The fans, of various clubs, have spoken on which 2 of the 4 Boro strikers should start the season upfront together next season.
The 4 strikers Southgate has to choose from are: Jeremie Alidiere, Afonso Alves, Tuncay Sanli and Mido. All of them have their own strengths and weaknesses so it is obviously going to be a tough choice for the gaffer.
Tuncay works his socks off for the team and has a great first touch, also chipping in with goals. However, he is not a prolific goalscorer (8 goals in 34 games) and is more creative instead of being a poacher.
Aliadiere also works his socks off, closing people down and running the channels. He is very pacey and although he aint the most clinical of strikers he does score a few. He has hit the back of the net 5 times in his 29 appearances in a Boro shirt so far.
Alves is the Boro’s most expensive buy ever and scored 6 goals from his 11 appearances since his transfer in January. He is a very pacey, direct player and is probably the best finisher that the Boro have on their books. His weaknesses are his ability to hold the ball up and his first touch when he has his back to goal.
Mido had a torrid time last term. After scoring on his debut versus Fulham, and on derby day against the Geordies, he suffered 2 serious injuries. His first one forced him to rest completely for a few months and lead to him piling on the pounds, then when he made his comeback he had to have a hernia operation. Only managing 12 appearances, he scored 2 goals. He can hold the ball up well, get the crowd going and produce a bit of magic when it looks unlikely. However, some fans accuse him of not putting in enough work.
The poll has shown that people think Alves and Tuncay is the best partnership…..racking up 46% of the votes. They built up a good relationship towards the end of the season and certainly compliment each other.
Whether this is the strikeforce Southgate goes with is another matter, as all have their pluses and minuses.. They can all play well together so come Saturday August 16th, it will be very interesting to see who the gaffer picks.
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Alves a poor first touch!? I lol’d. Have you actually seen him play? He has an excellent first touch. I think your focusing on the times it has let him down like it does a lot of players. Alves has an excellent first touch. I think you need to watch him a lot more closely. Also, while hes not exactly the Mark Viduka at playing people in holding the ball, hes the best at that in the squad currently.
^ Behind Mido (add onto the end of my last comment)
Alves has a very poor first touch, i have followed the Boro all over the country and have a season ticket. To me he seems to be a better Yakubu…..very direct but when he has his back to the goal he doesnt do alot. Whenever the ball comes into him with his back to goal the ball bounces off him. [Edited by marron17] [Edited by marron17]
Edited article to explain about the back to goal bit, there is no getting away from the fact that when he isnt facing goal he seems lost.
I will agree though that he plays better when hes receiving through balls and making runs. We dont need another striker to play with his back to goal anyway, its not the type of player he is to begin with. Hes a fairly pacey, broad goalscorer whos job it is to poach goals and beat defenses. which is what hes done with success all his career. He leads the line, and he shouldnt be playing with his back to goal at all.
Very true, and im sure it wont be long before he starts to put a few of those stinging free-kicks away.
Yeah, id love to see those in person. When i was at the Sheffield match in the FA cup he pulled off great shot, although their keeper unfortunately was well positioned.
Cant recall him getting one of his free kicks off target, always seems to be on target but the trouble is that the keeper is always behind them. Would be a good start for him to bang one in on the opening day 😉
alves and ali….. with tuncay jst behind and u could do with 2 better wide players ( huckerby ? )
Huckerby, dont be daft. Id take Barnes any time of the day, good line hugger, whips in a good cross and has a good shot on goal. He’s a bit relaxed on the defensive duties but with luke young there i wouldnt see that being much of a problem.
2 better wide players?!! Who’s better than Downing on the left???
barnes players CM or AM , u lot seriously overrate downing .
malbranque or benayoun would be a good signing for u