Gonzalez is the new...

[univofchicago]

I think Warnock/Aurelio might have more of a role to play in midfield than people expect.

I think it was SpeedyG who predicted that Rafa might play three at the back with the two full-backs pushing forward more often this season. If that is the case, then I do expect Warnock/Aurelio to play a more prominent role in midfield.

[G_Man]

I think it was SpeedyG who predicted that Rafa might play three at the back with the two full-backs pushing forward more often this season. If that is the case, then I do expect Warnock/Aurelio to play a more prominent role in midfield.

I believe I predicted that too, because I wanted Stevie G Xabi and Momo in the starting line up but I also wanted 2 strikers up top

[dww]

I'm not an enormous fan of three at the back an certainly to make it work at least one CB has to be comfortable on the ball. I haven't seen Palletta play but I think that Agger would be the most suitable player we have and his injury niggles worry me.

[univofchicago]

I'm not an enormous fan of three at the back an certainly to make it work at least one CB has to be comfortable on the ball. I haven't seen Palletta play but I think that Agger would be the most suitable player we have and his injury niggles worry me.

I'm not a big fan of three at the back myself, but Rafa has tinkered with the system before that makes me think that he will do it more often this season. Whether it works or not, I think it depends on the players we've got. 3-5-2 worked well for us during the Evans era because it gave the license for McManaman to roam free while giving the attack-minded full backs (Bjornebye, McAteer, Jones) the chance to go forward. Had Benitez been succesful in bringing Alves, 3-5-2 would have been a real option because Alves is the sort of player that would thrive in that formation. And yes, we also need at least one CB who is comfortable on the ball and should Benitez opt for a back three, Daniel Agger would most probably be one of them.

[cobain]

I have to admit that I haven't seen Gonzalez today v Kaiserslautern. Mainly because the camera was placed 1 inch above the pitch and all I could see from our left side were 2 white dots. And I can't judge the performance becasue of that...

But I think that Gonzalez is a quality signing for us and that he'll be a success... But, he kind of reminds me of C. Ronaldo though... :S

[kurtangle01]

i think we need to give all the new players a suitable time before we judge them.

[kurtangle01]

Based on the dozen odd times I've seen him play.

He's never impressed me.

But you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that you're a WAY better fan than me cos you think he's gonna be ACES!

a dozen times and you're an expert. :whatever:

[univofchicago]

I have to admit that I haven't seen Gonzalez today v Kaiserslautern. Mainly because the camera was placed 1 inch above the pitch and all I could see from our left side were 2 white dots.

I think people who have been disappointed with Gonzalez so far expected him to be more aggressive, taking players on and getting past them, putting up some teasing crosses from the byline together with some occasional trickery.

The impression I got is that Gonzalez is being very careful not to pick up an injury. He knows that the manager has faith in him, so there is no need to go out there and commit himself 100%, especially after all his injury problems. I see this happening with more and more wingers nowadays, especially with ones that had injury problems in the past (Kewell, Giggs, Duff etc).

This is just my opinion. Once the season starts, I expect him to be more aggressive and taking players on. And once he adapts to the pace of the English game, I expect him to improve on other facets of his game (trickery, little flicks etc).

[Rosco]

a dozen times and you're an expert. :whatever:

Rafa made a decision on Gonzalez after he'd played about a dozen games for Albacete.

What does that say about him ?

[Red_Polo]

Yeah, I agree with you. Still believe that a fit Kewell is Rafa's first choice at LM. I think people seem to underestimate how much Rafa rates him...

Btw, what did Elisha say on YNWA?

Nothing major, just that Kewell will probably get more games than Gonzalez this season. I think people are expecting too much too soon. Once the lad has some time to settle in we'll see what he can do. To me he's looked very nervous so far, and is trying a little too hard as a result.

[univofchicago]

Rafa made a decision on Gonzalez after he'd played about a dozen games for Albacete.

But seriously, you can't compare Rafa's "dozen" with Ryan's "dozen", can you?

Ryan has probably only seen video clips with the occasional live matches involving either Barcelona or Real Madrid. I doubt that he has watched a "dozen" full 90 minutes.

Rafa on the other hand, with the help of his scouting team, has most probably watched the "dozen games for Albacete" in full as well as Gonzalez's appearances for the national team (presuming they have access to full match videos, which they should).

[bazza76]

... Vladimir Smicer.

All hype, zero product (well apart from the copious amounts of it in his barnet).

Good feet, looks the part, lovely touch, 'amazing in training'... Gives the ball away 9 times outta ten.

He'll produce 10 woefully anonymous perfromances in a row and then knock one in the top corner in some meaningless Carling Cup tie, which will be sufficent for all those who've vehemently backed him to tell us all that "I told you he'll come good blah blah blah"

He's gonna frustrate the fcuk out of us all season, every season.

Ryan igve the lad a chance, he hasnt even played a full 90 mins for us yet, never mind a competitive game. For the record, he looked awesome in Spain, was a real revelation for Sociadad last season and was their best player for the second half of the season.

[Rosco]

Ryan igve the lad a chance, he hasnt even played a full 90 mins for us yet, never mind a competitive game. For the record, he looked awesome in Spain, was a real revelation for Sociadad last season and was their best player for the second half of the season.

Diego Forlan looks great in Spain.

[SouthAfricaRed]

Nothing major, just that Kewell will probably get more games than Gonzalez this season. I think people are expecting too much too soon. Once the lad has some time to settle in we'll see what he can do. To me he's looked very nervous so far, and is trying a little too hard as a result.

Elisha also said that Kewell's hernia operation was a disaster. He said it takes about half an hour before every game to strap him up so he can play. That doesn't sound very promising. That could be why Rafa is looking at Aurelio to play LW instead of LB

[univofchicago]

Elisha also said that Kewell's hernia operation was a disaster. He said it takes about half an hour before every game to strap him up so he can play.

Very bad news....