Alexandre Pato Thread

I agree with acmilan1983, its worring not because Pato is very good but because the mega stars in the squad are underperforming, and a small correction to kakacmilan best messi is 22 these 2 year for youngster is a huge difference tons.

Pato's interview with SportMediaset

http://translate.google.com/translat...hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Nice to read how he answerd the questions.

*tribute to neigbour's forum

Thanks Siregar, it was great to read the whole interview, rather than excerpts that the usual news sites give. Something I noticed in Pato's interview is he was quite clear as to the defender he's had most trouble with. Santacroce is the only defender until now I've seen actually stop Pato's threat and for me that's the greatest indication to suggest how good he actually is.

Regarding Pato, a recent discussion with Geotav in one of the game threads (I think the Lecce one) we spoke about Pato's consistency in his play and particularly his scoring. This prompted me to do a little research into what Pato's goalscoring ratio has been like this season in the various roles he's played. In particular, I was interested in his goals to games ratio in the league during his role as the lead striker.

In 27 appearances this season Pato's scored 14 goals in the league, not a bad goal to game ratio by any margin, especially for a 19 yr old. I counted an 11 games period in the middle of the season where Pato played consistently as the leading striker of the side (from Juve last year until the match before Atalanta a few weeks ago). During this time, Pato scored 9 of his 14 goals this season. That's a ratio of 0.8 goals per game, an incredible return, especially considering the state of our team this season. That leaves a total of 5 goals in the other 16 appearances where he's not played as the main striker (2 of those in the last four games alonside Pippo). The return isn't anywhere near as impressive and for me, this clearly indicates where he's at his best in the side. I have moaned quite a lot about him not playing in his best role and I think I justify my argument with these figures.

That's true. I still remember, how he played as the main striker especially this season after the winter break, when we saw the new Pato compare to his games at the beginning of Serie A. He played like the combination of Sheva and Inzaghi. He played wide very well and all of a sudden he was already in front of the goal (with very good positioning) ready to score very easy goals, Inzaghi's typical goals who based on very good positioning. The last one is, in my opinion, the most improvement from him : being a very good and sharp finisher who can stay in a really good position.
I still remember Brasileiro has said that Pato is capable of doing the job as the main striker and that is true.

He then struggled alone when we faced a very thight and with quality defence, just like the game against Inter. He didn't do bad, he did even well but it's still not enough to break that kind of defence.

Some games ago Ancelotti tried to use two-striker formation in every game and this could reduce the number of goals Pato scored but what I think is that he really did many important scenes in breaking the deadlock or in making the goals for the other players. It's almost from one game to the other game (when we played two-striker formation), he was (?almost?) always the best player on the pitch since he was really very important in the games.

The point I get is that he is very capable to play as the main striker or the second one but he needs friend upfront, either the big guy or the forward-type one like Rossi, Eto'o etc., who can play wide well. The point is that we need two strikers upfront (except certain conditions where space upfront is available like in the Champions League's games).

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Regarding Pato, a recent discussion with Geotav in one of the game threads (I think the Lecce one) we spoke about Pato's consistency in his play and particularly his scoring. This prompted me to do a little research into what Pato's goalscoring ratio has been like this season in the various roles he's played. In particular, I was interested in his goals to games ratio in the league during his role as the lead striker.

In 27 appearances this season Pato's scored 14 goals in the league, not a bad goal to game ratio by any margin, especially for a 19 yr old. I counted an 11 games period in the middle of the season where Pato played consistently as the leading striker of the side (from Juve last year until the match before Atalanta a few weeks ago). During this time, Pato scored 9 of his 14 goals this season. That's a ratio of 0.8 goals per game, an incredible return, especially considering the state of our team this season. That leaves a total of 5 goals in the other 16 appearances where he's not played as the main striker (2 of those in the last four games alonside Pippo). The return isn't anywhere near as impressive and for me, this clearly indicates where he's at his best in the side. I have moaned quite a lot about him not playing in his best role and I think I justify my argument with these figures.

