Except that Berbatov isn't a #9 forward the way you described
Samuel Eto'o
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Except that Berbatov isn't a #9 forward the way you described
Berbatov led the line for Spurs and had amazing seasons, scoring 22 and 23 goals, with Keane behind him dropping deep and feeding him the ball. He also does for Bulgaria, as a matter of fact he wears the #9 shirt for his country.
Was Berbatov actually leading the line for Spurs or was it Keane ? I'm getting confused now
overall....he's never cracked 20 in english league play. those figures include a good 6-7 goals in wafer cup play in each of those seaons.
He doesn't do that for Bulgaria, the last match he played he was just as deep as he plays for us.
And Keane played ahead of him for the majority of his two seasons at Spurs, bar the first half of the first season.
And Keane played ahead of him for the majority of his two seasons at Spurs, bar the first half of the first season.
They mixed it up a bit. Either way, Berbatov himself said in an interview that he felt he was played out of position last season.
Berbatovs gameplay would adapt just fine to a #9 role - the holdup play, the touches and flicks and bringing others into play. He can do exactly what he is doing now, but do it further up the pitch.
If it comes to Rooney or Berbatov playing in the hole then there should really only be one choice in the matter. Its always been Rooneys best position and yet he has consistently been shunted out onto the wing or into a centre forward role.
Berbatovs gameplay would adapt just fine to a #9 role - the holdup play, the touches and flicks and bringing others into play. He can do exactly what he is doing now, but do it further up the pitch.
If it comes to Rooney or Berbatov playing in the hole then there should really only be one choice in the matter. Its always been Rooneys best position and yet he has consistently been shunted out onto the wing or into a centre forward role.
that's really only very effective when you have wingers and cm's (like lampard) that'll get double digit goals consistently.
scholes, nani, fletcher, anderson, carrick, giggs, park...never were or no longer double digit goal scorers. valencia might turn into one, but that's a big IF as well.
the classic number '9', is something berba can't play. the batistuta, shearer, R9 role....banging goal after goal. when our midfield is so lacking in goals, you need a classic 9 to do that job. eto'o is lightyears ahead of berbatov in that category.
its strange you should say that when - on last seasons evidence - SAF prefered to play Berbatov deep to accommodate Ronaldo, who was clearly a double digits player.
I think that if we play a more balanced, built up game, with the CMs getting forward, then the role i described would work well for Berbatov. Rooney in the hole is almost the same position as a Lampard/Gerrard would play anyway - not quite midfield, not quite attack, so count Rooney in as a double digits player in that sense.
Its a lot of theory, but if we play a formation along the lines of a 4-4-1-1 (rooney behind berbatov), then we will need that strength and holdup play, the ability to slow the game down, whilst our midfielders and wingers (who would be in a deeper role) get forward and get involved in the attack. Berbatov would flourish in that role I reckon, and with Rooney just behind him then it could form a great up-front partnership.
Personally I have little doubt Rooney and Berbatov can flourish into a better goal scoring partnership than Berba had with Keane.
Berbatov lead the line. But his style allows for his partner to get ahead of him to receive his passes. That is why Keane often ended up ahead of him. I expect to see more of that next season. Rather than him merely staying deep like he did last term.
You're the only one reading that as Berbatov saying 'My best position is right up top and it was unusual playing deep'.
Most people just read it as 'I was playing even deeper than I was for Spurs', while still thinking he's better behind the striker like he was for Spurs.
Thats a bold statement going on what they showed last season. Berba and Keane were a partnership worthy of a top 4 team, I'd be happy if rooney-berba got close to matching that but saying they'd out perform it is bold to say the least.
^ this.
He was the main man, both the playmaker and the finisher for Spurs (hence he took twice as many shots for Spurs than he did for us), and his style and technique enables most players to lump the ball towards him, where he brings it down, holds it up, and brings others into play, consistently contributing double digits in assists. He also gets forward and into the box to finish. I think he's a very complete forward, which is probably why he doesn't feel the need to dash around like a headless chicken.
