saint_ed Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I feel the injury to Fox is potentially a major dent to our recent form as I just don't think that Harding is up to standard. Fox has been a revelation for us since his consistent run in the side, both defensively and particularly in an attacking sense. Anyone know how long he's likely to be out for as I've seen no mention of it in post match interviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Nigel was quite coy on it, as usual, but he mentioned he had a groin strain. I guess it depends how severe that strain is, but he looked to be struggling off the pitch so I don't think it's going to be a quick one. I agree it's a blow as well. Our full-backs are vital to the way we play and Harding has been caught out at the top end of this league. He's a decent player and has contributed alot to us since he's been here, but I think as a club we're now passing him by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Out of interest, can we recall Dickson ? If not,and in event of a LB crisis it might be step up Luke Shaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I'm not really that worried about an injury to our left back. Harding is a better defender and when Lallana's on they link much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Out of interest, can we recall Dickson ? If not,and in event of a LB crisis it might be step up Luke Shaw. Was just about to mention Shaw. If he's as good as the rave reports about him suggest then he's good enough to play (as the old adage goes) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plonko Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I think Harding will be fine if he needs to cover for Fox's injury. He's still a very good player I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I'm not really that worried about an injury to our left back. Harding is a better defender and when Lallana's on they link much better. I don't think Harding is a better defender. Fox shows his back a little too much for my liking but Harding is rash and losses his man at the back post far too often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 My biggest worry atm is weather my roast potatoes will be done in time ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I don't think Harding is a better defender. Fox shows his back a little too much for my liking but Harding is rash and losses his man at the back post far too often. I agree, Harding is very reactionary, which often means he is too late and needs to dive or slide in. Fox reads the game better and has a calmer head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 My biggest worry atm is weather my roast potatoes will be done in time ! We're all on the gravy boat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Fox is twice the player Harding is. It will definitely be a weak point in our side, hopefully Foxy isnt out for too long. Also will miss his deliverys from free kicks & corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Morgan did OK with corners last night, Adam can take them too if needed, so set pieces aren't a huge concern for me. It's defensively I worry with Harding in at LB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Wolf Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Out of interest, can we recall Dickson ? If not,and in event of a LB crisis it might be step up Luke Shaw. Didn't we recall him ages ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is my scapegoat, he is useless and not up to it IMO. I would play Richardson or Butterfield on the left (with the other playing RB) before playing him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is my scapegoat, he is useless and not up to it IMO. I would play Richardson or Butterfield on the left (with the other playing RB) before playing him. disagree almost as mad as playing Harding on right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is my scapegoat, he is useless and not up to it IMO. I would play Richardson or Butterfield on the left (with the other playing RB) before playing him. Hence why you are not a football league manager. What an absolute load of garbage, really do despair about some people on here and whether they actually know anything about football at all. Harding is perfectly able to fill in for Fox, indeed the difference between the effectiveness of the two is very small, it is only in the last few games that I think Fox has begun to show what NA saw in him and now I agree he looks marginally better at Harding all round. Harding is a better defender, Fox is better going forward and his set pieces give him an edge. I have no qualms about Dan filling in for Fox. Suspect Fox may miss a couple of games at most anyway. This is why we have a squad, and a huge one at that. Don't think I would recall Dickson even if both were out, clearly he has found his level in Division 3 with Orient - by the way he was subbed after 7 minutes yesterday, so presumably is injured, replaced by Taiwo who was later sent off, and Orient conceded a late goal by Ollie Lancashire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintAndy14 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is my scapegoat, he is useless and not up to it IMO. I would play Richardson or Butterfield on the left (with the other playing RB) before playing him. Lord Duckhunter you plonker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is NOT better than Fox defensively, he's awful, always getting caught out of position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is NOT better than Fox defensively, he's awful, always getting caught out of position. Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is NOT better than Fox defensively, he's awful, always getting caught out of position. Maybe. But Fox has hardly been a 'revelation' as the OP suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Fox is not exactly a great defender either I've lost count of the number of times he has gone missing when oppostion players come down our left even when he is where he is supposed to be he gives oppostion players so much space they have plenty of time to get crosses in. If Jjos wasn't there covering for him all the time it would be even worse. None of our LBs are world class but Harding is good enough as cover. Nigel seems to keep sticking Harding in the matchday squad which tells me he rates him more than some on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is NOT better than Fox defensively, he's awful, always getting caught out of position. Maybe that is becuase Harding actually ventures past the half way line and Fox is caught out of postion all the time to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroppie Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I'm not really that worried about an injury to our left back. Harding is a better defender and when Lallana's on they link much better. Agreed. Harding looked more composed than Fox, although would agree that Fox's corner delivery is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is decent cover, but Fox is a class above him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 The only positive I can think of with Harding coming in for Fox is that our wing-play on the left will be better. Harding likes to overlap and that suits Lallana's game as Fox likes to cross from deep rather than get to the byline and allow Adam to drift inside. Hope Fox is back soon though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 really do despair about some people on here and whether they actually know anything about football at all. Harding is perfectly able to fill in for Fox, indeed the difference between the effectiveness of the two is very small, it is only in the last few games that I think Fox has begun to show what NA saw in him and now I agree he looks marginally better at Harding all round. Harding is a better defender, I agree with you, I also despair whether people know anything about football. Anybody who things Harding is "better defender" clearly does not. Harding is out of his depth at this level. Fox is not "marginally better" than Harding, but a different class. Harding would not get into any side in the top 2/3rds of this league, whereas there aren't many better than Fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is the natural stand in for Fox. As such he will give his all, with Dickson at Orient, he is our best left back until Fox is fit. He didn't do too badly at Leeds when their wide players were pushing up the touchlines. My biggest criticism of him, he doesn't check his six often enough and gets blindsided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 The only positive I can think of with Harding coming in for Fox is that our wing-play on the left will be better. Harding likes to overlap and that suits Lallana's game as Fox likes to cross from deep rather than get to the byline and allow Adam to drift inside. Hope Fox is back soon though. How will our wing play be better? Yes Harding charges up and down the line but Fox got more assists in the Derby game than Haridng has in his whole time at Saints. Yes we'll have a player running down the line and screaming at the ball boys but as with Steve De Ridder running around a lot doesn't equal an end product. Our wing play will not be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is my scapegoat, he is useless and not up to it IMO. I would play Richardson or Butterfield on the left (with the other playing RB) before playing him. Disagree........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilza Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is a good championship player, we'll be fine. I must admit I think Fox is stronger physically but I don't think he's great. Also as others have mentioned Harding links much more effectively with Lallana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Dickson was only recalled from Yeovil to go on loan somewhere else for the rest of the season. Orient I think. He's not recallable, although he's also already played for 2 clubs this season so he couldn't play for us anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is a good championship player, we'll be fine. I must admit I think Fox is stronger physically but I don't think he's great. Also as others have mentioned Harding links much more effectively with Lallana. I'm really not sure he does though. I just think we were playing a lot worse players last year when Harding was playing. Harding is a L1 standard player. He should stand in for Fox, but there is no arguement who is better at both attacking and defending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I'm not really that worried about an injury to our left back. Harding is a better defender and when Lallana's on they link much better. Sorry this is absolute garbage, harding is not anywhere near as good as fox as a defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L1Minus10 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is a poor defender - gets caught out of position without the pace to recover and in the air he's just so weak it's embarrassing. Dickson isn't great but if Fox was out long term then I'd recall and play him before Harding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFSFC Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 I'm not really that worried about an injury to our left back. Harding is a better defender and when Lallana's on they link much better. Presume this is a joke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFSFC Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is god awful. Anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing about football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Fox looks like a character out of The Simpsons (hope he gets well soon) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is god awful. Anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing about football.That would be me then. He is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Dickson was only recalled from Yeovil to go on loan somewhere else for the rest of the season. Orient I think. He's not recallable, although he's also already played for 2 clubs this season so he couldn't play for us anyway Dickson went off early for orient yesterday, presumably injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Danny Seaborne can play left back. Better than all the rest of them. ;-) (As long as we don't start playing Jos there! He's needed elsewhere.) I don't mind Harding, he works hard although he's not the most gifted footballer, I can understand why clubs in the past have released him. I reckon we'll be seeing Luke Shaw too by the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Sorry this is absolute garbage, harding is not anywhere near as good as fox as a defender. This from you, who regarded Harding's probable goal-saving clearance at Fratton as an error, based on the hindsight of us conceding from the subsequent corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Harding is NOT better than Fox defensively, he's awful, always getting caught out of