Today's Thoughts

[gavspur]

After last nights game, I've been thinking about how to get the best out of Holtby.. Something isn't quite clicking for him.. Playing him in the middle of the 3 advanced midfielders hasn't been much of a success for the lad, and when Bale's back - he's pretty much nailed on for that role. Playing him wide means he drifts in to find the ball, leaving fullbacks open.

So, at this moment with Sandro out, should we not try him next to Dembele in the middle? I know he's played deeper before, and got rave reviews for it. It could possibly turn him into our very own Moutinho. This way, we also get Bale, Lennon, and Siggy in the starting 11, and those 3 right now are our main/only goal threats.

I'd like to see AVB give it a go.

Also, is it just me, or does Ade seem to miss chances that are actually harder to miss than score? And none of our strikers pressure the cb's or gamble on near post. They both hang back waiting to be picked out. Very frustrating to watch.

 

[Liquidator]

Interesting, Gavspur. Last night Holtby seemed slow out of the blocks.

Wasn't he supposed to be all energy and running??

Agree with comments on our strikers, obviously delighted Ade followed up and got the gola, but that really was a rare sign of life. I thought JD was awful.

 

[Krafty]

I think Holtby is struggling to find his role in the team - there were a few moments when team mates did not seem to be on his wavelength, but I think that was more because the players that started were caught in a malaise that they struggled to get out of.

I can see him ultimately playing deeper but I'm not sure he quite has the positional sense to do that in the Premier League, and in only a 2 man central midfield, just yet.

I would have much preferred Holtby playing on the right and Dembele in the middle last night, however.

 

[shyfx2k2]

It's usually much more difficult for creative players to get into games when they are bought on as subs, as they can struggle to get with the tempo of the game quickly.

He may be suffering with a bit of low confidence too. He's gone from being a starter for Schalke 04 to being a sub with us, and that can't be great for his morale, similar situation to that of Pienaar.

I think he will come good, but it will be interesting to see what happens in terms of how much game time he gets for the rest of the season/next season. Other players like him (Kranjcar, Pienaar, Sig at the start of the season at least) have all suffered due to having Bale in the team. When Bale was a LW, Niko and Pienaar couldn't get games, and now Holtby can't get a game because Bale is playing No10.

Also, if we end up signing Moutinho, which might be likely seeing as Porto have said that he can leave in the summer, and rumours from people like JJetset of Christian Eriksen, it could become even more difficult for him.

He is a good player and I enjoyed watching him link up with KJH at Schalke the times I watched them play, however with players like this you need to give him a run in the team and really give him 2 or 3 games to get up to speed and learn the way we play.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

When he first came and was used as a number 10 I was happy with him, he linked up well, touched the ball loads, made more passes per minute than anyone, made runs into the box and looks to play throughballs constantly. Seemed to have a good passing range too. Since the game v Newcastle where he started, he's tailed off a touch and been used in wide positions which doesn't seem to suit him. The talent is obvious, as is the good attitude and fight in the boy, so I'm not worried.

 

[only1waddle]

Very similar to how Sigs started with us, trying too hard to please, recent performances have been fairly decent now he has got some composure, Holtby suffering from the same thing. We could of tried a middle 3 of Holtby Parker Dembele against Inter if Lennon had been fully fit, it would have been far more productive to experiment with that than 442 with a pair of misfiring strikers..

 

[parklane1]

Less then 10 games for us ( mostly as a sub), he will settle and will be a important player for us next season.

 

[chinaman]

Lufti provided a good analysis of his game and position in the First Impression thread.