Pav Better Than Berbs?

[domw001]

Nice little column article in the London Paper last night talking about Pav and that his "slow start" is better than Berbatov's when he first joined.

Not saying that he is a better player just that he's starting to warm up nicely as a Spurs forward

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Sa...158748284?packedargs=suffix=ArticleController




His supposed slow start had people shouting that he wasn’t cut out for the rigours of the Premier League.

And even the kindest Spurs supporter admitted following in Dimitar Berbatov’s footsteps was proving no easy feat.

But after ten goals in 20 appearances, he looks to be the perfect partner for the newly returned Jermain Defoe. Especially when you consider Berbatov scored the same amount in his first 20 outings. Pavlyuchenko’s contribution is even more impressive if you consider that he has played a full 90 minutes just six times this ­season. That makes a goal-to-minutes ratio of one every 128 minutes. Berbatov hit one every 158 minutes.

Plus, Berbatov didn’t arrive at White Hart Lane having played almost a full season in the Russian League, as Pavlyuchenko had.

But I don’t want to compare Pavlyuchenko to Berbatov – it’s like stacking Defoe up against Peter Crouch.

What is important to remember is that even the best strikers – Berbatov, Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Didier Drogba to name a few – need time to bed into life in a new league, in a new country with a new language.

But they usually come good.

 

[spurs mental]

Interesting facts about the goals to mins ratio. What it doesnt say is that Pavlyuchenko also works alot harder than Berbatov did. If he is better than Berbatov though, or turns out to be, does that mean that his price will treble in two seasons and he will sign for United for about £45m. :razz:

 

[Kendall]

Well it really depends on what you want in a striker. Berbatov had a magical touch that had us going ooooooh and ahhhh. He was intelligent at bringing players into the game too.

Pavlyuchenko is slightly different. He seems more clinical infront of goal, he finds space and he can ping 40 yard cross-field passes to feet and still get in the box for the return ball.

If he can continue this progression and channel his cup performances into the league games then he could be up there with the best in the league.

 

[Coyboy]

I don't think we should underestimate his ability to bring others into play. He is no Berbatov and never will be but he is gone. Over the last few games, Pav has held the ball up and spread play very well.

 

[Supersonic]

Hes nowhere near as skillfull as berbatov, but its nice to actually see him run and put in effort, which you never saw from berbatov

 

[Delboy10]

I love the Pav.

 

[senseispab]

No, Berbatov is on another footballing plane.

 

[kungfugrip]

Berba was the most skillful player I've seen in a Spurs shirt since.......Hoddle to be honest. Ginola and Gazza were magnificent of course as well.

But Berba is gone and Pav is beginning to find his feet. If he can continue scoring a decent number of goals (and a few more in the league would be nice) his first season could turn out to be very handy indeed. Considering the language barrier, the awful form of the team early doors, zero service from midfield at times, and the fact that he must be tired after a full season in Russia, I reckon 15 - 20 goals this year would be a very decent return.

Glad we've got him.

 

[Danny1]

No, Berbatov is on another footballing plane.

While I agree that Berbs is a class act I dont think he is that far ahead of Pav, as a striker, because of the following reasons:

Finishing: Pav will finish 90% of his chances whereas Berbs has the tendency to try and be too clever at times.

Heading: Berbs and Pav are pretty much similar in this department, Pavs header against Newcastle was top class.

Control: No contest here as Berbs is one of/or the best players at bringing the ball down.

Teamwork: Pav is a much harder worker than Berbs, he constantly closes people down and does a lot of good defending for the team re: the block against Wigan.

Pace: Neither has any.....

What I am getting at here is that I think Pav has got the attributes to be a very good striker, I am not saying he is a better all round player than Berbs coz he isnt, I just think he will become a very important player for us!

 

[mil1lion]

If i were a defender i'd worry more about Pavyluchenko than Berbatov to be honest. Not because Pav is better than Berbs, because he isn't, but Pavyluchenko causes more problems in and around the box. He has better instincts in front of goal, where Berbatov can try and be too cute at times.

What we do have is a special player with the potential of Berbatov playing deeper in midfield now in Luka Modric. So the emphasis of our play has changed a lot since last season. Thats what has caused most problems so far this season. Not so much the loss of quality players, but changing the style of play to accomodate the new arrivals.

