PLAYER WATCH: Soldado

[Spurger King]

No, he is a bit better than Frazier, though the latter has scored more goals from open play in the Prem this year (heh).

He is of a similar ilk though. Doesn't do much unless someone can thread an inch perfect ball to him (tough in today's game).

You only have to look at the top strikers over the past 10 years in Europe to see that Soldado's type of striker is not the one anymore. You need more and we need more.

But Soldado has been one of the top strikers in Europe for several years. His goal scoring record since 2009-10 has been 20, 25, 27, and 30.

 

[Kendall]

Before we wright him off here, you not think it would be prudent to at least give him a few months to see how he is doing by then?

I mean, come on....he's played 7 games - and he's just scored a very good goal, you could well have egg on your face soon enough.

Of course. I'd start him against Hull.

I'm not writing him off really, I think he's a good player in the right circumstances (4-4-2, two out and out not-inverted wingers etc.) But I questioned his attributes and his style before he signed. I'm just giving my judgement up to now, which is that I still think he is unsuited to the others we brought in, not only that, but he doesn't get involved enough.

 

[Kendall]

But Soldado has been one of the top strikers in Europe for several years. His goal scoring record since 2009-10 has been 20, 25, 27, and 30.

How did Valencia play? I ask honestly as I never really watched them. Plus I don't really rate defences in Spain.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I agree, he's not really involved in much so there's little to get excited about.

It concerns me that everyone we've played against has had the tactic to smoother our attacks with sheer numbers and by and large, it's worked. That's only the 2nd time this season we've managed more than 1 goal in a league game.

I can move all he likes and be a world class finisher all he likes. But of he's reliant on others putting it on the tee for him and that's not happening due to the oppositions tactics, we need another option.
If you can't pick the lock kick the fucking door down imo.

 

[chrissivad]

The pace of our play so far this season would cause any striker of Soldado's ilk problems for sure.

I agree, just think the pace has been effected due to a higher line and having to work the ball around more to try and find that space.

Would like to see us drop back a bit more and hope that we will see more gaps infront of us.

 

[Legend10]

His great movement in the box has so far yielded nothing. Andros has put in multiple good crosses into the box this year. Even Siggy and Paulinho have looked more dangerous in the box.

This I will sort of agree with, although I do think he has shown good movement in the box and we haven't found him, his 1st goal at Tbilisi is a good example of intelligent movement. But games have been so compact due to our lethargy it's been difficult for him.

But I do agree that he's going to have to work this out.


Paulinho will always look dangerous due to his ability to arrive late from midfield.

 

[Kendall]

The pace of our play so far this season would cause any striker of Soldado's ilk problems for sure.

I agree with you there, but aside from Bale, I didn't think the pace of our play last season was any quicker - in terms of moving the ball.

If that is the way AVB wants to play (possession, slow build up) then why buy a player of Soldado's ilk?

 

[Mr Pink]

I agree, just think the pace has been effected due to a higher line and having to work the ball around more to try and find that space.

Would like to see us drop back a bit more and hope that we will see more gaps infront of us.

Good point Chris.

 

[Legend10]

Of course. I'd start him against Hull.

I'm not writing him off really, I think he's a good player in the right circumstances (4-4-2, two out and out not-inverted wingers etc.) But I questioned his attributes and his style before he signed. I'm just giving my judgement up to now, which is that I still think he is unsuited to the others we brought in, not only that, but he doesn't get involved enough.

Again I kind of agree and have said before if you want the absolute best of Soldado you need to pair him with Ade, I think then he would score goals for fun.

However people don't want to play 2 up these days

 

[Kendall]

Soldado and Ade in a return to Jol's big man/little man combo. Lennon on the right, Townsend left. We would score for fun, but probably ship just as many.

 

[Spurger King]

How did Valencia play? I ask honestly as I never really watched them. Plus I don't really rate defences in Spain.

Well that's the big difference. Valencia, whenever I saw them, seemed to get in a lot of crosses, and generally seemed good at creating chances in the area. I think Soldado isn't really benefiting from us playing inverted wingers.

He's not the sort of player who is going to dribble the ball past four players, but he's an exceptionally gifted (and pretty inventive) finisher.

 

[mpickard2087]

He needs the ball in to his feet really. He definitely lacks some of the traditional qualities needed to adapt to the Premier League. He isn't going to win anything in the air, he isn't going to run away from anyone so its not a good idea either to play balls into the channels for him to chase.

Second half when we got players up in support of him and put some passes together he looked an infinitely better player with his link-up play, and when given a chance showed his composure in front of goal. The game had opened up at that point though, and whether we can move the ball higher up the pitch and create chances on a regular basis remains to be seen at this point.

 

[Mr Pink]

Of course. I'd start him against Hull.

I'm not writing him off really, I think he's a good player in the right circumstances (4-4-2, two out and out not-inverted wingers etc.) But I questioned his attributes and his style before he signed. I'm just giving my judgement up to now, which is that I still think he is unsuited to the others we brought in, not only that, but he doesn't get involved enough.

