Could Pav be the answer?

[Alfieconnman]

I'm a yes, I think Pav could definately do a job as a lone striker, but only if he understands that you can't just hang around up top and expect the ball, you have to put the endeavour in to make it work. If Pav applied the work rate required then he more than has the ability to hold it up, create space etc.

But I agree in that ideally he's best with a partner who will drop off or go wide, allowing Pav to stay in and around the box where, let's be honest, he's lethal and can score from anything. Right, left, header, long range... he's got the lot when finding the net.

Personally, I really want Pav to stay. The only striker I would want us to replace is Keane, and that's only if he actually leaves.

This.

Whilst I don't think Pav is the perfect solution to the single striker role I am simply amazed at the amount of negative comments about him. Lets face it, we are not (yet) in a position to sign a world class striker like Torres or Drogba and even when we did stumble upon one, in the shape of Berbs, we were unable to hold on to him. DL runs a tight ship and is sensibly building for the future without putting the club at financial risk and thus our current salary structure, our absence from the CL (until now) and the reluctance to pay "stellar" transfer fees, precludes the signing of a real star striker. Accordingly, until such time as any of the above factors change we must take a reality pill and make the most of what we have, augmented with a few sensible signings that cover the weaknesses in depth in our present squad.

I really can't think of anyone within our budget and salary levels that is a huge improvement on Pav and rate him as our best all round striker. Defoe scores goals but needs to become less selfish in front of goal and learn to time his runs better - he is far too often offside. Crouch is a hard worker and competent but, through no fault of his own, his height and "gangling" style work against him as he is frequently and unfairly penalised by refs and also seems to completely change the way the team play with far too many long balls being speculatively lumped up the pitch. A good impact sub but no more. Keane has been a good servant but is fast losing pace and will only get worse so should be replaced whilst he still has a value.

Thus, although far from perfect, Pav would be my choice for the lone striker role on the occasions that we operate this system.

 

[james82mckay]

This.

Whilst I don't think Pav is the perfect solution to the single striker role I am simply amazed at the amount of negative comments about him. Lets face it, we are not (yet) in a position to sign a world class striker like Torres or Drogba and even when we did stumble upon one, in the shape of Berbs, we were unable to hold on to him. DL runs a tight ship and is sensibly building for the future without putting the club at financial risk and thus our current salary structure, our absence from the CL (until now) and the reluctance to pay "stellar" transfer fees, precludes the signing of a real star striker. Accordingly, until such time as any of the above factors change we must take a reality pill and make the most of what we have, augmented with a few sensible signings that cover the weaknesses in depth in our present squad.

I really can't think of anyone within our budget and salary levels that is a huge improvement on Pav and rate him as our best all round striker. Defoe scores goals but needs to become less selfish in front of goal and learn to time his runs better - he is far too often offside. Crouch is a hard worker and competent but, through no fault of his own, his height and "gangling" style work against him as he is frequently and unfairly penalised by refs and also seems to completely change the way the team play with far too many long balls being speculatively lumped up the pitch. A good impact sub but no more. Keane has been a good servant but is fast losing pace and will only get worse so should be replaced whilst he still has a value.

Thus, although far from perfect, Pav would be my choice for the lone striker role on the occasions that we operate this system.

This!

I'm also shocked by how few people seem appreciate Pav.
Agree with all of your points.

 

[thfc1989]

Never before has a player done so little but achieved such support. He is ok, and played a role last season, but if he was our number 9 next season then I would expect a lack of goals

 

[JerryGarcia]

Never before has a player done so little but achieved such support. He is ok, and played a role last season, but if he was our number 9 next season then I would expect a lack of goals

Why do you think that though? He's not really had a managers confidence untill the end of last season so going into his third year he has still not really had a fair chance. He gets support because when he has been given minutes, he's scored good and important goals. If Pav played 90 minutes in 38 league games next season, I'm sure he'd get at least 20 goals.

 

[JerryGarcia]

This.

Whilst I don't think Pav is the perfect solution to the single striker role I am simply amazed at the amount of negative comments about him. Lets face it, we are not (yet) in a position to sign a world class striker like Torres or Drogba and even when we did stumble upon one, in the shape of Berbs, we were unable to hold on to him. DL runs a tight ship and is sensibly building for the future without putting the club at financial risk and thus our current salary structure, our absence from the CL (until now) and the reluctance to pay "stellar" transfer fees, precludes the signing of a real star striker. Accordingly, until such time as any of the above factors change we must take a reality pill and make the most of what we have, augmented with a few sensible signings that cover the weaknesses in depth in our present squad.

I really can't think of anyone within our budget and salary levels that is a huge improvement on Pav and rate him as our best all round striker. Defoe scores goals but needs to become less selfish in front of goal and learn to time his runs better - he is far too often offside. Crouch is a hard worker and competent but, through no fault of his own, his height and "gangling" style work against him as he is frequently and unfairly penalised by refs and also seems to completely change the way the team play with far too many long balls being speculatively lumped up the pitch. A good impact sub but no more. Keane has been a good servant but is fast losing pace and will only get worse so should be replaced whilst he still has a value.

