Comments on: Fred Offers a Half-Assed Explanation

By: Inara

Inara — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:18:22 +0000

It’s true that Sheva wasn’t often on the scoresheet for Chelsea, but he was a great platform for Drogba and took the brunt of the challenges from the defenders. I suppose they aren’t so much a strike pair as a striker+dummy combo.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:36:30 +0000

Hopefully Fred and Benzema will do well together. But Inara – you must be kidding about Shevchenko and Drogba being one of the top strike partnerships in Europe?! On paper yes, but Shevchenko has been dreadful for Chelsea and doesn’t compliment Drogba’s playing style.

By: pride of Lyon

pride of Lyon — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:07:12 +0000

the solution is to play 4-4-2 with diamond in the midfield with Ben Arfa or Juninho being the top of the diamond.

But to work it relies on a great performance of them… which is a lot of pressure.

the bottom of the diamond filled by toul/santos
the 2 sides by keita/kallstrom/govou.

Bodmer can play at any of those 4 positions… Not sure where he’s best.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:59:17 +0000

If I was fred, I would be very scared of Benz. And you’re right, Inara, that’s probably what’s happen.
I hope this interview is not just a “remember-me-the-first-OL-striker” one.
I’d love to see a line up like
Govou Hatem
Fred Benz
But that will be a problem for Bodmer, Keita and Kallstrom, on the bench.
This team is really like a rubikscube ! That seems impossible, but I’m sure there’s a solution !!

By: pride of Lyon

pride of Lyon — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:17:25 +0000

i agree with Inara. Drogba and Van Nistelrooy are better as lone strikers (IMO) while both Benzema and Fred need someone alongside them to be really efficient.

I really want to see the trio attack Hatem Karim Frederico. And when you look at the average age (21), the progression possibility is incredible (and they are fairly experienced already!)

I think we will soon be a winning machine again, especially if Anderson manages to fit in Cris’ shoes.

Cant wait for Rangers.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:54:48 +0000

I really hate to admit this, but Trezeguet and Iaquinta have looked very good together for Rubentus. In 4 games Trez has 5g and Iaquinta has 3 in 3, and he’s only started once. They’ve played a 4-4-2 in all but one, with a 4-3-3 in the other. Pretty good candidates.

Outside of Zlatan, it’s hard to argue that Inter has had a striker actually show up for a game yet. But they do have talent upon talent up top.

By: Inara

Inara — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:37:59 +0000

I had forgotten about Inter. I’m a closet Zlatan fan, and Crespo isn’t too be forgotten either. As for the Henry and Eto’o thing, I haven’t seen them play together yet, so the jury is still out on how effective they’ll be. Drogba and Sheva is another good pair, with Drogba reaping most of the profit, but we’ll see how those too look this year with Chelsea’s management changes. As for Raul and Ruud, I’m not sure. Ruud is a great striker on his own, so I can’t tell if he’s even better playing with Raul behind him or not.

By: Evilo

Evilo — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:20:42 +0000

For attacking duo, take a look at Inter’s roster and when Eto’o comes back, take a look at Barca’s.
Ruud and Raul play well together as well.
Drogba and Sheva created a lot of danger last year.

By: Inara

Inara — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:54:14 +0000

Morag: Relax. No one’s insulting Scottish football here just yet. Wait until next week.

Laurie, Chris: I’m pretty sure Fred was being PC. His entire interview has me wondering who wrote it up for him.

Evilo: Just when I needed a knight in shining armor!

pride of lyon: I see what you mean about two attack combinations. There aren’t any jaw dropping ones in Europe at the moment. If Valencia use a two striker attack (Morientes and Villa), then maybe. Rooney and Tevez suck together. We’ll see on Fred and Benzema though. I don’t think the two have ever played together as two up front strikers. More like Benzema being deployed as a winger to support Fred. But Benzema and Fred with Ben Arfa behind them? It makes me grin just thinking about it.

Corey: I’m not ready to throw in the Perrin towel just yet. He’s so busy trying not to be Houllier that he is forgetting to be the coach he is capable of being. Believe or not, Perrin is actually a good tactician. Not a Spalletti or Benitez by any stretch, but he’s still good. The Barca debacle makes me wonder why he went from keeping it simple to making it too complicated.

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:46:18 +0000

He wanted to elbow Chivu, who doesnt want to throw a bow at Chivu? Even Moratti wants to beat his ass.

Fred returning would help out this non-sense of a formation that Perrin prefers. Why Ben Arfa didnt start against Lille is beyond me? He certainly did well enough with Benz against Metz but since then has been frozen out. Perrin has lost all of my support, he probably wont last past the winter break if he continues like this, he is putting out a shitty and worse, unmotivated team.