Pavyluchenko has done a great job so early in his career, and we cant forget that Berbatov always had support alongside him. Pavyluchenko has been isolated on a number of occassions and we certainly haven't flooded players forward like we did at WHL when Berbatov was here. So while Berbatov was a special player for us, he also benefited from being in a very attack minded team which played to his qualities. Pavyluchenko has had less to feed off this season, but just by going to a 4-4-2 and having someone alongside him, we have started to see big improvements in Pavyluchenko,

Plus Pavyluchenko smiles and he works his arse off.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Clearly they are very different. Berbatov is on a different level in terms of ability (but then he is compared with almost every striker in the world) could hold the ball up and bring others in to play. Berbatov caused defences a lot of problems simply by being on the pitch and putting himself in awkward positions. His magnetic ability to control the ball meant defenders couldn't allow him any space, but his deeper positioning affected the structure of the defence. He then had options of picking off a pass or having a go himself. At his best he is almost unplayable.

However, Pavlyuchenko has done really well. A goal every 128 minutes is a great return by anyones standards. Considering he has only recently been playing with a strike partner it is even more impressive. He needs to start scoring more in the league but lets face it he hasn't had that much of a run out in the league.

The good things from Pav are he works hard, even as a lone striker and he is a clinical finisher. I noticed in the last couple of games that when he has a strike partner he actually does a pretty good job moving into the channels and stretching the backline and still keeps going and gets into the box as well. If he works on his first touch and using his height a bit better in the box then he could be really top draw. I'm looking forward to seeing him with Defoe.

 

[alextheyid]

its nice to know that pav has had a fraction of a better start...and for as long as he's record for us is better than berbatovs at the same time..then you could argue that he is a better striker...footballer-no..but goalscorer maybe..

 

[diegooners]

No comparison. Pavlyuchenko is a very good striker, Berbatov is one of the best players in the world.

 

[JonnySpurs]

As the article states, comparing them is not really the point. Berba will always be looked back on fondly by us as fans because he did some truly breathtaking things in our shirt, however, what is more appropriate at this stage is that Roman, under the circumstances, has done an excellent job so far for someone who is still adapting to the style of play in this league, the language, the culture....all kinds of things.

Above all else though he has to contend with being the man who has had to replace the enigmatic Dimitar Berbatov, and that on it's own is enough of a task!

Well done Pav, you're doing a sterling job son....keep it up

 

[Mr Gamgee]

berbatov is in completely different class to Pav to be honest

 

[striebs]

No, Berbatov is on another footballing plane.

Yep completely . I get quite frustrated watching him and Carrick interact for them rather than us .

Someone said neither Berbatov nor Pav has pace , thats incorrect , Berbatov has blistering pace when he feels like it . Pav on the other hand is only quicker than Luca Toni .

Berbatov can be a target man too - we need the option of route-1 football and none of our current strikeforce give us that option .

Neither are sicknotes in the Ashton , Owen vein .

Pav's workrate has been very acceptable recently but I wouldn't go as far as saying he works his ass off .

Am happy with Pav but think we will miss the target man option Fredi , Berba and to a lesser extent Mido gave us .

 

[bubble07]

there should be absolutely no comparisons made between the two

 

[General Levy]

Hes nowhere near as skillfull as berbatov, but its nice to actually see him run and put in effort, which you never saw from berbatov

No, Berbatov is on another footballing plane.

No comparison. Pavlyuchenko is a very good striker, Berbatov is one of the best players in the world.

berbatov is in completely different class to Pav to be honest

there should be absolutely no comparisons made between the two

/thread

 

[TheBlueRooster]

The only time I've ever thought about the two at the same time was Pavs goal against Burnley and I thought it was similar to what Berbatov could do. The control, nip past the defender and slide it home. Apart from that there's a world of difference.

 

[ginol@14]

berba was class but seriously people saying he was the best player to wear a spurs shirt aint got a clue !
hoddle was the greatest by a mile
gazza next
and (im not being biased here ) ginola had better technique than berba
he was one of the best strikers we had but no way was he the best/most skillfull player to wear a spurs shirt!

on pav , really like this guy , think defoe will bring the best out of him