Quote:
Originally Posted by RedRover
I'm not so sure. If you're going to play with anyone "leading the line" that player has to be up to holding the ball up to bring others into play. Berbatov does this for Spurs - he holds the ball up, comes deep and can make things happen.
While Villa is a very taleneted player he wont be able to do that job. His pace and balance are irrelevant unless you're aiming to put the ball over the top for him to run onto - and that simply isn't how we play.
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Option one : Carrick or Scholes have the ball on the half way line. They float the ball towards a big target man, he battles to try and win it and if he succeeds he can lay the ball off around the box to the likes of Rooney - playing where he is most dangerous on the edge of the box.
Option two : Carrick or Scholes have the ball on the half way line. They put the ball in behind the defence for a pacy striker. If the ball is perfect he runs on and scores. If the ball doesnt quite make it, the defence will just about manage to head the ball back out - to Rooney around the edge of the box once again. Having forced the defence backwards to cover the run of the pacy player, Rooney now has time and space to work his magic.
Both styles have their merits. Louis Saha tended to be Option two rather than Option one and he is the man we need to replace as he is no longer managing to fulfil his role. We also have Manucho who can provide the first option but still nobody who can provide the second.