The Ricardo Vaz Te - Playoff Hero - Appreciation Thread

[RyanWHUFC]

I reckon he will be able to do the business next season, I'm convinced of it actually, what a great signing by Allardyce. Still not sure he meant the second goal to go THAT close to the bar though.

[Hambrosia Stu]

Still not sure he meant the second goal to go THAT close to the bar though.

I was just about to say how his finish for the 2nd goal shows he is a class act in front of goal.

I mean, when the ball came to him, he must have seen the goalie was scrambling across. If he'd have gone for the bottom corner, the goalie may well have got there to stop it. So he knew he had to get it over the 'keeper, so he just blasts it into the top corner

But I agree, he must have had a worried moment when he saw how close it was going to the bar!

[DustyHammer]

To be honest, I thought his finish was totally intentional. So many players from that distance would have just blasted it but he's hit it with his side foot to give it just a little curl away from their keeper and lifted it deliberately to avoid any dive from the keeper.

To be calm enough to finish like that in the 87th minute of a Wembley final to win the game is simply staggering.

[Lincolnhammer92]

i put on my facebook on friday that if Vaz scored the winner I'd get the haircut, its gone down well!

I made the same bet. Booked in tomorrow...

[CentenaryUpperHammer]

Get the pics on lads

[Iron Merengue]

This may be pure pedantry or a silly question of semantics, but what is Vaz Tê's position? A number of people in the transfer targets/fantasy league/dream team thread have got him up front as the lone striker, saying that he is good enough in the air etc. to play that role, which I agree with although I wouldn't want him there myself. But I noticed that on the article about him on the official site that they called him a midfielder, which seemed strange to me as I would think of him more as a forward (if you take that to mean midfielders and strikers). Where did he play at Barnsley?

If you do think of him as a midfielder and nothing else his goal return is spectacular.

[psychoscoredthelot]

he is an attacking midfielder with cole playing the lone role

[The Gibbins]

I feared the worst when before the game I noticed that he'd trimmed his hair. Might be the source of all his powers.

I always remember Yossi having a proper dodgy patch of form when he got rid of the longer hair for a bowl haircut

[WorcesterWHU]

Every time I see a replay of the goal (or the pics from the Wembley pics & videos thread), I still expect him to miss

[chunkay]

This may be pure pedantry or a silly question of semantics, but what is Vaz Tê's position? A number of people in the transfer targets/fantasy league/dream team thread have got him up front as the lone striker, saying that he is good enough in the air etc. to play that role, which I agree with although I wouldn't want him there myself. But I noticed that on the article about him on the official site that they called him a midfielder, which seemed strange to me as I would think of him more as a forward (if you take that to mean midfielders and strikers). Where did he play at Barnsley?

If you do think of him as a midfielder and nothing else his goal return is spectacular.

Against Blackpool, Sky said it was a front two.
Against Cardiff he was on the left midfield, level with Collison.

I'd agree with the left midfield thing until they bring on Macca and push Taylor up, then it becomes a front two.

[thejackhammer]

Watching the highlights and hearing the commentator scream 'VAZ TE!' still gives me goosebumps, absolute euphoria. Although I was working and had to watch the game at 12am having succesfully avoided the score all day

[Hammers1993]

I think his best position would be in a LW position supporting Cole, with another play like him on the right, he loves a cut in does Vaz Te!

[MS in the West]

Have to say when I was there I thought he didn't have a great game in the PO final by his standards - but then apart from Cole and Green and McCartney when he came on I thought the whole team were not quite on song, probably because of the occasion (actually they al;l looked a bit better when I watched the highlights later - funny thing perceptions). VT missed a near sitter in the first half. But the goal he scored was deliberate and superb. He knew exactly what he was doing and didn't for the smallest of split seconds doubt he'd score. I could practically see the whites of his eyes as he did it. He's a player I believe will make the step up to the Prem

[west ham15]

Every time I see a replay of the goal (or the pics from the Wembley pics & videos thread), I still expect him to miss

Your not the only one mate

[VikeltAussie]

I feared the worst when before the game I noticed that he'd trimmed his hair. Might be the source of all his powers.

Like Sampson.

If he shaves it before next season wait for the boos

[mushy]

The next Alan Taylor anyone?

[Hockley Hammer]

Every time I see a replay of the goal (or the pics from the Wembley pics & videos thread), I still expect him to miss

If there was no keeper i'd agree, but as it was actually harder to hit it in the top corner than kick it straight at the keeper (which is the norm) I will give him the benefit of the doubt

[Gummi]

Anyone has the video of his back heel cross from Saturday?

[hawkins_hammer]

I always remember Yossi having a proper dodgy patch of form when he got rid of the longer hair for a bowl haircut

How about Piquionne, he was fantastic for us, had a haircut and has never been the same.

[RM6]

Can he do it in the Premier League?

I hope so, he's shown character this year to be where he is. Looking at his career pre-Barnsley he was going nowhere.