Louis Saha (merged threads)

[Stig of the Lane]

I agree Rev, he may not have been the striker that we all wanted, but he is here now and we should get behind him. Not only does he seem to be fit at the moment, but also very motivated and up for the challenge. Saha at his best is a very dangerous player with a good eye for goal, some may complain about his age and that he is not what he was but Harry has a proven track record of taking older players and winding back the clock.

Saha is very strong and is far more capable of playing alone up front than either Defoe or Pav and provides cover for Ade without putting the big man's nose out of joint (you must remember that it was the arrival of other forwards/competition that was the beginning of Ade's problems at city), and at this juncture an unsettled/unhappy Ade is the last thing that we need. Even if Saha only becomes our super sub coming off of the bench when Ade tires, and starting only in the cup or when injuries dictate he could prove to be very useful and important especially if he chips in with a few goals (I get the feeling that he just might). This signing screams Gudjohnsen to me, and as we all know that worked out pretty well.

Who knows, he could surprise everyone and we may well be singing his name by the end of the season and even signing him for another year to take with us on a journey back to the promised land.

[Bogota Yid]

I agree Rev, he may not have been the Striker that we all wanted but he is here now and we should get behind him. He seems not only to be fit at the moment but also very motivated and up for the challenge. Saha at his best is a very dangerous player with a good eye for goal, some may complain about his age and that he is not what he was but Harry has a proven track record of taking older players and winding back the clock.

Saha is very strong and is far more capable of playing alone up front than either Defoe or Pav and provides cover for Ade without putting the big man's nose out of joint (you must remember that it was the arrival of other forwards/competition that was the beginning of Ade's problems at city), and at this juncture an unsettled/unhappy Ade is the last thing that we need. Even if Saha only becomes our super sub coming off of the bench when Ade tires, and starts only in the cup or when injuries dictate he could prove to be very useful and important especially if he chips in with a few goals (I get the feeling that he just might). This signing screams Gudjohnsen to me, and as we all know that work out pretty well.

Who knows, he could surprise everyone and we may well be singing his name by the end of the season and even signing him for another year to take with us on a journey back to the promised land.

I agree with that. I must admit i was shocked by the signing(and the other one too) as i have had my phone, TV and internet cut off the last couple ofdays and i saw the news very late on the transfer day but after thinking about it its not that bad.
Saha is just an upgrade on Pav and like you said is a good finisher which is what we need as sometimes we create so many chances but just cant finish them off. Ade doesnt have his scoring boots on at the moment and helps us in other ways by holding the ball up and pulling defenders out wide and VDV keeps dropping back so deep so Saha and Defoe will provbide good options on the bench. I would never start them both together though, not unless i had to but either one of them could provide good cover if Ade gets injured. Saha wasnt in good from at Everton but we all know players can come alive when given a fresh start. Lets hope so

[bradders]

i will give him a chance but i am sooooooooo disappointed with this transfer window. he will get a hat trick first game lol

[Mandy]

I'm disappointed with this transfer window as well, but that's nothing unusual.
I don't think Saha is a bad signing, if he's fit I'd play him ahead of Defoe any day. I think he's got more of an eye for goal that Defoe has and he's solid backup for Ade. We'll see what happens, but if he's given a few games I think he can do OK.

[alexgn]

Saha is Pav's replacement. He'd be on the bench. Is he 33 now? He won't be with us for long. I hope he settles in quickly and scores when he's given a chance.

[BigDub]

I agree Rev, he may not have been the striker that we all wanted, but he is here now and we should get behind him. Not only does he seem to be fit at the moment, but also very motivated and up for the challenge. Saha at his best is a very dangerous player with a good eye for goal, some may complain about his age and that he is not what he was but Harry has a proven track record of taking older players and winding back the clock.

Saha is very strong and is far more capable of playing alone up front than either Defoe or Pav and provides cover for Ade without putting the big man's nose out of joint (you must remember that it was the arrival of other forwards/competition that was the beginning of Ade's problems at city), and at this juncture an unsettled/unhappy Ade is the last thing that we need. Even if Saha only becomes our super sub coming off of the bench when Ade tires, and starting only in the cup or when injuries dictate he could prove to be very useful and important especially if he chips in with a few goals (I get the feeling that he just might). This signing screams Gudjohnsen to me, and as we all know that worked out pretty well.

Who knows, he could surprise everyone and we may well be singing his name by the end of the season and even signing him for another year to take with us on a journey back to the promised land.

This all the way. Top post @Stig of the Lane

Let's put the "what could have beens" behind us and focus on the players we currently have. As we have shown all season, we have the talent capable of being right in the title hunt.

[bradders]

also this nielson signing, 34, crocked and played ONE GAME IN 8 MONTHS, great player to be paying wages to ffs. i really am on one atm lmao

[Yidington]

@bradders Please don't slag off the Admiral!

He's prob on pay as you play & even if he's not - his attitude to being on the bench & being 5th choice will be a lot better than Bassongs

[xreyuk]

Well, as you know, I'm an Everton fan. I think what you guys have, is similar to what Arsenal fans had when they signed Arteta. A very out of date view of the player you've bought. (We don't get much press coverage in the press, and are always near the end on MOTD).

Arteta, is no where near as good as he would have been had Arsenal signed him 2-3 years ago. He was really on fire. It's the same with Saha. If you'd bought him a year and a half a go, you'd be getting a much much better player.

