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Roberto Soldado

Hans Kristian Lange @mulu83 3 m
Onda Cero reporting agents are giving up and accepting terms. Waiting for confirmation ‪#‎vcfnordic‬#thfc
 
Apparently the former director.

Antonio Sese ‏@SeseVCF 2m

about to leave official confirmation, working with documents and Soldado will be new player Tottenham. congratulations!
 
i think weve done great to get him in so early:lol:...16 days before the season starts??? its a damn miracle \o/ well done everyone

Thats amazing for us, our new signings dont normally come in until the day after the transfer window shuts, good work
 
Antonio Sese @ SeseVCF 4m
@ shy5h4rk there is no problem, commissions and agents disclaim closes on € 30 million transfer Tottenham for half cash and other 3 installments
 
Wow it's like it was written by me...

Comments
David Cartlidge
By
David Cartlidge
Roberto Soldado scouting report: Impressive goalscorer and hard-working but ill-disciplined and overpriced

30 Jul 2013 15:34
The Valencia striker will score 15 to 20 goals for a side, argues La Liga expert David Cartlidge, but he's yet to look like a €30million player



Getty
Figuring out Roberto Soldado isn't exactly the easiest thing to do. Off the field he's known as a quiet, humble guy and a hard worker. On the field he has a single focus and that's to score goals.

That focus is sometimes blurred however by a volatile character that's difficult to manage and control. Soldado can give you everything you want at times, but also nothing at all. It's this that brings to the fore concerns over any big move for the player.

Arriving with a €30m price tag is quite the burden whoever you are - even more so if you're someone like Soldado. Despite his goals over the last few years, he's looked anything but a €30m player.

His chance conversion rate will be one of many statistics number lovers will be using to prove this notion wrong, but watching him every week gains a better understanding of the player.

He is a Jekyll and Hyde sort, and even his 24 goals in 35 La Liga games last season, plus four goals in seven Champions League appearances, can't hide the entire story to his game. Ten of his goals in La Liga arrived in the final eight matches, showing that he was efficient during an important run-in but that his goals are also sporadic. These gluts of goals in various stages of the season, rather than a consistent streak, have become synonymous with Soldado.

Roberto Soldado celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish league football match between Getafe and Valencia at Alfonso Perez stadiumIn the book: Roberto Soldado was yellow-carded nine times
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But this shouldn't occur in a player who has such a high price tag attached to him. He also disappears in games, is generally limited in terms of his skill set and has lingering disciplinary issues. Nine yellow cards, only two fewer than defensive midfield henchman David Albelda, makes uneasy reading especially when it's in regards to a striker. Most were due to dissent, and berating of various officials. It's common knowledge Vicente Del Bosque's reluctance to use him regularly is due to reservations over the temperament of the player.

At Valencia Soldado's been the spearhead of the attack for several years now, and in each of the last three seasons he's managed to hit more than 25 goals in all competitions which is an impressive feat. Being the main man up top has been key, with the Valencia system being based entirely on finding him and him only.

When he wasn't in the mood they struggled, and lacked another dimension to open up teams. Spurs will need to replicate Valencia's lead in making Soldado the focal point, though perhaps offering more variation in their means of attack which is entirely feasible. Often he's played in attack on his own, rarely pairing up and when he did there was little coexistence.

It probably has much to do with Soldado's game, which is very much of a traditional poacher variety. All 24 of his strikes came from inside the box last season, showing his awareness in the penalty area and ability to sniff out of a chance be it a good one or simply half. Here he comes alive, but outside of the box there is much to work on.

A few years ago Unai Emery, then in charge of Valencia, had a sit-down with Soldado and said if he wanted to become an elite forward then he'd have to add more to his game. At Osasuna and Getafe, Soldado was a battering ram of a striker relying on scraps and fighting for lost causes.



Roberto Soldado celebrates after scoring during the international friendly match between Spain and Venezuela at La Rosaleda StadiumHitman: Soldado scored 24 in 35 La Liga games last season
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He brought all that to Valencia, but needed an extra edge. Emery, and since then Ernesto Valverde, worked closely with the striker to achieve more than his potential suggested. Adding more guile to the graft and bringing more nous to a game that at times was naïve and negated by a lack of versatility, for example.

In part it has worked, but not at a consistent level. Soldado's movement in and around the penalty area is very good but outside it he's a fish out of water. He's a one-sighted player and it reduces the danger in his game for opponents. Anyone expecting the total package will be sorely disappointed, and at 28-years-old there probably isn't much time to make giant strides in terms of development.

Despite playing up front alone his hold-up play has never been anything above average, and it's instinctive movements and battling qualities that have helped him the most while being the lone striker. He's a pure predator who lives for killing defences.

Soldado still needs to combine with teammates on a better level, show more awareness and overall improve tactically. The retort is usually that he's not that type of player, and he scores goals anyway.

Spurs will get a striker holding many traditional aspects; one not fearful of a battle with a centre-back (elbows and all), combative in the air, a decent bit of pace along the ground and that presence in the penalty area. That's the sum of Soldado's game, leaving many unsure on whether he merits such a large fee.

Soldado will likely be a 15-20 goal player, and for many that's enough in a market growing more and more restrictive as to what's available.

Just don't expect too much from someone who has rarely offered more than the minimum requirement.

So 14 in 27 is inconsistent??

That's better (just) than 1 in 2.
 
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