By far the most frustrating thing about Nathan "Thierry" Redmond, is that somewhere in there are the raw attributes of a decent player. They just only seem to all come together into an acceptable level of performance once every seven games or so, if I'm being generous.
We signed him as a relatively young player, as we often do with that inticing elixir of "the potential to improve". He simply hasn't fulfilled it.
In both his playing position and his responsibility as a senior pro, he is the kind of player we are looking to, to make things happen. To take a game by the scruff of the neck, to be a creative force, to drive at defences and cause panic. But the only panic he regularly causes is in Saints fans seeing his name is once again on the team sheet. One dire performance after another.
What on earth does the guy have to do to get dropped?
Every once in a while, he still seems capable of turning it on, albeit in brief flashes. Against Chelsea, credit where it's due, he chipped in with that fantastic through ball assist for Minamino, and on at least one occasion actually beat a man on the outside, made it to the byline, and managed to get the ball into the danger area.
Which sums up his biggest issues for me. Absolute inconsistency, and a complete lack of basic footballing intelligence. All too often, whatever is the potential worst choice in any given scenario -- guaranteed he'll take that one. If he was any thicker, he would set.
Just not cut out for the level we need unfortunately. But it's not his fault he keeps being selected, despite turning in a succession of abject displays. Needs taking out of the firing line immediately. Tella has earned a chance, and at the end of the day, the way Redmond is playing, he can't do any worse.
