Emilio Izaguirre

I love Izzy and while he's not reached those same heights, last season - MOTM performance v Juventus at home and assist for Sammy's last gap winner in Moscow et al - he showed real glimpses of his quality. I have faith in him and this could be a great season for him, that being said I think he needs competition in the left back department with someone being signed.

 

The wee basterd better come good

 

He was our most prized asset after Lennons first season him and Kayal need to step up this season I reckon. Two of them are capable of being top players they have proven this so am looking for a good campaign from both.

 

Said it before, and i'll say it again. Izaguirre is better when we play a left midfielder that will offer something in the way of a defensive shift. There was a thread about where Charlie Mulgrew will fit in this season, and I would honestly start the season with him at left midfield. Not because he is a great wide midfielder, but I think we would see the Izaguirre of old. I know it seems like i'm trying to accomodate for one player, but when Izaguirre is getting forward, he is a vital part to our team. And that was why he got POTY, not for his defensive capabilities, but because he was a constant threat going forward.

 

Surely, by that logic, it would make more sense to get a decent defensive left back and play Izzy left mid? But then I'm not a fan of Mulgrew in Midfield, nor at left back for that matter, and it really frustrates me when he gets shoved into positions he can't play very well just to have him in the team for his free kicks etc.

 

A quality left back hasn't exacty been easy to find for us for a good few year. We have one in Izaguirre, if he can get back to himself. One thing you are guarenteed if Mulgrew plays left midfield as well, is a great delivery from crosses. So he wouldn't just be played for set pieces. I can't see him playing at centre half this year, with Van Dijk and Wilson almost a certainty to begin the season there, and I reckon he and Izaguirre could link up very well down the left for us.

 

Izzys form was by far the est when he had an attacking midfider infront of him in Lenny's first season, when we had Commons, Forrest, Sammy or Paddy McCourt infront of him. However it was Joe Ledley's job to cover Izzy when he went forward. We used this to devastating effect and got around 80 goals from the left side of the park that season.

 

It's Samaras that is the main problem when playing left midfield because his link up play isn't great. He is more of a head down and run at players, where as Commons looks to try and build up play. Samaras offers zilch in the way of defending, I know the others are attack minded, but they can pitch in to a certain extent when tracking back. It was mainly Commons I think that played in front of him, Ledley played at left midfield as well from time to time.

 

I disagree, good attacking full backs are always better when they're attacking from deep, rather than starting high up the park.

I don't think he plays quite as well with Sammy in front of him as he does with the others, but I agree about Ledley. We'll see the best from Izzy if we use this again I think.

 

I agree, Sammy is a bit too 'floaty' and Izzy gets confused about where the best place for him is. Commons and Forrest (and Paddy) tend to cut in the middle and Izzy would go round the outside, which stretches there defence and usually you get Tony Stokes drifting to the left and picking out the spaces that left.

 

Aye, definitely. He isn't sure whether to stick or twist with Samaras playing I feel. But it's hard because Samaras has to play left midfield in Europe in my opinion.

 

Which is why you seen Izzy at his best when Sammy was moved intothe middle against Spartak and the Juve at home game when Sammy wasn't playing.

Sammy needs to play in Europe though and the left side is his best position.

 

Totally agree. But then you have a dilemma. You have to weigh up the options, are we better with Samaras wide left and limiting Izaguirre in getting forward, or are we better playing Samaras up top and playing Commons etc wide left. Or Samaras being left out. Not likely the last option to be fair but put it in anyway.

Strictly in Europe I meant here.

 

Wide left, without doubt for me but we have the option to change if it isn't working.

 

On a side note, I'm surprised he's not at the Gold Cup with Honduras (the North/Central American confederation cup), I thought he was first pick for them.

 

We asked if he could skip it, beause kf the qualifiers (if I remember right)

 

Alot of experienced players arent there for Honduras, Vallardares, Izzy, Figueroa, Bernardez, Palacios, Garcia, Espinoza etc.

Infact Mexico have lef tall there main players at home and USA have rested alot aswell. Must not be taken very seriously, The Gold Cup.

 

Ahhhh I see. Surprising because it's their equivalent to the European Championships.

Oh well, all the better for us. Keeps Izaguirre fresh

 

Has Jorge Claros been called up?

 

I've just been reading up on it, Apparently needs a major revamp, they hold it every 2 years, when a 4 yearly would probably be better and because of scheduling, it's in the middle of WC qualification, which is more important to them. I think they only see it as a way into the Confederations cup really, and its the 2011 and 2015 editions of the tournament which would ensure that, this 2013 one is irrelevent to the better nations like USA, Mexico and Honduras

Infact I've just read that for the 2017 Confed Cup in Russia, there will be a playoff game between the 2013 and 2015 winners, farce that :smiley-laughing002: