Heskey

[gkmacca]

I think he's hugely appreciated by other forwards for being able to chest down long balls, hold up play and then lay it off to someone to take on and shoot. That would also be why Torres would probably appreciate him. And I've always felt sorry for him when the ball's been punted up to him and he's been expected to control it and keep it when surrounded by two or three defenders snapping at his heels. Falling over in hope of getting a free kick is probably all he can do in such circumstances (Keegan, funnily enough, did the same during the latter part of his farewell season with us). So he's one of the shamefully few forwards who can actually hold up the ball in that part of the pitch. But anyone who's seen him at the top of his game, when he's looked almost as dangerously powerful in his own way as Drogba, will never really be satisfied with his 'facilitator' role because it seems such a shocking waste. He's as modest as Collymore is cocky, but he's no less infuriating as an under-achiever.

 

[Bradley]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=36391.msg961671#msg961671 date=1255423641]
I think he's hugely appreciated by other forwards for being able to chest down long balls, hold up play and then lay it off to someone to take on and shoot. That would also be why Torres would probably appreciate him. And I've always felt sorry for him when the ball's been punted up to him and he's been expected to control it and keep it when surrounded by two or three defenders snapping at his heels. Falling over in hope of getting a free kick is probably all he can do in such circumstances (Keegan, funnily enough, did the same during the latter part of his farewell season with us). So he's one of the shamefully few forwards who can actually hold up the ball in that part of the pitch. But anyone who's seen him at the top of his game, when he's looked almost as dangerously powerful in his own way as Drogba, will never really be satisfied with his 'facilitator' role because it seems such a shocking waste. He's as modest as Collymore is cocky, but he's no less infuriating as an under-achiever.
[/quote]

It's ok, if he does sign in January Rafa's world renowned man-management will build his confidence to those Drogba levels.

 

[gkmacca]

Actually, in the short term, he probably could do a job with Torres playing just ahead, off his shoulder, and Gerrard behind, knocking the ball back or flicking it on. If he just concentrated on that he could be a useful option. Crouch always had too much to his game to settle for that, but maybe Heskey would accept the role. But I'd prefer him to stay away.

 

[Bradley]

I'd take him back to come off the bench, as I said when he moved to Villa. I think your right Macca, he could do a job in the last quarter of a game if we are struggling.

 

[Richey]

I probably would take him back for the second half of the season if he didn't cost anything.

As has been said already other strikers like playing alongside Heskey so it doesn't matter much that he doesn't score very often.

I don't think we will sign him, I think its just some journos being a bit lazy, and I don't care that much if we do or not but it wouldn't be without its advantages

 

[TheBunnyman]

Or maybe we could buy Carew instead and let O'Neill be the one to 'get the very best out of Emile'?

 

[gkmacca]

It's hard enough for defenders to deal with Gerrard and Torres in tandem, but if you were to put Heskey there in between them and created more space for them to run ahead at angles I'd imagine that would be a nice complication. But in some matches we just wouldn't need him at all, and, as some have already said, NGog and others need to be encouraged in the longer term, and Pacheco offers far more potential.

 

[Niall K]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36391.msg961718#msg961718 date=1255429078]
Or maybe we could buy Carew instead and let O'Neill be the one to 'get the very best out of Emile'?
[/quote]

Thats a much better idea

 

[spider-Neil]

anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.

 

[Niall K]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961721#msg961721 date=1255429309]
anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.
[/quote]

Thats all fine and well but it wasnt really the case when we had him

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Niall K link=topic=36391.msg961723#msg961723 date=1255429987]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961721#msg961721 date=1255429309]
anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.
[/quote]

Thats all fine and well but it wasnt really the case when we had him
[/quote]

it was definately the case in his first full season for us. the goals were a bonus, I thought he was frigging fantastic.

 

[Sunny]

One summer a swallow does not make.

He did it for one season. He was awesome in 2001 and has been completely unspectacular the rest of the time.

