kuyt was frozen to the penalty spot and started his near post run much too late. Dunne (I think) beat him to the ball and put it behind for a corner. Had Fowler or even Crouch, on current form, been playing, I think they would read Pennant's intentions much quicker and have made the run ahead of Dunne.
by 112-1077774096 » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:03 am