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Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Monday February 25 2008
Time: 11:36AM
UK time is: 20:22:23
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That is how Kanu should be used
Kanu comes in for a lot of stick, and in all fairness a fair bit is deserving, but at the same time this is not always down to him, this blame must lie at the door of Harry Redknapp quite often and the way he chooses to use him.
But credit where it is well and truly due, he came on at the weekend with about 20 minutes or so to go and he did change the game, he made a difference with that bit of magic that he has and his unbelievable control created more time, space and potential openings. For me I think he might have had his best appearance of the season in that cameo run out, which was almost a carbon copy of his debut performance against Blackburn, again a cameo for the final 20 minutes or so...
Using him from the bench is the way that I feel we should have been using him all season - as I have often said, he offers so much more that way, starting him, and more often than not in a 4-5-1 just is not the way to utilise his talent.
I have always liked Kanu but my biggest gripe has been the whole ordeal last summer over his new contract, the demands that he made and our counter demands never really meant anything and just all seemed threats that neither backed up. He had no pre season yet still walked - almost quite literally - back into the starting line up after others had gone through this, so the fact that regardless he almost always plays has left me with some resentment towards the fella.
As said he showed at the weekend why he is worth having, and how is best to use him - so I do hope that this is the way we will be using him more often than not for the rest of the season. Yep, it does look like we will be keeping him next season and I do have thoughts on this, but those are for another day...
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Your Comments
Kanu was magnificent when he came on - apart from one shot he tried. My wife was in stitches when he left several Sunderland players running in one direction while he headed off in another. Great skill and great to watch but I agree cameos are his strength now.
eastneydave
Rug, I soooo agree with you, but I think he will be started up front on his own at man u.
pompey4me
Kanu can be lazy and great! All good players with an egnima about them are like that, especially Brazillan fowards, although of course he's not Brazillian!
Matt_Us
I dunno that HR will risk starting Kanu at United although we'd need him most during the first 25 minutes. I think a lot depends on how we play this weekend at Everton and whether Utaka and Baros impress enough to see them starting against United in a 4-5-1 with Baros being replaced by Kanu in the second half.
ChrisW
if HR was smart and we know he kind of is and he will use kanu like that every match, he opened up the game and tore sunderland to shreds thats what i like 2 c
NK19
Hard to argue with what has been said. Each opposition will give a different headache each game, not easy having all the answers all the time. Kanu is predicatablly unpredictable. How the hell you play that is hard to say.
storagematt
Kanu is one of my favourites and I love to see him play in a Pompey shirt. I think most of the stick he gets is unwarranted.
Pompeyscum
Kanu the supersub! Every team needs a supersub. I remember Rooney being one against us last year in the cup match at Old Trafford.
tracyc
if kanu was used more like he was at the weekend i think we would see the best of him over and over and he wouldnt get anywhere near the stick he gets - granted some is unfair...
pompeyrug
Pompeyscum, bearing in mind that the Yak may well be a few years older than he claims then so too might Kanu - you have to admit he runs like he's got the trots [excuse the pun] and on occasion can be seen sucking on St Johns' oxygen cylinder - : ) but when all's said and done he is by far the most skillful player on the ball in the entire EPL.
ChrisW
however if he is used the same over and over... teams will know how to deal with him, like they learnt to play our 4-5-1. a little bit of variety never hurt anyone
jbaker
Kanu showed his value to us,he came on and helped us to win the game,
There is no substitute for class and Kanu has it in abundance, it is just a pity he has those dodgy knees.
Owenspompey
I think how Kanu is used depends on HR's tactics for a particular game. If we are going to defend hard in the first half, as I believe we will do against Man U, the bringing Kanu on before half time would be a waste. If HR decides to attack in the first half in any game then Kanu should start and be replaced soon after half time. Defoe, Utaka and to a lesser degree, Baros running on from Kanu's passes could be very effective.
frattonaussie
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