Player Watch: Fernando Llorente

[Shadydan]

With the exception of piss-poor lower league opposition, to me he seems at his best when we are up against it playing a team that is better than we are. He's also best coming off the bench to mix things up. Are those assets enough to use up a valuable (non-HG) squad spot on him?

Seeing as Kane and Son play the majority of our games as strikers ahead of him I'd say so.

I don't understand why people don't balance their opinions better, he had a bad game last night but he's been more than valuable to us this season so what's the rush to get rid?

 

[gregga]

Seeing as Kane and Son play the majority of our games as strikers ahead of him I'd say so.

I don't understand why people don't balance their opinions better, he had a bad game last night but he's been more than valuable to us this season so what's the rush to get rid?

It was a genuine question, rather than an opinion.

That said, my verdict on him, based on his two years here rather than last night's match or the past couple of months, is that we should be looking to upgrade if possible. I'd rather a young hungry striker with potential.

 

[Shadydan]

It was a genuine question, rather than an opinion.

That said, my verdict on him, based on his two years here rather than last night's match or the past couple of months, is that we should be looking to upgrade if possible. I'd rather a young hungry striker with potential.

Okay but a young hungry striker with potential isn't going to improve by sitting on the bench, this is the problem when trying to attract a player who knows they're not gonna be first choice if they're playing behind Son let alone Kane.

Yesterday was Llorente's 2nd start in the league this season and that's with Kane being out and Son being at the Asian games - at this moment in time someone like Llorente is probably the most realistic option.

 

[John48]

He was in a difficult position last night, 2 old fashion CB's who love long balls into the box & no real help alongside.

In the Huddersfield game where there was more space & we were able to get the ball into him he held it up & brought others into play.

 

[Khilari]

Wonder if we could utilise Llorente in the same way we did Crouch when Rafa VdV would score from his knock downs? Sonny or Moura would be best placed for that - i.e. go a little more 442 rather than 433. Or even 352 with WBs.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think a lot of it was instruction last night - stay up top through the middle and always occupy the centre backs. The way Brighton were set up it was a game where the striker might not see many touches and have to be patient.

You have to have players right off him (or Janssen, or any striker in that mould) for a flick/lay off though, we occasionally had Alli running forwards into the box, for most part the other two attackers were pinned to the touchlines. After about 20 minutes I think we should have been varying what we did - get Son and Moura either side of him through the centre and try to overwhelm them with sheer weight of numbers for example. Might work, might not, but we didn't really alter our approach throughout.

And to be fair to him if you watch it back I saw many times where, not getting much change out of the centre backs, he did pull to the back post on to the fullbacks and invite one being stood up, but we never tried to find out if this was a mismatch we could exploit, and there wasn't going to be anyone picking up a second ball in any case.....

But it was a game where he seemed to be lacking appetite again and when it did come his way he was half asleep, no real excuse for that. You have to be dialled in and be ready to work off those scraps when the ball does find its way into the front. Disappointing when he's looked far more up to speed lately.

 

[Japhet]

I think a lot of it was instruction last night - stay up top through the middle and always occupy the centre backs. The way Brighton were set up it was a game where the striker might not see many touches and have to be patient.

You have to have players right off him (or Janssen, or any striker in that mould) for a flick/lay off though, we occasionally had Alli running forwards into the box, for most part the other two attackers were pinned to the touchlines. After about 20 minutes I think we should have been varying what we did - get Son and Moura either side of him through the centre and try to overwhelm them with sheer weight of numbers for example. Might work, might not, but we didn't really alter our approach throughout.

And to be fair to him if you watch it back I saw many times where, not getting much change out of the centre backs, he did pull to the back post on to the fullbacks and invite one being stood up, but we never tried to find out if this was a mismatch we could exploit, and there wasn't going to be anyone picking up a second ball in any case.....

But it was a game where he seemed to be lacking appetite again and when it did come his way he was half asleep, no real excuse for that. You have to be dialled in and be ready to work off those scraps when the ball does find its way into the front. Disappointing when he's looked far more up to speed lately.

Difficult game for him. Flick ons and knock downs won't work when the area he's in is so crowded. In that situation I'd expect Kane to drop deeper and try to either draw the CBs out a bit or sneak into the box unnoticed. i think we should also have tried crosses into the box from deeper positions so that the striker is moving on to them instead of static.

 

[dtxspurs]

Okay but a young hungry striker with potential isn't going to improve by sitting on the bench, this is the problem when trying to attract a player who knows they're not gonna be first choice if they're playing behind Son let alone Kane.

Yesterday was Llorente's 2nd start in the league this season and that's with Kane being out and Son being at the Asian games - at this moment in time someone like Llorente is probably the most realistic option.

Its possible we would play another striker if Poch rated them higher though. Just think about how much we've had to jack around with formations & players positions because of not having sufficient depth.

If its in the budget I'd gladly buy another striker, but if its not I understand and think we can survive. It also seems obvious Poch always likes having a true dedicated backup striker so if Llorente goes, I believe we'll buy one.

 

[Shadydan]

Its possible we would play another striker if Poch rated them higher though. Just think about how much we've had to jack around with formations & players positions because of not having sufficient depth.

If its in the budget I'd gladly buy another striker, but if its not I understand and think we can survive. It also seems obvious Poch always likes having a true dedicated backup striker so if Llorente goes, I believe we'll buy one.

Poch rarely moves away from his 4-2-3-1 when everyone is fit, even Lucas and Lamela don't fit into his strongest starting 11. I just don't see how another forward albeit better gets to play more games.

 

[dtxspurs]

Poch rarely moves away from his 4-2-3-1 when everyone is fit, even Lucas and Lamela don't fit into his strongest starting 11. I just don't see how another forward albeit better gets to play more games.

I agree outside of he will use 3 atb a decent amount depending on the matchup.

The issue is that we've got such poor depth that we've had to so often shuffle the deck this season.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

According to FIFA, turds move quicker than Llorente

 

[Kempus]

Absolute fucking hero.

 

[isaac94]

Immense, hopefully some people start putting respect on his name

 

[isaac94]

Won 12 aerial duels, twice as many as any other player on the pitch

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

Give him another contract. Based off that performance alone. Absolutely changed the game for us. Incredible.

 

[littlemandefoe]

Hats off to him, came on, changed the game and showed everyone (myself included) what he is about. Quality performance. That performance alone justifies his time with us. Well done, big man. COYS!!!!

 

[Dazzazzad]

Nando should head to Holland for next season and FEAST. As my buddy said, they're making him look like Drogba.

 

[JCRD]

He was fucking magnificent

9/10 and only upstaged by Lucas

 

[mpickard2087]

The magic lamppost.

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

There was something in the air tonight, the stars were bright...Fernandooo.

Fuckin quality performance from the big man.