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Emmanuel Adebayor - Just back playing

Craig Bellamy - Played more as a left midfielder and cannot play 2 games in 4 days

Valeri Bojinov - on loan

Felipe Caicedo - on loan

Jô - on loan

Benjani Mwaruwari - on loan

Robinho - on loan

Roque Santa Cruz - injured

Carlos Tevez - Thank god he has been playing well

Looking at this little lot and the fact that the Academy does not have a shining light ready to make the grade yet, letting Robbie and Benjani leave us in January looks like a gamble that might kick us in the nuts if Tevez loses his Mojo

what about bianchi is he still on loan???????????????

no mate singed a 5 year deal with Torino 18 months ago

Tevez playing as well as he has has been a godsend and we clearly need him to carry on or some others to stand up and score some goals. I know what you mean about Bellers but I think he isn't really a midfield player. Not a striker ok but clearly a forward who provides a real threat in terms of assists and goals.
Adebayor is the key for me. If he gets into the form and mindset that he started the season with all will be rosy but if he drifts into that other person that just doesnt seem up for it which we saw a bit of I might get worried. But RSC will be fit soon so I won't worry for long:)

Quite ironic though, after all the piss taking, that even when all are fit we'll only have 3 proper strikers plus Bellamy.

That hurt my eyes lol, your right though it really is a gamble having all these strikers out on loan

i really want to see us set up with 433 to be honest and so the lack of "pure strikers" doesnt really worry me. There is only really room for one central guy and that could realistically be ade, santa cruz or tevez.

Bellamy, SWP, Johnson, Petrov (and Tevez) are all suited to that role on the flanks

Interestingly btw, in a recent interview with Alex Nimely he was saying that he has not played at all in a striking pair with his traditional "partner" Robbie Mak all this season. This was because Mak had been used wide on the right...so he's maybe an option there for a cameo or two rather than up front as one might anticipate.

As Dougularse says, if Adebayor hits form again properly and Tevez maintains any kind of strike rate we'll be fine.

I kind of expect/hope/pray that the midfielders/wide men will be chipping in quite a bit now. I snooped on a Boro forum yesterday for a while and they seemed to be of the impression that Adam Johnson was much more predisposed to beat his man/men and go for goal than just going to the byline and whipping crosses in so hopefully there are goals in him.

I'm not too worried really. If I'd been Mancini (and intending to not bring any strikers in...as well as letting Robinho go) I would have been sorely tempted to keep Caicedo at Carrington for a week or so and have a proper look at him. But he's the boss

Not too surprised with Robbie going on loan, but I have to say I'm surprised at the Benjani loan without anyone coming in to the club.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Tevez playing as well as he has has been a godsend and we clearly need him to carry on or some others to stand up and score some goals. I know what you mean about Bellers but I think he isn't really a midfield player. Not a striker ok but clearly a forward who provides a real threat in terms of assists and goals.
Adebayor is the key for me. If he gets into the form and mindset that he started the season with all will be rosy but if he drifts into that other person that just doesnt seem up for it which we saw a bit of I might get worried. But RSC will be fit soon so I won't worry for long:)

you cant expect santa cruz to stand up, he'll get himself injured

We only need one striker anyway as we are going to perfect the art of 7-2-1 ;-)

Our first league match this year (2010).

One retired (Ashton)

Three injured (Cole Hines and Franco)

One playing - an 18 year old making his debut.

0-0 at Villa

Apart from Boj I am glad they are on loan, don't think any of them bring to the team what we need right now. Been at work since early yesterday and didnt see that Benjani had gone on loan, where he end up? Airport lounge?

I was saying something similar this time last year & believe it cost us the UEFA Cup. We should have signed a veteran on loan or a youngster with the neccessary physique to do a job in the PL incase anyhting happens to Ade/Tevez.

Luckily Harry's decided to get a back hander for Keane which means Spurs are one injury away from disaster & Villa have Heskey & Carew (no strangers to the treatment table) so it evens it out a bit.

Very well pointed out. need adebayor to get going and the wingers (johno, petrov, swp, bellers) to contribute more goals. got to ask ourselves do we think we would get more goals from benji and robbi or from our wing wizards (if ade and carlos stay fit?)

we will be fine

Its crazy ain't it? We were talking about getting a new striker come summer aswell.

if you ask mancini he'll tell you petrov is a striker

BmoreBlue wrote:if you ask mancini he'll tell you petrov is a striker

Well really he could be excused for thinking that if you look at Petrov's goals to games ratio this season.