position. Fox is positionally dubious even when he IS near the ball, and also got caught out loads early in the season. He now hits 40 yard passes instead of crossing the half way line so he doesn't get caught out as often. Harding is much more positionally aware but his overlapping runs mean he's much more likely to get caught down the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Presume this is a joke? Nope, Harding is defensively better than Fox, who's better suited to left mid due to his defensive deficiencies, but is never going to get a game there. He stands up more, doesn't commit to ground and is a better tackler on his feet. Harding's problems positionally are purely due to him having to overlap when he plays behind Lallana because his delivery isn't as good as Fox's and their styles are very different. He gets caught upfield because he's been told to overlap, just like Richardson, who never gets slated for not getting back when he's caught upfield. Fox doesn't EVER dribble the ball forward and rarely overlaps, but still manages to leave huge spaces in behind him sometimes. Simply put Fox is better with the ball, Harding without. I'm certainly not worried about Harding playing at left back if Fox is out, we won 5 of the first 6 games of the season with Harding playing there and he scored in the only one we lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Danny Seaborne can play left back. Better than all the rest of them. ;-) (As long as we don't start playing Jos there! He's needed elsewhere.) I don't mind Harding, he works hard although he's not the most gifted footballer, I can understand why clubs in the past have released him. I reckon we'll be seeing Luke Shaw too by the end of the season. Why would we give an untried 17 year old a debut when we need every point during a promotion charge when he didn't even get a game in Carling or FA Cup ties earlier in the season where we put out a second string side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 4 March, 2012 Share Posted 4 March, 2012 Why would we give an untried 17 year old a debut when we need every point during a promotion charge when he didn't even get a game in Carling or FA Cup ties earlier in the season where we put out a second string side? Maybe we were trying to make Arsenal forget about him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 How will our wing play be better? Yes Harding charges up and down the line but Fox got more assists in the Derby game than Haridng has in his whole time at Saints. Yes we'll have a player running down the line and screaming at the ball boys but as with Steve De Ridder running around a lot doesn't equal an end product. Our wing play will not be better. When Harding plays he likes to get forward with the ball and cross from the byline, which allows Adam to drift inside and take up a position just outside the box, meaning he can run at his marker there and either slip a ball through to someone in the area or have a shot from an angle. It's a different type of wing play, and Adam plays better in a system like that I think. He plays really well with Fox but naturally he drifts inside so with Harding out wide he can take up his more natural position and cause the opposition defence some problems. I still prefer Fox though, he is generally a cut above Harding and like I said, I hope he's back soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 Harding is god awful. Anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing about football. assume you are including NA in what evaluation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 When Harding plays he likes to get forward with the ball and cross from the byline, which allows Adam to drift inside and take up a position just outside the box, meaning he can run at his marker there and either slip a ball through to someone in the area or have a shot from an angle. It's a different type of wing play, and Adam plays better in a system like that I think. He plays really well with Fox but naturally he drifts inside so with Harding out wide he can take up his more natural position and cause the opposition defence some problems. I still prefer Fox though, he is generally a cut above Harding and like I said, I hope he's back soon. I take it you haven't seen the 2nd goal against Watford where Lallana does exactly this and creates a goal, despite not having the blonde Roberto Carlos running down the wing. So an example in Lallanas last game of him doing the very thing you say he is unable to do without Harding. IN fact so good is our wing play with Harding, Nige was persuaded to spend near on £2m for a left back with what appears one of the primary objectives being to improve our attacking play on the left. Hardings 3 assists in 2 1/2 seasons of league football obviously not quite the dazzling wing play that some of our fans believe he offers when he plays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 I take it you haven't seen the 2nd goal against Watford where Lallana does exactly this and creates a goal, despite not having the blonde Roberto Carlos running down the wing. So an example in Lallanas last game of him doing the very thing you say he is unable to do without Harding. IN fact so good is our wing play with Harding, Nige was persuaded to spend near on £2m for a left back with what appears one of the primary objectives being to improve our attacking play on the left. Hardings 3 assists in 2 1/2 seasons of league football obviously not quite the dazzling wing play that some of our fans believe he offers when he plays. TBF if Harding was any good at taking free kicks or corners (which he isn't) he'd probably have as many assits as Fox. Most of Foxs assits seem to have come from set plays which is useful thing to have in the side but neither of them seem to be able to play like Richardson who actually delivers decent crosses into the box. Also Harding's runs and overlaps help to pull defenders out of place freeing up space for Lallana something that doesn't happen much when Fox plays meaning the opposition can double up on Adam.........not that is always enough to stop the south coast Messi:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 5 March, 2012 Share Posted 5 March, 2012 This from you, who regarded Harding's probable goal-saving clearance at Fratton as an error, based on the hindsight of us conceding from the subsequent corner. In my opinion, Harding's poor clearance led directly to their goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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