Selection Headache


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fire marshall

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Once Bent is fit, what do you do with our forward line?

Obviously we have shown we are much more creative playing the extra striker.
I just don't see Bent and Gyan forming a great partnership, but I think either of them with Welbeck (because I see him more as a forward, rather than an out and out striker) will do some damage. Welbeck has done a lot in the last couple of games to justify being wasted on the wing.

I doubt this will matter for Monday because I don't see the value in risking Bent if he isn't quite right but it will be interesting to see what Bruce does moving forward.
 
Once Bent is fit, what do you do with our forward line?

Obviously we have shown we are much more creative playing the extra striker.
I just don't see Bent and Gyan forming a great partnership, but I think either of them with Welbeck (because I see him more as a forward, rather than an out and out striker) will do some damage. Welbeck has done a lot in the last couple of games to justify being wasted on the wing.

I doubt this will matter for Monday because I don't see the value in risking Bent if he isn't quite right but it will be interesting to see what Bruce does moving forward.

Bent plays with Gyan.

No brainer for me. Welbeck is doing okay but not in the same class as those two.
 
Once Bent is fit, what do you do with our forward line?

Obviously we have shown we are much more creative playing the extra striker.
I just don't see Bent and Gyan forming a great partnership, but I think either of them with Welbeck (because I see him more as a forward, rather than an out and out striker) will do some damage. Welbeck has done a lot in the last couple of games to justify being wasted on the wing.

I doubt this will matter for Monday because I don't see the value in risking Bent if he isn't quite right but it will be interesting to see what Bruce does moving forward.

This is an interesting comment and been qouted a few times on here but never with an reasons just an opinion. I thnk like many of us we should keep these opinions muted as we just dont know yet until its been tried. We have all been so wrong over the last months about selections Bruce has made and we need to leave it up to him as he seems to be getting it more right than wrong in my eyes... If we are good enough to make that opinion then would we be sitting typing on a Sunday morning on a message board :roll:
 
I can see the op's original point as although Bent's scoring record is exceptional, he wont create the openings Welbeck has been doing in the last few games and I doubt he'll link with Gyan as well, so I'd be tempted to possibly ease him back in, whilst not instantly disrupting the Welbeck/Gyan partnership as it's looked very very good on limited showings.
 
We're going to need to start playing them in a partnership sooner or later, because as much as Wellback and Gyan have gelled, it would seem likely that Wellbeck that he'll be back at Old Trafford next year. If we got Nzogbia feeding Bent and Gyan we'd be a force I reckon like.
 
I can see the op's original point as although Bent's scoring record is exceptional, he wont create the openings Welbeck has been doing in the last few games and I doubt he'll link with Gyan as well, so I'd be tempted to possibly ease him back in, whilst not instantly disrupting the Welbeck/Gyan partnership as it's looked very very good on limited showings.

IMO you're looking at this from the wrong point of view - we should be looking at Gyan to be making the openings for Bent, not the other way around. If Bent does make an opening for Gyan then bonus.
 
eh? bent and gyans games are totally different. bent only really comes alive in the box, gyan has the ability to drop deeper and can play others in.
 
IMO you're looking at this from the wrong point of view - we should be looking at Gyan to be making the openings for Bent, not the other way around. If Bent does make an opening for Gyan then bonus.

Of course that's what Gyan was probably bought for. But it shouldn't just be one way and one-dimensional, because we've been that way for too long.

The inter-play between our forwards over the last few games has been fantastic and caused massive problems for the teams we've played - having someone running at defences and creating space like Welbeck and Gyan have is something we've lacked and I'd be pretty annoyed if we instantly went back into the routine of hoying the ball over the top or getting it forward quickly for Bent all the time. Having two strikers contributing outside the box has helped us an enourmous amount.
 
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Of course that's what Gyan was probably bought for. But it shouldn't just be one way and one-dimensional, because we've been that way for too long.

The inter-play between our forwards over the last few games has been fantastic and caused massive problems for the teams we've played - having someone running at defences and creating space like Welbeck and Gyan have is something we've lacked and I'd be pretty annoyed if we instantly went back into the routine of hoying the ball over the top or getting it forward quickly for Bent all the time.

