The Soldado debate

[Hoddle&Waddle]

He has not. He averages one goal every three appearances in the EPL, which is certainly respectable, but hardly makes him a Lineker or an Allen, still less a Greaves. If he did score shitloads, we wouldn't have had to sign Soldado.

Defoe has 6 goals this season in open play, Soldado has 2. I'm not arguing who is the better player, I think thats Soldado, my point is if a player in the squad is in form he deserves a start. As I said before, no point having squad depth if all the players are unhappy because their not getting chances in the first team. No player, no matter the price tag should be guaranteed a starting place. Its called COMPETITION FOR PLACES.

 

[Misfit]

Maybe it's something to do with Defoe having flattered to deceive since 2004.

10 seasons is far too soon to make a decision one way or another. 6 games on the other hand is more than enough to write off Soldado. We shouldn't be surprised I suppose. A "fraud" of a coach did want him after all.

 

[Misfit]

Defoe has 6 goals this season in open play, Soldado has 0. I'm not arguing who is the better player, I think thats Soldado, my point is if a player in the squad is in form he deserves a start. As I said before, no point having squad depth if all the players are unhappy because their not getting chances in the first team. No player, no matter the price tag should be guaranteed a starting place. Its called COMPETITION FOR PLACES.

Not the best way to start a post. With a devastatingly glaring error.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Not the best way to start a post. With a devastatingly glaring error.

Fixed, but my point still stands

 

[Mr Pink]

liverpool do seem to create more clear cut chances than us. there's definitely double standards between defoe and soldado amongst spurs fans though.

You had written off Paulinho before he had kicked a ball for Spurs....I just wish fans would have a little more patience. Soldado has been incredibly unlucky to not have a couple of goals from open play in the League registered to his name yet, but more importantly he's serving the collective very well for the most part.

We are trying to bed in several new players, Liverpool's attack and midfield is broadly the same from last season. In my mind we can only get better, and we're sitting on the same number of points in the League- and we've arguably had the tougher start to boot.

 

[Blake Griffin]

it's still double standards, no matter how long defoe's been here. if he'd gone 0 for 6 then he'd be getting torn to shreds. it's fine for soldado though because he "makes space for others" and "defenders are drawn towards him".

 

[Misfit]

Well yes kinda sorta I suppose but Defoe has been getting starts. The squad is being used and effectively for the most part so what's the problem.

 

[Misfit]

it's still double standards, no matter how long defoe's been here. if he'd gone 0 for 6 then he'd be getting torn to shreds. it's fine for soldado though because he "makes space for others" and "defenders are drawn towards him".

Well yes actually. That's been the problem with JD for the most part. If he's not scoring (and he has gone on plenty of very impressive barren spells throughout his career) then, for 90% of games, he's about as useful as tits on a fish from a team perspective.

Why is this still being discussed as if this is some new revelation?

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Soldado needs to be given time. Simple as that.

We have the luxury of giving him time because we're winning the games we should be winning at the moment without his goals.

Whether or not Defoe 'deserves' to start is irrelevant. Soldado has been bought to lead the line, being supported by our creative players like Lamela and Eriksen who are still bedding in themselves.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Well yes actually. That's been the problem with JD for the most part. If he's not scoring (and he has gone on plenty of very impressive barren spells throughout his career) then, for 90% of games, he's about as useful as tits on a fish from a team perspective.

Why is this still being discussed as if this is some new revelation?

it's not a new revelation, but soldado doesn't do a great deal more, if at all. i think you're just wanting to see it because we paid out £26m for the guy.

 

[SpurSince57]

Defoe has 6 goals this season in open play, Soldado has 0. I'm not arguing who is the better player, I think thats Soldado, my point is if a player in the squad is in form he deserves a start. As I said before, no point having squad depth if all the players are unhappy because their not getting chances in the first team. No player, no matter the price tag should be guaranteed a starting place. Its called COMPETITION FOR PLACES.

Four of them against the bozos of Tbilisi and Tromso, and two against a pisspoor Villa reserve outfit. What a shame we don't play that sort of opposition in the EPL every week, eh?

Defoe has flattered to deceive for nine years now. Everyone but the diehards of the JDFC and most TV and radio commentators and pundits is aware of this. He's useful to have around but absolutely not good enough to be our main striker.

 

[YiddoInPoland]

Defoe has 6 goals this season in open play, Soldado has 2. I'm not arguing who is the better player, I think thats Soldado, my point is if a player in the squad is in form he deserves a start. As I said before, no point having squad depth if all the players are unhappy because their not getting chances in the first team. No player, no matter the price tag should be guaranteed a starting place. Its called COMPETITION FOR PLACES.

I don't think his price tag does, his work ethic does. Defoe has been a great servant and i am sure he will get games in the league, he will definently be involved in alot of games this season so don't see the issue.

You can raise your eyebrows at the fact he hasnt scored in open play in the league, thats a valid poi t in the argument as that is his job, but you have to look at other aspects of his game...he is our penalty taker and scored 2 in 2, assisted on saturday was involved in the first goal against norwich and pulled caulker out of position for our goal against cardiff. so on that basis he has been involved in over 50% of our current tally of goals.

I think in general play he offers more then defoe, and although not as complete as ade does not have a questionable work ethic.

That being said as a team we have only scored six goals in the league so the whole lot need to take responsibility and it should not be focused soley on Soldado who does need some better service.

