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I would disagree if im honest

Modric and VDV are probably our most important players, i cant understand why people dont want VDV in the side, without his goals and assists this season AND last season we would be in a worse situation..of course he doesn't turn up every game, but who does?

Why not keep our best players and reinvest the money we got for Keane, Crouch, O'Hara, Palacios and Hutton? Why break the team up?

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Modric and VDV are probably our most important players, i cant understand why people dont want VDV in the side, without his goals and assists this season AND last season we would be in a worse situation..of course he doesn't turn up every game, but who does?

It is a funny one mate. When VDVs injury news came through the other day on here all I saw was comments saying that Defoe will now get a chance to play with Ade and its all good. I dont rate him as highly as you do either. He is bang in form at the moment tho so an injury is the last thing we needed.

True, just such a waste that whilst Parker will be no.1 for the next 3 years Sandro will have to wait for injuries and rotation to get game time.

Our creativity could come from Bale, Walker overlapping and 2 strikers who could hopefully create something out of nothing ....like a certain Mr Suarez can....and Defoe used to do! Parker gets forward too, sometimes a driving run is as good/effective as fancy skills in the final 3rd.

I hate to speculate really, but with VdV's injuries and Luka's Chelsea link, if Harry were to leave it would leave Levy with a diffcult job on his hands to get the right man in to keep things as they are.....or improve on Harry's good work with current crop of players (most of whom seem happy at the club).

Number Eight

Messia - Fair enough, but when i heard the news VDV came of injured, i was gutted, he really does keep the midfield attached to our striker(s)...how many times have we seen us play a 4-4-2 with our strikers about a mile ahead of our midfield, VDV drops deep to get the ball and play it forward, Defoe does not do that, in fact he does very little for the team

We are a better side with VDV in the team

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2010/2011 PL Season:

VDV:

Goals : 13....Assists: 9

2011/2012 PL Season (So Far) :

Goals : 6....Assists: 2

He should start every game where possible

Realistic

I would agree with most of what you said there, except for the part about Parker being in the heart of our MF for 3 years - he's 31 already!

Some great stats there but we saw against Fulham how much use VDV is when the game's not going for him. Agreed he has to start when possible now, but when he plays our wingers make less crosses from wide. I think a striker like Damiao or Doumbia would have to start every game too

Bales

I dont know why, but it seems people are very quick to jump on VDV when he doesn't have his best game, King didnt have his best game against Fulham, in fact i remember a number of times he was slow to react and got caught out of position but no one seems to mention it

I certainly wouldn't drop him for Defoe who just walks around the pitch until eventually the ball lands at his feet

Damiao or Doumbia...both

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Although Rafa is pretty much never 100% fit, he often has more influence in 60 mins than most others have in 90.

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This

Although Rafa is pretty much never 100% fit, he often has more influence in 60 mins than most others have in 90.

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And less tracking back than most do in 180

I'm just happy this is the debating point for us at the minute - what would Liverpool do for a "problem" like VDV?

And less tracking back than most do in 180

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Bales !!!

"Although Rafa is pretty much never 100% fit, he often has more influence in 60 mins than most others have in 90."

Given his fitness etc, I could live with a 60 min VDV in the context of a strong squad. Still want the 'electric fence' to teach him not to drift too far from the striker leading the line.

The loss of any first team player is always that a loss but life goes on. When we lost Berbatov it was a major blow but a couple of seasons later we are a far better side than we were then.

The bottom line is whoever we might lose we will still be a damned good side.

Sorry, I guess I am playing advocate here but as the OP mentioned a hardworking striker like Hernandez (not a big fan, but he's a good example) would be more willing to help out in defence when necessary.

The point of the article was that we could survive without him, and I agree that we could do just as well with a top striker in his place

"I agree that we could do just as well with a top striker in his place"

Is Adebayor supporting evidence for your theory ... ??

Is Adebayor supporting evidence for your theory ... ??

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No, he's playing alongside VDV - not in his stead

And he's not scoring.

So do we need 2 "top" strikers, or is Ade also falling foul of the oft-discussed 'VDV effect' ??

Thanks Bales - glad someone has noticed the point I was trying to get across - the team moving forward without VdV and or Modric "if" the time came.
Now get Drogba/Anelka in January and we'll be laughing.....

So do we need 2 "top" strikers, or is Ade also falling foul of the oft-discussed 'VDV effect' ??

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Possibly, yes in my opinion. Unfortunately this theory could only be tested without VDV in the team and with our striker pairing getting a decent run. I would not suggest this given his amazing run of form, but the article asks us to question IF we were to be without him what would happen. He's a great player, but more important than the team as a whole? Not on your nelly.

Realistic - I dunno about the sulk Anelka, and Drogba's never been the same after the malaria. I'd rather a younger striker with a point to prove

*strike pairing

Also, just been reading the BBC blog about Uruguay's win on the weekend, and how their midfield is only average (their manager's sentiments) but they provided the platform for Suarez's goals:

Oscar Washington Tabarez:
"They know what we want from them," he said. "They are sufficiently humble to know their limitations, but always give their best with positive thoughts."
......
Tim Vickery:
"The golden evening enjoyed by Suarez also illustrates one of football's great truths - that the stars shine most brightly when the collective balance of the team is correct. "

"glad someone has noticed the point I was trying to get across - the team moving forward without VdV and or Modric "if" the time came"

But will it will be 2 steps backward before 1 step forward ??
Recent events (Carrick, Berba) suggest it could be the latter ...

I love the fact we have this discussion about not having VdV or Luka - 5 or 10 years ago I'd of loved to be talking about being without such amazing players. How times change! Good time to be a spurs fan. Long may it continue.