Northant Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Will be regarded as up there with the best midfielders in the premier league next season. Discuss, giving evidence to back up your argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 what do you think ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Big test for Lallana - look at Adel Taarabt! He stormed it in the championship last year but has struggled in the prem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Big test for Lallana - look at Adel Taarabt! He stormed it in the championship last year but has struggled in the prem on the flip side Scott Sinclair has done really well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northant Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 30 April, 2012 what do you think ?? Yes. Although Adam doesn't set the world on fire with his pace, his quick feet will cause just as much trouble to premier league defences as championship ones. They will soon be gushing about how Morgan breaks up opposition play and gets the ball moving with style and vision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beavis17 Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Will be regarded as up there with the best midfielders in the premier league next season. Discuss, giving evidence to back up your argument. Not up there with the very best but if Dean Whitehead, Shaun Derry, (Insert other average midfielders here) can make a top flight career then so can they. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 I don't know why people throw in examples like this. Taarabt fails, Holt succeeds, Pilkington succeeds, Doyle fails, plenty inbetween like Long. You can find countless examples of succeeding and failing. It has absolutely zero bearing on whether Lallana will succeed. It's all down to his ability and mentality. Lallana is far more of a team player, has more composure and workrate than Taarabt and doesn't just look to shoot every 5 minutes. I'm sure he'll be a success, but if he isn't, it won't have anything to do with Taarabt or any other player. Keep your pants on - jeez! I offered a flip side earlier on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintscottofthenortham Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan is going to be special in the prem. If ever there was a player made for it, it's him. Lallana I'm a bit mixed on. Part of me thinks he'll more than hold is own, a part of me thinks doesn't. It's a great challenge for all the team and I really hope they do ok, for themselves not just for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Not up there with the very best but if Dean Whitehead, Shaun Derry, (Insert other average midfielders here) can make a top flight career then so can they. Can't believe you didn't mention Rory Delap... Now if HE can stay in the Prem that long then frankly, Dean Hammond will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 I don't know why people throw in examples like this. Taarabt fails, Holt succeeds, Pilkington succeeds, Doyle fails, plenty inbetween like Long. You can find countless examples of succeeding and failing. It has absolutely zero bearing on whether Lallana will succeed. It's all down to his ability and mentality. Lallana is far more of a team player, has more composure and workrate than Taarabt and doesn't just look to shoot every 5 minutes. I'm sure he'll be a success, but if he isn't, it won't have anything to do with Taarabt or any other player. It's a reasonable comparison to make. He should make it, I think he will, but sometimes the players that struggle are not the ones you would expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan is going to be special in the prem. If ever there was a player made for it, it's him. Lallana I'm a bit mixed on. Part of me thinks he'll more than hold is own, a part of me thinks doesn't. It's a great challenge for all the team and I really hope they do ok, for themselves not just for us. I would agree with that, the premier league is made for a player like Morgan. He will look majestic up there. I just remember his performance at home to Man Utd a couple of years ago, he dominated Carrick in there and his use of the ball was sublime. He will never play below the top flight again IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 A key thing for the likes of Morgan, is to have more players around him who are on the same wavelength. Lallana is ideal but I think we need a top quality player on the opposite side, and probably a new right back too, who will push on look for some of Morgan's deeper passes in behind the oppositions back line. I believe Tadanari Lee will also be an ideal player as he continually moves around and tries to find space. It's been bad enough at times to hear some of our fans shouting 'Forward!' to our midfield, despite them having few forward options available to them, and getting abuse for keeping possession (including, believe it or not, in the 85th minute on Saturday... only a Saints fan could moan then) this season, but it is even more important in the Prem and Morgan especially will only look good if other players around him create the space and movement for him to pick out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 I don't know why people throw in examples like this. Taarabt fails, Holt succeeds, Pilkington succeeds, Doyle fails, plenty inbetween like Long. You can find countless examples of succeeding and failing. It has absolutely zero bearing on whether Lallana will succeed. It's all down to his ability and mentality. Lallana is far more of a team player, has more composure and workrate than Taarabt and doesn't just look to shoot every 5 minutes. I'm sure he'll be a success, but if he isn't, it won't have anything to do with Taarabt or any other player. That's simplistic. There's an argument that it does matter what kind of player you are. Technical players who've looked world beaters in the lower leagues have often struggled in the prem. By contrast, players who can count on a bit of raw physicality whether its pace or strength in the air to complement their skills do seem to do better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan is first class and has been for years, its just taken a while for