Wilfried Bony

[braineclipse]

In that case we really should be worried then. If a centre forward offering movement that isn't 'anything special' can expose our defence time after time then we must be either have really poor players or be appallingly organised and personally I don't think that either Vertonghen or Fazio are appalling players. I do worry about how badly our manager has us organised however - although irrespective of that I felt that Bony's positioning was very good yesterday. I thought he played right on the 'offside' line and exploited our stretched defence really well.

Swansea are a good team with a very ingrained system that they play very well.

They've had players do really well for them now and in the past that have gone on to look more average elsewhere because other teams don't quite play to their strengths. Sigurdsson of course, but also arguably Joe Allen (still, like Sig a good player), Michu was excellent for them (like Bony), but then seemed to fade and is not perhaps getting another loan deal.

Definitely a good player. Would improve us if we added him to our squad I'm sure. If he would improve us enough to warrant the kind of transfer fee we'd have to pay is the question. For that I'm not suree.

 

[Superhudd]

It's not the stats, it's what I'm seeing. Not the kind of player we need to really kick on or the kind of football I'd like to see us play. Perfect for a small club playing with a lone striker, just as Benteke is perfect for Villa and Lukaku isn't quite good enough for where Everton want to be.

Agree.. Too much is made of players that look good at other clubs. We need to buy to fit into our scheme not another teams jigsaw piece.

I think Kane has solidified his position and it's the Soldado position that needs maybe looking at.. That would almost certainly not be Bony. If we take Poch's Southampton that would be the Rodriguez position.

Totally different players if compared to Bony.

 

[Rorschach]

In that case we really should be worried then. If a centre forward offering movement that isn't 'anything special' can expose our defence time after time then we must be either have really poor players or be appallingly organised and personally I don't think that either Vertonghen or Fazio are appalling players. I do worry about how badly our manager has us organised however - although irrespective of that I felt that Bony's positioning was very good yesterday. I thought he played right on the 'offside' line and exploited our stretched defence really well.

Neither CB got close to him all game really but all Bony was doing was making straight runs bisecting our CB's. It was a poor defensive showing as much as anything else. The service to him was excellent to be fair and way too frequent until Dembele came on. That sub was a gamer changer IMO and Stambouli coming on also added a bit more stability.

 

[Finney Is Back]

If we signed Bony, we'd need to sign Routledge and Montero as well.

Otherwise he'd be completely unsuited to our setup, the same as say Carroll was at Liverpool

Are you likening Bony to Carroll as a player here?

 

[Raziel]

Swansea are a good team with a very ingrained system that they play very well.

They've had players do really well for them now and in the past that have gone on to look more average elsewhere because other teams don't quite play to their strengths. Sigurdsson of course, but also arguably Joe Allen (still, like Sig a good player), Michu was excellent for them (like Bony), but then seemed to fade and is not perhaps getting another loan deal.

Definitely a good player. Would improve us if we added him to our squad I'm sure. If he would improve us enough to warrant the kind of transfer fee we'd have to pay is the question. For that I'm not suree.

The issue with Bony is for his fee, he would need to be an immediate starter (and while that is easy now with our current situation re strikers, is that the case long term?)

And let me explain that, its not that I think Bony is ****, its just I don't know what kind of striker we are setup for? I think a big part of Ade/Soldado's struggles are we don't have a consistent plan of service for a striker leading the line, is it crossed balls from out wide? is it a through ball to the feet from wide/middle? I don't think its a coincidence that Chadli/Eriksen/Kane are scoring goals coming from a midfield position, but the person up front is not.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Agree.. Too much is made of players that look good at other clubs. We need to buy to fit into our scheme not another teams jigsaw piece.

I think Kane has solidified his position and it's the Soldado position that needs maybe looking at.. That would almost certainly not be Bony. If we take Poch's Southampton that would be the Rodriguez position.

Totally different players if compared to Bony.

Didn't Rodriguez play more as support forward? (like Kane does for Spurs?).... I thought Lambert was the player who played for Saints in the same position that Soldado does for us?

 

[Finney Is Back]

Neither CB got close to him all game really but all Bony was doing was making straight runs bisecting our CB's. It was a poor defensive showing as much as anything else. The service to him was excellent to be fair and way too frequent until Dembele came on. That sub was a gamer changer IMO and Stambouli coming on also added a bit more stability.

OK then so you feel that it was a case of us being that bad defensively.... Things aren't looking good at all for Poch are they?

 

[Rorschach]

OK then so you feel that it was a case of us being that bad defensively.... Things aren't looking good at all for Poch are they?

I'm not overly impressed with Poch so far (I was hoping for FdB) but I still think it's too early to say if longer term things will get better. Actually I don't think we are as bad as this forum would have you believe and we're still within spitting distance of 4th, and in all the cups which is an minor achievement considering we have only played in fits and starts this season.

In yesterdays game the defence was left pretty exposed by the midfield, but not withstanding that one of the CB's had to get close to Bony when he was making those runs. Walker was on his heels another time and Bony got away from him. We rode our luck but got away with it thankfully.

 

[Superhudd]

Didn't Rodriguez play more as support forward? (like Kane does for Spurs?).... I thought Lambert was the player who played for Saints in the same position that Soldado does for us?

