doddisalegend Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I agree with you Lallana never seems to do the simple things often trying to look good instead of playing for the team. His shooting also seems inconsistent obviously he has talent but what will happen to him I am not sure He does have 14 goals (all competitions) this season which is pretty good for a mifielder. Hell there are quite a few strikers in this league who have scored less.
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I'm not getting into another long winded dialogue with you. I would prefer either Waigo, Connolly or Antonio to be given a go instead of Lallana. He has 11 goals in two bursts and apart from No 5 against Walsall isn't converting chances and certainly isn't creating them. We have plenty of firepower now and he is missing a lot of clear cut chances. It also appears that we rely on Puncheon to create along with the odd cross from Hammond and Otsemobor along with the ball into Lambert from deep. As for other teams players it's irrelevant as we have to play what we have, it is what I would like to see happen as I think his idiosyncratic play reduces our efficiency as a team. I know he isn't going to get dropped but unless we are a lot more convincing in the last 5 away games I wouldn't give a brass razzoo for the managers chances of starting next season. I don't think you are entirely wrong. AL is somebody who looks awfully good on the pitch, but when you start asking what the end results are, then things are getting a bit trickier. He is more of a goal scorer than a provider, but whenever he is played in a more central role he disappears out of the game more or less completely. However, let's get real here. Beaten by Brighton at home; draws against Exeter and Wycombe; and this loss against Tranmere can't be laid entirely at AL's door. There is something more fundamental awry when we keep going from awesome to poor repeatedly without anything in the middle. These lost points were always on occasions when a win would have really established us in our quest upwards. If we were on a more even keel these would all have been wins and we would have suffered more acceptable losses against Norwich, Huddersfield, etc. I can't say that I know what the problem is, but it seems to be more mood oriented than technical. Maybe, if we are relying entirely on our capacity of playing highly motivated football, then every time motivation falters, which it will do over a season, we become vulnerable when instead we ought to rely on our strategy and techniqued. Hmmm.....
John B Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 what is more worrying...losing with the team and set up in august..or losing with the team and set up today..? Our Away Form is comparable to Huddersfield Swindon Millwall and Colchester even with the poor start we had
alpine_saint Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 He does have 14 goals (all competitions) this season which is pretty good for a mifielder. Hell there are quite a few strikers in this league who have scored less. Yes, but I would be interested in seeing more detailled stats like his conversion rate.
Legod Third Coming Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Not entirely, not even largely, but he blew a couple of very good chances. Says whom? have you seen them? Did he miss, did the keeper pull off blinding saves?? Christ, have some evidence first eh?
Legod Third Coming Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I don't think you are entirely wrong. AL is somebody who looks awfully good on the pitch, but when you start asking what the end results are, then things are getting a bit trickier. He is more of a goal scorer than a provider, but whenever he is played in a more central role he disappears out of the game more or less completely. However, let's get real here. Beaten by Brighton at home; draws against Exeter and Wycombe; and this loss against Tranmere can't be laid entirely at AL's door. There is something more fundamental awry when we keep going from awesome to poor repeatedly without anything in the middle. These lost points were always on occasions when a win would have really established us in our quest upwards. If we were on a more even keel these would all have been wins and we would have suffered more acceptable losses against Norwich, Huddersfield, etc. I can't say that I know what the problem is, but it seems to be more mood oriented than technical. Maybe, if we are relying entirely on our capacity of playing highly motivated football, then every time motivation falters, which it will do over a season, we become vulnerable when instead we ought to rely on our strategy and techniqued. Hmmm..... I think you have hit for me what the problem could easily be. The ability to win when it is expected, each and every time. That kind of winning mentality does not develop overnight.
derry Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Crikey, first we weren't beating enough of the top six, now we are, it's the bottom four that are the problem. Tell me, is there anything we can do right? At one point we had only won one against the top half and those four bottom teams were away on poor pitches. Both statements were factual and coincide with what I put in my previous post.
