[Archived] Mauro Formica Signs

[frosty]

.....Vucinic

If only!

[Amo]

I was so confident when he stepped up for the pen, he's such a good technician. His touch on the halfway line to release Roberts (I think) in the second half was sublime. He's a real prospect.

It was technically a better pen than Hoilett's, just unlucky to hit the post.

[braddock]

Some more performances like yesterdays will go a long way towards establishing himself in this league. Let's hope he manages it. Very exciting to have him at the club. I'd be interested to look back in this thread to the people who said he was hopeless a few months after he transferred to us.

[T4E]

How do we get this guy in to the team alongside Hoillet, Rochina, Vukcevic and Goodwillie? They're all too important to us to risk losing (barring Vukcevic, however I personally think he's the best of the lot), but we seem overloaded with players in the final 3rd and keeping them all happy will be very very difficult.

There's a basic theme that we look exciting, penetrative and creative when these guys play.....tough for Kean and will get harder once a striker signs.

[AspRover]

Wait a minute...

Vote for Pedro!

God that was an awful film.

[chris]

Wait a minute...

Vote for Pedro!

God that was an awful film.

lol

[newfan]

Wait a minute...

Vote for Pedro!

God that was an awful film.

Formica looks like david silva

[alexanders]

Great player. Massively impressed with him on Saturday. Did everything right - accept his penalty.

[Sverre]

How do we get this guy in to the team alongside Hoillet, Rochina, Vukcevic and Goodwillie? They're all too important to us to risk losing (barring Vukcevic, however I personally think he's the best of the lot), but we seem overloaded with players in the final 3rd and keeping them all happy will be very very difficult.

There's a basic theme that we look exciting, penetrative and creative when these guys play.....tough for Kean and will get harder once a striker signs.

For me it will be a fight for a spot between Rochina and Formica.

If I remember correctly we fielded a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-5-1 squad against Everton.

Robbo

Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson

Emerton, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett

Dunn

Roberts

seeing as Pedersen and Dunn are injured and Emo is back down under

Robbo

Salgado/Ribeiro, Samba, Nelsen/Givet, Olsson

Vukcevic, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Hoilett

Formica/rochina

Goodwillie

Would be my preferred first eleven. For the next match I would select Formica ahead of Rochina, and possibly substituting Formica with Rochina in the second half.

I still can't believe Ribeiro didn't get a shot against Wednesday. With Salgado arguably being our weakest link it was essential to try out our alternative, being Ribeiro to see how he coped.

While Rochina's techinal ability is extremely high, Formica is a workhorse, sets up play, and seems to be highly involved in chances created, which was evident against Everton. Rochina has enormous potential though. I just hope we stay in the league so that he can flourish in the coming years!

[DE.]

I couldn't help but think, watching him today, that his lack of pace is going to hurt him a little in this league. There was a point where he was put through, but without any pace he had no choice but to shoot, and hit a tame shot into the goalie's arms from about 30 yards out.

He was quite ineffectual today - but I'm not sure it was his fault. Him and Rochina both seemed to have a "free role", which isn't going to work. I wasn't sure what position either of them was really supposed to be playing. I think both will play well "in the hole" behind the striker in a 4-5-1 style formation, but today they both seemed to be trying to play in that position. Formica completely disappeared in the second half, though, which was worrying.

[BRFC1995]

i'd much rather have villenueva back than this guy after today, powder puff and nowhere to be seen.

at least villenueva looked $$$$ hot at set pieces

[FourLaneBlue]

Our team is such a shambles tactically at the moment that it is hard to know if he will be a good acquisition or not. I'm not sure what our midfield/attacking tactics were today. The players seem to move around quite freely. Especially Rochina. He was all over the place. I thought he would be on the wing but half the time was in the centre, then he popped up on the other wing a couple of times! Then he Is this what Kean wants or are we just a bit clueless?

Why didn't Vuckevic play? It obviously can't be due to fitness reasons as none of players appear to be fit.

[Tom]

i'd much rather have villenueva back than this guy after today, powder puff and nowhere to be seen.

at least villenueva looked $$$$ hot at set pieces

Villeneuva did nothing in this league, Formica has scored a goal and won two penalties (one he missed) in 2 starts and 2 sub appearances this season.

He was a bit off the boil today but every player has bad days.

