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Could Ramos do what Jol didn't dare?

SpurSince57

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2006
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Given that the machinations of our wonderful board put him in an impossible position, Jol eschewed experiment and played the striking combination in which he had most faith. Who'd do anything different? As the new incumbent, Ramos has freedom—limited freedom, maybe, but freedom nonetheless—to experiment. As I said on another thread, Bent scored a pretty peachy goal and proved he isn't the new Rasiak, and was a gnat's whisker away from a second.

What he has probably figured out is that our central midfield isn't up to snuff. This can't have been too difficult, as at least 90% of SC figured this out over the summer. Expect an attempt to prevent Gilberto going to Juve in January, and maybe even the return of Carrick.
 

eViL

Oliver Skipp's Dad
May 15, 2004
5,840
7,960
Erm.. I think you've all forgotten all the extra RUNNING our players have had to do this week.

It'll take 4 weeks (at the very least) to adjust their bodies to the new training so I think we'll see some major rotation in coming weeks.

And obviously, Ramos is weighing up his options.
 

GDG

Old China Hand
Staff
Aug 25, 2004
23,903
27
Ramos is not focused on results. He is experimenting and learning about his squad. The rest of this season is next season's pre-season.
That's all very well provided we don't get relegated in the process, coz make no mistake we are seriously in the shit at the moment. Hardly any teams in our position this far in the season have managed to make it in to the top half of the table, and most struggle for the whole season.
 

SpurSince57

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2006
45,213
8,229
Erm.. I think you've all forgotten all the extra RUNNING our players have had to do this week.

It'll take 4 weeks (at the very least) to adjust their bodies to the new training so I think we'll see some major rotation in coming weeks.

And obviously, Ramos is weighing up his options.

Comedy gold.
 

gibbs131

Banned
May 20, 2005
8,870
11
Am I the only person who thinks it was stupid to drop Keane and Berbatov today? They scored all five goals against Boro home and away last season when we won both games. Woodgate was out and Boro were there for the taking with a bit of subtlety and thought.

Our midfield really doesn't support the strikers and Keane is not only top scorer but does a great job linking the play.

I can't help but think that if Martin Jol had done this he would have been completely slaughtered.

They did play. And they didn't really do anything. The new partnership scored, so there is some positive to his choice.

In my opinion, he is genuinley resting playrs. keane was jokeing and laughing on the bench s he is completely at ease with the descision.

Do you potentially injure Keane and Berbs in a doomed league campaign or do you save them fresh for Europe, the quater finals and the FA cup?

Either way, a draw away from home was what I predicted with our usual strikeforce. Plus we got to the the Prince at last. A very productive game with no injuries.
 

yanno

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2003
5,857
2,877
Having posted similar things in other threads, I agreed with walworthyid that we saw Ramos' system yesterday, within the limitations of our squad. With the reservations that we have no fit wide LM with a left-foot (until Bale recovers from his injury), and the rest of them are learning what Ramos wants. Given that, it was not a disastrous performance.

One thing: there is no way that Jol would ever have played Jenas and Boateng together in CM. But once they're both fit, they should be able to play the high-tempo, closing down and pressing game that Ramos likes from his CMs (unless and until we sign an out-and-out holding enforcer like Poulsen). Tainio could also probably play the role - getting routinely subbed on the hour, or coming on for the last 30 minutes. Zokora is a good enough athlete to play like a Ramos CM, but I have my doubts whether he's a good enough footballer. Unfortunately, the Hud probably doesn't have the athletic capability to be a Ramos CM...

Meanwhile, Sevilla were absolutely sensational in destroying Real Madrid last night. And they were playing Ramos' favoured system, pressing all over the pitch and breaking with speed and numbers. Kanoute was fantastic, as was Keita.

When people slag Berbatov's body language off, please remember that Fredi used to go missing and look like he wasn't bothered when he played for us. I'm sure Ramos will try to get Berba playing as consistently as he got Kanoute contributing, and if he succeeds, then we're in for a treat. Because good as Kanoute is, Berbatov is potentially an even better player.

In short, I don't want us resigning Fredi. I want Ramos getting Berbatov playing even better than Fredi.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
When seville play away from home ramos' line-ups were designed to counter attacking football with pace. I think we may see a lot more of defe and bent away from hom and in the league cup and f.a cup with berba and keane for home games and european matches
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
Berba and Keane have played a HUGE amount of games in the last couple of weeks, so personally I believe that he was simply resting them
 

Kendall

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2007
38,502
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I didn't see any porblems with our strike force yesterday, so why the debate?

Keane and Berbatov will start mid-week.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
11,942
21,098
He's sizing up his players, that's the long and the short of it. He can watch them in training all he likes, but he won't be able to adequately judge their abilities nor see which players will fit into his tactical plans until he sees them in competitive matches. It's like pre-season. Pre-season friendlies are not just for the players to get some match sharpness, but also for the manager to judge their playing levels and which players best fit into his plans, especially new signings.

Dropping Keane and Berbs isn't a statement, isn't a judgement, it's just common sense. He has four strikers and he needs to see what they each can do. He's seen the majority of the first team regulars. The players he hasn't seen are the injuries and the second string players: Bale (injured), Gardner (injured), King (not match fit), Assou-Ekotto (injured), Rocha (injured), Taarabt, Cerny, Alnwick, Barnard, Ifil (on loan), Routledge and Dervite.

Ramos' effect on the squad is not going to be evident for a number of weeks yet. The only effect we're likely to see is greater effort on the pitch as the squad look to impress the new boss.
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
I don't have a problem with him dropping/resting Berbs and Keane yesterday. They have started most games and as others has mentioned I'm sure Ramos wants to get a good look at all his players from the start of games not just coming on with 15 mins. I think he'll try different combinations Berb/Bent, Keane/Bent, Berb/Defoe, also in midfield and on the wings. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Routledge, Taarabt even Danny Rose who Poyet will have probably worked with at Leeds.
 
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