Jump to content

We have a goalscoring problem


hypochondriac

Recommended Posts

Well I will say it, sod it, but I think AP's determination to play Lallana is actually harming us and our chances of scoring at the moment.

 

To accomodate him we either play only one up front, usually away, or we sacrifice a wide player at home, cos Lallana will not stay out wide, mainly becaue he is not a wide player.

 

He is not a forward, he is not a wide midfielder, I still struggle to work out exactly what he is. Sometimes he looks good, sometimes he looks average, he is a luxury player and I dont think we can afford luxury players at the moment. Ok, he has scored a couple but he will not be a prolific scorere cos, as I said, he is not a forward.

 

Now our previous luxury player was a different kettle of fish altogether cos he could win a game single handedly, Adam will not do that IMHO.

 

I would drop him for 3 or 4 games, go with 2 up front adn 2 genuine wide players and lets see what happens....cos at the moment the Lallana must be fitted in somewhere plan is not working !

 

Were you at todays game?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We didn't play pretty elegent stuff today and hit too many long balls.

 

Also Lallana and Morgan played well today. Would you rather we played Wotton?

i think he may well be thinking along the lines of...

 

holmes/mills---hammond---mellis---waigo

 

with rickie and sagga up front...

 

pace down the wings with mellis breaking from the middle..

 

of course we have no idea if that would work or not..but a suggestion

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He and you have your own agenda based on not seeing Lallana play recently. Lallana was our most creative player today.

my agenda....where have I commented lately on lallanas performances..?

 

do you already have your mind made up about posters and what they think before you post..

 

please, where have I commented on lallanas performances lately..?

by the way, quite a few other have..who go week in week out home and away

Edited by Thedelldays
Link to comment
Share on other sites

my agenda....where have I commented lately on lallanas performances..?

 

do you already have your mind made up about posters and what they think before you post..

 

please, where have I commented on lallanas performances lately..?

by the way, quite a few other have..who go week in week out home and away

Lallana best Saints player today. Now go away Dulldays man without facts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lallana best Saints player today. Now go away Dulldays man without facts.

 

Well IMO (if I'm allowed one) maybe we should see how he gets on in that position for more than 70 mins.

 

I would rather we tried waigo upfront just on his pace alone.. Add that he is a forward anyway could prove more of a handfull and benefit the team more

 

am I allowed to think that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seeing 3 and 9 there Delldays

 

I once saw Saints win 9 3 against Wolves (in one game not nine);)

 

Yes traditionally we were always a team that scores goals whatever division we were in (leaky defence maybe but exciting to watch never the less! especially at the Dell) and this was the case throughout most of the 60's 70's 80's and even some of the 90's! It is only over the last 5 years or so we seem to have gone flat!

It is that spirit we seem to have lost!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well IMO (if I'm allowed one) maybe we should see how he gets on in that position for more than 70 mins.

 

I would rather we tried waigo upfront just on his pace alone.. Add that he is a forward anyway could prove more of a handfull and benefit the team more

 

am I allowed to think that?

 

Think and Saints just not compatible it is a thought crime ala 1984!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes traditionally we were always a team that scores goals whatever division we were in (leaky defence maybe but exciting to watch never the less! especially at the Dell) and this was the case throughout most of the 60's 70's 80's and even some of the 90's! It is only over the last 5 years or so we seem to have gone flat!

It is that spirit we seem to have lost!

 

Yes I agree but Pardew is not that type of Manager although he appears to see potential in Adam and Morgan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Were you at todays game?

 

 

No I wasn't Andy, and I know what you are going to say - "shut up, he was our best player" ;)

 

Well as I said sometimes he is good, others he is bad, like any young player.

 

So, as you were obviously there was he playing up front or was he tucked behind Lambert ?

If he was playing up front then thats one thing, but if he was playing in the hole then thats my point entirely, we are changing formation every other game, home and away, and for what reason ? It was Carlisle FFS, I can understand playing one up front at Charlton but Carlisle ?