That's why we spent the money - you're spot on. But, ha'way perry, Welbeck only has the Chelsea game to boast about (fully justified as well). Bent has been doing it week in week out for over a season. He's our talisman, one of our best players, best striker for a decade and has a real affection for the club and fans.

If Bent is fit he has to start, if a partnership cannot be built then we drop Gyan and give Danny a chance.
 
eh? bent and gyans games are totally different. bent only really comes alive in the box, gyan has the ability to drop deeper and can play others in.

We must have travelled back in time. Jones and Cisse won't work together. Now this time it's gonna be Bent and Gyan.
 
That's why we spent the money - you're spot on. But, ha'way perry, Welbeck only has the Chelsea game to boast about (fully justified as well). Bent has been doing it week in week out for over a season. He's our talisman, one of our best players, best striker for a decade and has a real affection for the club and fans.

If Bent is fit he has to start, if a partnership cannot be built then we drop Gyan and give Danny a chance.

Think you're missing the point.

I'm not comparing them as goalscorers, I'm talking about what you get from each player. Bent has a one dimensional game and doesn't particularly carry the ball or do much outside the box, nor has he never particularly built up a partnership. His scoring record is tremendous - I'm not knocking him, what I'm saying is Welbeck contributes more in open play and whilst everyone is raving on about how they want N'Zogbia, well with Welbeck we've got someone who is similar in the respect he can run at people, he can dribble and run past people and he can carry the ball, but maybe doesn't always pick the right option, like N'zogbia. When we dont really have too much quality from wide or midfield, then a player able to do that shouldn't be underestimated.

I dont think we'd ever play like we did against Chelsea with Bent upfront, nor could Bent ever play as well as Welbeck did in that game because he simply hasn't got it in his game and he doesn't try to. Obviously though because he scores goals you can't really leave him out for so long - but what I'm saying is the exact reason he's here and wasn't particulary a favourite at Spurs.

And I'm not sure why we'd drop Gyan either - he's a better footballer than Bent. If a partnership cannot be built, then we'd have to rely on them as individuals.
 
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Think you're totally missing the point.

I'm not comparing them as goalscorers, I'm talking about what you get from each player and sorry, but Bent has a one dimensional game and doesn't particularly carry the ball or do much outside the box, nor has he never particularly built up a partnership. His scoring record is tremendous - I'm not knocking him, what I'm saying is Welbeck contributes more in open play and whilst everyone is raving on about how they want N'Zogbia, well with Welbeck we've got someone who is similar in the respect he can run at people, he can dribble and run past people and he can carry the ball, but maybe doesn't always pick the right option, like N'zogbia. When we dont really have too much quality from wide or midfield, then a player able to do that shouldn't be underestimated.

I dont think we'd ever play like we did against Chelsea with Bent upfront, nor could Bent ever play as well as Welbeck did in that game because he simply hasn't got it in his game and he doesn't try to. Obviously though because he scores goals you can't really leave him out for so long - but whast I'm saying is the exact reason he's here and wasn't particulary a favourite at Spurs.

And I'm not sure why we'd drop Gyan either - he's a better footballer than Bent. If a partnership cannot be built, then we'd have to rely on them as individuals.

This is what I was getting at. Also in fairness to Welbeck from the posts above, he has been on the wing all season and then as soon as he has gone up top he has done really well. Admittedly that is only 45mins in the spurs game and then the Chelsea game but its no coincidence that those 2 games have provided our best football of the season so far.

Hard one for Bruce to get right this I think.
 
This is what I was getting at. Also in fairness to Welbeck from the posts above, he has been on the wing all season and then as soon as he has gone up top he has done really well. Admittedly that is only 45mins in the spurs game and then the Chelsea game but its no coincidence that those 2 games have provided our best football of the season so far.

Hard one for Bruce to get right this I think.

Bent will come back in, I just see no urgent need to rush it.
 
Bent will come back in, I just see no urgent need to rush it.

Yeah he will for definite. If Welbeck and Gyan tear up Everton on Monday Night it just keeps becoming harder and harder to break the pair up.
 
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