RSC - latest city boo boy, is it his fault?

[Im_Spartacus]

I have to admit that whilst he has been dreadful when we have seen him, with what can only be described as the touch of a rapist, can we really blame him when he is being shoe-horned into playing a role that just isnt him. He is coming on as a direct replacement for Adebayor, for whom the style of play is to get the ball into feet and play off the shoulder (unless Lescott or Toure just lump it).

RSC is absolutely not this type of player.

We have not had a player since Mark Kennedy who can regularly get to the touchline and outswing a cross onto the centre forward's head. SWP, Robinho, Bellamy, Petrov - their first thought is 9 times out of 10 to come inside, and other than Petrov who Hughes simply doesnt seem to like, to a man, they are shite at crossing, which to me fundamentally leads me to ask the question why we bought RSC

RSC in reality should be the option for some of the tricky away games where we need someone to stand on the penalty spot, have crosses launched at him in the knowledge the he will most likely connect with one and score. If he comes on the pitch as plan B, he should be the focus of play, and the wingers need to then change from coming inside and start to play like wingers, not continuing as the 4th/5th centre forward which they have been doing.

Unless we adapt the play to RSC's strengths when he comes on the pitch, I see little point in having bought him, and even less point bringing him on to hoof even more long balls than we do at Adebayor - at the end of the day, Hughes knows how to play to his strengths, difference was Bentley and Pederson played to the same script.

[Chinners]

I feel sorry for him only in the fact of the amount of money we paid for him whilst not even fit/playable.

[Crossie]

I feel embarrassed that we bought him.

Would have made more sense if we'd bought Bently in when we had the chance.

[Im_Spartacus]

I feel embarrassed that we bought him.

Would have made more sense if we'd bought Bently in when we had the chance.

It is embarrassing that we chased him as we did - as though he was the final piece in the jigsaw. As you say though, it just doesnt make sense to me to have bought him in isolation. I expect Bentley is on the radar as he is still often linked with us (if Les keeps his job) - it would make perfect sense as we need that option on the right because as much as I love little Shauny, he is limited as a winger who simply cannot cross.

[Beanieboy]

yeah, i always feel sorry for lazy cunts that rake in tons of cash for doing fuck all, apart from being the managers bum-boy,...really sad, we should start a charity for him, he makes starving kids seem irrelevant

[Im_Spartacus]

yeah, i always feel sorry for lazy cunts that rake in tons of cash for doing fuck all, apart from being the managers bum-boy,...really sad, we should start a charity for him, he makes starving kids seem irrelevant

Cheers for that. Very insightful.

Just to clarify, I feel sorry for him from a professional point of view. I'm quite sure he doesnt set out to play shit, but the setup of the team doesnt give him any help at all.

[Vhero]

I don't feel sorry for him no. I won't ever feel sorry for somebody who earns more in a week than I do in a fucking year stop sticking up for the waste of space will ya?

[Abu Dhabi]

I don't feel sorry for him no. I won't ever feel sorry for somebody who earns more in a week than I do in a fucking year stop sticking up for the waste of space will ya?

Yeah because moral values are irrelevant when money comes in the equation. That was a sad statement.

[Im_Spartacus]

I don't feel sorry for him no. I won't ever feel sorry for somebody who earns more in a week than I do in a fucking year stop sticking up for the waste of space will ya?

Yeah because moral values are irrelevant when money comes in the equation. That was a sad statement.

Well said that man, 2 of the responses to the op simply show why constructive debate seems to be a secondary thought on here these days. Anyway, I will change the title seeing as some clearly dont bother reading the content of the thread.

Many on here probably earn more in a week than others do in a month, so when someone gets cancer, finds their mrs cheating on them, or some other bad shit that has happened to some on here over the last year, your stock statement is that you wont ever feel sorry for someone because they earn more than you - fucking pathetic.

I understand people dont get the signing of RSC, me included, but he is here now and my reasons for starting the thead is not to be a RSC apologist, but to put forward a theory as to why that may be.

I am surprised that some havent jumped on this to criticise Hughes, because it is the only natural conclusion I can draw from the signing of RSC, however I tried to avoid les bashing in the op.

[Mr Miyagi]

I have to admit that whilst he has been dreadful when we have seen him, with what can only be described as the touch of a rapist, can we really blame him when he is being shoe-horned into playing a role that just isnt him. He is coming on as a direct replacement for Adebayor, for whom the style of play is to get the ball into feet and play off the shoulder (unless Lescott or Toure just lump it).

RSC is absolutely not this type of player.

We have not had a player since Mark Kennedy who can regularly get to the touchline and outswing a cross onto the centre forward's head. SWP, Robinho, Bellamy, Petrov - their first thought is 9 times out of 10 to come inside, and other than Petrov who Hughes simply doesnt seem to like, to a man, they are shite at crossing, which to me fundamentally leads me to ask the question why we bought RSC

RSC in reality should be the option for some of the tricky away games where we need someone to stand on the penalty spot, have crosses launched at him in the knowledge the he will most likely connect with one and score. If he comes on the pitch as plan B, he should be the focus of play, and the wingers need to then change from coming inside and start to play like wingers, not continuing as the 4th/5th centre forward which they have been doing.

Unless we adapt the play to RSC's strengths when he comes on the pitch, I see little point in having bought him, and even less point bringing him on to hoof even more long balls than we do at Adebayor - at the end of the day, Hughes knows how to play to his strengths, difference was Bentley and Pederson played to the same script.

I could put your (perfectly reasonable) question another way: shouldn't the manager concentrate on only buying players who will fit into the system?

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

I find it difficult to accept some fans are ready to turn on our own players at times. When said player has played as little as RSC has it's all the more baffling!

