Originally Posted by
Power_n_Glory
Coming in from a diagonal wide angle restricts your options. In most cases, you will have to hit it across the keeper and when your right footed you can't bend it around the keeper. Look at Theo's first shot on goal which narrowly missed. Struck well, plenty of power, beats the keeper but it bends just wide. How many times have we seen that happen with Theo? If he's coming in from the left, that shot would tuck in much like Henry's first goal for us this season. Coming in on your good foot at that angle makes a world of difference to a strikers confidence.
Take Ade for example. Terrible first touch, poor left foot, pretty average at finishing, missed a lot of sitters but had some pace, power and when coming in from the right, he'd just bend it around the keeper and hit it low. He was predictable with his finishing. Would never attempt a chip or go near post, just low and bend it around the keeper and that's what he was talking about when he said he discovered the art to finishing. Henry told him to aim for the far post and he does it all the time and the angle usually works in his favour. Knowing that gave him super confidence. If Wenger had tried to get him to always finish on his weaker foot his confidence in front of goal would have been shot to pieces. It's the same for any player coming in on their weaker foot. We've seen Wilshere pass up the chance to shoot with his right and RVP used to do it all the time. If Theo played on the left side, I think his strike rate would improve by far. He'd probably go for more long range belters as well. It makes a difference. Just watch how other players react when on their weaker foot.
We shouldn't change the formation for Theo, but we don't suit this formation, or at least, we're playing players that don't. Ramsey shouldn't be at the hub of our attack. I like what Alan Davis said on the Tuesday club last week and he summed it up perfectly. We should play Rosicky there or forget it.
People keep saying being played out of position doesn't make a difference but play Rosicky on the wings and see how ineffective he'd be. There are numerous examples of this and Rosicky is a versatile midfielder. Theo is a limited striker. That's not always a bad thing. We need that direct approach sometimes. He's terrible on the flanks. Not saying he's be world class there, but could he be any worse than Chamakh or Park? Adebayor was shocking at finishing , had the touch of a rapist and zero intelligence when it came to timing of runs but he was able to score 30 goals for us in one season. I think Theo has a lot more going for him compared to the other strikers I mentioned and I agree with Wright on this one.