Fair enough. I'm not saying you're 100% wrong either, IMO.

I do think we need to move the ball quicker. Our slow possession high up the pitch in congested areas only hinders our ability to move the ball quicker, and I'm sure that's why Soldado has been less involved than we would of liked.

I would like to see AVB respond with tactical tweaks in the game more frequently. I think he's given us an excellent foundation to build on, we are conceding way less for a start so our style of playing is effective to a point, but we need to be able to adapt to differing conditions as opposed to always playing the same way.

When we score first that normally works in our favour, but when we don't we look toothless with no answer to the opposition and AVB hasn't looked to really change tact.

 

[Kendall]

Well that's the big difference. Valencia, whenever I saw them, seemed to get in a lot of crosses, and generally seemed good at creating chances in the area. I think Soldado isn't really benefiting from us playing inverted wingers.

He's not the sort of player who is going to dribble the ball past four players, but he's an exceptionally gifted (and pretty inventive) finisher.

Well that leaves me not holding out much hope for his success then. None of this is a slur on Soldado by the way (I know I'm OTT at the best of times), I like him, I think he looks a character and seems to have settled well with members of the squad, especially considering he didn't really want to leave Valencia. But we spent over 70m on other players which means our style doesn't really suit him.

All of a sudden expecting everything to click and see us tearing teams open to present him with a tap in is unlikely to happen. Soldado will, IMO, continue to scratch around for goals in the league this season with a little bit of success but spending a long time uninvolved in play. That's not his fault, it's AVB/Baldini's really.

 

[Shea]

There's a big difference between someone like Inzaghi and Darren Bent for example - being a similar type of striker doesn't tell the whole story quality is what is important

Not every striker has to be in the Drogba mould to be a top class striker

Darren Bent may be a good in the box striker but he's not in Soldado's league when it comes to intelligence, movement and hold up play

The issue with Soldado is (as stated) he's not the type of player that can create for himself so in order to thrive he and his team mates need to be on the same wave length - this comes with time, but then to be fair even the big hulking centre forwards can take time to settle and not hit the ground running (Drogba was slow to settle at Chelsea, Benteke took half a season to show his best form last year etc etc)

Just as not every fox in the box striker is as limited as Bent not every physically menacing striker is as good as Drogba or Lukaka (Ade Akinbye)

I see why everyone wants a Lukaku or a Benteke now days because they make such an obvious impact whenever the ball is near them - they rough up defenders and make things happen.

But while football may have changed since the days of Lineker and Greaves I simply do not believe there is no place in top level football for clever in the box strikers who thrive on chances being created for them and I refuse to believe that with all the attacking talent and creativity we have at our disposal and Soldado's ability to create space, link with others, hold the ball up and drag defenders out of poistion he and we will not be highly potent in front of goal once all our attacking players are settled and on the same wavelength

 

[idontgetit]

Soldado actually reminds me a little of Berbatov, although I know they are different. Took a few games for Berbs to really show his class so hopefully we'll see something similar with Soldado

 

[CornerPinDreamer]

I see why everyone wants a Lukaku or a Benteke now days because they make such an obvious impact whenever the ball is near them - they rough up defenders and make things happen.

Unless you have a Sandro

 

[BringBack_leGin]

No, he is a bit better than Frazier, though the latter has scored more goals from open play in the Prem this year (heh).

He is of a similar ilk though. Doesn't do much unless someone can thread an inch perfect ball to him (tough in today's game).

You only have to look at the top strikers over the past 10 years in Europe to see that Soldado's type of striker is not the one anymore. You need more and we need more.

Sorry mate, that's rubbish. The guy doesn't need it on a plate by any stretch of the imagination, and in fact his goal v Villa was not a gilt edged change particularly, it was a move that he started, then timed a great run in which invited the pass from Paulinho, and then sent his eyes one way while lifting the ball the other. The countless volleys he's scored over the years, first time rather than half, over the shoulder or from crosses, from all angles in the area, those aren't gilt edged chances, those are not on a plate, those are executions of a very difficult technique which is designed to deliver an earlier shot than anticipated by opposition defenderse and goalkeepers, before they have time to find their footing and put in tackles/ blocks.

And the amount of one touch passes he lays off when he does drop to the flanks and deep will surprise you too by the way, he has that Spanish ability to decide where he sends the ball before he's even touched it, and then not dally at all doing so. He's like a taller, better, harder working Keane, and in another league to Defoe who has faded a lot in the past 12 months anyway.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I really like Soldado, but Sunday just made me realise even more how we need a striker like Bentekkers.

 

[CowInAComa]

I agree with you there, but aside from Bale, I didn't think the pace of our play last season was any quicker - in terms of moving the ball.

If that is the way AVB wants to play (possession, slow build up) then why buy a player of Soldado's ilk?

This is basically the issue in a nutshell. Soldado's quality is evident for all to see, but it really isnt a fit for our ploddingly efficient slowly does it style.

Benteke would have turned us into a fucking monster. New contract or not i would smash down a big offer to Villa in January and attempt to prize him our way.