SIGNED - Pavel Pogrebnyak

[sandman]

^^^ I do get this concept, meaning obviously they consider him to be ok at the moment. My point is that once you have had an injury you are always more vulnerable, surely - Michael Owen must have passed medicals in the past for instance, but he is repeatedly injured. My worry is that he comes out 'all guns blazing' with all the hype and injures himself, leaving who? I suspect Roberts isn't going to score many in the PL. Love Alf, but he seems to produce his magic coming on as a sub. I know many people are saying on here that we don't need another striker, but I think we do.So excited for next season can hardly wait. Pathetic.

We were going to sign BWP remember but didn't because of his knee problems so there is a precedent of not pushing through deals if there is a doubt over a long term injury.

[BonBoh]

Having just watched the "Pogrebnyaction" video on the OS, I am really impressed with the way the Pog doesn't seem to give the ball away. Obviously, the summary video is unlikely to show him giving the ball away but there are so many examples of him keeping the ball, I believe this is a genuine reflection of him.
His overall hold-up play looks good, playing to keep the ball using safe and easy options when passing to team mates. This will stand us in good stead this season as it gives the team the chance to push up in numbers rather than the somewhat more speculative long hoof into dangerous areas.

[Pepe the Horseman]

"Pogrebnyaction"

[RFCSPACE]

"Pogrebnyaction"

Jobi M-action-uff next.

[Niko]

Goal Hunt

[Extended-Phenotype]

Gareth McClearape.

(CCTV)

[LoyalRoyalFan]

According to FourFourTwo, we signed him for £6m.

[TBM]

According to FourFourTwo, we signed him for £6m.

£40k a week..........doesn't sound unrealistic

[brighton_royal]

Onan-dy Bernal

[Millsy]

Sorry to put a downer on it. I'm not the sort to rubbish a signing, and I'm partly hoping I'll be totally flamed for this and shown to be wrong and partly trying to protect the lad from unrealistic expectation but...

There seems to be a lot of hype about this guy, and I'm not entirely sure why.

1) To begin with he's a free transfer. Yes he's costing a lot in wages which is a step forward for us and what is needed in the prem but at the end of the day he's a freebie, not a multimillion transfer signing, so let's not get carried away and expect him to be awesome.

2) Then there's the issue of his experience. Only 12 games in the prem. is that really enough?

3) and what about his goals here. 6 in 12 isn't bad but again, with only 12 games played its not enough to make a meaningful stat surely. I mean, 3 of those were in one game. The first five were in the first 3 games. So he's scored 1 goal in 9 since then? Ok he had a good burst if form but 1 in 9?

4) what about his record elsewhere? His stats are never amazing, not at any level, not for any club. As far as I can see.

5) and from the few vids I see of him on YouTube he seems good enough when he scores but I've not seen him even win a header let alone score from one. (there's one video that bizarrely shows him going for one but losing out).

I don't want to put a downer on things but the way some of us are reacting like he's going to be some sort of hero is totally OTT as far as I'm concerned. Roberts is still better in my opinion. I'd rather see him as a promising option who'll come good with time (I hope) rather than some big name superstar who'll score loads for us immediately. I can just see Reading fans turning on him for not being Ronaldo with our unrealistic expectations.

My post of months ago stands. Just curious as to what we ever saw in him, other than being free.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Fulham certainly got the better deal in the end by signing Berbatov.

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Eurm, proven to score goals in the prem, our top scorer despite being benched and scores more often then not when he hits the target

You fool

[Millsy]

Oh yeah so that's the reason he starts every game.

Oh.

Or is brought on when we need a win.

Oh.

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Oh yeah so that's the reason he starts every game.

Oh.

Or is brought on when we need a win.

Oh.

You douche, Brian only knows hoof it up the wing. I am not the manager so can't say why hes not being picked but as he is top scorer and has a great goal to shooting ratio all I can do is

Have a look at his goal against chelsea, not a single player in our squad would have scored that let alone hit the target, he is quite obviously the highest calibre player we have and Im astounded you can't see that

[moonwalklikebas]

Oh yeah so that's the reason he starts every game.

Oh.

Or is brought on when we need a win.

Oh.

You douche, Brian only knows hoof it up the wing. I am not the manager so can't say why hes not being picked but as he is top scorer and has a great goal to shooting ratio all I can do is

Have a look at his goal against chelsea, not a single player in our squad would have scored that let alone hit the target, he is quite obviously the highest calibre player we have and Im astounded you can't see that

Totally agree. In a better side his class would be there for all to see. But when he has such a shite team around with a captain who cant lead a parade let alone a premier league side he is not going to shine like he did at Fulham!

[Elm Park Pasty]

I had a few thoughts on Pog but I wanted to be sure so I went off for a chat with a friend of mine who is a Fulham Season Ticket holder with her husband and son. I started asking questions about Pog but it ended up as a rant about our current state. However, the crux of the conversation is this........

They would have been quite happy to keep The Pog as they thought he was great (altho obviously she is ecstatic about Berba). The way they play went to his strengths, he likes threaded passes played to feet and completely unsuited to lump it style of football. If he is not succesful here, it's because we don't play to his strengths, favouring hustle and bustle over skill and thought. And I am afraid this is probably why we are now being found out. Premier League sides play hustle and bustle well. Someone else on another thread said it was like watching Premier League clubs playing lower league opposition when we play, and it's true. We have one tactic, and one tactic only, oooooof. We will not see the best of him playing that way. Frankly, you could probably put Lionel Messi in our side at the moment and he would look crap. We will not get the best out of Pog until we start passing our way through teams rather than trying to go over the top.

[Avon Royal]

If only we'd signed a passing midfielder.......... Oh, wait.

[Extended-Phenotype]

If only we didn't have a manager who depletes an already under-strength squad because you don't play his gashbollox style of football.

[Elm Park Pasty]

If only we'd signed a passing midfielder.......... Oh, wait.

I am not sure about what I am about to suggest but I am going to say it anyway. Ahem, our present system is not working. Jobi and Hal have been poor the last few games, Legs has been abysmal and Tabby has been running his little legs off. I think the time has come for a rethink of our system/formation. The four at the back looked a bit better last night (given that it looks like we won't be playing Pearce: EPIC FAIL). So It is about time we looked at the front six. I would be inclined to build the midfield around Guthrie, rather than include him in a system that used wingers that places too much defensive responsibility on him. Use Alfie and Pog up front and try to play the ball through to him. I would play The Iceman alongside for his experience and McCleary one side and maybe Tabb the other. Just musing a thought that Guthrie should put his money where his mouth has been, and now prepared to be torn a new one..........

[Extended-Phenotype]

Give Guthrie and Pog a f/cking chance, that what I say. Neither were poor and have been given a lot less time than half the future checkout staff still stumbling around the pitch.

Tab and Legs behind Guthrie, Pog up top. It was tried what, twice? Seem to remember almost beating Chelsea with it. Why on earth has that formation been abandoned so quickly compared to the 4-4-2 hoofw@nk we've had to endure for a third of the season?

If McD doesn't want to swallow his pride and try it again, find someone who will.