VDV....how best should we utilise him?

[tototoner]

He's a bone idle prima donna, compounded by the fact that he has the fitness level of a darts player.

doesn't say a lot for us considering he is our most influential player and one of the most hard working also

 

[DJS]

doesn't say a lot for us considering he is our most influential player

I wouldn't go that far, Modric and now Parker for instance are also very influential.

We also had a couple of nice victories whilst VDV was out and Defoe partnered Adebayor up top.

 

[$hoguN]

He's a bone idle prima donna, compounded by the fact that he has the fitness level of a darts player.

Shouldn't you be off somehwere eating crayons or testing the limits of Darwin's most famous theory?

 

[benski]

Shouldn't you be off somehwere eating crayons or testing the limits of Darwin's most famous theory?

Just goes to show you don't need to know anything about football to be a fan or have an opinion!

 

[AngerManagement]

This is still probably our biggest issue

He has to be played further forward and he is too good not to be played.

I think anyway you look at it the answer is Defoe has to make way for VDV to play behind Adebayor

Whether this be with a 4 man midfield and VDV in the hole

Lennon Parker Modric Bale
......VDV
...........Ade

Or with a more solid base with two defensive/combative CM's covering 3 attacking midfilders behind a loan striker

........Sandro Parker
.VdV Modric Bale
.......Bale

which would probably take shape more like

.......Sandro.......Parker

............Modric
......VDV...........Bale
.............Ade

Either way VDV needs someone between him and the right back, I am not conviced we can carry him in a right midfield position as it leaves our right back very exposed.

 

[haslemereyid]

This is still probably our biggest issue

He has to be played further forward and he is too good not to be played.

I think anyway you look at it the answer is Defoe has to make way for VDV to play behind Adebayor

Whether this be with a 4 man midfield and VDV in the hole

Lennon Parker Modric Bale
......VDV
...........Ade

Or with a more solid base with two defensive/combative CM's covering 3 attacking midfilders behind a loan striker

........Sandro Parker
.VdV Modric Bale
.......Bale

which would probably take shape more like

.......Sandro.......Parker

............Modric
......VDV...........Bale
.............Ade

Either way VDV needs someone between him and the right back, I am not conviced we can carry him in a right midfield position as it leaves our right back very exposed.

Sounds good until VDV despite being picked to play further upfield spends half of his time chasing back trying to get the ball leaving Ade isolated

If he could hold his forward position then i think it would work well but he just seems incapable of it

Also he might also last the match as the energy he loses chasing around midfield is the reason he gets so knackered

 

[AngerManagement]

Sounds good until VDV despite being picked to play further upfield spends half of his time chasing back trying to get the ball leaving Ade isolated

If he could hold his forward position then i think it would work well but he just seems incapable of it

Also he might also last the match as the energy he loses chasing around midfield is the reason he gets so knackered

IF we have both Sandro and Parker in the team all 3 of Modric/Bale/VDV would be able to support Adebayor.

They are all exciting and intelligent players, they just need to get used to such a system and understand their roles and the importance of supporting the attack.

I see no reason why VDV can not play either role, he was amazing away to villa last year for example. I think if unleashed in a more attacking role and told to track back less he would be more than happy to get forward and stretch opposing defences.

 

[haslemereyid]

IF we have both Sandro and Parker in the team all 3 of Modric/Bale/VDV would be able to support Adebayor.

They are all exciting and intelligent players, they just need to get used to such a system and understand their roles and the importance of supporting the attack.

I see no reason why VDV can not play either role, he was amazing away to villa last year for example. I think if unleashed in a more attacking role and told to track back less he would be more than happy to get forward and stretch opposing defences.

I think this is the key - i just wonder whether he has the discipline to do it - i hope so because if he does we would be a better team

 

[TheGreenLily]

IF we have both Sandro and Parker in the team all 3 of Modric/Bale/VDV would be able to support Adebayor.

They are all exciting and intelligent players, they just need to get used to such a system and understand their roles and the importance of supporting the attack.

I see no reason why VDV can not play either role, he was amazing away to villa last year for example. I think if unleashed in a more attacking role and told to track back less he would be more than happy to get forward and stretch opposing defences.

I agree with this. VDV only has to track back for his defensive duties, get ride of the that and VDV can spend all his time creating hell in the final 3rd.

In the right formation there is little to no need for him to track back.

 

[TheGreenLily]

I think this is the key - i just wonder whether he has the discipline to do it - i hope so because if he does we would be a better team

It is not about him being disciplined, it is about playing the formation best suited to the players we have.

