Giuseppe Rossi - Full debut and standing in the team next season?

[Dark Savante]

First of all, can't believe no one congratulated a reserve on his first full team start with a thread! :mad:

Secondly, I can't believe Rossi is getting the blame for Ruud's not starting.

Thirdly, that is not how the lad plays, but it was still a decent debut.

Fourthly, anyone wondering what all this turmoil means for the kid and next term?

my thoughts on each point.

2. If anything it is Saha who 'took' Ruud's position, Rossi is a SS and would be expected to play alongside either Ruud or Saha.

3. The kid was very excitable and nothing like his calm composed self, him playing the way he did yesterday will be gone if he is now a regular in the first team and gets chances to settle. He looked desperate to impress and was shooting on sight and did none of his usual flash and panache. Well a bit when Scholes came on, but anyone who has seen Rossi in the reserves knows full well yesterday's game was not the 'normal' Rossi we see line up every week.

4. A lot of speculation going round that Rossi will in fact be 3rd striker in the roster next term. I think that's a bad idea personally, he should be fourth striker and a new top notch guy brought in if Ruud is indeed on his way.

For those of you seeing the kid for the first time, what did you think?

[Vermont Red]

Probably like many posters here, it was impossible for me to watch Rossi without Dark Savante's words in my head. It looked to me like he was pressing too much, but that should go away. A few things that I remember:

He tracked back to make tackles a few times. Must be the new dimension that DS said he's brought to his game recently.

He tried a few moves yesterday that probably work at the reserve level (especially trying to flip that ball past the defender on that long pass from Saha). I'm sure he'll adapt quickly.

He showed good close control and also demonstrated that he won't be taken out of his game by being knocked about. I understand that he wasn't playing an overly physical team, but he always looked up for it.

With regards to Ruud, I agree with DS; Rossi didn't take Ruud's spot.

[benni...]

I wish I could have seen the game.

[Howard Zinn]

For those of you seeing the kid for the first time, what did you think?


He certainly appeared nervous out there, which is understandable considering it was his first PL start. Really won't get to see how good the kid is until he is given a run of matches and he gets comfortable. Just two observations I thought about during the match:

1. I know Charlton aren't the most physical side in the PL, but I was quite impressed with the few times that Rossi got bumped, but didn't fall over. He seems to have a low center of gravity that should allow him to take some physical punishment, which is extremely important in the EPL. I showed some concern about his size early this season when I saw a highlight video of the kid, but the bit I saw yesterday allayed my concern over his size.

2. In the thread before the match about our possible strike force against Charlton, I wanted to see Ruud and Louis up top with Rossi playing the Scholes' role. After watching the match and seeing the boy hold up physically, I can't get the idea of this kid being Paulie's replacement out of my head. I may be completely wrong on this, and it wouldn't be the first time, but with the small touches he was making and the way he was striking the ball, he just looked so much like a raw Scholes to me. I'm not observant enough to explain exactly what I was looking at, but every time he touched the ball, I thought, "That looks like Scholes!"

[Stud83]

4. A lot of speculation going round that Rossi will in fact be 3rd striker in the roster next term. I think that's a bad idea personally, he should be fourth striker and a new top notch guy brought in if Ruud is indeed on his way.


Why? He's the 4th on the depth chart right now. And we've seen full 90 minutes from him only once the entire year? Assuming Rooney and Saha stay (healthy), and Ruud goes, the first 2 would still be regular starters for most of the season. If Rossi is the first off the bench though, he'll get plenty of chances to shine. If he's 4th - his playing time again will be very limited. He's not 17 anymore, he'll turn 20 next season - time to see regular first team action. Getting another quality striker would mean another season of 15 first team games with 5 starts, mostly in CC or early FA Cup rounds for him.
If he's that good, what are we waiting for?

[Dark Savante]

Why? He's the 4th on the depth chart right now. And we've seen full 90 minutes from him only once the entire year? Assuming Rooney and Saha stay (healthy), and Ruud goes, the first 2 would still be regular starters for most of the season. If Rossi is the first off the bench though, he'll get plenty of chances to shine. If he's 4th - his playing time again will be very limited. He's not 17 anymore, he'll turn 20 next season - time to see regular first team action. Getting another quality striker would mean another season of 15 first team games with 5 starts, mostly in CC or early FA Cup rounds for him.
If he's that good, what are we waiting for?
You can't have one #9 in the squad imo. Rossi is a SS and if he's not played there and is asked to play CF, I'm not sure, but think it will not be good for him. I've not once seen Rossi play the #9 since he's been here and I've watched all his games at reserve level so it'd be very odd if he is thrown on here as a #9 if (when) Saha goes down.

IT all goes back to Rooney I suppose. He plays where Giuseppe does. He'd get less game time as the 4th striker but he'd probably get the right PT in his proper position there. I also think we need a 4man rotatation up front that has that same top notch quality across all four players. Smith is a drop down, Ole, I don't believe will play as a striker for us, so that leaves us a little thin.

[StrikerCW]

I could see him and Smitho rotating as I think he will be in the Ole role next season (of general offensive utility) but back mostly to the old forward position.

I didn't get to watch the match (luckily!!) but at the very least he got some good playing time in, which is always good.

