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camel-with-3-humps 4:45 Sun Dec 7
Is there a place for Valencia?

Great win. BFS has a nice selection headache now.

The question now, with AC playing so well, is this: is there a place for Valencia?

Ronald_antly 8:54 Mon Dec 8
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Crassus wrote...

"Has the turnaround of 85/6 with similar shock signings about it - if only it has the same end...... "

You're aspiring to disappointment??

crapnotshit 8:03 Mon Dec 8
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Of course there is. Daft to say otherwise.

With Carroll fit he can play wide left in a 433
With Carroll out he can play on top in a 442

Both setups with Downing in the middle instead of Slowlan.
Song, Kouyate and Noble behind with Morgan as first sub.

This will set us up nicely, even with BFS as manager.

VirginiaHam 11:11 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Nice problem to have......Sakho looks like buy of the season.

chad sexington 11:06 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Yes. Part of a real powerful group of strikers. We have options, he is one of them. Only a wind up cunt would ask this. Shit bait but I'm happy to chomp.

claretandblue 11:02 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Yes. We now have options everywhere. Injuries will play a part, players going off form. Play all 3. African Cup will take players.
We are so lucky. We are now awesome up front with pace. Good in the air, on the ground, and bloody hard workers.

gph 10:37 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

It's a shame were going to have let the Senegal medical team loose on Sakho again, even with a West Ham medic around.

They'll probably try to connect his hip bone to his neck bone in a slightly misguided attempt to make him a better player

Sniper 9:52 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Horses for courses really isn't it? There's gonna be teams who can deal with carroll's style and can't cope with Valencia's pace and vice versa. It's just bloody lovely to have 3 really good options up front for once.

, 9:44 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Sakho looks a better deal than Ballotelli right now but then so too does Carroll.

neilalex 9:41 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

I can see Sakho and Carroll and how that works. But Valencia and Carroll won't, by and large. AC isn't mobile enough or quick enough to play with Valencia, whereas Sakho is.

Sakho is the fucking bollocks, the real deal, from what I can see. To come back after injury and do what he did today was outstanding, and his finish just oozed confidence. Without any shadow of doubt the best pound for pound buy of the season anywhere. Swansea simply could not cope with him.

I think Valencia has done really well this season, and in reality is only suffering in comparison with Sakho.

Buster 9:30 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

I think Carroll and Sakho are now the front two for the foreseeable, injuries permitting. I mentioned this yesterday, the only issue I have with Valencia not playing is that he'll come on for 20 minutes here and there and if he doesn't produce off the bench, he'll soon be branded as a flop and will be shipped off somewhere. South American players by and large find it very difficult to settle when they're not playing regularly so I wonder how effective he'd be off the bench the longer he goes being on it.

Having said that, what a fucking great position we're in right now selection wise.

Full Claret Jacket 9:30 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

I'd rather start with Valencia and Sahko every week. Nothing has changed because Carroll has the odd good game. Valencia looked a bit lost with Carroll alongside him.

ironsofcanada 9:28 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

If the beginning of the season is anything to go by Valenica takes a few games to get into form. Hopefully he can overcome that and be happy possibly coming of the bench sometimes because that second half pairing looked very good.

On Andy Carroll

Anyone who has watched football for even 5 years and is not doing a fordstar impression (switching players of course) knows that Andy Carroll has the ability to score goals and make a huge positive impact for a team. The question that can asked: Can he regain the abilities he has shown in past? He showed beginnings that he could today, in my opinion.

neilalex 9:27 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

I think I prefer the way we play when we started with Sakho and Valencia in that it was far more dynamic and free flowing, added to which the sheer energy which they brought to harrying defenders and defensive midfielders made it very difficult for anyone to build momentum against us. I don't think Carroll can do that. So in that sense its not simply a two from three consideration.

I think against the better teams it's vital that we play that kind of high octane pressing game and try to disrupt their rhythm. We undoubtedly play a more direct game when Carroll and Nolan feature. It isn't going to get a result IMO against the Chelsea's of this world, in those games we need to be giving them no time on the ball. Valencia and Sakho brought an incredible pace and intensity to the team, and we'll need this against the better sides.

As many have said, having these kind of options is beyond belief when you think back to last season. Sitting here with my boys, with them looking forward to going to school tomorrow in their playgrounds full of Mancs and Scousers is just fucking brilliant.

jimbo2. 9:20 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Of course there is! Isn't this the same statement made about AC recently? Its a squad game, people get injured, lose form and team selections change due to tactics. We don't just need 11 players!

After8 9:16 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

I've given Carroll stick before so it would be childish not to recognise he had a good game.

I really hope he goes on a run now. Based on today he's looking like he can.

Far Cough 9:14 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Good man Soldo

nobby_bmu 9:14 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Yeah big time. He hasn't got back to his best yet but will be a massive player for the remainder of the season even if it is mainly off the bench and covering for the other two through injury or bad form.

More to the point is there a place for Carlton in the squad anymore.

Northern Sold 9:13 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Well I backtracked about the Walrus Lily... hopefully doing it about the big Durham Bumper won't be a problem!

Lily Hammer 9:11 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

You're alright, NS. I was just a little shocked to read that you were considering the possibility that you were wrong about him. You're a big man though; big men can do that.

I prefer the style from a bit earlier, but in reality, it is important that we have the plan A, B & C. Swansea and the Gooners and Everton, for example, knock it about really well, but this week I've seen them desperate for a goal and hoofing it long for the last part of their games, but they don't have a clue how to do that when they need to. They all have very attractive plan As, but that's it.

The big mix up is where it's at.

Council Scum 9:10 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

He has the shirt, he scored the goals, he play's, it's not working next game, he gets hooked, not difficult this football lark

franksfat&slow&wank 9:09 Sun Dec 7
Re: Is there a place for Valencia?

Carroll won't be on the bench next game that's for sure

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