 

[Misfit]

it's not a new revelation, but soldado doesn't do a great deal more, if at all. i think you're just wanting to see it because we paid out £26m for the guy.

I'm beginning to question your ability to process what's going on in front of your eyes tbh, Blake. Firstly - has Soldado been underwhelming? For me he has and I'm a fan. I'm not going to deny that I'd have like him to have scored a few more goals. His overall game is better than JD though.

I have manager after manager agreeing with my viewpoint on the matter so maybe you should discuss this with Jol, Wendy, H who was a proper JD cheerleader and now AVB the reasons why they have all, for the better part of a decade, not made JD the spearhead of our attack.

Soldado and £26m weren't even on the horizon before this summer so it would be interesting what flimsy excuse all the previous guys have for outrageously overlooking JD for so long. Maybe it's a conspiracy of some kind?

It clearly can't be the case of JD being a good member of the squad and a striker capable of going on scoring runs but simply lacking the overall game and talent to be an effective leader of the line at a club looking towards the top of the table. That would be madness it seems.

 

[Parklane Block 34]

Look. I'm not saying he is a bad player or he won't come good. Time will tell.

All I will say is that I have seen him in the flesh 4 times and another 3 games on the TV and so far I am not particularly inpressed and actually would go as far to say I would prefer Ade right now.

I don't think there is anything wrong or controversial in that

 

[SpurSince57]

I have manager after manager agreeing with my viewpoint on the matter so maybe you should discuss this with Jol, Wendy, H who was a proper JD cheerleader and now AVB the reasons why they have all, for the better part of a decade, not made JD the spearhead of our attack.

Well, he did once compare JD to Falcao, but I say, if a man can't relax with mind-altering substances after a hard day at the training ground, just what is this country coming to?

 

[Blake Griffin]

I'm beginning to question your ability to process what's going on in front of your eyes tbh, Blake. Firstly - has Soldado been underwhelming? For me he has and I'm a fan. I'm not going to deny that I'd have like him to have scored a few more goals. His overall game is better than JD though.

I have manager after manager agreeing with my viewpoint on the matter so maybe you should discuss this with Jol, Wendy, H who was a proper JD cheerleader and now AVB the reasons why they have all, for the better part of a decade, not made JD the spearhead of our attack.

Soldado and £26m weren't even on the horizon before this summer so it would be interesting what flimsy excuse all the previous guys have for outrageously overlooking JD for so long. Maybe it's a conspiracy of some kind?

It clearly can't be the case of JD being a good member of the squad and a striker capable of going on scoring runs but simply lacking the overall game and talent to be an effective leader of the line at a club looking towards the top of the table. That would be madness it seems.

i don't know how you have those manager's viewpoints on the matter when none of them have managed soldado? i'm not debating defoe's game, i'm debating how much better/different (if at all) soldado's is. he's not a berbatov or a van der vaart, he's ... a defoe, but a slightly less electrifying, perhaps more-rounded/accomplished spanish one. i don't have a horse in this race, they both do the same thing and both play for spurs, i just don't like the hypocrisy - as i've pointed out between dembele and paulinho recently.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Four of them against the bozos of Tbilisi and Tromso, and two against a pisspoor Villa reserve outfit. What a shame we don't play that sort of opposition in the EPL every week, eh?

Defoe has flattered to deceive for nine years now. Everyone but the diehards of the JDFC and most TV and radio commentators and pundits is aware of this. He's useful to have around but absolutely not good enough to be our main striker.

Again, someone has misread my point. I'm not saying Defoe is "good enough to be our main striker", I'm saying he deserves to start one game based on his form, if he does well he gets another game, if he fails to deliver Soldado comes back in. In my view Soldado would also benefit from playing against Anzhi, where he could get more familiar with his team mates.

 

[Rackybear]

Whilst I don't think Soldado has been shit hot - I'm not too convinced Defoe deserves to start ahead of him purely because of his 'form'.

Most of the anti Soldado posts in here are about his inability to score from open play in the EPL and lack of involvement during matches. Well... he scored two from open play vs Tbilsi didn't he? Defoe was then given the nod for Tromso / Villa in the cups and bagged a few more goals, I am convinced Soldado probably would have equalled Defoe's tally if not surpassed it.

I want Soldado to succeed I really do, nobody wants to see a 26m purchase flop, and if we don't want the unrest to transmit through to him and impact his mentality / displays, then a run in the team and faith from the fans and manager is what he needs. Not to be demoted to the bench because JD is firing in goals in the Europa League.

Give him a chance.

 

[amathews3416]

Biggest mistake we made in the transfer window was not upping our bid and paying the price for Benteke. We could have offered Villa 26.5 million for Benteke and gotten him.

Early times for Soldado but he reminds me a lot of Pav. Clinical finisher but too slow and weak to cut it in this league.

 

[Rackybear]

Biggest mistake we made in the transfer window was not upping our bid and paying the price for Benteke. We could have offered Villa 26.5 million for Benteke and gotten him.

Early times for Soldado but he reminds me a lot of Pav. Clinical finisher but too slow and weak to cut it in this league.

Pav!

Bad example. Pav didn't look like a striker, he had no coolness or composure in front of goal. He scored the occasional screamer, but to me his technique always seemed a bit 'put your foot through the ball and hope for the best'.

Soldado looks a lot more savvy with his finishing (not that we'd know)