I don't like the idea of Rossi at all in the midfield he is too small. Plus there is a better player going to be there next season. Dave Jones. The boy has talent and has a natural position in Scholes position (a little more two-way as well) so I think that possibility should be out.

[DutchFootballRulez]

First of all, can't believe no one congratulated a reserve on his first full team start with a thread! :mad:



He didn't start vs. Burton Albion?

[Vermont Red]

He meant Prem start.

[DutchFootballRulez]

He meant Prem start.

It's called "having a go"..I was doing it. You ruined it with your well-meaning logic.

We know he meant Prem start. But he doesn't need to be congratulated for beating Charlton.

[Vermont Red]

It's called "having a go"..I was doing it. You ruined it with your well-meaning logic.

We know he meant Prem start. But he doesn't need to be congratulated for beating Charlton.

Sorry that I ruined it. Sometimes its difficult to distinguish between those "having a go" and those who really don't know. I should have given you the benefit of the doubt.

[Stud83]

You can't have one #9 in the squad imo. Rossi is a SS and if he's not played there and is asked to play CF, I'm not sure, but think it will not be good for him. I've not once seen Rossi play the #9 since he's been here and I've watched all his games at reserve level so it'd be very odd if he is thrown on here as a #9 if (when) Saha goes down.

IT all goes back to Rooney I suppose. He plays where Giuseppe does. He'd get less game time as the 4th striker but he'd probably get the right PT in his proper position there. I also think we need a 4man rotatation up front that has that same top notch quality across all four players. Smith is a drop down, Ole, I don't believe will play as a striker for us, so that leaves us a little thin.

See, the thing is - if Ruud is really gone, we won't get as much for him as one would hope and most likely his sale won't cover a price for a new striker. And I really don't want to waste any money outside of spending on good CM(s) this offseason. I think Smith could provide us with depth at striker position, and don't count out Ole - (hopefully) a full offseason with the team and he may still be a valuable contributor.
The reason I don't like your logic is because based on it he will never be a full time starter for us. Rooney is not going anywhere, and he will play 50 games every season barring injuries. For many years to come. And if Rossi is that good, I don't think he should be kept on the bench for long stretches during the season. I also don't think he'll be too happy with the situation - especially, if we get a replacement for Ruud and he plays as many games as he did this season. If he and Rooney can't play together, we may as well give him a chance to show himself and then sell him somewhere to become a full time starter.

[Vermont Red]

Call me a lunatic if you must, but I'm not convinced that Rooney and Rossi can't play together.

[Sapphire]

^ Lunatic ;)

[Vermont Red]

^ Lunatic ;)

Jump.

[FCDallas96]

I would still like to see Smith up top because he does have good qualities to his game. The only season he played striker for us was when he was the only striker in our team ready to go and he was struggling with a bad ankle injury as well. This should allow Rossi to be the 3rd striker and Smith the 4th striker/outside midfield sub. Smith is very good at holding the ball up, good in the air, more mobile than Ruud but the only downside is that he isn't as clinical. This would mean that Smith is the perfect striker to play against the likes of Charlton while resting Saha. I do think that a Rooney/Rossi combo would be devestating to any team they come across.

[StrikerCW]

Smith did well when he played up top. Only problem is he was isolated that season up there. That was when Ruud was out and I think for about 10 matches Smith was the only real striker playing. Still then he helped us not fall into a UEFA spot.

[Dark Savante]

It's called "having a go"..I was doing it. You ruined it with your well-meaning logic.

We know he meant Prem start. But he doesn't need to be congratulated for beating Charlton.
It's customary to mention new debutants to the team irrespective of the result.

[Dark Savante]

See, the thing is - if Ruud is really gone, we won't get as much for him as one would hope and most likely his sale won't cover a price for a new striker. And I really don't want to waste any money outside of spending on good CM(s) this offseason. I think Smith could provide us with depth at striker position, and don't count out Ole - (hopefully) a full offseason with the team and he may still be a valuable contributor.
The reason I don't like your logic is because based on it he will never be a full time starter for us. Rooney is not going anywhere, and he will play 50 games every season barring injuries. For many years to come. And if Rossi is that good, I don't think he should be kept on the bench for long stretches during the season. I also don't think he'll be too happy with the situation - especially, if we get a replacement for Ruud and he plays as many games as he did this season. If he and Rooney can't play together, we may as well give him a chance to show himself and then sell him somewhere to become a full time starter.
I said a long time ago that Rooney and Rossi creates a problem. They may be able to play together, I don't know, they are both #10's it would take some compromise. It's not at every club you have the best reserve in the country and the best young player in the world eyes on for the same position, so it's a problem, imo. But Rooney should not be playing as many games as you suggest at his age and with all our competitions plus England qualifying , Rossi should get ample time in that position throughout a campaign.

IF you're going to play them together, then it'd need to be worked on thouroughly in pre-season...but is Rooney going to be risked much during that time?

[Stud83]

IF you're going to play them together, then it'd need to be worked on thouroughly in pre-season...but is Rooney going to be risked much during that time?

No, but at least he'll be able to play every game with Saha in his natural position (if we don't get another striker).