I flip flop between him and Rochina on who has the most potential.

[Pitty]

Wait a minute...

Vote for Pedro!

God that was an awful film.

That was a class film what you on about. lol

[FourLaneBlue]

I flip flop between him and Rochina on who has the most potential.

I think Rochina is looking consistently promising. Not sure if Formica will be able to find his best position or not in the Prem.

[deazel]

I know no-one else seems to rate this guy, but I think he has real talent. He hasn't yet had a major impact, but he hasn't had the benefit of playing in a functioning team. He may not have that much pace or power, but he is a very intelligent footballer and he has vision, skill and technique...

[chaddyrovers]

I think Formica is a very good player and I would play him more this season. I don't think it helps him when Kean plays him on the wings at all!

Play him in the Number 10 role in his proper position.

[allanncd]

Too many weak points. Can't head, no pace and not a ball-winner. Shoots from long-range but not a goal-poacher. Decent technically but that's enough at this level.

[Doug]

I think Formica is a very good player and I would play him more this season. I don't think it helps him when Kean plays him on the wings at all!

Play him in the Number 10 role in his proper position.

I agree, he looks like he should be an exciting player, the more he plays the better he should get.

[chaddyrovers]

allanncd didn't mean to -1 your post, was trying to reply

Formica is like a Bergkamp, very good technically. scores a couple of really good goals this season.

judge him at the end of the season not now.

[Fraserkirky]

I thought he had a good game at Norwich. He has great technique and is an intelligent passer. He also chases and harasses defenders which I like to see. I think he is doing well in his adjustment to English football and will only get better this season.

Big player for us this year.

Also with the 4-2-3-1 formation, he forms a young exciting trio of Hoilett/Formica/Rochina we should be busting our gut to keep here for a while. Imagine if we had signed Witsel and Cisse.WOW

[joey_big_nose]

I think Formica is a very good player and I would play him more this season. I don't think it helps him when Kean plays him on the wings at all!

Play him in the Number 10 role in his proper position.

Problem is Rochina, Vukcevic and Hoilett's best position are all number 10 too.... As someone else said maybe we could adapt Formica in the long term to play deeper a la Tugay?

[FourLaneBlue]

Also with the 4-2-3-1 formation, he forms a young exciting trio of Hoilett/Formica/Rochina we should be busting our gut to keep here for a while. Imagine if we had signed Witsel and Cisse.WOW

It still won't work unless you have two good defensive midfielders. Nzonzi could fill one position but then...who else? Grella is never fit. Could Salgado adapt to playing there? I'd prefer him there rather than getting outpaced again and again at right back. Givet or Dann...could they play there? We need someone whose only job is to sit and protect our porous back four, no going forward not for love nor money.

[perthblue02]

It still won't work unless you have two good defensive midfielders. Nzonzi could fill one position but then...who else? Grella is never fit. Could Salgado adapt to playing there? I'd prefer him there rather than getting outpaced again and again at right back. Givet or Dann...could they play there? We need someone whose only job is to sit and protect our porous back four, no going forward not for love nor money.

Would like to see salgado tried out in that position, his legs might have gone but an ex world class player does not become a bad player over night, his tactical nouse would more than make up for any short comings in the legs department and one thing we seem to be lacking is a reliable old head who can slow things down. As a short term stop gap think it might just work. Think Givet is more useful as a central defender he seems more relaxed and committed in that position, Dann I'm not to sure about yet ,seems to have poor decision making just might not be up to speed after his long lay offs at Birmingham.

Still all irrelevant until we get a manager in

[patrickvalery]

Would like to see salgado tried out in that position, his legs might have gone but an ex world class player does not become a bad player over night, his tactical nouse would more than make up for any short comings in the legs department and one thing we seem to be lacking is a reliable old head who can slow things down. As a short term stop gap think it might just work. Think Givet is more useful as a central defender he seems more relaxed and committed in that position, Dann I'm not to sure about yet ,seems to have poor decision making just might not be up to speed after his long lay offs at Birmingham.

Still all irrelevant until we get a manager in

The trouble is Salgado's tactical nous is finely tuned to his specialised position...right back. I'm not saying he couldn't manage it, but i'd definately say there are some big question marks. The holding midfield position is fast becoming one of the hardest roles to fill successfully. Just ask chelsea!