derry Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I don't think you are entirely wrong. AL is somebody who looks awfully good on the pitch, but when you start asking what the end results are, then things are getting a bit trickier. He is more of a goal scorer than a provider, but whenever he is played in a more central role he disappears out of the game more or less completely. However, let's get real here. Beaten by Brighton at home; draws against Exeter and Wycombe; and this loss against Tranmere can't be laid entirely at AL's door. There is something more fundamental awry when we keep going from awesome to poor repeatedly without anything in the middle. These lost points were always on occasions when a win would have really established us in our quest upwards. If we were on a more even keel these would all have been wins and we would have suffered more acceptable losses against Norwich, Huddersfield, etc. I can't say that I know what the problem is, but it seems to be more mood oriented than technical. Maybe, if we are relying entirely on our capacity of playing highly motivated football, then every time motivation falters, which it will do over a season, we become vulnerable when instead we ought to rely on our strategy and techniqued. Hmmm..... All this has come about because I said I would like to see how we performed without Lallana and with a more orthodox player at wide midfield, either Waigo or Connolly if he was of a mind to play there.
John B Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 He does have 14 goals (all competitions) this season which is pretty good for a mifielder. Hell there are quite a few strikers in this league who have scored less. I agree he is a talented ball player but I feel he misses chances and could be more prolific if he did more simple things Perhaps we should play him because he may do something fancy. It is an interesting problem
alpine_saint Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 All this has come about because I said I would like to see how we performed without Lallana and with a more orthodox player at wide midfield, either Waigo or Connolly if he was of a mind to play there. To question Lallana's worth to the team is apparently blasphemous.
Thedelldays Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 after seeeing puncheon...I feel that IF lallana left in the summer..the loss would not be felt that as bad..puncheon offers the creativity and goals..without question..
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I think you have hit for me what the problem could easily be. The ability to win when it is expected, each and every time. That kind of winning mentality does not develop overnight. What I'm trying to say is that no football team can always come out fully pumped up and ready to roar. Like all of us, when inspiration fails, which it frequently does, you have to return to basics: The strategy, or game plan which is what the team has trained to adher to, because even without maximum inspiration the strategy should be good enough to deal with the teams who haven't got any of the skills we have. Look at Man U. They don't always play the kind of football you dream of, but they are always effective. That comes from eleven players knowing exactly what their roles are on the pitch, both individually and as part of a team. I am not sure that AP is thinking along those lines. I think he is a good motivator, full of positive thinking, commitment and hard work. And the days he can't fully succeed to spark all eleven of the players, then phutt....
derry Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 To question Lallana's worth to the team is apparently blasphemous. Well we knew that already but it doesn't make him indispensable and he'll find that out in due course sitting on somebody's bench wondering why.
S-Clarke Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 just thought I'd have a quick look on the Leeds forum to see what they think of next weekend, and my god...it's like wrist slashing galore. 'grayson out'' ''we are not good enough for L1'' ''get rid of Beckford and Howson'' ''we were stupid not getting rid of beckford when we could have got money for him'' and i thought some of our fans were mentalist!
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 All this has come about because I said I would like to see how we performed without Lallana and with a more orthodox player at wide midfield, either Waigo or Connolly if he was of a mind to play there. I'd like to see that we tried it, because it would place Puncheon firmly on the left, which is where I think he belongs. I don't think Connolly could play wide right to save his life, and Waigo pulls it off in varieties of 4-3-3, but is much less effective in time honoured 4-4-2. It is likely to open the door for Antonio again, and whilst I once or twice have enjoyed some of the entertainment value, I can't see it being the solution, especially as his crossing is so poor.
doddisalegend Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 To question Lallana's worth to the team is apparently blasphemous. Oh behave :smt018 were talking about a midfielder who has scored 14 goals this season (that is more than quite a few strikers in this league) and is rated by football pundits and sports writers in the press, he also often singled out by other teams fans as one of our best players. No player should be untouchable but becuase he has missed some shots he should be dropped? Lamberts missed a few so has Barnard, Fonte missed one today should we drop all of them.
