[cite]Posted By: stubs1310[/cite]Varnet always seemed to play best out wide- we should have converted him to a winger- much better than Ambrose
I don't think he could play out wide from midfield.
He made lots of forward runs in wide areas as a forward but that is not the same as playing on the left or right in a 442 or even 451. Could you see him tracking back or covering the full back
I still think he is a talent but his confidence is shot and he needs to get back to a team where he feels safe again.
Agreed, Henry. I felt for Varns, he was a lad who'd come into football late - and all he wanted to do was pinch himself how lucky he was, and enthusiastically play the game.
His major problem, was lack of composure. That's a mental/emotional thing, and if somebody could help him with that, he could be a more than decent footballer.
I'd never slag him off. For all those missed chances, he'd always run through brick walls for the shirt.
It's little things like Varns' last minute miss against Burnley, the 95th minute equalisers conceded against Argyle and Derby - that may have even turned our season around at that period.
Can't critisise a bloke who always gave 100% for us and never tried to hide even when things were not going his way (which sadly was most of the time!).
[cite]Posted By: valleyman[/cite]Can't critisise a bloke who always gave 100% for us and never tried to hide even when things were not going his way (which sadly was most of the time!).
We've had worse players but better and more composed finishers. No one could ever say he was disinterested, hid or didn't care either.
One of Pardew's big mistakes was trying to turn Varney, a player capable of 10 goals a season if playing regularly in a good team, into a 20-25 goal a season out and out goalscorer. Put the pressure on him, and didn't have a goalscorer next to him.
Agreed, Sco. Varney should never have been given the pressure of being principle striker.
It would have been better to harness his strengths - phenominal workrate and enthusiasm.
He should have been given a free-role, like he was at home to Palace last year - and allowed to play all along the width of the front line but in the hole behind the principle striker.
That way he had the freedom of the park to run at defenders, make runs from deep without being picked up, and cross or cut in from wide positions unmarked.
From a defender's point of view, he would have been virtually impossible to pick up.
I think he could have worked on left or right midfield. He is willing to track back and tackle. He does setup goals. He only works if the ball is at his feet in the channels. His movement off the shoulder of a defender was terrible. His lack of composure in front of goal, is something that won't be coached out of him at champ and above. He just doesn't look up, or take his time, everything is at full pelt.
All that said it was better to sell him, than try and convert him to a winger where he wasn't comfortable. I only wanted him there earlier in the season, as the side had to be packed with all the triers and Andy Gray. The majority of players were putting no pressure on ball and showing no effort. He was never one of those.
I'd have him back tomorrow. On work rate alone, he got played up top on his own a fair few times which was grossly unfair on him yet he still chased everything and looked more threatening in the air than so called target men we have at the moment.
[cite]Posted By: valleyman[/cite]Can't critisise a bloke who always gave 100% for us and never tried to hide even when things were not going his way (which sadly was most of the time!).
Yes you can, effort isnt everything is this life mate.
Comments
And I'd much rather have kept him than see Deon Burton....
But at least we got recouped a decent amount back form him
Think they'd have been too similar to work together.
I don't think he could play out wide from midfield.
He made lots of forward runs in wide areas as a forward but that is not the same as playing on the left or right in a 442 or even 451. Could you see him tracking back or covering the full back
I still think he is a talent but his confidence is shot and he needs to get back to a team where he feels safe again.
His major problem, was lack of composure. That's a mental/emotional thing, and if somebody could help him with that, he could be a more than decent footballer.
I'd never slag him off. For all those missed chances, he'd always run through brick walls for the shirt.
There but for Fortune. And he's been missed too.
;o)
I just hope Varney is still having nightmares about that miss, because I am.
Agree 100,000%
Illness
Anyone noice how much he enjoyed scoring vs palace! First game in derby colours scores against em!
One of Pardew's big mistakes was trying to turn Varney, a player capable of 10 goals a season if playing regularly in a good team, into a 20-25 goal a season out and out goalscorer. Put the pressure on him, and didn't have a goalscorer next to him.
It would have been better to harness his strengths - phenominal workrate and enthusiasm.
He should have been given a free-role, like he was at home to Palace last year - and allowed to play all along the width of the front line but in the hole behind the principle striker.
That way he had the freedom of the park to run at defenders, make runs from deep without being picked up, and cross or cut in from wide positions unmarked.
From a defender's point of view, he would have been virtually impossible to pick up.
He just wasn't a conventional striker.
All that said it was better to sell him, than try and convert him to a winger where he wasn't comfortable. I only wanted him there earlier in the season, as the side had to be packed with all the triers and Andy Gray. The majority of players were putting no pressure on ball and showing no effort. He was never one of those.
Which went straight to pay off Pardew.
Yes you can, effort isnt everything is this life mate.
If you saw them in a pub in 10 years time would you think
"yeah, may or may not have been a great player but put in a shift for the team so I'll go up and shake his hand"
Or
"was he a total arse when he played for us and no I wouldn't shake his hand"
For me Varney is in the "I'd go up and shake his hand" category.
You can't knock a player for being honest and committed.
totally, not a football genius but would be happy to have a drink with him.
Not so Defoe who is a much better player
Lib?
;o)
Don't change the fact he's gash though, does it.
Agreed, but lets face it, like many others, Pardew played him out of position, he always impressed me when he played out on the right