But then, you just have to read some of the comets replying to this topic to get an insight into some peoples mentality.

[Fish111]

I think, if given more time, Hughes will buy the players for a system that will suit RSC. He couldn't buy everybody he may have fancied in the summer transfer window so it will be an on-going process to buy the correct players for the system that the manager has in mind. Whether Hughes will get the time required is another question though. But for now RSC will continue to be a round peg in a square hole.

[Im_Spartacus]

I have to admit that whilst he has been dreadful when we have seen him, with what can only be described as the touch of a rapist, can we really blame him when he is being shoe-horned into playing a role that just isnt him. He is coming on as a direct replacement for Adebayor, for whom the style of play is to get the ball into feet and play off the shoulder (unless Lescott or Toure just lump it).

RSC is absolutely not this type of player.

We have not had a player since Mark Kennedy who can regularly get to the touchline and outswing a cross onto the centre forward's head. SWP, Robinho, Bellamy, Petrov - their first thought is 9 times out of 10 to come inside, and other than Petrov who Hughes simply doesnt seem to like, to a man, they are shite at crossing, which to me fundamentally leads me to ask the question why we bought RSC

RSC in reality should be the option for some of the tricky away games where we need someone to stand on the penalty spot, have crosses launched at him in the knowledge the he will most likely connect with one and score. If he comes on the pitch as plan B, he should be the focus of play, and the wingers need to then change from coming inside and start to play like wingers, not continuing as the 4th/5th centre forward which they have been doing.

Unless we adapt the play to RSC's strengths when he comes on the pitch, I see little point in having bought him, and even less point bringing him on to hoof even more long balls than we do at Adebayor - at the end of the day, Hughes knows how to play to his strengths, difference was Bentley and Pederson played to the same script.

I could put your (perfectly reasonable) question another way: shouldn't the manager concentrate on only buying players who will fit into the system?

He should, but to be fair to the manager, he did what we asked in the summer and bought players who give us different options and a plan B - but he seems to only have done half a job of this. Yesterday for example, plan b would only ever work if the instructions to Bellamy and SWP were to get to the byline and cross, with Ireland and Tevez arriving late for any knock downs.

The problem was, any knock downs were 20/30 yards from the area, because the ball was being launched at RSC from all areas of the pitch, it was like watching a John Beck side in the 90s because neither Bellamy or SWP are consistently capable of getting the type of crosses in RSC requires, and they still kept coming inside which suggests they werent told to get the crosses in.

Therefore whilst RSC as a lone striker could work in theory as plan b, the manager crucially forgot that he doesnt have the wingers required to implement said plan b. As i said, dont really want to get into Hughes bashing as he is doing a good enough job of fucking his own job up now, but it seems more Hughes fault than Santa Cruz'

[Sister of fu]

I find it difficult to accept some fans are ready to turn on our own players at times. When said player has played as little as RSC has it's all the more baffling!

But then, you just have to read some of the comets replying to this topic to get an insight into some peoples mentality.

Got to agree with you the guy has not played enough IMO to fully judge. I'm sure that time will come when Ade is away. Anyone that has played sport at a decent level will understand how long it takes time to get back into the full flow of things after a lenghty injury. It's not helping that he is playing a few mins here and there. He needs a consitant run which will come in January I suspect.
RSC needs more than training he needs games and poss a bit of support from the fans.

[Alioune DVToure]

It's not Santa Cruz's fault. It's Lescott's fault for sorting out his wayward form.

[Nige]

not the right system? He's a forward so his job is to get the ball (with any part of his body) and build up an attack or score. If he can't fulfil that then Hughes is the twat for buying him. It's no as if we're asking a right back to play as a striker is it lads?

My issue with RSC is basci stuff like passing to an opponant rather than a city short. No injury in the world makes a player do that. He's a nervous wreck or shit. 5 games of 90 minutes in the stiffs is the best way to found out which one he is.

[The Man In Blue]

Lescott-slating seems to have dried up. the guy has found his feet, got over the 3 years in liverpool and is beginning to look like a good centre half. consider Lescott was 100% fit when he came here, with the benefit of a full pre-season at scouse2.

its funny, but the comments from some on here aimed at RSC are strikingly similar to the ones that Lescott was on the receiving end of a month or so ago.

as an aside, i fucking hate people slating our players with such unnecessary vitriol - leave that for the fucking rag media to do.

[Dameerto]

The game where he scored that peach of a header showed how he should be played - someone like Petrov whipping crosses in from the wing for him to get on the end of.

[ashton287]

it wasnt RSC's fault no he didnt give away the penalty did he,iv said from the beginning that we shoudnt of bought him because hes not good enough but you blame a striker for the defence fucking up YET AGAIN. they played awesome all game then give away a stupid penalty and im not even sure which the pen was for the fowl or the hand ball but they were both penalties

i think the only person to blame on this one is sparky and it annoys me to say it because iv been sticking up for him for the last 7 games but this time its all on him he took the best player in the premier league off to play bellers (out of position) when he should of left robbie on and took ade of for bellers there was no reason whatsoever to play bellers out of position it's blatently obvious goin on form that bellers is better then santa cruz but hughes is just being stubborn over it because it was his call to buy him but still im not saying new manager because atleast were not losing and it was a penalty they wouldnt of scored from open play so abit unlucky hughes needs to man up admit when hes made a mistake and start doing what 47,000 people sat with him no he should do bellers would have got a goal against hull he loves playing against that type of team where he can get stuck in

[Grob]

RSC has had a few run outs so far which is not quite enough to write him off yet, but in every single one of the games he has played, he has done nothing to suggest he deserves a role in the team.

For someone who cost £18 million, i expected more.