Attacking weakness makes a strong case for Garcia

[dww]

30 goals in 83 games is an incredible statistic for someone who is played out of his natural position most of the time.

I'm not sure he has a natural position (possibly free role, but that is hardly a real position) he never seems to quite work when played as a withdrawn striker (see the Man United game, not the only one to not perform but the only one who seemed to be trying things but didn't stay close enought to Kuyt for us to keep the ball in their half). I think he can play equally well in any attacking midfield role - his movement is excellent and if other players give him options then he really comes into his own.

[Owen20]

I've banged on about midfielders getting into advanced positions a lot and how ours dont do enough of it, which reduces our goal threat considerably.

Once again today, Garcia proved how essential he is to us, from this point of view. Yes, he gives away possession a lot and is frustrating. But he's one of the few non-strikers we have, who gets himself into the opposition box and poses a threat. And there he was today, popping up with a goal.

This factor, combined with how poor our RM and LM alternative options are, makes Garcia an essential starter in the majority of games.

You tend to find that 1st teamers are players who offer something that not many others in your squad do. Bellamy - pace. Gerrard - drive. Sissoko - power and energy to burn. Garcia - goal threat.

The nay-sayers need to acknowledge this point. Garcia must be a regular first teamer.

Wouldn't argue with any of that mate

[Morph]

Little Luis provides that something different. He is also our joint 2nd top scoring. That says alot. Also he now has 30 goals in 83 appearances. Not bad at all. He is frustrating at times but genius never comes without drawbacks.

I wonder what his goalscoring would be like if he was consistently played as a striker, just a thought.

[saj]

He's short, frustrating, annoying, can't tackle, gives the ball away constantly. BUT he is one of the most vital attacking players we have got and we're lacking in quality attacking players who can score goals. He knows where to be in the right place at the right time when it comes to attacking and scoring goals. He compenstaes for his many mistakes with the goals he scores AND HIS ASSISTS - the assists is something which not many people notice about him. And he is a great header of the ball too - reminds a bit of Karl Heinz-Beans Riedle when it comes to heading. He has a cracking shot too with either foot (this was true of him at Barcelona too)- but if you've noticed his shots inside the 18 yard box are quite poor as a oppose to his shooting from outside the area. I do to sometimes wonder how many goals he would score if he played as a striker all the time.

One other thing, he has passion too. He always celebrates a goal like he's scored in the Champions league final or something.... and he's always the first to congratulate a player when he's scored.

[lfcruleus]

I've banged on about midfielders getting into advanced positions a lot and how ours dont do enough of it, which reduces our goal threat considerably.

Once again today, Garcia proved how essential he is to us, from this point of view. Yes, he gives away possession a lot and is frustrating. But he's one of the few non-strikers we have, who gets himself into the opposition box and poses a threat. And there he was today, popping up with a goal.

This factor, combined with how poor our RM and LM alternative options are, makes Garcia an essential starter in the majority of games.

You tend to find that 1st teamers are players who offer something that not many others in your squad do. Bellamy - pace. Gerrard - drive. Sissoko - power and energy to burn. Garcia - goal threat.

The nay-sayers need to acknowledge this point. Garcia must be a regular first teamer.

I 100% agree, you just need to convince the 20000 at anfield every week who give him abuse when he farts in the wrong direction. Luis is a little bit of a luxury in the team that can earn you an extra 15 points a season or a semi final win or two.

[Parm]

It's a non-question for me, we haven't got anyone remotely as good to play out wide, so Luis is an obvious starter. What sums it up for me is that he will lose the ball no more than Pennant but provide far more.

that sums it up perfectly mate, I think Luis has adapted well to the EPL now, a year or 2 ago you just wouldnt have started him in a game like spurs away-esp in the conditions we played in yesterday. But now he looks a more solid player.

[AFII]

that sums it up perfectly mate, I think Luis has adapted well to the EPL now, a year or 2 ago you just wouldnt have started him in a game like spurs away-esp in the conditions we played in yesterday. But now he looks a more solid player.

The above is probably the reason to why Rafa didn't sign Aimar last summer when he had the chance to do it.

[AFII]

CLICKY for Luis

[Marky]

He's a woeful footballer but he does come up with important goals for us.
In saying that IF we had a few more better attacking midfiedlers there's no way i'd have him in the team.

[AFII]

We already have El Zhar who IMO will take over after Luis.

If you want to replace Luis with a better player in the same position then you would probably need to pay at least £15m.

[Red_Al_77]

He's a woeful footballer but he does come up with important goals for us.
In saying that IF we had a few more better attacking midfiedlers there's no way i'd have him in the team.

Contradiction. Can't be woeful if he delivers the goods.

[Robster007]

I love Lil Luis, & I think he's under used by Rafa at times. Yes, he's frustrating, but at his best he can hurt any team in the world. He's nearly always a threat when he plays & I'd play him as the 2nd striker, 'in the hole' rather than out wide. He was excellent yesterday & none of our other midfielders would have scored that goal, he's the only one who consistently gets ahead of the ball.

I'd be very interested to see given more of a go up front with Bellamy.

[doogle]

He's a woeful footballer but he does come up with important goals for us.
In saying that IF we had a few more better attacking midfiedlers there's no way i'd have him in the team.

He is NOT woeful at the worst, why do you think that, I dont think Rafa would of kept him if he was woeful, woeful players dont score important goals.

[Morph]

He's a woeful footballer ?

Stop mate, you're killing me

[Kopite_Colin]

He is one of our few match winners. He's a far more clinical finisher than any of our strikers and based on that he'd always be in my first 11.

Given the standard of forward we have at present I'd player Garcia up with Kuyt. With Bellamy in if we need pace.