Does Lallana need dropping to give him a kick up the backside?

[Legod Third Coming]

I have read some crap on here but this takes the biscuit. Let's drop our best player and while we're at it sack the manager. I go to St Mary's and come back with a warm glow that we're all pulling together. We are miles from being perfect but at least the 28,000 or so at the game understand and accept this. Then I get home and read the ****e that people write and wonder how we move from the reality of match day to the twilight zone of the Internet.

 

Well that saved me from posting anything. Thank you.

[GAS]

I've seen this mentioned a couple of times across this forum.

 

Ok, probably when Ramirez is injured he will start as we need someone with creativity in there. But for me, he's not looked great since he has been given the armband.

 

Is he too comfortable?

 

Are we expecting too much from him ?

 

Is he playing in his most effective position?

 

Discuss...

Great player with many assists so far. We have had leads in most games and thrown them away. Why not bolster the midfield when we are up and give him the defensive support that he often lacks?

[supersonic]

He needs to be relieved of duties as a captain before anythig else. He neve has been captain potential and never will. Great player, but not a captain.

 

It was a nice touch to give him the armband for the city game, but it's not helping the team at all.

[SNSUN]

Contrary to some I actually thought he played quite well on Sunday. The way he takes or controls a ball (Sunday also) is exquisite. True skill. He's class and to drop him would be folly. Don't forget he's playing in a position he's not yet used to 100%, from playing on the left of a 4-4-2, to being utilised either on the left of attack or the left of central midfield. I prefer Lallana on the left of Lambert up top, in central midfield he doesn't have the freedom to roam as much, but he's far from poor.

 

As for dropping him, we're currently without Ramirez or Cork, so I fail to see who we'd drop him for, but I wouldn't do it anyway. He's one of our best players. Rest him eventually, sure. But not drop him. I understand why he was given the captaincy, but if ANY questions should be asked of him, it's his competancy about being captain. There are a few I'd prefer to see as captain. I always thought Rickie would make a good captain, hard working, talented and can speak up, although I know some people prefer not to have an attacker as captain lest it detach from their goalscoring duties.

[tajjuk]

:lol:

 

I must have been watching another game where, in the last 10 or 15 minutes, Fox was overloaded with a two on one at least 3 times while Lallana was jogging back from a foray up the pitch.

 

I was watching the game and that simply didn't happen, it happened ONCE and he was working bloody hard to get back. I love how people flat out make things up to put their agenda across Also he can't spend the whole game babysitting Fox, at some point Fox as a defender has to actually do some DEFENDING, just standing in the position doesn't count. Unless you want our most creative player to just sit in front of Fox and never make runs forward?

 

Stats like that can only tell you so much, a lot comes from actually watching the game.

 

They can tell you a lot, they are also facts as opposed to the glassy eyes that people use when watching games, you can ask two people watching the same game about a player and they will tell you completely different things, Eye witness accounts are incredibly unreliable, emotions, distractions, their own perception of things, bias all come into to play when people tell you 'what they saw'. You only have to take different fans accounts of penalty incidents to no that. Fact is if he isn't doing enough defensively then statistically other players in the team are doing far far worse.

 

Lies damned lies and statistics. His job as a left sided midfielder when we dont have the ball, is to mark the right full back. He has hardly done that at all this season apart from once at Everton, when Coleman seemed to walk through him and cross for their 3rd goal.

 

 

See my point about 'observations', when a football fan tells you what he saw and then his opinion it's 'pinch of salt' time.

 

His job is not to 'mark' the right full back, not in general play. He is supposed to track the full backs forward runs not sit on him all game, but this isn't always possible unless he literally doesn't ever make forward runs. At some he is going to run forward and get caught out, that's why he's an attacking midfielder. Like I said above at some point Fox actually has to do some defending. The statistics prove that Lallana is doing a lot for the team both offensively and defensively. I'm also amazed that people are criticising Lallana for not tracking runners when Puncheon has been absolutely awful for it all season, the Arsenal game being a prime example where he left Clyne exposed time and again through nothing but laziness.

 

 

Contrary to some I actually thought he played quite well on Sunday. The way he takes or controls a ball (Sunday also) is exquisite. True skill. He's class and to drop him would be folly. Don't forget he's playing in a position he's not yet used to 100%, from playing on the left of a 4-4-2, to being utilised either on the left of attack or the left of central midfield. I prefer Lallana on the left of Lambert up top, in central midfield he doesn't have the freedom to roam as much, but he's far from poor.