SnailOB Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 No, the reason we are 20 points off the top teams is we went 9/10/11 games only winning ONE of them. We all know why. And yet here we are, with now PROMOTION form, questioning what's wrong... The answer now is nothing NOW!! We let the top teams gain a massive headstart on us. Those top teams do no better at most of these grounds than we do. The point is they won more while we were winning nothing in the first two months of the season. Yes we could win more games. Only Norwich have won considerably more games than us. Leeds have won 19 games - that's 5 more than us, that's all. That's the difference between success and failure, wafer thin margins which do not allow you to give any team a ten game headstart. This is simple stuff. A crap game at Tranmere will not cost us promotion. Not winning during August and September is what will cost us promotion - if it does! Thanks for the reply (and trust you enjoyed your drink). I was not questioning our standing with regards to the top of the table. I agree with you regards to the poor start. I am just concerned that AP has recognised a trend like some of us that we cannot perform against those 'lower' sides that we would/should 'expect' to beat BUT he does not seem able to rectify it. Maybe i'm being a bit melodramatic - but if AP has recognised it and seen fit to state the same publicly - then maybe i'm not. Not worried so much for this season as some others may be - more concerned about this in relation to next season if we are still in L1. If we have to fix this (which you believe we don't as you don't think there is a problem with this) then I would rather we start so now and not in August.
Legod Third Coming Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 What I'm trying to say is that no football team can always come out fully pumped up and ready to roar. Like all of us, when inspiration fails, which it frequently does, you have to return to basics: The strategy, or game plan which is what the team has trained to adher to, because even without maximum inspiration the strategy should be good enough to deal with the teams who haven't got any of the skills we have. Look at Man U. They don't always play the kind of football you dream of, but they are always effective. That comes from eleven players knowing exactly what their roles are on the pitch, both individually and as part of a team. I am not sure that AP is thinking along those lines. I think he is a good motivator, full of positive thinking, commitment and hard work. And the days he can't fully succeed to spark all eleven of the players, then phutt.... They should know their roles - he only has two systems!! But he says he doesn't care about systems because a winning mentality is more important and I tend to agree with him - good players can make any formation work and should be good enough to change it on the pitch if needed. I am not too worried about today, given the form since we got our first eleven on the pitch and what I read on the thread of those who saw the game. Sounds like a bit more luck and better refereeing would have made a difference today. I am more worried by the woeful display at Wycombe where nothing worked but we simply didn't appear to be 'at the races' and were second to everything...
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Oh behave :smt018 were talking about a midfielder who has scored 14 goals this season (that is more than quite a few strikers in this league) and is rated by football pundits and sports writers in the press, he also often singled out by other teams fans as one of our best players. No player should be untouchable but becuase he has missed some shots he should be dropped? Lamberts missed a few so has Barnard, Fonte missed one today should we drop all of them. He looks great on the pitch, but a wide midfielder who gives 5 assists and scores 14. Does something look lopsided here?
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 They should know their roles - he only has two systems!! But he says he doesn't care about systems because a winning mentality is more important and I tend to agree with him - good players can make any formation work and should be good enough to change it on the pitch if needed. I am not too worried about today, given the form since we got our first eleven on the pitch and what I read on the thread of those who saw the game. Sounds like a bit more luck and better refereeing would have made a difference today. I am more worried by the woeful display at Wycombe where nothing worked but we simply didn't appear to be 'at the races' and were second to everything... I can see where we differ. Winning mentality, some luck and decent refereeing are always helpful, but putting all your eggs in the basket containing commitment and hard work is taking awful chances. A bit like building a house without drawings. No team will ever be successful without hard work, but the days luck fails and the referee is hungover or worse, we still need to make sure we stamp our authority on some of the worst teams in the league.
