Player review - 2011-2012

[S-Clarke]

As thought of on another thread, It would be a good idea to wrap up the season with some general player reviews.....This is my take on it.

 

Davis - 9 - Great season in my book. Team of the year, 18 clean sheets and plenty of MOTM performances. Probably his best season for us.

 

Fox - 7 - Some great displays, some okish displays - but he's been pretty consistent it has to be said. When he first came here he was often caught out of position, but as the months went on his defensive side improved massively. Some of his offensive deliveries were just class.

 

Fonte - 7 - He's slipped from an 8 to a 7 just on his end of the season, where he has been pretty ropey it has to be said - but he's made up for it today! At the start of the season he was imperious but he slipped in form at the wrong time for us - but he still helped us get over the line.

 

Jos - 9 - What a signing. He's a hero. I love the way he plays, it's like he enjoys every minute of it. His reading of the game is immaculate, his heading is fantastic and his overall contribution to this season is monumental. Those 8 goals have been match winners in most cases.

 

Richardson - 8 - He surprised the hell out of me this season and up until around February time he was pushing for most improved player of the year - unfortunately he then started picking up a few knocks and niggles, but 14 or 15 assists from RB says it all - most of those are from open play too. A terrific player for us this year both offensively and defensively.

 

Guly - 6 - Started the season really well and got up to 11 goals by January, not bad at all. Since then though he has been pretty poor, it has to be said. It's not that he's a poor player by any means as I think he has a lot to offer, but he's gone through a pretty nasty stale patch for us. A terrific start to the season from him and us stamped our authority on this league though.

 

Cork 8 - I think he's been great. At the start of the season you could see the difference he made, he was a step up in our midfield. The frustrating thing about him would obviously be his lack of goals or any goal threat, and that goes for the midfield in general really, but he has had a great year and has proven what a great signing he was. He will slot into the premier league without any worries what so ever.

 

Hammond 7 - Started the season so well, but he was never going to keep that up all year - but he has always remained consistent and you can always trust him to do a job. He doesn't offer much attacking threat but his breaking up of the play and shielding of the back 4 has been great.

 

Morgan - 9 - Great year for him IMO - 2 goals...! and some majestic performances. At times the game has looked too easy for him at this level as he strides around the pitch like he owns it. A player that will make his mark in the premier league and someone who will probably never play below it again.

 

Chaplow 8 - He didn't start the season for us and was often brought on as a substitute, but he always made a difference - he then was rewarded with starts. And those starts produced some of our most scintillating displays of the season. He was influential in our massive wins against Birmingham, Boro, P'Boro....terrific. He didn't play anywhere near as many as I'd have liked though, if he hadn't got injured when he was in the form of his life I don't think we'd have had that bad patch in Dec-Jan. He never recovered his earlier form when he came back, but that was always going to be a tough ask.

 

Lallana - 10 - What can you say? 13 goals, numerous assists and performances which took the **** out of his opposing full backs. Him making a fool of John Panstil will stand out for me. A glorious football player who sets the tone for how we play and he will be such a terrific watch in the premier league.

 

Lambert 10 - Player of the season, top goal scorer, team of the year. Legend. I don't think I was the only one who was so happy for him when he got those goals against Ipswich, you were kind of willing them in as you knew how hard he'd worked to get here. He never looked back after that game and 31 goals is an amazing effort.''Rickie Lambert, Southampton's goal machine'' - without question.

 

Sharp - 8 - Jury was slightly out at the beginning, as he made a bit of an iffy start and didn't get out of the blocks as quick as we all wanted, missed a couple of sitters and was then an expensive substitute. He quite clearly wasn't Saints fit though, and once our team had worked their wonders on him we had a different player on our hands. He has been terrific in the run in and has scored some massive goals for us. Sometimes you look back at January as being a key month....and signing Sharp has certainly proven that to be the case.