Perhaps Ronaldo was the reason for that, or Berbatov hadn't gelled properly before a series of injuries knocked him off his stride, you never know. If we play Park and Valencia on the wings, both of whom are intelligent and unselfish players, we might see Rooney and Berbatov flourish up front.
Not doubting his quality, but the guy has a history of being a pain in the arse in the dressing room.
Last season hardly counts. Berbatov was still settling in and hadn't even had a proper pre-season with the side, while Rooney spent loads of time on the wing. Witha pre-season and Rooney unlikely to get any wing duty this coming term, they should gel. Because Rooney is twice the player Keane is.
Your being kind to Keane here.....
Doesn't seem to have done him or his team much harm frankly
I think a lot of that is bullshit frankly anyway. I remember when everyone was making a fuss when Ronaldinho was there, training whenever he felt like it, not performing on the pitch as a result, and the club letting it happen... he moans about it whilst putting the performances in himself and he's supposedly 'dressing room cancer'. Utter nonsense!
I don't mind players with ego's coming to the club. Just as long as they back it up with their performances, and get the best out of the team
But all his career he's been a banger!!! He just decided to come to us and playin Midfield!!!!!
But all his career he's been a banger!!! He just decided to come to us and playin Midfield!!!!!
Oh dear.....
I read that three times in a row as
I think this place is beginning to get to me
I think this place is beginning to get to me
Berbatov led the line the first season and played his United role by and large in his second. He seemed to be more free though and certainly got into the box more often for Spurs, but Keane did all the running in front of him and Spurs were a counter attacking side.
Yea
It was both. They swapped and changed. Those people who are saying Keane was leading the line the whole time are completely wrong. Keane is not good enough to lead the line anyway.
Eto'o would definitely improve us. I don't think there's any doubting that he's better than Welbeck/Macheda/Manucho combined. Along with the 25 million pounds, his wages + age (meaning that we won't be able to sell him on for very much) would make him a big investment. There are two questions. One is how much he would improve the team relative to the cost, and two whether or not he really wants to come here or if this is just a negotiating tactic for a pay raise at Barcelona.
I say that if he's motivated to play for us and we can keep his wages within reason, he's worth it. When he leaves for the African Cup of Nations and Owen is crocked, Welbeck/Macheda/Manucho would get games.
I say that if he's motivated to play for us and we can keep his wages within reason, he's worth it. When he leaves for the African Cup of Nations and Owen is crocked, Welbeck/Macheda/Manucho would get games.
why should we think about resale value always?
I think if you weighh any investment against what it could do for you then it's workable
Its easy to say but all eto would have to do is score a winner in a final or help us to the league and people forget about how much he cost because of how much he helped the club make
I think he'd be a valuable asset. Also something like the african nations to me, is just an ideal window to give the kids a chance here and there
The idea of signing Eto'o is growing on me the longer we are linked to him. This guy is a goalscoring-machine and his movement would suit our style perfectly. I can only imagine how good Rooney and Eto'o would be together, potentially the best striking partnership in the world.
But I doubt it's going to happen. Having Rooney, Eto'o, Berbatov and Owen around would be pure luxury. But taking the ACN into account on the other hand...
But I doubt it's going to happen. Having Rooney, Eto'o, Berbatov and Owen around would be pure luxury. But taking the ACN into account on the other hand...
How do you have permission to access the noobies or do you have two accounts?
I'm not saying resale is the only thing that matters because sporting reasons are probably more important. But money doesn't grow on trees, and we have a massive debt to repay. All things being equal (transfer price, wages, number of goals scored etc...), if we can spend 25 million pounds on a player who is 23 and would have the same impact as Eto'o, who is 28 then we should clearly buy the 23 year old. Either we will get more years out of him for our initial 25 million pounds or the transfer will pay for itself in us selling the player on.
Of course, all things aren't always equal, and paying the $$ for Eto'o might be our best choice. I was just making the point that spending this amount on a 28 year old is not the same as spending it on a 23 year old as a matter of principle.
True, but he wants 4 years and we're saying no, if I'm not mistaken.
Just putting myself into managements thought process as to why they wouldn't want him or 4 years.
