austsaint

Mane is one of the best buys SFC have made for a long time. This talk of his "failings and inconsistencies" make me chuckle - there were a few games early on where he struggled with the pace and style of game, but he has been among our best, week in, week out for ages, and without him a lot of our creative attacking play disappears. Two of his qualities I've enjoyed is his capacity to pick out a pass to a player in or around the box and his willingness to track back and assist defensively.

Really good summary S-Clarke. I especially like your comments about Mane; at times he has looked like an elite Prem player. Likewise, your comments on Bertrand, Clyne, Maya, Fonte, Toby, Vic and the sure to be missed Morgan are all spot on. Of the misses, maybe Tadic needs to be included with Pelle despite their bright starts to the season. Shane Long, despite his work rate, has to be a miss, his lack of touch and control is a glaring weakness at this level. Just a small quibble with your comments about JWP - I don't think you can say he has the lot technically when, at this stage of his career he doesn't have a left foot to talk about; when/if he improves that aspect of his game your assessment might stand up.

Your description sounds more like JWP than Davis, even allowing for the penalty v Hull.

Reed's time will come; as others have mentioned, Cork going could be assessed as a vote for HR's future once the well stocked defensive and holding mid-field is reduced with Morgan's exit. I can see Reed becoming more expansive in the box-to-box mould as time goes on. If anything, Ronald seems to underrate Reed to the same extent he overrates JWP.

Indifferent from Davo and Tadic. Morgan, Fonte and Yoshida all good. Mane easily our biggest attacking threat - has provided three brilliant deliveries to Pelle, Davis and Clyne.

He misplaced several passes and missed a sitter, but overall his game was very sound. One of the highlights of the second half was seeing Toby getting forward and delivering quality crosses, some of which were drilled low. He looked every bit as effective at RB as Clyne on a good day.

Let's wait for time to establish a clearer picture. The wisdom of a "football person" is historically unreliable.

Faz, the only way Prowsey would be in the match day squad of Chelsea and Man City is if they needed to fill a quota of home grown players. He played a good 45 minutes yesterday against Everton, but over the season (for Saints) he hasn't been that good. Leaving aside things like technical skills the main issue I see going against him is the lack of athleticism - he's not a runner; he can't quicken or beat a man - he plods and runs out of puff.

One of the differences between Roy Hodgson's assessment of JWP and those who have seen each of his 24 appearances for Saints this season is that Roy's hype doesn't measure up with what we have seen him do on the pitch. As for Faz' claim about JWP being head and shoulders over Harry Reed....we will see; Reed has the goods to be a better DM than JWP has as an AM, the only position he has a chance of performing in. Reed's played a handful of games; JWP has nearly 70 appearances. This debate needs to be revisited in a year or two.

Amid all the gloom and teeth gnashing one thing we have to be grateful for is the continuing quality of our "back 6". One particular moment involving Bertrand covering for Toby who had been nutmegged inside the box (McCarthy?) remains one of the highlights for me. I was worried about how Kelvin would go but he really didn't have a save to make and he had little chance with the goal.

For someone who cops a lot of stick, you make a lot of sense. If we'd only paid 4-5 mill for him and weren't relying on him quite so much lately, this thread probably wouldn't have come up.

Yeah, it feels a bit like that doesn't it.

We are missing S. Davis; JWP has done some nice things, Vic terrific, Eli has to come off for Mane and Tadic and Djiricuc must be in the frame. Nothing going on down our left side, Coleman has controlled everything.

He really is a clinical striker. And why did Man U let Welbeck go?

They've been good today, Arsenal.

How do you include Ward-Prowse on current form? How do you not include Mane on current form? Has he been late for lunch again?

Your summary may not appeal to those who want this lad to be as good as they hope - but your analysis is right. JWP is certainly a confident, self-promoting type, but he doesn't have the game to bring it off. I wonder what Harry Reed thinks about the fuss being made about JWP compared to his low key profile. The irony is Reed has enough qualities to go much further in the game.

Yes. I wish he was our back up rather than Kelvin for the last 8 games. Paid a high price for that game where a tame shot managed to elude him into the net....was it against Arsenal?

The thing is, when talking about comparing players like K. Jones, Walcott, Sadio etc., there's really no need to add the term "mixed race" to describe someone like Theo. If you want to point out detail of family background then West Indian parent and UK parent (for eg) will do, or Sengalese or West Indian. The comparing of Mane's playing style to people like Camara and Walcott is a good debating point but who gives a ****e about their biological origins.

Fair enough. One of us is going to look like a bit of a goose, yet I'm sure you don't think the gingernut is a mug player, nor do I see the Prowse lad as a complete plodder.

The thing I find most perplexing about this "debate" concerning JWP - is he a star in the making or a bit of a plodder, is the amount of coverage, comment and opinion the young man attracts compared to someone like our own Harry Reed. My own assessment is that Reed has the attributes and qualities already to convince me he will go further in the game than Prowsey, (just like I thought Chambers would a couple of years back). By the way, that was a very well taken goal by JWP for England 21's during the week. Let's hope he goes on a run of goals.

I think he is easily as good as Lallana. One part of his game that gets overlooked is his ability to deliver penetrating passes and assists - he really is a winger, striker and AM rolled into one, though 10 is probably his best spot.

Well he's too polite to be smashing any other type of door.

Thank goodness you are not the Manager. Did you see the game against Burnley?

Nothing about Hodgson inspires confidence. He just looks like an old man going through the motions, enjoying the comfortable, well paid position of England Manager.