some to see it. Hopefully he will go under the radar in the same way for many years. New contract needed me thinks. I think the Taarabt comparison is a very good one. Both terrific talents in the Championship ( Taarabt was perhaps even more vital to QPR's promotion that Adam was to ours) but both lack that blistering pace that Sinclair (mentioned above) has. Not sure too many wide men set the Prem alight these days that don't have pace. That would be my only concern. But Lallana drifts inside so perhaps its not a problem at all. Can't wait to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan is first class and has been for years, its just taken a while for some to see it. Hopefully he will go under the radar in the same way for many years. New contract needed me thinks. I think the Taarabt comparison is a very good one. Both terrific talents in the Championship ( Taarabt was perhaps even more vital to QPR's promotion that Adam was to ours) but both lack that blistering pace that Sinclair (mentioned above) has. Not sure too many wide men set the Prem alight these days that don't have pace. That would be my only concern. But Lallana drifts inside so perhaps its not a problem at all. Can't wait to find out. Taarabat has all the talent in the world, the problem with him (and has always been) is his mentality. He's not the easiest guy to manage and doesn't really work hard when he's out there on the pitch, he seems to want people to give him the ball rather than going to look for it. He thinks he's a bit of a world beater and doesn't try that hard,I'd say that's one of the reasons he's not looked great. Lallana is a different personality. He works his arse off, he's worked hard to get this opportunity and by all accounts is a terrific lad to coach. He has the right mentality to make a real impact in the premier league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brussels Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 (edited) I really think Morgan will be our standout player next season. I also don't really buy the "Premiership is suited to him arguement", but just think he has developed so much recently. His tracking back at the start of the game to dismiss the Cov forward who got clear in the box was superb reading of the game. He is by far our best defensive midfielder and sitting in front of the back four with his excellent range of passing will make him dictate games. His style reminds me a lot of Xabi Alonso and whilst he is not yet of that quality, he's a very similar player. A lot of European & EPL teams actually play with 2 defensive central midfielders, a central striker and 2 attacking midfielders/forwards. I would like to see us do this next year, with a pure ball winner CM brought in alongside Morgan. The box to box CM and 2 genuine wide players seems a bit old fashioned in todays game. I think teams try to go to 4-5-1 when they dont have the ball and 4-3-3 when they do. Most of the time this means 2 CM players sat in front of the back 4. Edited 30 April, 2012 by Brussels Saint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 A key thing for the likes of Morgan, is to have more players around him who are on the same wavelength. Lallana is ideal but I think we need a top quality player on the opposite side, and probably a new right back too, who will push on look for some of Morgan's deeper passes in behind the oppositions back line. I believe Tadanari Lee will also be an ideal player as he continually moves around and tries to find space. It's been bad enough at times to hear some of our fans shouting 'Forward!' to our midfield, despite them having few forward options available to them, and getting abuse for keeping possession (including, believe it or not, in the 85th minute on Saturday... only a Saints fan could moan then) this season, but it is even more important in the Prem and Morgan especially will only look good if other players around him create the space and movement for him to pick out. The bit in bold is the key to succeed in the premeirship. We know Morgan and Adam are good passers of the ball, it's all about moving the ball around and being able to have players that create a bit of space to be used - static players are easy to defend against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Worth remembering also that Morgan is still only 22 and doesn't turn 23 until November. That's quite scary, in a good way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 I think that they'll both do well, Adam has come on leaps and bounds in his effectiveness - I'd like to see more goals from the number of chances he makes for himself I'm sure he would too!) but that too will come and Morgan has it all in his armoury..passing, vision, accuracy and an ability to see a move seconds ahead of most of the opposition which is why we need quality of our own to think with him...so back to Adam and Ricky again. Cork won't struggle either, for me he's been a far greater factor than he generally gets above the radar for..tremendous engine, of course, but nearly always available to receive or cover in tackles...and Guly was a major factor yesterday in us playing as we did for the first month or two of this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Goals will be fewer next season so the central midfielders will need to get about 10 between them. Lambert, Lallana, Sharp, Guly etc will find goals harder to come by so more needed elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Taarabat has all the talent in the world, the problem with him (and has always been) is his mentality. He's not the easiest guy to manage and doesn't really work hard when he's out there on the pitch, he seems to want people to give him the ball rather than going to look for it. He thinks he's a bit of a world beater and doesn't try that hard,I'd say that's one of the reasons he's not looked great. Lallana is a different personality. He works his arse off, he's worked hard to get this opportunity and by all accounts is a terrific lad to coach. He has the right mentality to make a real impact in the premier league. Taraabt never ever wanted to stay at QPR,he wanted to sign for Paris Saint Germain,QPR wouldn't let him and have reaped the wind for doing so.A lesson for all clubs never,ever retain a player against his will, certainly not one with the mental age of about 4.