Yea
Those are just rumors. It's possible that we have never been in touch with Barcelona,Eto'o, or his people and that this is all just inbred paper talk.
quite fun...haven't really got into it yet as i'm hugely hungover today
Another way of thinking about it is that the resale value alters the true price of the transfer. If Eto'o were to cost 60 million pounds compared to 25 million pounds, he might not be as attractive a proposition. Similarly the true transfer cost of a 25 million pound 23 year old and the true transfer cost of a 28 year old is different because of sell on value and the need to find a replacement. For the same reason that we should consider how much money a transfer costs, we should also consider it's TRUE cost. Sell on value is part of that.
The only qualification I'd like to make is that I don't think cost is the only thing worth considering, and you may very well be right that he would end up being worth every penny.
Eto'o left in limbo as United rule out bid
Samuel Eto'o's hopes of a big-money move to the Premier League appear to be dwindling.
After Manchester City publicly ended their attempts to sign the Barcelona forward on a massive contract last Friday, neighbours United have now distanced themselves from offering Eto'o an exit from the Nou Camp as well.
It had been suggested the Red Devils were ready to offer Eto'o wages in the region of £150,000-a-week to bolster their striking options, memories still fresh of his opening goal against them in last season's Champions League final, but - while there will be no public statement on the speculation from Old Trafford - senior figures at United have distanced themselves from such talk.
Thoughts of a bid for the Cameroon star have already been rejected, with Sir Alex Ferguson happy to look elsewhere if, as is believed, he wants further attacking options despite the shock capture of Michael Owen.
It leaves Eto'o in a quandary given City made it perfectly clear on Friday their announcement was not a game of brinkmanship aimed at securing the marquee signing they are known to be keen on.
Eto'o left in limbo as United rule out bid
In demanding half an estimated £18million transfer fee City had agreed to pay Barcelona, Eto'o said he would remain in Catalonia for the final year of his contract before leaving for nothing.
Without a further intervention, the 28-year-old looks likely to do just that.
Not that such a scenario sits easily with Barcelona, who are keen to complete a deal with Valencia for David Villa but are seeking to offload Eto'o first.
Ironically, Villa's insistence on remaining in Spain, rather than join Chelsea as John Terry believed was probable in the spring is one of the reasons given for the England skipper's willingness to, at the very least, talk to the Eastlands outfit, who are due to leave for South Africa on Wednesday, 24 hours before United head to the Far East for a four-match tour.
On to the crouch thread i guess.
Samuel Eto'o's hopes of a big-money move to the Premier League appear to be dwindling.
After Manchester City publicly ended their attempts to sign the Barcelona forward on a massive contract last Friday, neighbours United have now distanced themselves from offering Eto'o an exit from the Nou Camp as well.
It had been suggested the Red Devils were ready to offer Eto'o wages in the region of £150,000-a-week to bolster their striking options, memories still fresh of his opening goal against them in last season's Champions League final, but - while there will be no public statement on the speculation from Old Trafford - senior figures at United have distanced themselves from such talk.
Thoughts of a bid for the Cameroon star have already been rejected, with Sir Alex Ferguson happy to look elsewhere if, as is believed, he wants further attacking options despite the shock capture of Michael Owen.
It leaves Eto'o in a quandary given City made it perfectly clear on Friday their announcement was not a game of brinkmanship aimed at securing the marquee signing they are known to be keen on.
Eto'o left in limbo as United rule out bid
In demanding half an estimated £18million transfer fee City had agreed to pay Barcelona, Eto'o said he would remain in Catalonia for the final year of his contract before leaving for nothing.
Without a further intervention, the 28-year-old looks likely to do just that.
Not that such a scenario sits easily with Barcelona, who are keen to complete a deal with Valencia for David Villa but are seeking to offload Eto'o first.
Ironically, Villa's insistence on remaining in Spain, rather than join Chelsea as John Terry believed was probable in the spring is one of the reasons given for the England skipper's willingness to, at the very least, talk to the Eastlands outfit, who are due to leave for South Africa on Wednesday, 24 hours before United head to the Far East for a four-match tour.
On to the crouch thread i guess.
No quotes and not even a "source" BS.