For those who keep citing Gio as a left winger - or any variety of midfielder - note that he reckons he's competing with the other strikers. If Pavlyuchenko is indeed going to be sold in January, this is all the more reason to get Gio integrated into the line-up, as we could save one hell of a lot of money if we didn't have to replace after we sell.

This has to be yet another addition to the ever-growing series of half-coded public utterances by Redknapp and Giovani about the latter's past year and a half at Tottenham.

Every few days we get another one of these. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing him coming on as a substitute soon after he is fit again. I hope so, as he sounds like a young man with a point to prove.

Well if this is genuine, then he is displaying the right attitude. He has done well for his country, and quite a few players might expect that to translate as an instant starter when back at their clubs.
I like the lad, and hope he does have that "point to prove" thing about him.
Super sub?

I'm a big Gio fan and I don't think we realisehow much of a gem we have at our club. I think he should not feel his competition is any of our strikers but really the likes of Modric, Lennon, Kranjcar et al although I would love to see him pushed up front to cause havoc in opponents defences lets say in the last 20 mins of a tight game. Gio is making the right noises at least he wants to stay and show his talents. I worry about Pav's future and Bentley as I think they will go in Jan even though in my opinion it would be a mistake to let anyone leave this squad when we are so near to breaking into the "top four".

The thing is: he isn't a midfielder. He's never been a midfielder, although he was pressed into service on the wing when we were hamstrung by multiple cup-tied players last season.

The official site has him listed as a striker. He thinks he's a striker (see above). Mexico play him as a second striker, in the hole and roaming out to the flanks when he fancies it.

The idea that he's a midfielder seems to be one of these internet factoids that got established when people kept posting the he would be our solution to the left wing, despite the fact that he's vitually never played there.

It has become so ingrained now that I keep seeing posts insisting that we shouldn't sell Pavlyuchenko "unless we have already bought a replacement", because we need four strikers, ignoring the fact that there are already five in the first team squad.

So it doesn't matter very much whether you and hundreds of other fans on the internet reckon that he should be competing with our midfielders and not our strikers. No one else thinks so. No one with any influence on the matter, anyway.

I'd like us to try 4-2-3-1, with hudd and palacios in holding positions, lennon, modric and gio interchanging behind robo-crouch. Yummy!!!

I guess he's actually quite similar to Robbie Keane and could be his long term replacement if he is able to step up to the plate.

I totally agree

If he isn't a left winger...why does Harry play him there?

Let Keane go and keep Pav.

Why are people advocating a change in formation after the start we've had?!?!? All to accomodate one (unproven) player at the expense of two proven ones in the shape of Keane and Defoe.

I am a massive fan of Gio, and desperate for him to stay, but he's got to get in the team that we have which will be difficult. If we do let Pav go, I'd want a young, hungry striker to be in the 4th slot, and Gio could do that.

The fact is Gio can play well in a variety of positions and is one of the few truly versatile players at top level. So he can be and has played as a second striker too.

But to say he has never been a midfielder and "virtually never" played there is just simply wrong. He has, many times - whether it was through his wish or the coach's is another matter.

Footballdata.com, wikipedia, official FIFA sourses list Gio as a Midfielder, or sometimes as an Attacking Midfielder. Check it.

The official strikers for Mexico have consistently been Blanco and Sabah, with Castillo, Vela, Arellano as Substitute strikers. Gio played as an Attacking Midfielder for Mexico, with licence to join the attack as much as possible, but without forgetting to help defensively too.

This is the role many people (Mexican National Coach included it seems) feel is best for him, with his pace, skills, good shooting from mid range, awareness and discipline/work rate required for this position. Even in the brief appearances for Spurs we could see several times how he picks the ball in our half and carries it towards the opposition's pen area. Strikers do not normally do that (or have to do that).

Was Maradona just a striker - even though his teams relied heavily on his goals and he was a brilliant goalmaker and goalscorer? BTW, this is not to put Gio in the same bracket as Maradona, not even close, yet - relax!:wink:

Harry doesn't play him anywhere.

Agreed. When he left Barca they made it clear that it was partly due to his attitude. Harry has made several allusions to this as well. And now Gio is implictly acknowledging that he has not been as committed mentally and physically as he might have been.

All of which explains away the conspiracy theorists incredulity at his lack of playing time. Well that and your first point - that he is competing with 3 other players in cracking form.

Something about being upside down has muddled your thinking. Are you seriously advocating dropping Keane and Defoe?

Thank god you're stuck in poland and not at Spurs Lodge. This was all recited last week, so I won't go into detail again here. But suffice to say that Keane has 6 goals in 8 outings, at a ratio of 3 in 4. Since we have re-signed him the side has been in top 4 form (or thereabouts).

Pav has managed 5 league goals in 30 appearances. And he's injured.

Leaving aside goals, Keane contributes far more in general play to Pav - who is an out and out striker (and no number 9).

So enlighten me - why exactly should we swap these two players?

Gio,Modric,Taarbat and Kranjcar are all trequartista(number 10's) and in modern football,their seems know room for them in central positions,so most terquartista are push out to the wings.

you're right. Keane has 6 in 8 starts. Pav has 1 in 1. therefore, Pav has a better strike rate. i mean, if you're going to use stats, at least be fair. This season only. Plus, Pav played 30 mins for Russia so he's not injured anymore.

Pav and Crouch can battle for the no.9. Defoe and Gio can be the second striker.

as for our record since Keane came back...yes, it's been very good. no denying that. but i would suggest that was more due to Wilson arriving than to Keane coming back.

i personally feel that Pav leaving would be a bigger loss than if Keane did. i like Keane, i do. but Pav would be the bigger loss.

consider yourself enlightened.

That is absolute gash.

wastegash

What utter rubbish !
How can losing someone who is not playing be a bigger loss than probably one of our best 4 players.
Look at what Keane does when he has not got the ball.
Geo may well be an alternative to Defoe. Similar in their direct efforts from nowhere, with the former a better linking player.
Modric and Keane are special. Lennon is getting close.

The only reason for us to worry is if Jenas does not get replaced, and if Ledley's legs fall off !