Do you rate Pavlyuchenko?
Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 11:52AM Pavlyuchenko apparently requires surgery for a groin injury. You'll have noticed he hasn't played a part in our recent games and the last thing I can remember from him (other than a missed penalty in a reserve match) was some quotes based around a complaint that he is struggling to learn English. This is largely thanks to his every day routine of hotel - breakfast - training - hotel - dinner - bed. Gruelling work schedule taking its toll there for Roman.
It's been pointed out that the club should be doing far more to make sure he develops his linguistic skills. The player still 'thinks' in Russian which means he has to attempt to translate what he wants to relay to his team-mates from Russian into English. Which, according to the player, is time consuming.
I'm miffed. Just call out the players name. You're not exactly gonna find the need to stand on the edge of the box and scream, 'Hey Aaron, Aaron, please strike the ball with the outside of your foot and lay it into my path. I'm going to sweetly strike it to the left of the goal'.
A simple yelp will suffice.
Pedanticisms aside, he is probably referring to the aftermath of a broken down attack when he needs to explain to the player who passed the ball to the right when he (Pav) was running to the left what space he intends to run into next time round. Again, arguably, all he has to do is point and wave his arms about and even speak his disgruntledness in Russian. The likelihood is his team-mate will understand the complaint far more clearly than anything coming out of Robbie Keanes mouth.
There's a lot that hasn't gone right for Pav since his move to the UK. Arguably, the guy is tired having playing several months of football in Russia in the snow before the Prem had kicked-off. He hasn't done too shabby considering the start of the season we've had (two points, eight games), but although he has scored himself into double figures - he hasn't scored that many in the league. He's a bit slow, and sometimes his first touch isn't great and his long shot efforts are poor - but he seems to find himself in the right place at the right time and unlike Darren Bent, he contributes far more and appears to be more adaptable to Harry's tactics. He's a decent goal-scorer. Maybe not one worth £14M on current showing, but we always pay far more than what the player is truly worth. Problem, arguably, is he doesn't quite excel in anything in particular and can't be defined in the same terms of importance in the same way Keane or Defoe can (with what they can offer on the pitch).
Is he over-rated? Guess we can't really judge him until 10 games into next season. Although even a 'tired' player should be showing us a little bit more in the way of ability. But at the minute, the tired excuse and the injury issue saves him from the knee-jerk 'Get rid of him!' brigade.
I like Pav. He's comes across as a bit daft (maybe something is lost in translation) in interviews, but he plays with a smile on his face. You just get this impression he's only playing at around the 60% mark.
Arshavin is fairly fluent in English, but then he's also probably fluent in Spanish, German and Italian as right up to the end of the transfer window he probably wasn't that sure where his final destination would be.
So, I guess it's down to what Harry thinks and what he plans to do with Keane, Defoe, Bent and Roman when the season draws to a close and the summer months transfer merry-go-round kicks off again.
Surely Spurs can keep him behind an hour or so after training every day for a lesson in the fine art of speaking the Queens English? Just lock him in a room and stick a Only Fools and Horses VHS in the video player, and he'll be fine as dandy in a month.
Based on what you've seen and in comparison to our other forwards - and taking into account we have 4 players who strive to be first-team players - should he stay or should he go? In your opinion, has he shown us enough?
If anyone happens to bump into him in the Waltham Abbey Tescos - say hello. And compliment him on his choice of Louis Vuitton manbag........in English. If he shrugs and mutters something in Russian spank his bottom and state 'NO! Bad £14M forward who hasn't settled in England yet'. Give him a stern look and shake your head, before slowly walking away with a despondent swagger.
That ought to tell him.
Reader Comments (18)
don't really rate him to be honest, i've seen noses run faster than him, and generally he's a bit of a carthorse. don't dislike the fella, just not overly impressed, but in saying that i wasn't too pleased when we signed him either.
Not worth £14M and although I agree he looks tired and sluggish I don't think hes going to improve in a massive way. He's no Berbatov.