 

[Niall K]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961726#msg961726 date=1255430875]
[quote author=Niall K link=topic=36391.msg961723#msg961723 date=1255429987]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961721#msg961721 date=1255429309]
anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.
[/quote]

Thats all fine and well but it wasnt really the case when we had him
[/quote]

it was definately the case in his first full season for us. the goals were a bonus, I thought he was frigging fantastic.
[/quote]

True I suppose but he never really kicked on from that which was a shame. He had all the attributes to have been a really top player just lacked the mental strength.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961721#msg961721 date=1255429309]
anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.
[/quote]

Er, right. So you want attacking fullbacks, brilliant passers at CB, defensive midfielders who contribute going forward, and widemen who score more than 10 league goals a season, yet you're quite happy to have a centre-forward who scores less often than John Fucking Terry?

I'm lost for words, spidey.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36391.msg961747#msg961747 date=1255434570]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36391.msg961721#msg961721 date=1255429309]
anyone who is a keen observer of the game can't deny that the players around heskey play better when he is in the team. you can call heskey a talentless donkey if you must but you have to admit england plays better when heskey plays.
[/quote]



Er, right. So you want attacking fullbacks, brilliant passers at CB, defensive midfielders who contribute going forward, and widemen who score more than 10 league goals a season, yet you're quite happy to have a centre-forward who scores less often than John Fucking Terry?

I'm lost for words, spidey.
[/quote]

no where do I state I 'want' heskey in the team, I'm saying you have to be pretty blind to miss why capello (no mug) is picking him. heskey seems to be panicking over making the england squad, I think he is quite safe in that regard, capello probably has heskey as second in pecking order for the england strikers after rooney to go to the world cup.

 

[Hansern]

I'd rather have Heskey as an option then Voronin. But truth be told, there's a reason why he can't get into that Villa side.
I advocated his signing last year, but thankfully it didn't happen. At least when you look at his stats for Villa. Ryan do have a point though, he has had some good games for England. And having him next to Torres, would enamble Fernando into concentrating on running at defenders rather than being a target man.

I won't be surprised though if we sign him for 2 mill £ in january.

 

[Sunny]

Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962658#msg962658 date=1255553371]
Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book
[/quote]

Same here. Though the CB's need telling they can play the ball to the full backs or wingers, not just try to hoof it to Crouchy cos he's there. I dont know why it happens, we tried to do it sometimes too, it's daft.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962658#msg962658 date=1255553371]
Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book
[/quote]

If England were playing in a World Cup Final tomorrow, Crouch would just about get into the squad, whereas Heskey would be starting up front mate.

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962732#msg962732 date=1255560373]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962658#msg962658 date=1255553371]
Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book
[/quote]

If England were playing in a World Cup Final tomorrow, Crouch would just about get into the squad, whereas Heskey would be starting up front mate.
[/quote]

It baffles me why though

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962790#msg962790 date=1255564027]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962732#msg962732 date=1255560373]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962658#msg962658 date=1255553371]
Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book
[/quote]

If England were playing in a World Cup Final tomorrow, Crouch would just about get into the squad, whereas Heskey would be starting up front mate.
[/quote]

It baffles me why though
[/quote]

Likewise. Heskey is just awful, he gets a lot of tolerance for some reason, and has been riding a long gone reputation for years now. Even for England, he hasn't done anything that well. It's as though people are happy that he isn't entirely useless.

He's shit.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36391.msg962791#msg962791 date=1255564269]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962790#msg962790 date=1255564027]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962732#msg962732 date=1255560373]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36391.msg962658#msg962658 date=1255553371]
Well Crouch has just shown Heskey how to score goals for England and contribute to the team. The big lad before the big lump any day in my book
[/quote]

If England were playing in a World Cup Final tomorrow, Crouch would just about get into the squad, whereas Heskey would be starting up front mate.
[/quote]

It baffles me why though
[/quote]

Likewise. Heskey is just awful, he gets a lot of tolerance for some reason, and has been riding a long gone reputation for years now. Even for England, he hasn't done anything that well. It's as though people are happy that he isn't entirely useless.

He's shit.
[/quote]

He isn't though.