Legod Third Coming Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Thanks for the reply (and trust you enjoyed your drink). I was not questioning our standing with regards to the top of the table. I agree with you regards to the poor start. I am just concerned that AP has recognised a trend like some of us that we cannot perform against those 'lower' sides that we would/should 'expect' to beat BUT he does not seem able to rectify it. Maybe i'm being a bit melodramatic - but if AP has recognised it and seen fit to state the same publicly - then maybe i'm not. Not worried so much for this season as some others may be - more concerned about this in relation to next season if we are still in L1. If we have to fix this (which you believe we don't as you don't think there is a problem with this) then I would rather we start so now and not in August. I'm not convinced it is a 'trend'. Earlier in the season we had no problem winning away anywhere! Nor do I believe it has anything to do with the pitches - I think Pardew used that for convenience. I was at Wycombe and their players seemed perfectly able to run with the ball AT US!! down the middle of the pitch... Now I'm not saying it was a bowling green but it sure wasn't the Somme. It was better than Wigan's pitch and Spurs managed to play on that ok... I think it's about our tactics when we go to some of these places and the players believing they can win too easily without doing the simple, basic things well. However, I trust Pardew to work this out or sort it out. I haven't seen a signing I didn't think was excellent. And I've only seen one game where I genuinely didn't think we were by far the better side, irrespective of the result. I do still think that draws at Exeter and Brentford were far from the disgrace some do given the comparative results of our peers. Yes, I would like to win there! But our current form (today aside) is first class. If it continued throughout 2010, we will be top by Xmas of one league or another...
doddisalegend Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 (edited) He looks great on the pitch, but a wide midfielder who gives 5 assists and scores 14. Does something look lopsided here? Interesting the OS has Lallana down as a striker not a midifielder. Our top assists man is Lambert but I'm sure no one thinks we should move him out to midfield. Also I note that Lallana has scored more goals than probably the best two midfielders in the division this season Snodgrass of Leeds has 8 Hoolahain of Norwich has 13 This being the case suggesting he is not scoring enough comes across as laughable. Edited 6 March, 2010 by doddisalegend
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 after seeeing puncheon...I feel that IF lallana left in the summer..the loss would not be felt that as bad..puncheon offers the creativity and goals..without question.. Not today TBF
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Been saying for a long time, we cannot afford to play both Lallana and Schneiderlin. who would you play?
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 To question Lallana's worth to the team is apparently blasphemous. it's called supporting your team, you might like to try it sometime.
Clifford Nelson Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Interesting the OS has Lallana down as a striker not a midifielder. Our top assists man is Lambert but I'm sure no one thinks we should move him out to midfield. Also I note that Lallana has scored more goals than probably the best two midfielders in the division this season Snodgrass of Leeds has 8 Hoolahain of Norwich has 13 This being the case suggesting he is not scoring enough comes across as laughable. And who is suggesting that?
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 it's called supporting your team, you might like to try it sometime. He supports the team but hates the manager...
OfnPanad Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I was at Prenton Park today. Lallana didn't do too much wrong just looked like he was lacking in confidence a bit...and his uncertainty got exploited - when he was pressed he misplaced his passes. That said he did some good things too today. Swapping him for Antonio was a good call as Adam was out of ideas. Barnard for Waigo was a bit odd...if we were going to score again I'd have bet the mortgage money on LB to do it. He looks so confident now and he's got so much ability on & off the ball. Oh well... The thing I really have to get across is the appalling refereeing today. I have come home from games like everyone muttering "1-0 to the ref" and "not fit to referee" but this chap today I am sorry but he was cheating. Either he had taken a bribe or he was a Tranmere supporter/Saints hater. There is no other explanation for a baffling series of free kicks in the 2nd half, the penalty and the several denied Saints penalties. I know AP would get in trouble for saying it but he bloody well should. Anyway it's going here in black & white THE REFEREE TODAY WAS DISHONEST AND IS A DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL. If the match had been on TV he would have lost his job no question. The most frustrating thing for me today was that Tranmere were 2nd best by some margin. They never looked dangerous, never looked like they could contain us and they never did. We ran riot, we looked like champions, however we were stopped at every turn by the ridiculous decisions of the crooked referee. Make no mistake - the pitch was poor but we beat the pitch today, we beat the 11 men in front of us, but we lost to the referee. Not too much doom & gloom please - at least not directed at the team!