Correct, but should we bring in a Rodriguez then I would fully expect Kane to assume the Lambert role. It's simply the case that right now Kane is better than Soldado at the Rodriguez role (free role).

 

[Gutter Boy]

Are you likening Bony to Carroll as a player here?

No. Just saying that he thrives in his small pond because he has a setup exactly tailored to him, which we won't be able to provide. Bony is crap in the air for starters (re not comparing to Carroll).

 

[billyiddo]

Swansea are a good team with a very ingrained system that they play very well.

They've had players do really well for them now and in the past that have gone on to look more average elsewhere because other teams don't quite play to their strengths. Sigurdsson of course, but also arguably Joe Allen (still, like Sig a good player), Michu was excellent for them (like Bony), but then seemed to fade and is not perhaps getting another loan deal.

Definitely a good player. Would improve us if we added him to our squad I'm sure. If he would improve us enough to warrant the kind of transfer fee we'd have to pay is the question. For that I'm not suree.

I agree with this, always err on the side of caution when judging players at clubs which have such an ingrained style of play - greater than the sum of their parts and all that. The price he'd command, for me makes this particular move a no go, Unless ifcourse Poch see's us playing a similar style to Swansea eventually. Id prefer we make use of this Mitchell fella and unearth a potential star

 

[mjc23]

No. Just saying that he thrives in his small pond because he has a setup exactly tailored to him, which we won't be able to provide. Bony is crap in the air for starters (re not comparing to Carroll).

Bony really isn't crap in the air. He's a quality player with excellent technique and power. I wish we bought him. For £12m he was a no brainer. His attributes were more than likely going to make him a success in the premier league

 

[braineclipse]

I agree with this, always err on the side of caution when judging players at clubs which have such an ingrained style of play - greater than the sum of their parts and all that. The price he'd command, for me makes this particular move a no go, Unless ifcourse Poch see's us playing a similar style to Swansea eventually. Id prefer we make use of this Mitchell fella and unearth a potential star

Agreed. Rememeber most his chances (and goal) against us came from an early cross after their winger got in behind our full back and from Sigurdsson (and others) finding space in between the lines and releasing excellent through balls. This doesn't sound like something we'd do a lot of. Not saying that's all he's capable of, but Swansea are doing some stuff that we're currently not doing. Looking at Sig going back and (somewhat predictably) succeeding there again after struggling for us makes me even more wary of paying huge money for a striker doing really well for them.

In terms of style of play I think Benteke would be a better fit for us. Would provide more of a focal point, better target for crosses etc. But he would be expensive too.

Going by media reports we're looking at cheaper options from abroad, seems like a reasonable choice from my point of view.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

For the level we are at he would be a great signing

We look like taking a gamble on no significantly cheaper option but from this league he is the best we could get imo

 

[Superhudd]

For the level we are at he would be a great sign ing

We look like taking a gamble on no significantly cheaper option but from this league he is the best we could get imo

In Poch's system do you think Bony can be the player that leads the team in going after the ball when we don't have it. Would he be capable of running them miles. For me Bony is all about the burst and power. If one thing we have learned surely is that all 11 on the pitch hunts down the ball, it simply doesn't work when the guy up top just stands around waiting for a through ball or cross.

 

[Gutter Boy]

In Poch's system do you think Bony can be the player that leads the team in going after the ball when we don't have it. Would he be capable of running them miles. For me Bony is all about the burst and power. If one thing we have learned surely is that all 11 on the pitch hunts down the ball, it simply doesn't work when the guy up top just stands around waiting for a through ball or cross.

That's one of the reasons I think Rodriguez is the missing piece of our striking trio - he has the work ethic to match Kane and Soldado, as well as bringing the pace and directness which complements their different styles.

 

[Finney Is Back]

That's one of the reasons I think Rodriguez is the missing piece of our striking trio - he has the work ethic to match Kane and Soldado, as well as bringing the pace and directness which complements their different styles.

That is assuming he comes back from his serious injury the same player he was previously.

 

[Mumorn]

We need a Llorente, a Lambert, a target man to work in this set up. bony is not the answer and I'd be annoyed if we waated alot of money on him when we need someone with different traits.

 

[DublinSpur]

That is assuming he comes back from his serious injury the same player he was previously.

This is the big risk with Rodriguez. I don't think you'll find many Spurs fans who wouldn't be in favour of signing him (proven premiership striker with pace and goals, who has worked well with - and is highly sought by - our manager). On paper it's a no-brainer. Except the injury means it's not a no-brainer at all. I want (and expect) Levy to go all out to buy Rodriguez, mostly because I want to see him firmly backing Pochettino. Unfortunately though, I want the last word on this to go to a bunch of doctors and physios. And if they say it's not worth the risk, then I'd rather we moved on to other targets.



EDIT: Just noticed this is the Bony thread, and I could have posted this in the perfectly serviceable Rodriguez thread. Sorry about that, but it's all inter-related innit?

 

[Cochise]

We need a Llorente, a Lambert, a target man to work in this set up. bony is not the answer and I'd be annoyed if we waated alot of money on him when we need someone with different traits.

So Benteke??