Voronin......

[DannyMan2006]

I know Voronin gets slated and I'm no fan myself, but I think he will do quite well in the position that Kuyt has been playing.

Bit more pace than Kuyt which will help. I seen him play on the right earlier in the season and he wasn't to bad. Since those games though Liverpool seem to have nailed this system so I'm quietly confident Voronin could do a job.

[dww]

Theoretically he would be fine. The problem is he has looked shattered in confidence when he has played of late. I think like Kuyt the move to that position might help him in that there is less pressure to deliver goals.

The thing is for those positions we already have Pennant, Benayoun and Kewell backing up Kuyt and Babel so I can't see him getting a lot of chances to prove himself. I have a sneaking suspicion he will stay in the summer though - so maybe next year.

[red g]

Theoretically he would be fine. The problem is he has looked shattered in confidence when he has played of late. I think like Kuyt the move to that position might help him in that there is less pressure to deliver goals.

The thing is for those positions we already have Pennant, Benayoun and Kewell backing up Kuyt and Babel so I can't see him getting a lot of chances to prove himself. I have a sneaking suspicion he will stay in the summer though - so maybe next year.

well hopefully kewell and pennant will be shown the door in the summer.

would like to see the start of some squad trimming this summer.

[dww]

I reckon on about four in, four out (plus youngsters) and Carson to leave on top is about the size of what we need. I would think Kewell and one of Pennant or Benayoun (probably the former) would be likely to go plus possibly Riise would be on my list. Hopefully the purchases will be about quality and not quantity.

[The Glove]

I think the one up top is basically what Rafa has been looking to do since day one and only now is it nicely clicking into gear. The only downside to this is if Torres doesnt play/is injured so who is going to slot into that position. Is Crouch good enough to fill that role? Im not sure he is that kind of player. Kuyt? Maybe, we havent really seen him played in that way but he is currently the pick for the right side of midfield so if he plays up to then who fits in on the right? Voronin to play up top? Well he has scored a few but is another that hasnt been tried up there like that. Im not sure he could do a job there but noneof us know until he is tried. One thing is for certain, if this is our preferred option then a new striker might not be that high up the list.

[AFII]

I think the one up top is basically what Rafa has been looking to do since day one and only now is it nicely clicking into gear. The only downside to this is if Torres doesnt play/is injured so who is going to slot into that position. Is Crouch good enough to fill that role? Im not sure he is that kind of player. Kuyt? Maybe, we havent really seen him played in that way but he is currently the pick for the right side of midfield so if he plays up to then who fits in on the right? Voronin to play up top? Well he has scored a few but is another that hasnt been tried up there like that. Im not sure he could do a job there but noneof us know until he is tried. One thing is for certain, if this is our preferred option then a new striker might not be that high up the list.

If Torres is injured/suspended/rested.....

Pennant-----Gerrard-----Benny-----
-------------Babel-----------------

[El Jefecito]

If Torres is injured/suspended/rested.....

Pennant-----Gerrard-----Benny-----
-------------Babel-----------------

Babel has the pace but not the smarts for that role.

TBH If torres is out I'd switch formation to one which better suited Crouch + Kuyt i.e. 442. Although given we have a whole raft of CHs now maybe we will see 3 at the back as an option. It'll be interesting to see what we positions we will the transfer window that might give us an indication as to what other formations we'll be using next year. To make 442 and 352 work as well as 4231 the full backs need a serious looking at.

[dww]

I think the one up top is basically what Rafa has been looking to do since day one and only now is it nicely clicking into gear. The only downside to this is if Torres doesnt play/is injured so who is going to slot into that position. Is Crouch good enough to fill that role? Im not sure he is that kind of player. Kuyt? Maybe, we havent really seen him played in that way but he is currently the pick for the right side of midfield so if he plays up to then who fits in on the right? Voronin to play up top? Well he has scored a few but is another that hasnt been tried up there like that. Im not sure he could do a job there but noneof us know until he is tried. One thing is for certain, if this is our preferred option then a new striker might not be that high up the list.

We played something not wholly unlike Kuyt up top Voronin right side against Everton IIRC. It was good for 10 minutes and then **** for the rest of teh match.

This season I think Crouch could do a job (did he not do it against Arsenal with Kuyt/Voronin on the flanks) but over a run of games we would need pace, ideally from both flanks to support him. Obviously Babel suits one side, but Pennant offers too little in terms of close support to the front man for that to be ideal, so it would probably be not a terrible option to have Voronin there as a slightly sprightlier variant on Kuyt.

It would be a shame to move Babel when he is offering a goal and pace threat from the wing but that is definitely an option (especially long term).

[DannyMan2006]

We played something not wholly unlike Kuyt up top Voronin right side against Everton IIRC. It was good for 10 minutes and then **** for the rest of teh match.

Yep, fine until Moyes worked it out. Wasn't the same system as the one we are doing now, but Voronin showed that he can operate on the right, but not in a position where he is relied upon to be tracking back every two minutes or so.

[Mr Tourette]

personally i agree. I havent seen every one of his games but aside from not offering a sustained goal threat (as kuyt has suffered) he looks a decent technical player with good intelligence. The abuse he gets seems ridiculous - he was free after all. what can he do to prove everyone wrong when hes injured anyway? kuyt and voronin could feasibly fill one of the three roles behind the striker - i would be concerned that without torres - we must have another forward with express pace.

[Parm]

Theoretically he would be fine. The problem is he has looked shattered in confidence when he has played of late. I think like Kuyt the move to that position might help him in that there is less pressure to deliver goals.

The thing is for those positions we already have Pennant, Benayoun and Kewell backing up Kuyt and Babel so I can't see him getting a lot of chances to prove himself. I have a sneaking suspicion he will stay in the summer though - so maybe next year.

still beating the Vornonin drum eh Dave? guess the fanclub never gives up!

[JonesLegend02]

Voronin's best/only position is behind the main striker in a 4-4-1-1. He doesn't work hard enough to play wide. Rafa hardly ever plays that system, so probably best if everyone's favourite 80s pornalike moves on.

[dww]

still beating the Vornonin drum eh Dave? guess the fanclub never gives up!

The Voronin fanclub - the best supporters in the world - FACT!

[Parm]

The Voronin fanclub - the best supporters in the world - FACT!

lmao!!

[bobbyfallon]

Voronin's best/only position is behind the main striker in a 4-4-1-1. He doesn't work hard enough to play wide. Rafa hardly ever plays that system, so probably best if everyone's favourite 80s pornalike moves on.

agree - out ta ****