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I was at Prenton Park today. Lallana didn't do too much wrong just looked like he was lacking in confidence a bit...and his uncertainty got exploited - when he was pressed he misplaced his passes. That said he did some good things too today. Swapping him for Antonio was a good call as Adam was out of ideas. Barnard for Waigo was a bit odd...if we were going to score again I'd have bet the mortgage money on LB to do it. He looks so confident now and he's got so much ability on & off the ball. Oh well... The thing I really have to get across is the appalling refereeing today. I have come home from games like everyone muttering "1-0 to the ref" and "not fit to referee" but this chap today I am sorry but he was cheating. Either he had taken a bribe or he was a Tranmere supporter/Saints hater. There is no other explanation for a baffling series of free kicks in the 2nd half, the penalty and the several denied Saints penalties. I know AP would get in trouble for saying it but he bloody well should. Anyway it's going here in black & white THE REFEREE TODAY WAS DISHONEST AND IS A DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL. If the match had been on TV he would have lost his job no question. The most frustrating thing for me today was that Tranmere were 2nd best by some margin. They never looked dangerous, never looked like they could contain us and they never did. We ran riot, we looked like champions, however we were stopped at every turn by the ridiculous decisions of the crooked referee. Make no mistake - the pitch was poor but we beat the pitch today, we beat the 11 men in front of us, but we lost to the referee. Not too much doom & gloom please - at least not directed at the team! Agree with that. I'm still fuming at the worst referee display i've seen ever.
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I was at Prenton Park today. Lallana didn't do too much wrong just looked like he was lacking in confidence a bit...and his uncertainty got exploited - when he was pressed he misplaced his passes. That said he did some good things too today. Swapping him for Antonio was a good call as Adam was out of ideas. Barnard for Waigo was a bit odd...if we were going to score again I'd have bet the mortgage money on LB to do it. He looks so confident now and he's got so much ability on & off the ball. Oh well... The thing I really have to get across is the appalling refereeing today. I have come home from games like everyone muttering "1-0 to the ref" and "not fit to referee" but this chap today I am sorry but he was cheating. Either he had taken a bribe or he was a Tranmere supporter/Saints hater. There is no other explanation for a baffling series of free kicks in the 2nd half, the penalty and the several denied Saints penalties. I know AP would get in trouble for saying it but he bloody well should. Anyway it's going here in black & white THE REFEREE TODAY WAS DISHONEST AND IS A DISGRACE TO FOOTBALL. If the match had been on TV he would have lost his job no question. The most frustrating thing for me today was that Tranmere were 2nd best by some margin. They never looked dangerous, never looked like they could contain us and they never did. We ran riot, we looked like champions, however we were stopped at every turn by the ridiculous decisions of the crooked referee. Make no mistake - the pitch was poor but we beat the pitch today, we beat the 11 men in front of us, but we lost to the referee. Not too much doom & gloom please - at least not directed at the team! It`s not directed at the team,just few looneys who blame everything on Pardew
CanadaSaint Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 He supports the team but hates the manager... Why do you keep attacking people because they have a different view to you? I get frustrated at Alpine too but I also agree with him from time to time. Make a counter argument FFS. Don't just keep sniping at people in your headlong rush to 'protect' Pards from constructive criticism by people who care as much about Saints as you. It's childish.