 

[Squiggles]

It's somewhere in the middle with Heskey; Rooney does play better alongside Heskey, as does Gerrard, but for all his attributes, his goal return just isn't acceptable for an international striker. I'd sooner start Cole or Crouch.

 

[Ryan]

This is probably the best England side in quite some time, with the best Manager they've had in quite some time.

Heskey's a part of that, yet most English still want to change. I really couldn't give a fuck what your team or Capello does, but it staggers me that English fans can't see the wood for the trees on this one.

 

[Squiggles]

I do agree that Rooney is better alongside someone with Heskey's physicality and will concede that Crouch possibly isn't strong enough to provide the same opportunities. But in the last few months there's nothing Heskey has done better than Carlton Cole, and if Capello is to persist with this system, I think the Cole is the man to turn to. 

He just looks quicker, sharper, more confident, as well as adding the height and strength required.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962802#msg962802 date=1255565721]
He isn't though.
[/quote]

Alright, he isn't shit, because there's a perception that he helps England play well because his lumbering figure accomplishing such staggering things as holding up play is a counterpoint to the numerous better players around him.

The fact that he was shit at Birmingham and contributed to their relegation, was meh at best at Wigan, Aston Villa's purchase of him contributed nothing to their faltering season, and now he is completely outclassed by John Carew, who can do everything he can do, better, simply doesn't enter into it.

I'm not even talking about goal scoring, I'm talking about his overall play. Of course I can't mention goal scoring, that'd be too primitive a statistic to bring to bear, the fact that a forward almost never scores a goal, I mean, an utterly hideous return, is outweighed by finer points.

 

[themn]

There are rumours that Capello is pissed off with Cole because he fails to follow specific instructions, so maybe he's shot his bolt.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36391.msg962811#msg962811 date=1255572685]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962802#msg962802 date=1255565721]
He isn't though.
[/quote]

Alright, he isn't shit, because there's a perception that he helps England play well because his lumbering figure accomplishing such staggering things as holding up play is a counterpoint to the numerous better players around him.

The fact that he was shit at Birmingham and contributed to their relegation, was meh at best at Wigan, Aston Villa's purchase of him contributed nothing to their faltering season, and now he is completely outclassed by John Carew, who can do everything he can do, better, simply doesn't enter into it.

I'm not even talking about goal scoring, I'm talking about his overall play. Of course I can't mention goal scoring, that'd be too primitive a statistic to bring to bear, the fact that a forward almost never scores a goal, I mean, an utterly hideous return, is outweighed by finer points.


[/quote]

All that, and Fabio 'shall I put my medals on the table?' Capello still prefers him to Defoe, Bent, Crouch, Owen, and Cole.

The mind boggles.

 

[refugee]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962814#msg962814 date=1255573164]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36391.msg962811#msg962811 date=1255572685]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36391.msg962802#msg962802 date=1255565721]
He isn't though.
[/quote]

Alright, he isn't shit, because there's a perception that he helps England play well because his lumbering figure accomplishing such staggering things as holding up play is a counterpoint to the numerous better players around him.

The fact that he was shit at Birmingham and contributed to their relegation, was meh at best at Wigan, Aston Villa's purchase of him contributed nothing to their faltering season, and now he is completely outclassed by John Carew, who can do everything he can do, better, simply doesn't enter into it.

I'm not even talking about goal scoring, I'm talking about his overall play. Of course I can't mention goal scoring, that'd be too primitive a statistic to bring to bear, the fact that a forward almost never scores a goal, I mean, an utterly hideous return, is outweighed by finer points.


[/quote]

All that, and Fabio 'shall I put my medals on the table?' Capello still prefers him to Defoe, Bent, Crouch, Owen, and Cole.

The mind boggles.
[/quote]

I love how high and mighty you get over people that don't rate Heskey, especially since he doesn't score many goals. Carlton Cole has had the best year of his career and you tried to write him off, just because he didn't score many goals
http://sixcrazyminutes.com/forums/index.php?topic=29648.msg752500#msg752500

 

[DHSC]

He's not shit, he's not good, he just fits Capello's system very well.