 

My point is he is not a natural goalscorer, he is not a wide midfield player so my question still stands - what is he ? what is his position ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No I wasn't Andy, and I know what you are going to say - "shut up, he was our best player" ;)

 

Well as I said sometimes he is good, others he is bad, like any young player.

 

So, as you were obviously there was he playing up front or was he tucked behind Lambert ?

If he was playing up front then thats one thing, but if he was playing in the hole then thats my point entirely, we are changing formation every other game, home and away, and for what reason ? It was Carlisle FFS, I can understand playing one up front at Charlton but Carlisle ?

 

My point is he is not a natural goalscorer, he is not a wide midfield player so my question still stands - what is he ? what is his position ?

 

Thank god this forum wasn't around when MLT broke into the side.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

don't think Saga has done enough recenty to be fair.

 

Difficult for him to do anything with zero supply from a clearly dysfunctional midfield.

 

I would play Waigo, James (when Murty fit), Hammond, Holmes or Mills.

 

I do not rate Lallana or Schneiderlin - they do not bring enough to the team performance and in the case of Adam, he is a square peg in a round hole who is screwing up the team balance.

 

But Pardew has that special love for them the way Burley did for Jermaine Wright, so hey-ho...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank god this forum wasn't around when MLT broke into the side.

 

Oh sorry, I thought the idea was to have a debate about formations,players, the manager etc.

 

I am not saying he is rubbish or slagging him off, I am just asking what his best position is and wether AP is so desperate to play him that we are either sacrifycing a second striker or a natural wide player to get the ball in the box, in line with the heading of this thread about our goalscoring problem.

 

The difference is, since you want to bring MLT into the equation is that Matt was more disciplined. If picked out wide he stayed out wide, if picked up front thats where he played. Only when older and established was he given the free role, once he had shown what he could do - pass, shoot, pick out players making a run, take corners (!!). Adam is miles from that at the moment.

Edited by beatlesaint
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not convinced by Lallana either. So do people think it's a service problem or a striker problem?

 

The strike force is as good as you can get. Lambert, Saga and Papa all know where the net is, and have the right touches. For me the problem is in the service. Midfield needs another strong prescence alongside Hammond, which might be enough for the wide players to perform better. Holmes may be the key to the lack of service. The positive is that we do have a strong coaching set up now, and I think we can be sure they must be discussing the same problems in greater depth than we are on here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh sorry, I thought the idea was to have a debate about formations,players, the manager etc.

 

I am not saying he is rubbish or slagging him off, I am just asking what his best position is and wether AP is so desperate to play him that we are either sacrifycing a second striker or a natural wide player to get the ball in the box, in line with the heading of this thread about our goalscoring problem.

 

The difference is, since you want to bring MLT into the equation is that Matt was more disciplined. If picked out wide he stayed out wide, if picked up front thats where he played. Only when older and established was he given the free role, once he had shown what he could do - pass, shoot, pick out players making a run, take corners (!!). Adam is miles from that at the moment.

 

 

Matt Le Tissier, discplined?? only in a dungeon would be my assessment...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No I wasn't Andy, and I know what you are going to say - "shut up, he was our best player" ;)

 

Well as I said sometimes he is good, others he is bad, like any young player.

 

So, as you were obviously there was he playing up front or was he tucked behind Lambert ?

If he was playing up front then thats one thing, but if he was playing in the hole then thats my point entirely, we are changing formation every other game, home and away, and for what reason ? It was Carlisle FFS, I can understand playing one up front at Charlton but Carlisle ?

 

My point is he is not a natural goalscorer, he is not a wide midfield player so my question still stands - what is he ? what is his position ?

 

I think you raise an interesting point and like you I dont know

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i would be concerned..he was scoring for fun..now he has to rely on penalties...concerned meaning WHY this has happened..