 

Notable mentions:

 

Martin 7 - Didn't play a great deal, but when he did he didn't do much wrong. His worst display was probably Leicester at home, but he's the sort of CB that you don't worry about. I'm never nervous with him in the team and that's huge credit to him as a player, the journey he's come on is brilliant.

 

Butters 7 - Only came in at the back end of the season really, but he made a contribution. You know what you get with Danny - full of effort and commitment, and he was very consistent. It was nice to see him get a run in the team to be honest.

 

Lee - 7 - Made a huge difference to us once he settled, but unfortunately we didn't see enough of him. I'm sure he'd have scored many more goals for us if he'd have stayed injury free, but from what I saw from him I think he'll be excellent in the premier league.

 

SDR - 6 - Ok, but not great. Flatters to deceive for me. Some great moments, notably Reading away, but lots of inconsistent and frustrating moments - today's cameo performance from him kind of summed his season up!

 

Conners 6 - Great start to the season, along with the team, but he's too injury prone to be a regular in this team anymore. Appreciate his contribution though as he's such a good pro. Hopefully he finds a new club next year and starts banging them in again.

 

Harding 6 - Not his best year and shown up on a few occasions, probably not good enough for the premier league but he's been part of our journey - and his name will still go down in Southampton history as to what we've achieved the last 3 years.

[Lazlo78]

Thank you very much - much appreciated! I hope others join in and give their views too...

 

To put your marks into context, I'll just reproduce the list of appearances I posted in my tumbleweed thread:

 

	        FLC		CUPS		TOTAL	
Name	        Start	Sub	Start	Sub	Start	Sub
Kelvin Davis	45	0	0	0	45	0
Richard Lambert	42	0	2	4	44	4
Adam Lallana	41	0	3	2	44	2
Jose Fonte	42	0	1	1	43	1
Jack Cork	39	7	3	0	42	7
Jos Hooiveld	39	0	2	0	41	0
Guly Do Prado	36	6	3	1	39	7
Daniel Fox	37	4	2	0	39	4
F. Richardson	33	1	3	0	36	1
Dean Hammond	31	12	3	2	34	14
M. Schneiderlin	29	13	5	0	34	13
Richard Chaplow	17	8	3	0	20	8
David Connolly	17	9	0	0	17	9
Dan Harding	12	8	5	0	17	8
Aaron Martin	7	3	7	0	14	3
D. Butterfield	9	1	3	0	12	1
Billy Sharp	11	4	0	0	11	4
Steve De Ridder	5	27	5	0	10	27
Bart Bialkowski	1	0	7	0	8	0
Daniel Seaborne	4	0	2	0	6	0
Jason Puncheon	4	4	1	0	5	4
Tadanari Lee	4	3	1	1	5	4
Lee Holmes	0	6	4	1	4	7
Ben Reeves	0	3	3	2	3	5
Jonathan Forte	0	1	3	1	3	2
Ryan Dickson	0	0	2	0	2	0
J. Ward-Prowse	0	0	2	0	2	0
Lee Barnard	0	6	1	2	1	8
Ryan Doble	0	0	1	0	1	0
Yago Falque	1	0	0	0	1	0
Sam Hoskins	0	0	0	2	0	2
Luke Shaw	0	0	0	1	0	1
Jack Stephens	0	0	0	1	0	1

[SNSUN]

Kelvin: 9. Without a good keeper, you don't achieve anything.

Bart: 5. Performed well in the cups, suffered a spazz attack in his one league game, but I was always confident should we have needed him longer term.

 

Butterfield: 6. Didn't play much owing to Frazers' form, but proved to be a competent understudy when called upon.

Frazer: 7. A much better season from him this season, providing some key assists to boot.

Jose: 7. Not as assured as his League One season, but there are plenty worse CBs in the nPC.

Jos: 9. What a signing. Solid defender with an eye for goal. The partnership with Fonte worked well.

Fox: 7. A solid season, not brilliant but far from poor. Got some important assists too.