To the guy who asked me if his work rate was good (sorry, i forget your name ), put it this way, Yakubu had a million times better work rate, and he was known for being a lazy, fat feck. Saha looks sharp when he plays, but his first touch is poor, and pretty much all season, his movement has been non existent. He's not even looked like scoring.

Personally, I believe the majority of the reason we've had poor results, is because he was on the pitch. A lot of our games have been goals scored by subs, or when we've made subs, and Saha was always the first man off the pitch. Why Moyes always started him, I'll never know. It was mainly his lack of movement and effort that was the problem, and he's especially worse when things aren't going his way, or the way he wants. If Harry ever has to play him up front alone, even with the support of VDV, lennon etc, he'll throw a hissy fit and you won't see any movement from him, he'll give your midfield no options and force you backwards. The other problem he has, is he can't keep hold of the ball when he's got it. Lack of strength and poor touch usually see it end up at the feet of defenders.

If you can play him in a 4-4-2, with people around him willing to do a lot of the work, you'll get some goals out of him. If you ever come across a situation where you need movement, or just need him to get hold of the ball and keep it, you'll struggle.

[P UNIT 1980]

Well, as you know, I'm an Everton fan. I think what you guys have, is similar to what Arsenal fans had when they signed Arteta. A very out of date view of the player you've bought. (We don't get much press coverage in the press, and are always near the end on MOTD).

Arteta, is no where near as good as he would have been had Arsenal signed him 2-3 years ago. He was really on fire. It's the same with Saha. If you'd bought him a year and a half a go, you'd be getting a much much better player.

To the guy who asked me if his work rate was good (sorry, i forget your name ), put it this way, Yakubu had a million times better work rate, and he was known for being a lazy, fat feck. Saha looks sharp when he plays, but his first touch is poor, and pretty much all season, his movement has been non existent. He's not even looked like scoring.

Personally, I believe the majority of the reason we've had poor results, is because he was on the pitch. A lot of our games have been goals scored by subs, or when we've made subs, and Saha was always the first man off the pitch. Why Moyes always started him, I'll never know. It was mainly his lack of movement and effort that was the problem, and he's especially worse when things aren't going his way, or the way he wants. If Harry ever has to play him up front alone, even with the support of VDV, lennon etc, he'll throw a hissy fit and you won't see any movement from him, he'll give your midfield no options and force you backwards. The other problem he has, is he can't keep hold of the ball when he's got it. Lack of strength and poor touch usually see it end up at the feet of defenders.

If you can play him in a 4-4-2, with people around him willing to do a lot of the work, you'll get some goals out of him. If you ever come across a situation where you need movement, or just need him to get hold of the ball and keep it, you'll struggle.

Gulp..........!!!

That's exactly what we need him to do.

Adebayors role.

Well actually Pavs role. So yeah he just about fits the bill perfectly.

[Rivron]

Well, as you know, I'm an Everton fan. I think what you guys have, is similar to what Arsenal fans had when they signed Arteta. A very out of date view of the player you've bought. (We don't get much press coverage in the press, and are always near the end on MOTD).

Arteta, is no where near as good as he would have been had Arsenal signed him 2-3 years ago. He was really on fire. It's the same with Saha. If you'd bought him a year and a half a go, you'd be getting a much much better player.

To the guy who asked me if his work rate was good (sorry, i forget your name ), put it this way, Yakubu had a million times better work rate, and he was known for being a lazy, fat feck. Saha looks sharp when he plays, but his first touch is poor, and pretty much all season, his movement has been non existent. He's not even looked like scoring.

Personally, I believe the majority of the reason we've had poor results, is because he was on the pitch. A lot of our games have been goals scored by subs, or when we've made subs, and Saha was always the first man off the pitch. Why Moyes always started him, I'll never know. It was mainly his lack of movement and effort that was the problem, and he's especially worse when things aren't going his way, or the way he wants. If Harry ever has to play him up front alone, even with the support of VDV, lennon etc, he'll throw a hissy fit and you won't see any movement from him, he'll give your midfield no options and force you backwards. The other problem he has, is he can't keep hold of the ball when he's got it. Lack of strength and poor touch usually see it end up at the feet of defenders.

If you can play him in a 4-4-2, with people around him willing to do a lot of the work, you'll get some goals out of him. If you ever come across a situation where you need movement, or just need him to get hold of the ball and keep it, you'll struggle.

Funnily enough, I have the same thoughts about Pienaar.

[Javi]

Well it goes without saying that he was boss today, even tho he isn't a long term solution he could be that finisher we have been looking for to put away some of those chances at goal. Now here is the kicker, I don't think he might be as good alone up front and needs Ade to keep him company. So are we to use them both only for certain oppositions?

[spursman18]

If he stays fit he'll compete for a place with JD.

It's a selection headache for Harry when both him and JD are fully fit

and not to mention this dutch fella who scores goals and pisses off gooners for fun.

[Mandy]

I'd put him up front with Ade any day of the week, they're a much more formidable pair any combination with Defoe in it would be. I not a massive fan of Defoe lately, he's been far too inconsistent and has missed a few situations where he's tried to go solo instead of putting the pass across to an open team-mate.
I think the experience and team work in the Saha/Ade partnership is crucial for us.

[P UNIT 1980]

I always said he could finish......

People laughed at me.......

Same people cheering today.