CM strenthened in window?

[Saint_clark]

Thought Plymouth were taken over by some rich Japanese?

 

In the same way Pompey have two rich Arabs on board, yes.

[Toadhall Saint]

Can potentially play, not proven IMO and unless Plymouth are really struggling financially not sure why they would sell him as he has done allegedly so well for MK Dons. I hope I am wrong but remain disappointed we didn't strengthen CM with a recognisable talent as we have elsewhere.

 

He played more central when he played against us recently - in fact was the only highlight for MK IMHO.

[Window Cleaner]

I'm not sure the CM needed strengthening anyway. We have 3 good players to play there.What needed doing was giving them outlets for the creativity that they doubtlessly have. With Puncheon and the rejuvenated Holmes perhaps we've found what we needed.Lallana needs to buck his ideas up a bit though as I am sure he will.

[Nineteen Canteen]

I'm not sure the CM needed strengthening anyway. We have 3 good players to play there.What needed doing was giving them outlets for the creativity that they doubtlessly have. With Puncheon and the rejuvenated Holmes perhaps we've found what we needed.Lallana needs to buck his ideas up a bit though as I am sure he will.

 

I'm not sure especially given our fixture pile up and Schneiderlin's disciplinary record. Do we know when Hammond is due back? Personally, I think we lack the creativity to use the creativity we have out wide and my take on the poor final ball from wide positions is purely a psychological problem for those getting forward in good positions.

 

At the moment it seems rare for our wide / forward players to receive a quality ball when they have found the space that sometimes I believe they simply lose their head. They are probably thinking this is my one and only big moment and its taken this long for a decent through ball or cross field pass I'd better make it count. Holmes was finding acres of room on Saturday and only received the ball when he went looking for it nullifying the advantage he kept gaining.

 

Our CM are not bad players, far from it but we need a player in there with the vision to match their potential creativity. I agree with you on Lallana whilst recognising his fantastic goal scoring record this season he can blow hot and cold and with a little more consistency to his performances we can only dream of what else he can deliver. You could argue his cold performances are due in part to the CM midfield lacking that extra bit of imagination / quality of delivery.

 

I hope Puncheon proves me wrong but it seems many are basing his signing on one good game for MK Dons and I hope our scouts watched him more than that.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I'm not sure especially given our fixture pile up and Schneiderlin's disciplinary record. Do we know when Hammond is due back? Personally, I think we lack the creativity to use the creativity we have out wide and my take on the poor final ball from wide positions is purely a psychological problem for those getting forward in good positions.

 

At the moment it seems rare for our wide / forward players to receive a quality ball when they have found the space that sometimes I believe they simply lose their head. They are probably thinking this is my one and only big moment and its taken this long for a decent through ball or cross field pass I'd better make it count. Holmes was finding acres of room on Saturday and only received the ball when he went looking for it nullifying the advantage he kept gaining.

 

Our CM are not bad players, far from it but we need a player in there with the vision to match their potential creativity. I agree with you on Lallana whilst recognising his fantastic goal scoring record this season he can blow hot and cold and with a little more consistency to his performances we can only dream of what else he can deliver. You could argue his cold performances are due in part to the CM midfield lacking that extra bit of imagination / quality of delivery.

 

I hope Puncheon proves me wrong but it seems many are basing his signing on one good game for MK Dons and I hope our scouts watched him more than that.

 

Having watched that game tonight shame we never got Danns - an all energy player.

Cortese out

 

 

 

 

Just joking NickG!

[NickG]

question need to be asked

[Window Cleaner]

I'm not sure especially given our fixture pile up and Schneiderlin's disciplinary record. Do we know when Hammond is due back? Personally, I think we lack the creativity to use the creativity we have out wide and my take on the poor final ball from wide positions is purely a psychological problem for those getting forward in good positions.

 

At the moment it seems rare for our wide / forward players to receive a quality ball when they have found the space that sometimes I believe they simply lose their head. They are probably thinking this is my one and only big moment and its taken this long for a decent through ball or cross field pass I'd better make it count. Holmes was finding acres of room on Saturday and only received the ball when he went looking for it nullifying the advantage he kept gaining.

