Taarabt - still the best

[SammyKojoe]

Looks like his lacking fitness but probably due to not having much of a pre season
Going to take more time to settle in

Find that hard to believe......He had 100 medicals according to this forum!

[Marshy]

No, I'm quite attuned to situations. And you're being evasive. Debating is what messageboards are about, and obviously when someone has an opinion it's customary to enquire what has formed that opinion.

I asked who could dominate in midfield like Granero and Faurlin have, and you've not answered.
I've asked is Diakite better than Granero, and you've not answered.

Can you please explain why we don't need Granero? Or which comments that have been posted about Granero that you feel are unjustified?

Is Granero a better passer of the ball than Diakite? Yes.
Is Granero more composed on the ball? Yes.
Is Granero more creative? Yes.

That said, I think Diakite is a better ball-winner, and has more of an engine. What Diakite lacks that Granero has can be made up if Tarbs plays. It is for this reason that I would not have bought Granero, as I don't think we need him. But now that he is here, we can't just leave him on the bench, and so I would play him.

I just found it quite amusing at how Granero was put on a pedestal after the Spurs game, yet if Tarbs had played that exact way, he would be getting blamed, for giving the ball away for their winner and other mistakes that Granero made. That's what my post was about, it's got nothing to do with Granero personally.

[Marshy]

But you said your ideal CM partnership is Diakite and Faurlin, by your logic then buying Diakite is a waste of money?

As I satetd before, I think MH has made a mistake in signing too many players. Yes, there can be such a thing as having too many players, as then you'll often have to start rotating the squad around to keep them all happy, and that starts creating problems.
We had Park, Faurlin, Tarbs, Diakite, Hoilett in midfield, with Mackie, Derry, SWP, Dyer and Traore to fill in if needed. That is a LOT of depth. Why you would go and spend millions on Granero is quite beyond me.

[maddix]

[QUOTE=Marshy;941028]As I satetd before, I think MH has made a mistake in signing too many players. Yes, there can be such a thing as having too many players, as then you'll often have to start rotating the squad around to keep them all happy, and that starts creating problems.
We had Park, Faurlin, Tarbs, Diakite, Hoilett in midfield, with Mackie, Derry, SWP, Dyer and Traore to fill in if needed. That is a LOT of depth. Why you would go and spend millions on Granero is quite beyond me.[/QUOTE]

I thought Granero was on loan ???

Could be wrong though

[kingy10]

Different positions. You would have more of an argument if you were comparing Adel with Hoillet. But in my view I'd have Hoillet as he works harder and gives us more end product.

I was a huge fan of Adel, but I've seen the light after that Swansea game and a number of others and I really can't see how he deserves a place any more. Adel literally offers nothing defensively to the team and to be fair doesn't offer enough going forward to compensate. I would say that for every genius piece of skill he gives us, equally he gives the ball away cheaply.

Granero and Faurlin have given us total stability in the middle of the park, which has enabled us to boss the game against Spurs and Chelsea. At this rate no chance for Samba or Mbia unless he plays centre half. Faurlin and Granero by far our best pairing in the middle.

[Busheyboy]

Granero & Faurlin together works, no queston about that. Park is an automatic as well. Diakitie is a mystery, good potential. Mackie, Derry, SWP are not in the same class and Traore is regularly injured and Dyer has just come back. As far as Tarbs is concerned, he's not been consstent in the PL and until he is, the debate will run and run and run and run.......................
We had Park, Faurlin, Tarbs, Diakite, Hoilett in midfield, with Mackie, Derry, SWP, Dyer and Traore to fill in if needed. That is a LOT of depth. Why you would go and spend millions on Granero is quite beyond me.[/QUOTE]

[Will M]

Is Granero a better passer of the ball than Diakite? Yes.
Is Granero more composed on the ball? Yes.
Is Granero more creative? Yes.

That said, I think Diakite is a better ball-winner, and has more of an engine. What Diakite lacks that Granero has can be made up if Tarbs plays. It is for this reason that I would not have bought Granero, as I don't think we need him. But now that he is here, we can't just leave him on the bench, and so I would play him.

I just found it quite amusing at how Granero was put on a pedestal after the Spurs game, yet if Tarbs had played that exact way, he would be getting blamed, for giving the ball away for their winner and other mistakes that Granero made. That's what my post was about, it's got nothing to do with Granero personally.