Better than Bent. But for £14M I can't see him in at the Lane from next season, Harry will try to recoup some of that. Bigger question is how will Defoe and Keane fit into the first team?
I think his movement far surpasses bent, his control is generally good and his finishing is first class. I know most of his goals have come in the league cup run that we had but if you think of the season the guy has had: Russian League then straight into European Championships then straight into English Preseason with no breaks in between.
I think with time him and keane will make a strong partnership as he seems to have a footballing brain unlike darren bent who clearly doesnt have a brain whatso ever.
Once he settles (i.e. buys a home) and learns a bit of English, he'll be just fine. He'll start next season 100% and will be sparkling. I'd stick money on that.
He is a decent player and the best is yet to come. He links up the play well and brings other players into the game, as well having good movement and finishing...
Keep him.
Far too many fans are impatient and in modern day football, so are players and agents.
Give him another season.
I think the boy will be a class act next season, Gus @ Chelski rates the man and i think with a rest and his misses moving over he will settle and show his worth. 14million?? not sure but a bargain when you compare him to Bent and Bently!!!!!
ps loved the Newcastle/Shearer article, still reading the comments, well funny!!!!COYS
Pair him with someone who fits his style ie Keane and you'll see the best of him. Though Pogrebnyak might have been a better option.
Super Pavs...NEVER...he is decent but not much more...him and bent need to get out ASAP we need a strong physical presence up front conidering we have the likes of Keane and Defoe... we will be lucky to get £14mil for pavs and bent put together! i think someone like heskey although now he's gone villa i cant see it...Carew would be a good signing, cant see that either though!...someone like them.
A panic buy, hence the over inflated £14m fee. For someone of his size, why does he appear weak, crap in the air, crap in challenge and crap at holding the ball up and bringing into play his team mates.
If someone offered £10m+, I would drive him there myself.
Unfortunately for Pav, he said yes to Comolli's blind panic, when in all reality he was probably never on his hit list, but once he hit rejection number 377, he needed someone to save his face and fast and this happened to be poor old Pav.
I think there's a world-class player lurking inside Pav's girlish frame, waiting for a tactical mentor to bring it out of him. It's no surprise that Hiddink would sign him to Chelsea in a heartbeat if the chance arose; there's a man who knows how to get every last drop of skill, intelligence and application out of a player. I'm afraid Pav will never really flourish under Redknapp, whose managerial skills are solid but unremarkable.
Mid-table mediocrity is all we can look forward to for the next three seasons, until HR is finally replaced with someone else Levy has tapped up mid-season.
Sharkey, NYC
I rate him. It's obvious he hasn't settled 100% but we've got some good performances out of him. I worry that everybody was expecting him to step right into Berbatov's big, miserable-faced shoes and he's a different calibre of player at the moment. I hope he's given the chance to prove himself next season; I can see him blossoming into a decent 15-20 goals a season striker alongside Keano and Defoe.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2369992.ece
We can hope... that's all I'm saying.
I find this quote particularly funny
“Roman could seriously strengthen Chelsea’s attack, to add both power and pace. "
Where has he been hiding these two gems all season?
I can't believe you all said those things about Pav. Look now, he has scored the difference maker in a 1-0 win for us with a great turn and a messi-esque corner shot. Do you rate him now?
"This is largely thanks to his every day routine of hotel - breakfast - training - hotel - dinner - bed. Gruelling work schedule taking its toll there for Roman.
It's been pointed out that the club should be doing far more to make sure he develops his linguistic skills. The player still 'thinks' in Russian which means he has to attempt to translate what he wants to relay to his team-mates from Russian into English. Which, according to the player, is time consuming."
this was all from Arshavin's interview actually :D
Ah, I see. Disinformation from the enemy.
I can't believe you all said those things about Pav. Look now, he has scored the difference maker in a 1-0 win for us with a great turn and a messi-esque corner shot. Do you rate him now?
April 11, 2009 | Kevin
No, I still don't rate him.
I'll happily celebrate the guys goals when they do come along, but that doesn't change my opinion of his ability. If he ever manages to do it on a regular basis then my opinion will change.