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Posted

You know what's great about AL? I noticed it a few times in the Forest game when he's running with the ball he's totally head-up doesn't even hardly glance at the ball at all. That's an unusual gift isn't it? Contrast that with Walcott who every time he touches the ball has to peer downwards first squinting in confusion because it's rarely anywhere near where he left it.

 

I can't think of another Saints player who could run with the ball like that, but I'm open to be educated. Maybe Marian? Wallace?

Posted
You know what's great about AL? I noticed it a few times in the Forest game when he's running with the ball he's totally head-up doesn't even hardly glance at the ball at all. That's an unusual gift isn't it? Contrast that with Walcott who every time he touches the ball has to peer downwards first squinting in confusion because it's rarely anywhere near where he left it.

 

I can't think of another Saints player who could run with the ball like that, but I'm open to be educated. Maybe Marian? Wallace?

 

MLT...apart from the running bit, obviously ;)

Posted

I think most professionals keep their head up, and only glance at the ball just prior to each touch. I am not sure Lallana is any exception in that regard, although he clearly has skills that many others lack.

Posted
I think most professionals keep their head up, and only glance at the ball just prior to each touch. I am not sure Lallana is any exception in that regard, although he clearly has skills that many others lack.

 

I've been watching him closely and I don't think he even does the glance!

Posted

This thread does appeal to my pedantic nature :)

 

When he broke from defense against Forest this weekend (latched onto a headed clearance) and sprinted up the pitch he was running straight at me. He was looking up most of the time, and picked out Holmes for the curling shot. But before each touch he defo glanced at the ball. I think the highlights on the BBC also show this quite clearly.

Posted
This thread does appeal to my pedantic nature :)

 

When he broke from defense against Forest this weekend (latched onto a headed clearance) and sprinted up the pitch he was running straight at me. He was looking up most of the time, and picked out Holmes for the curling shot. But before each touch he defo glanced at the ball. I think the highlights on the BBC also show this quite clearly.

 

That's cool bro' I'm always happy to be sorted out, but I'm still gonna push you a bit further...

 

He checks it out when he receives it and again before he lays it off, but between then I reckon he just knows where it is from his other senses like smell or hearing or something. I swear he does it's like magic! I'll have a look at the BBC highlights though as it is always possible I'm making an arse of myself...

Posted
That's cool bro' I'm always happy to be sorted out, but I'm still gonna push you a bit further...

 

He checks it out when he receives it and again before he lays it off, but between then I reckon he just knows where it is from his other senses like smell or hearing or something. I swear he does it's like magic! I'll have a look at the BBC highlights though as it is always possible I'm making an arse of myself...

Saints always play with a ball with a little bell in it. Didn't you know that? Tsk!
Posted
Saints always play with a ball with a little bell in it. Didn't you know that? Tsk!

 

Hahaha we would definitely walk the Olympic blind football if they drafted in AL!

Posted
what I noticed at forest game was he was a lot more direct and mobile with the ball. he seemed to have injection of confidence and let his naturally gifted instincts do the talking. long may it continue.
Agree with this, and also quite often recently, he'd ge in good positions to lay a pass on, but never gave it, On Saturday he starting just getting it and passing it and then making a run and getting it back, bas back to how he was playing at the start of the season. Albeit against a god awful Forest side who couldn't have looked much more disinterested.
Posted

Lallana plays well.

 

There is a lot less hoofing/long diagonal passes (take your pick) from Fox.

 

There is lots more inter-changing and ground work/short stuff between DF / AL / DC.

 

Chicken or egg (?)

Posted

Its nothing special, I'm 41 with a big old beer gut and haven't seen the ball at me feet for a decade but can still ping a cross field diagional pass or take on three defenders and send the keeper the wrong way, on a five aside pitch of course and normally followed by a long stint in goal or a tumble after a fresh air shot.

Posted
Even when he's "not playing well" some of the stuff he does is still a class above anybody else on the pitch.
true. I suspect that's why he often is perceived as having had a good game even when he hasn't. Doing `out of this world stuff' tends to be remembered.

 

His great asset is his ability to control the ball perfectly whilst in the run. Lots of players have a decent touch, but when already on the move it becomes a great skill and one that he has mastered.

 

Very lucky to have him.

Posted

Just found this from a couple of days ago. Apologies if already posted elsewhere:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2012/jan/18/championship-players-premier-league

 

The Championship players destined for the Premier League

 

As Norwich and Swansea shine with players making the step up from the Football League, here are six more who could do likewise

Southamptons-Adam-Lallana-007.jpg

 

Southampton's Adam Lallana may soon be celebrating in the Premier League. Photograph: John Marsh/Action Images

 

With Norwich's bid for Leeds skipper Jonny Howson and the success of players like Leon Britton and Danny Graham at Swansea, some Premier League clubs are showing that they do not always have to spend big to ensure a coup in the transfer window. Here are just half a dozen prospects from the Championship that could soon be making the step up.

Adam Lallana, 23, Southampton

The attacking midfielder with excellent control, equally comfortable out wide or in the hole behind the central striker, he has scored 28 goals in the past two and a half seasons and his intelligent passing and movement have made him the fulcrum of Saints' promotion charge.

Posted

Interesting to see Alex Pearce on that list as well.

 

I liked him during our loan spell but thought there was room for improvement and it seems he's come on leaps and bounds since then.

Posted
You know what's great about AL? I noticed it a few times in the Forest game when he's running with the ball he's totally head-up doesn't even hardly glance at the ball at all. That's an unusual gift isn't it? Contrast that with Walcott who every time he touches the ball has to peer downwards first squinting in confusion because it's rarely anywhere near where he left it.

 

I can't think of another Saints player who could run with the ball like that, but I'm open to be educated. Maybe Marian? Wallace?

 

Going back to the original post, I dimly remember seeing an article during the 'Clive Woodward' era about youth team players training with special glasses on that made it difficult to look down at the ball and encouraged them to keep their head up. Definitely remember seeing Lallana using it (along with Theo I think) - come to think of it it may well have a video.

Posted

don't worry about that agent itk twitter, he's clueless and is yet to be right about a thing.

 

I think it's driven from what people post on the good old football-rumours.

Posted (edited)

I don't know about the rest of you, but one thing that really pi**es me off is the idea that some egotistical types in the second tier of the Prem...even the top of the CCC - think that because some ill-informed journo' tries to link us with one such side, we should all get in a hot flush, because their name is mentioned in the same breath as ours, and open the safe door, drive out the moths and take their paltry millions in exchange for our best talent.

Every player has a price... so they say, but few clubs ever come near the real valuation of some of our stars.

 

Once such a story is aired, clubs think they can come to SMS and expect to kidnap players from our dressing room, with promises of fame and glory (usually in a struggling side at the bottom end of the Prem).

By the end of the month, Puncheon maybe glad he didn't get signed by QPR who look to be on their way down, despite Sparky's late intervention.

 

It is, of course, meant to destabilise the club, the fan base and create a greed factor in a player, who might otherwise be quite happy to be in the club.

To all such clubs, and their " lackeys" in the media, I say *UKC U, fellas. Take your invisible millions and use them for toilet paper instead.

 

(There ! - now I feel better)

Edited by david in sweden
Posted
You know what's great about AL? I noticed it a few times in the Forest game when he's running with the ball he's totally head-up doesn't even hardly glance at the ball at all. That's an unusual gift isn't it? Contrast that with Walcott who every time he touches the ball has to peer downwards first squinting in confusion because it's rarely anywhere near where he left it.

 

I can't think of another Saints player who could run with the ball like that, but I'm open to be educated. Maybe Marian? Wallace?

 

I'm open to being educated too. What on earth does "doesn't even hardly glance" mean?

Posted
Agent_ITK @Agent_ITK

 

Adam Lallana is a target for #Spurs. Willing to offer £7 million for him. #thfc #spurs #saints #southampton

Presumably theyre looking to replace Bale then? What a load of schiesse.

Posted
Agent_ITK @Agent_ITK

 

Adam Lallana is a target for #Spurs. Willing to offer £7 million for him. #thfc #spurs #saints #southampton

 

Somebody calling himself Agent_ITK is almost certainly neither an agent nor ITK. This story has as much legs as a snake.

Posted
His touch is absolutely sublime, we are lucky to have him

 

You'd think so wouldn't you, but I was being seriously told only a few weeks ago that he was putting in performances that merited a disgraceful 2 (or 3) out of 10 mark.

 

Which just goes to show that we have a small minority of SFC fans who don't know their Arsenals from their Alloha Athletics.

Posted
You'd think so wouldn't you, but I was being seriously told only a few weeks ago that he was putting in performances that merited a disgraceful 2 (or 3) out of 10 mark.

 

Which just goes to show that we have a small minority of SFC fans who don't know their Arsenals from their Alloha Athletics.

 

I'd hope pretty much all of us know that "Alloha Athletic" are more likely to be a Hawaiian side than a Scottish one.

Posted
I suppose he really is injured, and not on his way out of SMS ?

 

He's injured, fact. Done his groin, doesn't sound good either from what I heard tonight - could be quite a while.

Posted
He's injured, fact. Done his groin, doesn't sound good either from what I heard tonight - could be quite a while.
Depends who told you! He only went for a scan today and even his family do not know the result yet!
Posted
Depends who told you! He only went for a scan today and even his family do not know the result yet!

 

Yep the guy who told me is going to get a whack round the head for that bit of mis-info.

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