[quote author=Mystic link=topic=35359.msg928942#msg928942 date=1250765078]
[quote author=mike2903 link=topic=35359.msg928931#msg928931 date=1250764199]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=35359.msg928915#msg928915 date=1250763135]
[quote author=mike2903 link=topic=35359.msg928908#msg928908 date=1250762915]
[quote author=Rafiagra link=topic=35359.msg928858#msg928858 date=1250760350]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=35359.msg928846#msg928846 date=1250759597]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=35359.msg928825#msg928825 date=1250758512]
I've never been convinced by Yossi on the left before, but in his last two games he's been brilliant there - mainly because he comes inside all the time. It means that almost all of our attacks go through the centre or down the right, which will eventually perhaps make us slightly predictable, but all the same he's such a clever, threatening player that I think this is our best option at the moment. It solves two problems: finding a place for one of our most in-form players, and filling a problematic position.
Whaddya think? Is our 'Silva' already at the club?
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He cannot be consistently played on the left. It means we completely sacrifice attacking down that side, which is also our weakest in terms of full back cover. We did nothing down the left against Spurs, playing a different LM that really only can cut in. That's fine against Stoke, but it isn't against quality opposition. The problem for Benayoun is that his best position is being occupied by Gerrard, who is in every way superior to him, except perhaps when it comes to nun gimel hay shin, watch the dredel etc...
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Yossi would be better in the middle of the 3 than Gerrard is.
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He's far to slight to play there. It's fine when he runs into that position from outwide, but if he's playing there he can be solidly marked, and he's not big or strong enough to cope with man marking which is virtually what he'd get if he played there.
And there's also the fact that Gerrard is one the best players in the world in that very position.
93 goals in 244 games since Rafa came, the majority played in that position, an average of a goal every 2.5 games.
As well as Yossi's playing, he isn't ever going to reach Gerrard's level of performance, goal scoring or just general importance.
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if there is one position you can get away with being of slight build it's in the hole, that position is about brains not brawn.
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In Spain or Italy maybe, not over here. Find me 10 succesful central attacking midfielders of Yossi's build in the EPL. There's a few vertically challenged ones (Scholes, Fabregas) but few as slight as Yossi.
Gerrard, Lampard, Ballack, Modric, Ronaldo, all 6foot plus and not exactly skin and bones.
But wingers, i can name a few..... Yossi, Lennon, Walcott, Bentley, Wright-Phillips.
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Oh and sorry i have to point out how stupid this is because no one thinks that half of the attacking midfielders in the league are of Yossi's build. Just that you can be successful with Yossi's build, which you can.
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I meant in EPL history, not just at present. I'm not saying Yossi can't be successful there, he has been. But could he play 35+ games for us there consistently and outscore most strikers in the league.... No he couldn't.
ps. I'm not knocking Yossi in anyway, I'm a big fan of him.
pps. Oh and Luka Modric is actually a midget, I thought he was taller.
