re: Arsenal 2014/15 Season Long Thread

quote:

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rumors circling we're going after cerci. isn't he a second striker/wide forward?

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Yes. He was a Roma youth player and was loaned out for a while and then went to Fiorentina and finally to Torino where he had breakout seasons the past two years.


I have my reservations about Cerci though. Most Roma fans have followed him pretty closely, especially in the past 2 years since he'd come back to Roma if Roma pursued him and some of his attributes seem well suited to Garcia's 4-3-3.

I suppose my reservations hinge on the idea that he's not all that much better than when he was getting his chances at Roma and Fiorentina but that Torino plays the prefect system for him to shine.

He's very fast and very, very good in broken field counter attacking. However, with the Italian NT and Roma/Fiorentina he's not been impressive in "playing team ball" with better players around him. I don't mean due to attitude but simply that he tends to disappear when on a better side paying against a side that's keeping defenders back and the game turns to intricate build up play.

For example, his only really good match for Italy was against Spain when Italy played 3-5-2 and counter attacked by getting the ball out to Cerci who could usually get by Jordi Alba (who's not an exceptional defender IMO) into all the space Spain leaves in the back if you nick the ball or break their midfield pressure.

This was pretty much the exact tactics in which he excelled for Torino as well: very little defensive responsibility and playing for a side looking for a lightning quick counter but never really wanting to hold possession.

That said, he is excellent out in open space and not selfish in picking out great passes to runners on the counter.

I still think he's the type player that will be a star and a real pleasure to watch for a mid table counter attacking team but struggle on a really elite side. However, I also think elite squads overpay for a lot of attacking players that fit the same description every season.