I think this was it, you could see his confidence slipping which was bad enough, but it was intensified when he started dropping deeper as his skills really didn't suit that approach. It also allowed him to be counted in the "4 number 10's" conversation which was a tad harsh as he wasn't signed as a number 10 but as a number 9 who'd at times operated in a wide forward position.
I have two main issues re Sandro. The first is that we may not have an option but to keep him, certainly if we expect the bulk of his wages to be recouped. We probably need to get him in the "shop window" a bit.
Secondly we ought to consider what Moyes might have done in this situation. He's the exact sort of player Moyes would have taken to Everton and probably turned around. Peinaar is a fine example of this, a talented player who'd lost his was after a bad year at Dortmund and needed a new approach which more coaching. Sandro is still a young man and has plenty to offer someone, though it is questionable whether that can be us.
I think with good coaching he still has decent attributes. He is quite quick and I think makes very intelligent runs in behind. The finishing at times is a little erratic but he works very hard. For me he's also a bit different to our other 3 strikers and that gives him a tick.
As I think
@Eggs has said there is no magic there which is fair but to be an effective footballer there doesn't always have to be.
There was no magic in our 2005 side that finished 4th (apart from briefly with Gravesen). Outside of Limpar the 95 side had little magic. Both sides had lots of functional players who could do a job for the team. The question will be whether Silva feels he can find a job for him.
We need to be realistic as to where we are. If everything had gone to plan, and we kicked on last season, maybe finishing 6th above Arsenal (had we repeated the same points total as the season before we would have done) then I'd probably join in with the chorus of getting rid of him as I'm not sure he is of the quality required to take us from that position to a top 4 team competing for trophies. I also think if he had that potential it would take too long to realise.
However we are a long way from that position, re-building and if Silva thinks he can get a tune from him I believe he could have a role to play. If he does so, we get to 5/6th over the next couple of years, hopefully we can move him on then, have his wages covered and a reasonable fee. That should be the plan if people won't pay up now.
