Ade and Rafa - the start of a beautiful friendship

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

So, with the positive injury news about vdV, tomorrow could see the inauguration of our new strikeforce.

I'm really excited about this - I think it has all the components to be our next Greaves-Gilzean, Archibald-Crooks, Klinsmann-Sheringham, Berbatov-Keane.

Last season we were desperate for a #9 for Rafa to play off. Crouch gave some indication of the potential it could unlock in him, but now we have the genuine article.

Against Wolves we finally had our long sought after #9, but really lacked that link man to play in the hole between Ade and the midfield.

So finally, after 3 years in the wilderness, we're about to see a proper strikeforce again - a balanced and complementary intelligent 9 and 10 partnership.

40 goals this season, 20 each, is my predicition - MEWSTG.

Legacy · Sep 17, 2011

I reckon we'll see it for about 58 minutes, before VdV pulls up with his hamstring because he was rushed back before he was fully fit.

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

Legacy said:
I reckon we'll see it for about 58 minutes, before VdV pulls up with his hamstring because he was rushed back before he was fully fit.

If we're 2 up by then, then it'll be worth it. We need all we've got to throw at Liverpool - it's a massive game.

Dr Know · Sep 17, 2011

Legacy said:
I reckon we'll see it for about 58 minutes, before VdV pulls up with his hamstring because he rushed back before he was fully fit.

Fixed :up:

The Apprentice · Sep 17, 2011

Redslapp will start Defoe.

Banny · Sep 17, 2011

Yea doubt we'll see rafa start. Purely because harry dost wanna rush him and would prefer him in top form vs Arsenal

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

The Apprentice said:
Redslapp will start Defoe.

Although he sees Defoe as family (in the mafia sense), I don't think even Redknapp has ever started Defoe ahead of Rafa. If anything he'll make a mess trying to incorporate all 3.

Banny said:
Yea doubt we'll see rafa start. Purely because harry dost wanna rush him and would prefer him in top form vs Arsenal

In terms of the season, this game is more important than Arsenal (because Liverpool are our challengers for 4th, whereas Arsenal are our challengers for 5th).

THOWIG · Sep 17, 2011

Incorporating all three wouldn't be a disaster as long as VDV is played behind the forwards and not on the wing.

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

THOWIG said:
Incorporating all three wouldn't be a disaster as long as VDV is played behind the forwards and not on the wing.

But surely Defoe just becomes superfluous? If you had a third forward who could play wide or drop and interchange with vdV, it could work.

But Defoe's an out-and-out forward who has about 12 touches of the ball all game. It's hard enough carrying him in a 4-4-2, let alone a 4-3-3.

tototoner · Sep 17, 2011

Defoe isn't intelligent enough to play in any formation than 4-4-2 and Van Der Vaart is wasted in that formation if stuck out wide. 4-4-1-1 just ends up leaving the lone front man isolated

Harry needs to wake up and play 4-2-3-1 as it gets the best out of the players we have and its the formation every major club in Europe plays right now.

THOWIG · Sep 17, 2011

It would enable VDV to play in his best position as an attacking midfielder.

tototoner · Sep 17, 2011

THOWIG said:
It would enable VDV to play in his best position as an attacking midfielder.

Yeap - midfield and forwards would be

---------------- Sandro / Huddlestone -------- Parker / Livermore------------

Modric / Lennon -------- VDV / Pienaar -------- Bale / Kranjcar / Giovani

----------------------Adebayor / Defoe / Pav -------------------------------

The 3 attacking midfielders would be fluid and would change starting positions depending on fitness, injuries, competition. VDV can play left or right but is more dangerous through the middle . Modric is so flexible he could play in any attacking mid position or as part of the CM pairing

phil · Sep 17, 2011

Dan Ashcroft said:
But surely Defoe just becomes superfluous? If you had a third forward who could play wide or drop and interchange with vdV, it could work.

But Defoe's an out-and-out forward who has about 12 touches of the ball all game. It's hard enough carrying him in a 4-4-2, let alone a 4-3-3.

We are all aware of your oft-quoted views of Defoe.

I suspect that Harry will play Ade/Defoe up front with VdV replacing Kranjcar and Bale switching back to the left. I, for one, would not be unhappy with this formation.

Unfortunately we do not have the players to make 4-2-3-1 work as I don't believe either Lennon or Bale fit easily into that formation. When Sandro is fit, I think we will be seeing a lot of Ade/VdV up front but don't think it will happen tomorrow.

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

tototoner said:
Defoe isn't intelligent enough to play in any formation than 4-4-2 and Van Der Vaart is wasted in that formation if stuck out wide. 4-4-1-1 just ends up leaving the lone front man isolated

Harry needs to wake up and play 4-2-3-1 as it gets the best out of the players we have and its the formation every major club in Europe plays right now.

Totally agree

tototoner said:
Yeap - midfield and forwards would be

---------------- Sandro / Huddlestone -------- Parker / Livermore------------

Modric / Lennon -------- VDV / Pienaar -------- Bale / Kranjcar / Giovani

----------------------Adebayor / Defoe / Pav -------------------------------

The 3 attacking midfielders would be fluid and would change starting positions depending on fitness, injuries, competition. VDV can play left or right but is more dangerous through the middle . Modric is so flexible he could play in any attacking mid position or as part of the CM pairing

Agree, except Modric hates playing on the right. He's also much more effective playing deeper in one of the CM spots IMO.

Otherwise it works well for me. My only concerns are i) any injury to Ade and we're screwed, ii) Lennon isn't ideal in that position - longer term we do need more of a right-forward in there.

orkneyspur · Sep 17, 2011

I think that the amount of times Defoe willl be caught offside (as usual) will gradually reduce the effectiveness of Ade as a play off man.

RichSpur58 · Sep 17, 2011

Legacy said:
I reckon we'll see it for about 58 minutes, before VdV pulls up with his hamstring because he was rushed back before he was fully fit.

lol so true.

Why cant he play 90mins?

sim0n · Sep 17, 2011

Dan Ashcroft said:
Although he sees Defoe as family (in the mafia sense), I don't think even Redknapp has ever started Defoe ahead of Rafa. If anything he'll make a mess trying to incorporate all 3.

maybe not a mess, could be done like ths with lennon out:

-----------friedel

corluka--king--kaboul--BAE

------modric--parker

defoe------VDV------bale

----------adebyor

just play defoe at RW in for lennon - might work out nicely :shrug:

however, I do think this would be rushing VDV back

Dan Ashcroft · Sep 17, 2011

sim0n said:
maybe not a mess, could be done like ths with lennon out:

-----------friedel

corluka--king--kaboul--BAE

------modric--parker

defoe------VDV------bale

----------adebyor

just play defoe at RW in for lennon - might work out nicely :shrug:

however, I do think this would be rushing VDV back

Personally I don't think Defoe's got any of the attributes to play that role. I'd rather see Gio or Falque given a shot, as that's their actual position. Or even Walker.

Spurrific · Sep 17, 2011

I reckon Harry will just play Rafa on the right tomorrow

TheGreenLily · Sep 17, 2011

Legacy said:
I reckon we'll see it for about 58 minutes, before VdV pulls up with his hamstring because he was rushed back before he was fully fit.

I would find this funny, if it wasn't for the fact you might possibly well be right.

Sod it, I Am gonna laugh anyway :lol:

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