 

[tototoner]

Sounds good until VDV despite being picked to play further upfield spends half of his time chasing back trying to get the ball leaving Ade isolated

If he could hold his forward position then i think it would work well but he just seems incapable of it

Also he might also last the match as the energy he loses chasing around midfield is the reason he gets so knackered

He is not a forward though, he is an attacking midfielder, Wayne Rooney starts more advanced than Van Der Vaart yets drops deep all the time to pick up the ball also.

 

[millsie]

Shouldn't you be off somehwere eating crayons or testing the limits of Darwin's most famous theory?

I was watching Spurs before you were a hard on. Open your eyes and mind. VDV can barely last till half time no matter where he plays. Also why should the whole team be messed around just to accomodate him. Fair enough, he's talented but he aint that good that a team should be built around him. You would think to hear some people on here that he is Pele, Best, maradonna and Messi rolled into one. Sorry boys, but he isn't. :roll:

 

[west indie]

with parker and sandro on the field let rafa do his stuff.

 

[donny1013]

I was watching Spurs before you were a hard on. Open your eyes and mind. VDV can barely last till half time no matter where he plays. Also why should the whole team be messed around just to accomodate him. Fair enough, he's talented but he aint that good that a team should be built around him. You would think to hear some people on here that he is Pele, Best, maradonna and Messi rolled into one. Sorry boys, but he isn't. :roll:

I don't recall anyone comparing him to those players? Just that he is world class and one of our best players, understandable when he has 90 caps for Holland and a goal record of just over 1 in 2 for us.
Yeah his fitness levels were piss poor at Villa Park last season weren't they? After having to lead the line on his own for most of the game and busting a gut well into the 2nd half to grab the second. 16 goals and 11 assits last season, I'll defend him till the cows come home.

 

[danielneeds]

I was watching Spurs before you were a hard on. Open your eyes and mind. VDV can barely last till half time no matter where he plays. Also why should the whole team be messed around just to accomodate him. Fair enough, he's talented but he aint that good that a team should be built around him. You would think to hear some people on here that he is Pele, Best, maradonna and Messi rolled into one. Sorry boys, but he isn't. :roll:

Erm, actually he is. His technique is a level above all our players. His clinical finishing infront of goal is a level above all our players. And this is despite us having a very good squad.

Ideally you would want all XI players able to press the opposition, but we are not living in and ideal world, we don't pay insane wages, and have to comprimise certain aspects of our side in order to fit in a talent like him.

 

[haslemereyid]

He is not a forward though, he is an attacking midfielder, Wayne Rooney starts more advanced than Van Der Vaart yets drops deep all the time to pick up the ball also.

Difference between Rooney and VDV IMO is that Rooney has the pace to get himself back up the pitch in good time - VDV doesnt have that pace

Rooney also has huge stamina which means he can run for two and still last the match

To play the way he wants to IMO he needs much more pace and stamina

 

[millsie]

I don't recall anyone comparing him to those players? Just that he is world class and one of our best players, understandable when he has 90 caps for Holland and a goal record of just over 1 in 2 for us.
Yeah his fitness levels were piss poor at Villa Park last season weren't they? After having to lead the line on his own for most of the game and busting a gut well into the 2nd half to grab the second. 16 goals and 11 assits last season, I'll defend him till the cows come home.

Hope you are correct, but i fancy you will have changed your tune by Christmas

 

[millsie]

Erm, actually he is. His technique is a level above all our players. His clinical finishing infront of goal is a level above all our players. And this is despite us having a very good squad.

Ideally you would want all XI players able to press the opposition, but we are not living in and ideal world, we don't pay insane wages, and have to comprimise certain aspects of our side in order to fit in a talent like him.

So you think he's better than Mod. then??? I didnt, hear of Chav$ki offering £40m for VDV

 

[danielneeds]

So you think he's better than Mod. then??? I didnt, hear of Chav$ki offering £40m for VDV

Modric is a wonderful player, but I still think VDV is technically the best player at the club.

Around the box he is far more dangerous than Modric, who despite his wonder strike against Liverpool, still doesn't look like scoring enough goals - look at his connection with Sandro's cross before Walker's goal, he took an extra touch rather than hitting it first time.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

I do think VDV is a bit over rated by some, very good left foot and and a terrific finisher, but he is very one paced. As some others have said he tends to follow the ball far to much. Always wants to be on it even if it does effect the shape. For me nowhere near as important as King, Modric, Bale, Parker/Sandro and Adebayor.