Match winners (tm)

[Rich]

Where is DJS when you need him...

Would it be fair to say we have:

2 match-winners (Gerrard and Torres) and potentially another 2 in Babel and Keane; not bad if we can have 4 "go to" guys.

[bobbyfallon]

reina ??

[Rich]

It has been the source of heated debate on here in the past but I'm inclined to go with the whole "match winner" scores you that vital goal; the go-to guy when things aren't happening for you.

As good as Reina is, he can't be one cos he's the GK; and I wouldn't swap him for anyone either.

[Guest]

Yep Reina is also a match winner, definitely. He doesn't have to score but could preserve a winning score.

[bobbyfallon]

It has been the source of heated debate on here in the past but I'm inclined to go with the whole "match winner" scores you that vital goal; the go-to guy when things aren't happening for you.

As good as Reina is, he can't be one cos he's the GK; and I wouldn't swap him for anyone either.

[Chrono]

It has been the source of heated debate on here in the past but I'm inclined to go with the whole "match winner" scores you that vital goal; the go-to guy when things aren't happening for you.

As good as Reina is, he can't be one cos he's the GK; and I wouldn't swap him for anyone either.

Penalty in the last minute when you are 1-up. Not many keepers where you feel remotely positive about the kick.

I think he is a match winner and maybe more because he can prevent a loss.

[bobbyfallon]

on a serious note i have benny as an off the bench match winner. great skills.

ngog - far too early to say, but he has looked impressive early doors.

this could be a big year for babel and i expect big things from him.

keane has proved in the premiership to be a match winner - goals will come

torres - nuff said

steve - nuff said

[Paddy]

Plessis.

Especially when the lumbering fool is replaced.

[lfc1394]

on a serious note i have benny as an off the bench match winner. great skills.

ngog - far too early to say, but he has looked impressive early doors.

this could be a big year for babel and i expect big things from him.

keane has proved in the premiership to be a match winner - goals will come

torres - nuff said

steve - nuff said

I would have like to see him come on instead of El Zhar. He's got strength and pace and a bit of skill about him, he's looked good in the friendlies and think he could have a similar role as Babel did last year when coming on as a late sub.

[dww]

Penalty in the last minute when you are 1-up. Not many keepers where you feel remotely positive about the kick.

I think he is a match winner and maybe more because he can prevent a loss.

At the risk of opening this debate up to a much longer discussion I would disagree. Keepers can win you points and change the flow of a match with a great save but to win a game you require someone to but the ball in the net and the chances of any keeper doing that are slim.

I guess everyone is welcome to define the term as they will but for the sake of discussion I think it is fair to define it such that a keeper is not one.

To my mind we need to have four consistent goal threats, players who can get a goal from almost nothing on the pitch at all times if we are to win the league. For me Gerrard and Torres have proven they have that quality and Keane has at a lower level but all the other players haven't done so anything like frequently enough yet.

A quality set piece taker would add another one of these to the team in my opinion. It does infuriate me that we don't take advantage of so many situations. I would imagine that players like Downing and Barry for their respective clubs won a lot of points simply by being able to kick a standing ball with accuracy and having a bit of imagination.

[Roboklopp]

Gotta agree with you again mate.

They say you need 4-5 mathc winners in the side. On a good day, we have 4. Would like to see at least another added.

[dom9]

Where is DJS when you need him...

Would it be fair to say we have:

2 match-winners (Gerrard and Torres) and potentially another 2 in Babel and Keane; not bad if we can have 4 "go to" guys.

Benayoun certainly knows where the goal is too.

[Parm]

The Crow

[Craig_H]

Penalty in the last minute when you are 1-up. Not many keepers where you feel remotely positive about the kick.

I think he is a match winner and maybe more because he can prevent a loss.

The match winner is surely someone who turns a draw into a win, like Torres did at Sunderland?

The kind of player who makes the decisive difference and bags you the points when you've not played well?

Babel isnt there yet and i dont think Keane is on a par with Gerrard & Torres in terms of being a consistent, difference-making match winner.

[Craig_H]

At the risk of opening this debate up to a much longer discussion I would disagree. Keepers can win you points and change the flow of a match with a great save but to win a game you require someone to but the ball in the net and the chances of any keeper doing that are slim.

I guess everyone is welcome to define the term as they will but for the sake of discussion I think it is fair to define it such that a keeper is not one.

To my mind we need to have four consistent goal threats, players who can get a goal from almost nothing on the pitch at all times if we are to win the league. For me Gerrard and Torres have proven they have that quality and Keane has at a lower level but all the other players haven't done so anything like frequently enough yet.

A quality set piece taker would add another one of these to the team in my opinion. It does infuriate me that we don't take advantage of so many situations. I would imagine that players like Downing and Barry for their respective clubs won a lot of points simply by being able to kick a standing ball with accuracy and having a bit of imagination.

Top post. The set piece taker would give us a totally different dimension and another 'option' when it comes to difficult days where we struggle to carve out chances and goals.