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 Why do you keep attacking people because they have a different view to you? I get frustrated at Alpine too but I also agree with him from time to time. Make a counter argument FFS. Don't just keep sniping at people in your headlong rush to 'protect' Pards from constructive criticism by people who care as much about Saints as you. It's childish. Are you the posting police.... I`m not attacking anyone just stating how he is...anti pardew if you don`t like my opinion on that.....tough. FWIW I have made a valid counter argument .
vince Posted 6 March, 2010 Posted 6 March, 2010 I think it's about our tactics when we go to some of these places and the players believing they can win too easily without doing the simple, basic things well. Blimey, this time last year most of the players probably didn't believe they could tie their shoe laces properly, let alone win away consistantly! Some good results and genuine progression from where we started this season has led to high expectations. We'll probably fall just short this season, and if we do, I'll have money on us going up automatically next. Incidendally, if we do go up, what position would be considered acceptable at the end of it I wonder?
CanadaSaint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Are you the posting police.... I`m not attacking anyone just stating how he is...anti pardew if you don`t like my opinion on that.....tough. FWIW I have made a valid counter argument . Check your posts today and they're nearly all snarky, sneery, drive-by sh*t aimed at people who have the nerve to question the manager - even if they want us to keep him. And then, just to prove my point ... Oh well, childish it is.
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Check your posts today and they're nearly all snarky, sneery, drive-by sh*t aimed at people who have the nerve to question the manager - even if they want us to keep him. And then, just to prove my point ... Oh well, childish it is. Please go away....mr self righteous... I like many others are rightly peed off at the constant...pardews fault for everything crap and those posters disappear when results are better, why is that.... Nothing but moaners... Good night
CanadaSaint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Please go away....mr self righteous... I like many others are rightly peed off at the constant...pardews fault for everything crap and those posters disappear when results are better, why is that.... Nothing but moaners... Good night Snipe and run away. Predictable.
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Swindon lost 4-0 at home to Bristol Rovers today. Huddersfield lost too. Millwall only got a point. Chance to close the gap blown for sure and very disappointed. But glass half full view is we haven't lost any more ground and (if we win our game in hand, we're 12 points off 6th with 12 games to go. Very achievable, and not dissimilar position to before the Tranmere game. Will be 'back on' with most on here if we turn over Leeds and Swindon at SMS in our next two league games....
egreog Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 All good runs come to an end, and this was our day to slip up!!........refocus and move on........simple as that really.
Smirking_Saint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Please go away....mr self righteous... I like many others are rightly peed off at the constant...pardews fault for everything crap and those posters disappear when results are better, why is that.... Nothing but moaners... Good night TBF Apline does come across as a bit negative at times but i have never thought of him as a WUM, he has an opinion and sticks to it, another thing i have never seen him do is openly attack a poster without reason. It's a shame that these days he gets slammed for anything he writes where as at times if it is something I or another poster makes it can be seen as valid points. At times i think the RTG brigade are as bad as the negative posters with the fact that they never see anything unless it is there view. Word of advice, the first step to posing a good arguement is understanding the opposing view, simply disregarding it makes you no better and if not worse than those you argue against.
saint_stevo Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Always_sfc must be some sort of uber fan. first has a go at me, then alps. Hero
Smirking_Saint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Always_sfc must be some sort of uber fan. first has a go at me, then alps. Hero Helmet
Smirking_Saint Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Thanks Your welcome, Just deserves for the word association thread.
up and away Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Originally Posted by alpine_saint To question Lallana's worth to the team is apparently blasphemous. Oh behave :smt018 were talking about a midfielder who has scored 14 goals this season (that is more than quite a few strikers in this league) and is rated by football pundits and sports writers in the press, he also often singled out by other teams fans as one of our best players. No player should be untouchable but becuase he has missed some shots he should be dropped? Lamberts missed a few so has Barnard, Fonte missed one today should we drop all of them. This is not rocket science, Lallanna will have these types of games when he is playing twice a week, so will Schneiderlin and Hammond. I have been really impressed with Lallana since Portsmouth, buzzing around, getting to the second balls and looking sharp. He just cannot do it all the time. Surman spent weeks off the boil at times, it's only natural especially for the younger players. If the opposition start getting in their faces it makes it even more difficult. Pardew has got them playing 442 well, but it has required a lot of effort to maintain control, something that's not going to be there if you are continually playing twice a week. Personally, I don't really believe we have the correct solution for the midfield unless we can guaratee that level of physical input. Which is always going to take it's toll when the games come thick and fast, exaserbated by heavy pitches.