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Taraabt never ever wanted to stay at QPR,he wanted to sign for Paris Saint Germain,QPR wouldn't let him and have reaped the wind for doing so.A lesson for all clubs never,ever retain a player against his will, certainly not one with the mental age of about 4.. That's a fair point, forgot about that. So yeah - he's not in the right frame of mind to be any good. Talented yes, but a bad attitude which will ultimately mean he never fulfills his potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan oozes class and, frankly, those who think otherwise are usually clueless coffin dodgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 The bit in bold is the key to succeed in the premeirship. We know Morgan and Adam are good passers of the ball, it's all about moving the ball around and being able to have players that create a bit of space to be used - static players are easy to defend against. That last thought occurred to me at the weekend watching a stream (not for very long - it was dire) of the Spuds-Blackburn match. Blackburn were so static they made nothing, gave the ball away as nobody was available or had the confidence to give or receive the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Red Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Spiderman has been my favourite player for several years. His range of passing, both long and short; composure, balance and time on the ball; as well as his strength and ability to see the opposition pass and break up the play regaining possession has, bizarrely, hardly been noticed outside our club. I hope he gets his chance with his national team now he will be getting top division football. We are very lucky to have had him in the lower leagues and now he has the platform to showcase himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintedwill Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Morgan is by far our most technically gifted player. If he has the right players playing with him (Cork, Lee, Lambert & Lallana fit in that bracket), then we'll do well. We probably need a more experienced Premiership midfielder to play in there as well to allow Morgan to play and dictate the pace of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Cork, Lee, Lambert, Lallana and Morgan keep 'em fit and improving and by golly they'll be the envy of many a team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 re: Morgan on Late Kick Off. My missus says: "Morgan speaks very good French". Idiot. I know what she meant but it's funny to wind her up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 With Lallana, Morgan and Cork, I think we are 3/4 of the way towards having a decent midtable midfield. Need to add pace on both wings and a CM who carries a goal threat so we can change up a little when required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzzza Posted 30 April, 2012 Share Posted 30 April, 2012 (edited) Anyone think Lallana would make a good attacking CM (mind you Guly did a good job on sat even tho he was supposed to be RM) with Morgan as they know each other so well , then get Mat phillips for one wing and someone similar for other ? Edited 30 April, 2012 by gazzzza cockup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northant Saint Posted 30 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 30 April, 2012 Anyone think Lallana would make a good attacking CM (mind you Guly did a good job on sat even tho he was supposed to be RM) with Morgan as they know each other so well , then get Mat phillips for one wing and someone similar for other ? Suggesting a diamond with Lallana top and Morgan bottom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintsmike Posted 1 May, 2012 Share Posted 1 May, 2012 He's my favourite Southampton player. Strangely people think I'm weird for that. I remember when Spiderman came to the club, he was a "Lowe" signing, and at £1,200,000 he seemed a gamble for such a young player. But he had been on the radar of some top clubs, and when I watched him play he just looked like he was a player who was a touch above. A rough diamond, but one that will develop into a top class player. He along with AdamLallana went down with us in that relegation season, but as one of our better performers in a dire season. When some of our coaches after we got taken over could see Morgan's potential his confidence grew, also playing in a lower league helped too. He became tougher for it. Before he used to shy away from tackles, now he seems to love getting stuck in, it's almost one of the weaker aspects of his game because he has a tendancy to get booked. What happened to the shy French midfielder lacking an identity on the pitch, he was now the key our midfield. His game has absolutely everything (apart from goals), what he does better than ANY midfielder at the club is he READS the game, he knows where to be at the right time, he's always available for the pass, and one aspect of his game that along with his tackling has come on in leaps in bounds, is that he can drive forward at pace. He makes runs in behind defenses, they're working on the attacking side of his game. For all his brilliant passing and touches of class they're just the noticeable parts. What goes unseen makes him such a great player. The premiership will suit him, and I just hope we can keep him at the club. If there's one player we all love to see score apart from Ricky it's Morgan, his goals are always worth waiting for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 1 May, 2012 Share Posted 1 May, 2012 Anyone think Lallana would make a good attacking CM? Suggesting a diamond with Lallana top and Morgan bottom? Adkins has been doing exactly that for the past 2 seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzzza Posted 1 May, 2012 Share Posted 1 May, 2012 (edited) Suggesting a diamond with Lallana top and Morgan bottom? well no, was thinking traditional 4-4-2, tho morgan would sit slightly behind i guess. but then 2 pacey wingers either side of them ? Edited 1 May, 2012 by gazzzza duh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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