 

cos he isnt getting the service from out wide and he isnt playing as an out and out striker.

Just watch on Tuesday night how deep he has to come to get a sight of the ball, its noticeable and has been in every home game so far. When he was playing up front with Patterson the young boy was further up the field than Lambert was every time we went forward. Why ? Patterson is not our £1 million goalscoring machine, Rickie is, yet we are not deploying him as an out and out striker.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cos he isnt getting the service from out wide and he isnt playing as an out and out striker.

Just watch on Tuesday night how deep he has to come to get a sight of the ball, its noticeable and has been in every home game so far. When he was playing up front with Patterson the young boy was further up the field than Lambert was every time we went forward. Why ? Patterson is not our £1 million goalscoring machine, Rickie is, yet we are not deploying him as an out and out striker.

yea...that is what I (and other) were thinking...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yea...that is what I (and other) were thinking...

 

which ironically brings me back to my original point that we are losing either a forward or a wide player to play Lallana.

 

why not just play Lallana as a central midfield box to box player and see how he does there.....or does AP know his lack of discipline will leave bloody great holes through the middle ? ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One problem is Lallana in that despite that fact he can show signs of a great individual player, he is not helping the team to find its natural balance at the moment when it needs to gel. This is related completely to the fact that the front line is continually changing meaning that the players are not able to find a rythym and pattern between themselves. The answer? If Lallana is the right player to partner Lambo up-front as a true striker then let him do it - give him a run of 3-4 games and see what happens - keep it consistent.

 

In terms of midfield, I think the same applies at CM - keep Hammond and Schneiderlin there to forge a partnership. The wings are more difficult. Good wingers rely on good fullbacks and a CM player to assist in getting them forward with fast, deft triangulation passing - we don't do this, but I think with the right training our current players are perfectly capable. Our options for wingers are limited - Holmes is our ONLY natural winger and he's crocked. Papa, Mellis and Mills (to a lesser extent) are not players that will provide the service we need. So the big issue has to be getting at least one right-sided midfielder and play that man CONSISTENTLY.

 

Get the balance in the team right and then keep it consistent - we are a gnat's whisker from getting it completely right. On our part, we just need to be patient - I find that hard as I'm sure many other do to, but faith in AP is what is needed. So far IMO he has shown he is one of the best Managers we've had at any level and I fully support him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh sorry, I thought the idea was to have a debate about formations,players, the manager etc.

 

I am not saying he is rubbish or slagging him off, I am just asking what his best position is and wether AP is so desperate to play him that we are either sacrifycing a second striker or a natural wide player to get the ball in the box, in line with the heading of this thread about our goalscoring problem.

 

The difference is, since you want to bring MLT into the equation is that Matt was more disciplined. If picked out wide he stayed out wide, if picked up front thats where he played. Only when older and established was he given the free role, once he had shown what he could do - pass, shoot, pick out players making a run, take corners (!!). Adam is miles from that at the moment.

 

I wasn't having a dig at you personally, i find Delldays and Alpine far more tedious.

 

I think it's staggering that people who don't go to games can attack Lallana. People at the game yesterday said he was outstanding, and it's mind blowing that some 'fans' would rather have Lloyd ****ing James in the team than him.

 

Lloyd James will never make it as a decent footballer, Lallana will. AP is still learning about the team as an attacking force. He sorted out the defence and now he's starting on the attack.

 

AL isn't a wide player and i hope we never see him there again. He's either played just off a striker or as a central midfielder, and i'm sure AP will be looking closely at him to see where he's more effective for the side.

 

A bit of time and a bit of patience isn't much to ask for

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't having a dig at you personally, i find Delldays and Alpine far more tedious.

 

I think it's staggering that people who don't go to games can attack Lallana. People at the game yesterday said he was outstanding, and it's mind blowing that some 'fans' would rather have Lloyd ****ing James in the team than him.

