Tuesday, 23 March 2010

Focal point

One of the best things about Sunday was the success of Roque Santa Cruz as a target man. He gave us an easy ball to relieve pressure, and with Brede Hangeland missing Roque managed to win the majority of aerial challenges he was involved in. His awareness was excellent too - by being available for the long ball, winning it and keeping it he managed to create space in front of the back four for Carlos Tévez, in much the same way Emile Heskey does for Wayne Rooney for England.

This chalkboard demonstrates RSC's success on Sunday, in contrast with Emmanuel Adebayor's performance at Anfield earlier in the season. Adebayor's positioning is much less disciplined, as he drifts across the pitch at will, and when City defenders do try to hit him he rarely wins those headers.










 by Guardian Chalkboards
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1 comment:

budakon said...

Interesting stats...well found!

It is noticeable when he plays how much Adebayor drifts out wide and likes to swap positions with the other attacking players which can work well on occasions but is then not really playing to his strengths in front of goal.

It is disappointing that we have not yet seen a fully match fit Santa Cruz this season. Since he is perpetually working his way back from injuries he has never been been able to really hit the heights he did when playing regularly for Blackburn. A little like Tevez early in the season. Fulham was probably Santa's best City performance. He does gives us a more balanced attack with more options alongside the smaller Tevez, Bellamy, AJ and SWP.

One thing that has constantly amazed me this season is how incredible Tevez is at holding onto the ball. All he seems to need is a sniff of the ball and then it is almost impossible to disposes him.
Surely he must be one of the best players in the premiership at this art.

23 March 2010 at 17:08

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