Thus, although far from perfect, Pav would be my choice for the lone striker role on the occasions that we operate this system.

Great post!

 

[Son_Of]

Basing a footballing opinion of a player from a youtube video is about as accurate as from football manager.

Still, saying that, even in this vid he still looks like a player that scores by being in the right place at the right time, not one that holds the ball up and brings others into play.

Most of his goals come from moving slyly into position when the defenders not paying attention, and he finishes well from 12 yards out. I still think he needs another forward to play off of otherwise he tends to get a bit dejected and misses what opportunities come his way.

Just so people don't think i'm bashing pav here, I firmly want him to stay at the club next year as i rate him, just not as a lone striker, and luckily for us, i don't think Harry does either.

agreed. this video does not make a case for pav playing up front alone

 

[Son_Of]

tried in vain to rep you there LukaMotion

 

[vegassd]

It really depends on who we play though. There will be a number of games where we'll be camped in the opposition half. So we could play either Defoe or Pav as an out and out striker, because they'll have players close to them anyway. We'll also keep the ball along the ground and rely on the movement of players around them.

It's really the games where the team is stretched that we currently have a problem. Especially away from home and on bigger pitches. We don't always have midfielders close to the front man/men, and the defence are further back which lead to long balls forward.. Those are the games where we lack the quality of a lone striker, if not then we'd need 2 strikers.

So the pace in defence is just as important, because it could be the difference between whether the defence drops deep or plays closer to the halfway line. If we keep Walker in the squad, we'll have Walker, Bassong and King as 3 quick centre backs. So we could push the defence further forward and allow the midfield to link up front.

It also helps to have quick wide players. So we can afford to push forward, but still have the pace to get back if we get caught on the break. I'm not 100% convinced we really need a big powerful striker. He still needs strength in the Premier League, but not necesarily a Drogba type. Just a striker who is intelligent, makes clever runs and pulls defenders with him.

I think Pav can do this, but lacks consistency. Crouch already offers us a longer ball option. Defoe can play on the shoulder of the last defender. So for me, the missing link is a striker who makes himself available to play along the ground and get into the box when Lennon and Bale get past their fullbacks.

The best thing about the Keane and Berbatov partnership was their intelligence. The best thing about the Klinsmann and Keane partnership was their intelligence. We lack a bit of that up front now.

This is bang on!

Each game is different and it's not simply a case of playing a lone striker away from home against the big teams. Injuries and form will play a big role in deciding the formation and we need players who can play in various different formations.

If we do play one up top and want to use him as a target man then obviously it's Crouch.

If we play one up with a player "in the hole" then I think Pav would be pretty good at this role. There were times when Pav has played and looked like he might be a Berbatov-esque player (not as good, obviously!) which maybe suggests a Pav-Keane link up could work. It just needs Pav to play at his very best on a consistent basis.

But I think that we play best as a team when we are 4-4-2, so depending on our injury situation throughout the season I can't see us playing a lone striker at all.

 

[striebs]

....The best thing about the Keane and Berbatov partnership was their intelligence. The best thing about the Klinsmann and Keane partnership was their intelligence. We lack a bit of that up front now.

If we are looking to get an intelligent striker like Diego Forlan then we should not be looking to sell Robbie Keane .

Just don't think Forlan plus Defoe would work out .

Don't want to play one up front , football is meant to be 4-4-2 .

 

[scat1620]

Never before has a player done so little but achieved such support. He is ok, and played a role last season, but if he was our number 9 next season then I would expect a lack of goals

I agree with the bolded part entirely. It's not like Pav's actively BAD in the Andy Booth kind of way, but he's streaky (like Defoe, IMO, but he goes missing in games more than any of our other strikers) and therefore the support he gets when our other forwards are getting lambasted from all sides baffles me.

He's ok, and we've had far worse in the past, but he gets cheered like he's Teddy or Jurgen. I don't understand it.

 

[LukaMotion]

tried in vain to rep you there LukaMotion

Haha, don't worry, it's the thought that counts. :grin:

 

[mill]

He played virtually as a lone striker at the Euro's, Arshavin was the closest player to him

 

[DJS]

The best thing about the Keane and Berbatov partnership was their intelligence. The best thing about the Klinsmann and Keane partnership was their intelligence. We lack a bit of that up front now.

Keane played up front with Klinsmann too...? :think:

 

[StockSpur]

bit slow

 

[azlankicap]

He's a good striker but our style of play probably doesn't fully utilise his strength.
There's a bit of a Kanoute about him. Didn't look too great in our colours but my fear would be that he would flourish at another club.

IMO Pav could still perform as a lone striker if we used him with Modric behind him (playing the arshavin role) but we'd have to sacrifice the wings more like how Russia play.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Keane played up front with Klinsmann too...? :think:

I missed that one too...

 

[striebs]

I missed that one too...

Guess he meant Teddy