 

Lloyd James will never make it as a decent footballer, Lallana will. AP is still learning about the team as an attacking force. He sorted out the defence and now he's starting on the attack.

 

AL isn't a wide player and i hope we never see him there again. He's either played just off a striker or as a central midfielder, and i'm sure AP will be looking closely at him to see where he's more effective for the side.

 

A bit of time and a bit of patience isn't much to ask for

 

 

where have I done that..?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A bit harsh to blame our scoring problems on a player that young. Also I don't quite know what you mean by he is showing that he's a fullback, as he has been one of our best players so far. He certainly stays wide and attacks down the line more than anybody i've seen so far this season, which is what you're asking for.

 

He might be playing out wide but he doesn't play like a winger or cross like a winger he plays like a fullback. When he does get down the line he doesn't pick out players he hits hopeful balls in, that mainly get belted back up field. I prefer him to nobody wide but he will be a good class fullback given time.

 

Holmes is a much more natural winger and does pick out players however he is being treated with kid gloves because of his injury record.

 

My priorities are get rid of the lack of width and get natural pacy forwards playing there in due course, not shoehorning in players without either the pace or wit to play there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't having a dig at you personally, i find Delldays and Alpine far more tedious.

 

I think it's staggering that people who don't go to games can attack Lallana. People at the game yesterday said he was outstanding, and it's mind blowing that some 'fans' would rather have Lloyd ****ing James in the team than him.

 

Lloyd James will never make it as a decent footballer, Lallana will. AP is still learning about the team as an attacking force. He sorted out the defence and now he's starting on the attack.

 

AL isn't a wide player and i hope we never see him there again. He's either played just off a striker or as a central midfielder, and i'm sure AP will be looking closely at him to see where he's more effective for the side.

 

A bit of time and a bit of patience isn't much to ask for

 

Wow, by saying he doesnt fit, he upsets the team balance, and would prefer a different midfield line-up, we are ATTACKING him.

 

Unbelievable. Straight out of Lowe's "You are with us or against us" book....

 

Oh, and you are WRONG about not going to games too. If you restricted opinions on here to only people who go to EVERY game, the site would die in days. I have seen Lallana for myself twice this season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, by saying he doesnt fit, he upsets the team balance, and would prefer a different midfield line-up, we are ATTACKING him.

 

Unbelievable. Straight out of Lowe's "You are with us or against us" book....

 

Oh, and you are WRONG about not going to games too. If you restricted opinions on here to only people who go to EVERY game, the site would die in days. I have seen Lallana for myself twice this season.

 

Fantastic. But yesterday he was our best player. He has also turned in great performances in a few other games this season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Difficult for him to do anything with zero supply from a clearly dysfunctional midfield.

 

I would play Waigo, James (when Murty fit), Hammond, Holmes or Mills.

 

I do not rate Lallana or Schneiderlin - they do not bring enough to the team performance and in the case of Adam, he is a square peg in a round hole who is screwing up the team balance.

 

But Pardew has that special love for them the way Burley did for Jermaine Wright, so hey-ho...

 

You have seen them play then have you Alpine? And yet another assine dig at a past manager who at least won matches. Still, with your genious for working out our problems without even watching the matches I guess we should have had you in charge instead of Burley - we would have walked the Championship!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, by saying he doesnt fit, he upsets the team balance, and would prefer a different midfield line-up, we are ATTACKING him.

 

Unbelievable. Straight out of Lowe's "You are with us or against us" book....

 

Oh, and you are WRONG about not going to games too. If you restricted opinions on here to only people who go to EVERY game, the site would die in days. I have seen Lallana for myself twice this season.

 

Where was that? Did he go on holiday to Austria then?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fantastic. But yesterday he was our best player. He has also turned in great performances in a few other games this season.

 

I would restrict his participation to impact sub at the moment, and try to build a working unit of 10 outfield players without him. Maybe Lallana can do a MLT job in the centre behind the forwards, but he is not the finished article yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...