I didn't see him get put on a pedestal after the Spurs game, so maybe that's why I find myself disagreeing. Maybe I've missed something, as I'm off out in a few I'll just agree to disagree on that.

I just think Centre Midfield is looking good, and wouldn't change Granero-Faurlin, especially when you consider how good it will be in 10 games. I'd like to bring in a 4-2-3-1 or something, as I've posted elsewhere, to try and get the best out of the players we have.

I'd disagree though that Granero is not needed, Diakite and Tarbs were not available so who would we have put in CM in their place? We need Granero, and imo could well prove to be our best buy of the summer.

Nice to see a thread with a bit of life in it though

[Busheyboy]

on the subject of Tarbs, his hopeless corners that don't get past the 1st defender are rubbish compared to the quality balls Granero is putting right into the heart of the penalty box. We looked quite dangerous on Sunday from corners

[Will M]

As I satetd before, I think MH has made a mistake in signing too many players. Yes, there can be such a thing as having too many players, as then you'll often have to start rotating the squad around to keep them all happy, and that starts creating problems.
We had Park, Faurlin, Tarbs, Diakite, Hoilett in midfield, with Mackie, Derry, SWP, Dyer and Traore to fill in if needed. That is a LOT of depth. Why you would go and spend millions on Granero is quite beyond me.

Well, a lot of those players are covering for defence and attack too don't forget.

[silvercue]

FIFA 13 is out Friday. Check their stats - that should settle it for sure :-)

[Will M]

on the subject of Tarbs, his hopeless corners that don't get past the 1st defender are rubbish compared to the quality balls Granero is putting right into the heart of the penalty box. We looked quite dangerous on Sunday from corners

Yes forgot this, we have lacked a good set piece taker for awhile. Another reason Granero is a much valued squad member.

[Busheyboy]

Also don't think Granero will sulk and throw a wobbly if he's taken off or get on a bus at half time
Tarbs has great skills but is arrogant, petulant and childish. Is this arrogance based on a great season in the championship or a handful of decent games last year?

[sirduncs]

work-rate, for me. if tarbs had been playing in lieu of the pirate against spuds, we wouldn't have bossed the centre of the park in the way that we did. simples. granero's work rate is higher. no denying tarbs' talent, but granero is a grafter in midfield. tarbs is many things but he ain't that. and agreed with bushey re: the corners. we have simply been looking dangerous from most of our set pieces this season for the first time in an absolute age.

what i want to see tonight is both tarbs and cisse working hard out there, not just latching onto stuff that comes their way and then their heads dropping when play isn't near them...

[Busheyboy]

100% rght. I also don't like these comments about Rangers fans wth short memories. So Tarbs was the best and most influential player getting us up. That's true and thank you Tarbs but that doesn't mean he's a shoe in forever does it. If that's the argument, bring back Fitz Hall, Orr, Smith and Shittu and Kenny who also helped us get up. We're playing a different game against much better teams and grafting and work rate are essential.

work-rate, for me. if tarbs had been playing in lieu of the pirate against spuds, we wouldn't have bossed the centre of the park in the way that we did. simples. granero's work rate is higher. no denying tarbs' talent, but granero is a grafter in midfield. tarbs is many things but he ain't that. and agreed with bushey re: the corners. we have simply been looking dangerous from most of our set pieces this season for the first time in an absolute age.

what i want to see tonight is both tarbs and cisse working hard out there, not just latching onto stuff that comes their way and then their heads dropping when play isn't near them...

[rickyranger]

Bit OTT. Granero had a v good game but he also made the errors attributed to him in the original post. Think there is a faint hint that Granero is already considered some kind of wonderboy primarily because he comes from Real Madrid. Hopefully he will turn into a v fine player for us and hopefully it will also be remembered that Adel has been a v fine player for us and has the potential to be an even better one.

Bit confused by this reference to the recent game against Spurs as a comparison for the two players, which is something I did not do. Granero was very well known to many before he came to us and has played for several years for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Indeed playing in many of their big games. Tarrabt on the other hand has done nothing outside the Championship other than a few moments of brilliance amongst long periods of mediocre performance.

Always remembering there are many players that looked world beaters in the Championship, including our own Bothroyd, who simply could not hack it at a higher level. He has potential no doubt about that, but his attitude and delusion regarding his own ability will hold him back.