And about assists ??
Like you made the research, maybe did you notice something about that too ??

I'm actually pretty sure he made more assists as a lead striker than behind Inzaghi ...

Originally Posted by GeoTav

And about assists ??
Like you made the research, maybe did you notice something about that too ??

I'm actually pretty sure he made more assists as a lead striker than behind Inzaghi ...

I don't have the stats for assists, but true I would like to find this out (maybe you can? ). He should have made more assists as a supporting forward, but whether it's positive enough to accept less goals I don't know.

Pato explained it clearly - it needs to be Santacroce in the summer

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I don't have the stats for assists, but true I would like to find this out (maybe you can? ). He should have made more assists as a supporting forward, but whether it's positive enough to accept less goals I don't know.

I'll check, but I think Siregar had them ?

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I'll check, but I think Siregar had them ?

I only can get the assist he made this season. According to soccernet, he has made 5 assists this season but I haven't checked how many assists he made as main striker and wide striker. I am not logging in from my computer right now but I think it can be checked here : http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players...=93011&cc=5739

Right, I did a little more research and I assume Soccernet figure of 5 is correct. I looked through the official sites list of archived matches this season during the period which Pato was the lead striker and found during this time he assisted 2 goals (I believe both for Kaka against Bologna and Roma I think) in 11 matches.

That leaves 3 assists during the rest of the 16 matches that he's played. If I'm honest, it really isn't particularly better than when he plays up front.

In that respect, I still must say I definitely think he's much better as a leading striker.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Right, I did a little more research and I assume Soccernet figure of 5 is correct. I looked through the official sites list of archived matches this season during the period which Pato was the lead striker and found during this time he assisted 2 goals (I believe both for Kaka against Bologna and Roma I think) in 11 matches.

That leaves 3 assists during the rest of the 16 matches that he's played. If I'm honest, it really isn't particularly better than when he plays up front.

In that respect, I still must say I definitely think he's much better as a leading striker.

Oh, I thought he assisted a bit more overall and that he assisted more as a leading striker (which can be seen like something weird, but it can be explained by the fact that Pato is a complete player: he can dribble, he can wait for the ball at the right place, or he can play with his back in front of the goal which provides assists for our AMs) than like a second striker. It's almost the case !! The ratio is better as a leading striker ...

So we're all ok to say that he is better as our leading striker.

He's better as a "seconda punta"

But he lacks real striker to play with, aldough Pippo is doing good he lacks power. But for a player like Pato to train with Inzaghi and Shevchenko is a blessing. From those 2 you can leard 100% everything about strikers.

If only Pato took 3 or 4 penalties and some FK's that Pirlo likes to send to hell he would fight for the capocannoniere now

I disagree, he is better as a "first striker" ...
Then, all depends of what you call "seconda punta" !!

For me, Pato is the same kind of player than Eto'o, and for me again, Eto'o is a first striker.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Right, I did a little more research and I assume Soccernet figure of 5 is correct. I looked through the official sites list of archived matches this season during the period which Pato was the lead striker and found during this time he assisted 2 goals (I believe both for Kaka against Bologna and Roma I think) in 11 matches.

That leaves 3 assists during the rest of the 16 matches that he's played. If I'm honest, it really isn't particularly better than when he plays up front.

In that respect, I still must say I definitely think he's much better as a leading striker.

I think, you should also count the games where he played well in which his play less or much decided the result of the game (he was arguably the man of the match in the games) or his contribution to the goals other players made even he didn't make assists since Pato played very well after the winter break (as main striker or not).

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I disagree, he is better as a "first striker" ...
Then, all depends of what you call "seconda punta" !!

For me, Pato is the same kind of player than Eto'o, and for me again, Eto'o is a first striker.

And again it all depends of tactical movement required from a coach and from the way your whole team plays.

"seconda punta" was for example Sheva when he played with Pippo up front. Pato does not play so deep like sometimes Del Piero, but tends to play deeper then Eto'o.