 

Our CM are not bad players, far from it but we need a player in there with the vision to match their potential creativity. I agree with you on Lallana whilst recognising his fantastic goal scoring record this season he can blow hot and cold and with a little more consistency to his performances we can only dream of what else he can deliver. You could argue his cold performances are due in part to the CM midfield lacking that extra bit of imagination / quality of delivery.

 

I hope Puncheon proves me wrong but it seems many are basing his signing on one good game for MK Dons and I hope our scouts watched him more than that.

 

Why do you single Schneiderlin out for his "disciplinary record" He's had 5 yellows out of an allowed 10, he got sent off by a pillock of a ref and his ban was rescinded although he'd served 1 match already.Plenty of players (including some of ours) have worse records, hard tackling midfielders will get cards, Puncheon has already had 7 yellows and a straight red for instance. Danns also has 5 yellows, normal in February really.

[saint_stevo]

Having watched that game tonight shame we never got Danns - an all energy player.

Cortese out

 

 

 

 

Just joking NickG!

 

Thought he was average. Carle looked better IMO

[Nineteen Canteen]

Why do you single Schneiderlin out for his "disciplinary record" He's had 5 yellows out of an allowed 10, he got sent off by a pillock of a ref and his ban was rescinded although he'd served 1 match already.Plenty of players (including some of ours) have worse records, hard tackling midfielders will get cards, Puncheon has already had 7 yellows and a straight red for instance. Danns also has 5 yellows, normal in February really.

 

I think Schneiderlin has been a lucky boy on occasion and his challenges at times can be rash as oppose to genuine hard tackling. Puncheon's record is worrying and Danns irrelevent. Red card won't get rescinded next time regardless and even if it did we can't afford important players to be missing games on appeal like you say. Puncheon looks even less like the cover we need centrally for Hammond and we could end up with James and Wotton as our midfield pairing when we need it the least.

[Toadhall Saint]

I think Schneiderlin has been a lucky boy on occasion and his challenges at times can be rash as oppose to genuine hard tackling. Puncheon's record is worrying and Danns irrelevent. Red card won't get rescinded next time regardless and even if it did we can't afford important players to be missing games on appeal like you say. Puncheon looks even less like the cover we need centrally for Hammond and we could end up with James and Wotton as our midfield pairing when we need it the least.

 

Tp para phrase AP - he can play anywhere across the middle and as I said earlier - he played more central against us and was the best MK dons player on the pitch by a country mile.

 

Understand your concerns NC but lets wait and see eh?

[NickG]

But former Saints striker Gordon Watson insists the player can operate in a variety of roles.

 

“I’ve seen Puncheon a lot playing for MK Dons and he’s one of the best players in the league,”

 

said Watson.

 

“He’s definitely one of those that could play at the next level up.

 

“If he can produce what he’s capable of then he can be anything he wants to be.”

 

Watson, currently a scout with ex-Saints boss Nigel Pearson at Leicester, added: “He’s got the lot – he’s pacy, he’s tricky, he can use both feet, he can cross with both feet.

 

“I’ve seen him play wide left, wide right and down through the middle.

 

“I’ve seen him play in the hole and I’ve seen him as a holding midfielder.

 

“I have seen Saints several times this season and one thing they have lacked is real pace.

 

“Puncheon provides this. I know there were Championship clubs looking at him.

 

“Also Norwich and Charlton were interested

[SFC Forever]

In theory, deffo - and he looked great when he first joined. But since he's been made captain, he seems to have hit a bit of a wall. I really hope he rediscovers some of his early form coz we don't have many players like him.

 

Judging by the time he has been out I am wondering how long he had been carrying that injury. The last few games were to bad to me so i have a feeling the injury is the reason for the loss of form.

 

I hope that with Punchy in the side we will start actually playing football.Lumping the ball forward can be a usefull additional weapon but only that.