Harding: 6. A willing understudy, but League One may have been his level.

Martin: 6. Covered the defensive absences well, looked fairly assured and may turn out to be a good defender in the years to come.

 

Guly: 7. Was MOTM in some games and disappeared in others, but still our best option at right midfield. 1st half of season better than 2nd. Useful goals.

Chaplow: 7. Before his injury, and during Lallana's absence, he filled in brilliantly, and we did seem to miss him. Not so good on his return.

Puncheon: 5. Still a cockle, but at least he apologised. Did very little on his return though.

De Ridder: 7. A useful impact sub, and I think he will only get better with a pre-season behind him.

Cork: 8. Another astute signing, and deserved his spot in every game this season.

Hammond: 6. Solid if unspectacular, and struggled to get ahead of Cork and Morgan. Is this his level?

Morgan: 8. Class. I was doubtful of him before this season but he's proved to be quality.

Lallana: 8. He's been quality at times, and he makes our team tick and scores goals, but I think he's been inconsistant. Injuries haven't helped.

 

Lee: 7. Looked promising until his injury. Will make the step up from what I've seen.

Lambert: 10. Is it possible to score him any lower? What more can I say. Immense.

Sharp: 9. Key goals at a crucial time.

Connolly: 7. Played his part which is more than I thought he would at the start of the season.

[Whitey Grandad]

I'll give them all 10 out of 10. Well, maybe 9 for not winning the title.

[Dr Who?]

I'll give them all 10 out of 10. Well, maybe 9 for not winning the title.

 

Lol brilliant and true, but what a season.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Thank you very much - much appreciated! I hope others join in and give their views too...

 

To put your marks into context, I'll just reproduce the list of appearances I posted in my tumbleweed thread:

 

	        FLC		CUPS		TOTAL	
Name	        Start	Sub	Start	Sub	Start	Sub
Kelvin Davis	45	0	0	0	45	0
Richard Lambert	42	0	2	4	44	4
Adam Lallana	41	0	3	2	44	2
Jose Fonte	42	0	1	1	43	1
Jack Cork	39	7	3	0	42	7
Jos Hooiveld	39	0	2	0	41	0
Guly Do Prado	36	6	3	1	39	7
Daniel Fox	37	4	2	0	39	4
F. Richardson	33	1	3	0	36	1
Dean Hammond	31	12	3	2	34	14
M. Schneiderlin	29	13	5	0	34	13
Richard Chaplow	17	8	3	0	20	8
David Connolly	17	9	0	0	17	9
Dan Harding	12	8	5	0	17	8
Aaron Martin	7	3	7	0	14	3
D. Butterfield	9	1	3	0	12	1
Billy Sharp	11	4	0	0	11	4
Steve De Ridder	5	27	5	0	10	27
Bart Bialkowski	1	0	7	0	8	0
Daniel Seaborne	4	0	2	0	6	0
Jason Puncheon	4	4	1	0	5	4
Tadanari Lee	4	3	1	1	5	4
Lee Holmes	0	6	4	1	4	7
Ben Reeves	0	3	3	2	3	5
Jonathan Forte	0	1	3	1	3	2
Ryan Dickson	0	0	2	0	2	0
J. Ward-Prowse	0	0	2	0	2	0
Lee Barnard	0	6	1	2	1	8
Ryan Doble	0	0	1	0	1	0
Yago Falque	1	0	0	0	1	0
Sam Hoskins	0	0	0	2	0	2
Luke Shaw	0	0	0	1	0	1
Jack Stephens	0	0	0	1	0	1

 

 

You have missed out Hoskins and Stephens HTH

[Lazlo78]

You have missed out Hoskins and Stephens HTH

 

Nope you just need to scroll within the table. Quite silly really, but I guess that's how the forum works...

 

Edit: and then Falque, Shaw and Doble will also appear

Edited 30 April, 2012 by Lazlo78