Not really sure if this should be in here or the "Kids in the EL" thread as there is a lot of overlap. Firstly all strikers benefit from getting at defences before they are 'set'. Meaning the timing of the pass is as important as its precision. Our midfield in the league games, still trying to come to terms with a new system, has more than not erred on the side of caution. The ball recycling taking place 5-10m either side of the halfway line. This gives a 4 man back line with a good DM the chance to shuffle side to side as the ball is moved across the park. Any vertical passes into the CF area take longer to reach the target allowing the defence to re-adjust, i.e. cover runs made by the forwards irrespective of verticle or diagonal. This has reduced both the number of chances and their potential to result in an assist or goal. Borini and Suarez have both been on a diet of chances in the first 4 PL games because of this. Suarez is always going to be more spectacular than Borini but even his goal against Sunderland owed as much to a "shinning" from the PL resident expert Titus Bramble as it did to Suarez's positioning and quick reactions.
Last night after the first 15-20 mins you could see a definate intention to try to move the "recyling centre" forward by 10m. The players also displayed a greater willingness to play the ball to the feet of a man under pressure. There was also a greater willingness to receive said balls. This could partly be down to the exuberance of youth against the cautious approach which experience often brings, but it seemed like it was what the team set out to do. This meant the YB defence often had less time to adjust to vertical balls/runs from Henderson, Sahin and Suso. Unfortunately Pacheco was struggling with his positioning and the timing of his movement so much of this came to nothing. How different this might have been if the final ball after Suso's tango through the YB defence had reached the feet of a well positioned Pacheco. It would have been a huge lift for both the provider and the finisher. Uncle, Aunty balls etc.
So by the time Borini came on in his prefered position things were set up for him. His better "game intelligence", in that position, made a huge difference in the options both he and the other forward players started to get. Sometimes players need to develop an understanding with each other for things to happen e.g Toshack's flick ons Keegans runs, Dalglish and Rush. In the case of Borini he often creates chance for others without them having to be on the same wavelength. Hence Shelvey's second goal. Shelvey didn't need to anticipate what Borini did (pulling their CB out of positiion) he only had to drive into the space provided and finsh. The visiting Roma fan opined that Borini is a young Inzaghi. Not sure he is right, at the moment. An Inzaghi, V. horseface or the king of them all Gerd Mueller (and yes I saw him play live) would have screamed for the ball and gone for goal. Borini with team ethic is more a "means to an end" player then an end to a means, If you get what I means. Maybe part of the answer is in the OP title. Borini needs to start getting mean with his chances. All this takes time, some of us are prepared to give it to him others not. At the end of the day the only opinion that matters is Rogers. I can not see him giving up on Borini anytime soon. For a precedent see Dalglish and Downing last season. This is for the long haul and it is not Borini's fault that he cannot be eased into it as perhaps Rogers had envisaged.