doddisalegend Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 This is not rocket science, Lallanna will have these types of games when he is playing twice a week, so will Schneiderlin and Hammond. I have been really impressed with Lallana since Portsmouth, buzzing around, getting to the second balls and looking sharp. He just cannot do it all the time. Surman spent weeks off the boil at times, it's only natural especially for the younger players. If the opposition start getting in their faces it makes it even more difficult. Pardew has got them playing 442 well, but it has required a lot of effort to maintain control, something that's not going to be there if you are continually playing twice a week. Personally, I don't really believe we have the correct solution for the midfield unless we can guaratee that level of physical input. Which is always going to take it's toll when the games come thick and fast, exaserbated by heavy pitches. Can't argue with that on the radio they said Tranmere hadn't played for eleven days. So maybe there was an air of fatigue on our side after some very good displays. We were the better team in the first half according to the radio and came out bright at the start of the second half. Frustration (with the ref) and tiredness did seem to effect our second half display.
doddisalegend Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Bottom line Games versus- Tranmere 19th Wycombe 23rd Brentford 14th Exeter 21st And only 3pts? Not good enough Not sure what your point is but we've picked up 13pts from these teams, for two points a game (of which I'm informed is championship winning level) we would have had to pick up 16pts from these teams so we're not that far off, we needed to beat Brentford at home and draw with Tranmere yesterday (which we would have done bar a dodge penalty) so we do need to do a bit better it's true, but we've certainly picked up more than 3 pts againt these teams.
doddisalegend Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 And who is suggesting that? I agree he is a talented ball player but I feel he misses chances and could be more prolific if he did more simple things Not entirely, not even largely, but he blew a couple of very good chances. Lallana missed two supposedly straightforward chances at vital times. I have to say "again", because he can't seem to score at vital times. Lallana needs some finishing practice too. He seems unable to put away the chances that fall to him in games Well these are all posts from this thread (there are more) but if you think no one is suggesting Lallana can't score fair play. Even complaining about his lack of service seems odd considering how free scoring we've been this year. I'm all for dropping a player who isn't performing but I can't see how Lallana is weakening our team.
Legod Third Coming Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 Blimey, this time last year most of the players probably didn't believe they could tie their shoe laces properly, let alone win away consistantly! Some good results and genuine progression from where we started this season has led to high expectations. We'll probably fall just short this season, and if we do, I'll have money on us going up automatically next. Incidendally, if we do go up, what position would be considered acceptable at the end of it I wonder? I agree entirely, we have championship winning form since Xmas. The odd defeat - and it is odd - ie the first in a calander year on the 6th fecking March!! - has not dented my hopes either for this season or next. And for the record we are joint 4th in the 8 game form table, along with... er Tranmere!!! Who knows what they might do at home to our peers?? I also don't get how no-one is suggesting Tranmere might be our bogey ground... And EVERY team has them. Arsenal at Bolton most seasons, United at the Dell and so on... We are now finding fault with a team in great form, what a difference from the last six years!
LostBoys Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 I could only hear the game on Solent and we sounded pretty poor but we were back to our normal conversion rate of about 10% with unfortunately most of the chances falling to Lallana and his little flick shots. This is a disappointment as 3 points here and the 2 missed at Wycombe would put a very different complexion on the table. We would stay 10th but 11 more wins would put us above 80 points. Not quite out of it yet but on the verge.
Andy_Porter Posted 7 March, 2010 Posted 7 March, 2010 We where out of the running for play offs as soon as Milwall got their equaliser against us in January. If we had won that we would have had confidence going into a very important part of our season and would be flying. That goal cost us dearly imo.
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