Rumour - Rafael van der Vaart

[biff]

Sexwee if this happens. Old knees or not, he will be head and shoulders above anybody else. You dont lose class.

[Stranded]

Sexwee if this happens. Old knees or not, he will be head and shoulders above anybody else. You dont lose class.

You need to be on the pitch though.

Will be happy if he signs, as means the club feel confident he can handle a 46 game season (or at least a decent proportion thereof).

[royalp-we]

Leaving aside fitness issues, I really don't see where Rafa vdV would fit in Stam's preferred 4-3-3 formation. If we were playing 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, then maybe, with Rafa behind the striker, but in a 4-3-3? Nah.

Could he not fit in to the side of the striker instead of behind a striker; in say, the LF position if playing 3 attackers in a 4-3-3?

As i mentioned on other threads; I highly doubt Stam is going to be able to stick to 4-3-3 for 46+ games; it ain't gonna happen.

[Royal Ginger]

Sexwee if this happens. Old knees or not, he will be head and shoulders above anybody else. You dont lose class.

Like Yakubu...

[genome]

The Yakubu deal was worth it for the one goal he scored that set us on our way to Wembley.

[Hendo]

The Yakubu deal was worth it for the one goal he scored that set us on our way to Wembley.

Agreed with this, but LOL @ comparing R VdV with The Yak.

[CountryRoyal]

Leaving aside fitness issues, I really don't see where Rafa vdV would fit in Stam's preferred 4-3-3 formation. If we were playing 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, then maybe, with Rafa behind the striker, but in a 4-3-3? Nah.

It doesn't have to be a flat, and formations are never or should never be as rigid as their numerals suggest. We could easily play 4-3-3 with 2 slightly deeper lying CMs either side and have VDV pushed a tad further up field.

[From Despair To Where?]

Thinking about it more, I'm beginning to think that despite his pedigree, it's a big risk signing someone with so many question marks about his fitness.

Also, I'd rather bring in a centre back and left back before signing VdV.

[Hoop Blah]

It doesn't have to be a flat, and formations are never or should never be as rigid as their numerals suggest. We could easily play 4-3-3 with 2 slightly deeper lying CMs either side and have VDV pushed a tad further up field.

So 4-2-3-1 then?

[Royal Ginger]

The Yakubu deal was worth it for the one goal he scored that set us on our way to Wembley.

Agreed with this, but LOL @ comparing R VdV with The Yak.

You said that you don't lose class. An over the hill Yakubu lost class.

[Hendo]

Thought you were saying The Yak was head and shoulders above the rest of the playing squad. Poor quoting on your part I'm afraid.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Yeah right ....Ray van de Fart more like

[biff]

Utter mongdivery comparing VDV to Yakubu. VDV had a decent game against Barcelona this month.

[Ian Royal]

I think people need to remember that it doesn't matter how good you are technically, if you can't get and stay match fit, you're a waste of a squad number. Teams at this level should only be paying £15k a week to players who are instant picks for the first 16 and will be expected to make 30+ appearances.

This could very easily be another Anton Ferdinand, Jason Roberts after the initial three months, Martin Keown... Don't get drawn in by the name. It helps us barely a jot to have someone famous who used to be good if they don't perform on the pitch.

[MoorgateRoyal]

I think people need to remember that it doesn't matter how good you are technically, if you can't get and stay match fit, you're a waste of a squad number. Teams at this level should only be paying £15k a week to players who are instant picks for the first 16 and will be expected to make 30+ appearances.

This could very easily be another Anton Ferdinand, Jason Roberts after the initial three months, Martin Keown... Don't get drawn in by the name. It helps us barely a jot to have someone famous who used to be good if they don't perform on the pitch.

I do agree that they need to be able to play, but perhaps van der Vaart is looking at the next stage of his career, so signing him would not only constitute playing but would also mean he does some coaching or mentoring of young players (more so than older pros do anyway)?

If that's the case, I think his wages would certainly be justified providing he does the job.

Either way I still don't think we'll sign him, as much as I would like it.

[wingnut]

Can't see the point in this, I'm afraid.
Why take on a player who'd end up being one of our highest paid players and probably not play because he's not fit?
This does sound very much like a Wayne Bridge mk2 signing (if it happens) to me.

[Hoop Blah]

All these comments on Wayne Bridge are more than a tad harsh.

He played 40 games the season before he signed for us, and I think made it into the PFA team. He wasn't a complete crock as people are suggesting here.

[wingnut]

For the purposes of a comparison with how I think RDV will fare with us I think it's valid.
If you compare RDV's previous season with Bridge's season at Brighton, then it's definitely RDV that's being flattered.

[Hoop Blah]

You think, if he's going to sign, that he'll start really well before suffering a new injury, unrelated to his previous fitness issues, which will then cause him to retire?

What's tonight's lottery numbers?

[wingnut]