[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=33906.msg880288#msg880288 date=1243932581]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=33906.msg880255#msg880255 date=1243929254]
[quote author=rurikbird link=topic=33906.msg880218#msg880218 date=1243923715]
Top post. I will add one more thing. Whether a transfer works out or not depends on the player's new team just as much as the player himself. So is LFC the right team for Silva? If you asked me 3-5 years ago, I would say no. We were a much more direct, defensive side back then, we struggled to impose our game on opponents (and often seemed not quite sure what "our game" really was) and with hoofmasters Riise and Carragher (who has made huge progress in his passing since then) in the team, I could see how a player of Silva's qualities could struggle. In a direct game where where the attacking player has to be quicker than the opponent to a loose ball or win a physical battle just to get possession, a player like Silva would waste his energy fighting battles he is ill-equipped to fight. On the contrary, I think LFC of today is a good fit for someone like Silva (and vice versa) because now this team is very good at keeping the ball on the ground, controlling games and possession. And our numerous Spanish diaspora will ensure he feels right at home. In fact, LFC now is the closest thing to the Spanish national team, other than Barcelona (both teams have 5 current Spanish internationals, Valencia and Villareal have 4, Real Madrid only 2).
People who worry that Silva would not be given time on the ball in this league miss the point. A player who needs ample time on the ball to be effective is called a ball hog. All "speedy dribbler" type wingers who seem to be heavily favored on these boards, players like Ribery, C.Ronaldo, Robben, Quaresma, A.Young, SWP, Walcott, Lennon etc are to bigger or lesser extent ball hogs. They are frightening when given time and space to run, but they disappear if their teammates are unable to supply them with a steady diet of balls in space. Where was Robben in the latest Superclassico? Did you see him after first 10 minutes? He was in the same place Ribery was in the CL 1/4 and C.Ronaldo was in the last 80 minutes of the final - Yaya Toure's back pocket.
Much less fashionable in these parts is a type of a winger/attacking midfielder who is comfortable and effective even when given limited time on the ball, one who prefers one-touch passing and running without the ball rather with the ball at his feet. Silva is an epitome of such a player. In fact, I think, most Premier league defenders would find him quite difficult to shut down because he plays between the lines, can attack from any flank or from the middle and can create an opening with only one or two touches of the ball. Obviously, the "speedy dribbler" types can also be effective (although they do have a tendency do disappear in big games), but in Torres and Gerrard we already have two world-class players who can run at defenders with power and pace. What we lack more than anything is a player with a flawless first touch and a killer final pass. Silva is that player.
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Good post Rurik and you make a convincing argument, but for the sake of the debate, I'd like to counter some of your points.
I've *always* been in favour of a Ribery type winger coming into the side ahead of an attacking midfielder like Silva primarily for the reason you've outlined in your post - I think a Silva type player would've been lost trying to play a quick pass and move game in our side back then (I remember having long debates about this with robin). What we needed was a player that could inject a bit of dynamism, pace and unpredictability to the side, much as Torres has done.
I suppose the difference between us now is that whereas we both agree that the team is much better equipped to accomodate a player like Silva, I still believe a Ribery type player would be a better fit.
Even a few years back, we would still spend much of the season dominating possession, as we have done this year, but we lacked the quality to convert that possession into chances and then into goals. We've improved in this respect, but it's still a problem as all those draws at home have shown. In those games, we've seen us pass it around in a slow, cumbersome manner lacking any real sort of imagination or urgency in our play. Can we expect one player who relies on the passing and movement of those around him to change that?
I think it'd be wrong to judge us solely on the football we played in the last few months of the season as we've been burned time and time again thinking that we can expect a season of that next time around. The next season will see similar spells of attacking verve, however it will also produce those depressing cautious lulls where the team as a whole seem unable to play to their potential.
And it's exactly during periods like that that you want your Gerrards and Riberys. Players that can win games on their own. That's not to say Silva can't, but as has already been said, he's typically been more of a team player and whilst it is expected of him to get that extra bit of cutting edge here, it's not guaranteed.
Also, in terms of playing these guys into space, you only have to look back and examine how much of the ball (in space) Riera has seen (and wasted) this year.
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All very true, and I will doubtless get shot down for this, but I still think Yossi can make a difference in those kinds of games. He's our 'new Garcia' if anyone is. He can be knuckle-gnawingly frustrating at times, but he also makes brilliant runs into the box, sees clever passes, and scores a lot of goals. 8 from 32 (inc 11 sub appearances) is better than 1 in 4, and I think you'd struggle to find another midfielder (no, Ronaldo, Kuyt and Gerrard don't count) who's doing better than that in the PL without the benefit of penalties and free-kicks.
I hope he plays more often next season, particularly at home.
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I agree. I rate Benny quite highly.
He's a terrific little player and i'll stick my neck out here and say he's better than Silva. Now, most will probably disagree, but in the cold light of day, what does Silva possess (or proven) that makes him better than Yossi? They're very similar players for me (Yossi was superb in Spain, at Racing) except Benny scores more goals.
Looking for an honest debate here, what makes Silva better than Benayoun? It's not like we're talking about Villa here (an undoubted world class player). Even in Spain, there's question marks over Silva's ability. I think he's far closer in ability to Benayoun than say Ribery/Ronaldo. Which is why for the money being touted i'm mystified.