 

As for dropping him, we're currently without Ramirez or Cork, so I fail to see who we'd drop him for, but I wouldn't do it anyway. He's one of our best players. Rest him eventually, sure. But not drop him. I understand why he was given the captaincy, but if ANY questions should be asked of him, it's his competancy about being captain. There are a few I'd prefer to see as captain. I always thought Rickie would make a good captain, hard working, talented and can speak up, although I know some people prefer not to have an attacker as captain lest it detach from their goalscoring duties.

 

He did play well on Sunday, statistically no one did more attacking wise. He also made lots of interceptions and tackles, much more than most people in the team. He has been doing it all season but people choose not see it because they like to have a go at players for no particular reason.

 

If you take the captaincy off him it will destroy his confidence and as he is our most creative outlet at the moment this wouldn't be good. Also not all captains need to be constantly shouting, Lallana works incredibly hard for the team and sets an example. I think he will stay captain but I think Morgan would be a better captain.

Edited 11 October, 2012 by tajjuk

[SaintSteve]

Take that bloody armband off him. Sorry Nigel, most of your decisions I agree with but not this one. He doesn't need the added pressure, and to be honest he isn't really captain material for me. Give it to Fonte/Davis/Morgan

 

Not sure I agree with most of NAs decisions this season.. but why not give the armband to the leader on the pitch.. and thats' lambert. Lallana is finding the premier league attention difficult to handle playing-wise and does not need the extra pressure. Not sure he has even looked like scoring to date.

[miserableoldgit]

Am I the only one that doesn`t think that AL has been below his best? Personally I think that considering the step up to the PL he has been doing O.K. I certainly don`t come away from games thinking that he has played badly.

[SaintSteve]

Lallana was shocking on Sunday - god knows what game you were watching - lets not pussy foot around with confidence being a concern over the Captain's armband - he's not a captain and needs to sort his game out.. flatters to deceive far too often.

[Saint86]

Can we call a vote and shame everyone who goes with yes please? Another post that makes me question the sanity of saints fans.

[toofarnorth]

I have read some crap on here but this takes the biscuit. Let's drop our best player and while we're at it sack the manager. I go to St Mary's and come back with a warm glow that we're all pulling together. We are miles from being perfect but at least the 28,000 or so at the game understand and accept this. Then I get home and read the ****e that people write and wonder how we move from the reality of match day to the twilight zone of the Internet.

 

Exactly this

[VectisSaint]

Lallana was shocking on Sunday - god knows what game you were watching - lets not pussy foot around with confidence being a concern over the Captain's armband - he's not a captain and needs to sort his game out.. flatters to deceive far too often.

No he wasn't. I can't believe anyone actually watched the game and comes away with the idea that Lallana was shocking. It is quite extraordinary. In fact he was actually pretty good (I watched the game live at SMS and then watched the full game again on Monday on Sky+). You do know which player Lallana is I assume, if you are not sure he wears 20 on his shirt. I might agree it was not his best game ever, but to say he was shocking is just unbelievable, he was partly responsible for their 2nd goal, thats all, he also supllied the corner that was converted for our first, he was the only creativity we had.

[VectisSaint]

Am I the only one that doesn`t think that AL has been below his best? Personally I think that considering the step up to the PL he has been doing O.K. I certainly don`t come away from games thinking that he has played badly.

No you're not the only one, I think some people hear/sing the Lallana/Messi song and actually believe it, not realising it is meant to be humourous. Lallana had a decent game on Sunday, not his best but certainly not as bad as ome strange people seem to be suggesting.

[Bartosz Bialkowski]

Good write up on AL

http://thinkfootball.co.uk/a-tactical-look-at-adam-lallana-not-your-typical-english-winger/?

[Saint Garrett]

I don't think he was awful, and I do think he is one of our best players. However I have just got used to him putting in performances to change and win games on his own, maybe I am just expecting too much of him, or maybe he has reached his level.

[tajjuk]

Good write up on AL

http://thinkfootball.co.uk/a-tactical-look-at-adam-lallana-not-your-typical-english-winger/?

 

Liked that a lot cheers. it's spot on although he gave the ball away a little too much on Sunday, however his ability to receive the ball and do something with it in tight spaces is very special

[Window Cleaner]

Liked that a lot cheers. it's spot on although he gave the ball away a little too much on Sunday, however his ability to receive the ball and do something with it in tight spaces is very special

 

 

Not being able to hold onto the ball particularly well and erratic shooting are exactly what are stopping him from becoming a top,top player at the moment. He has such an ability to get himself into some really advantageous positions but then he sometimes loses the ball before shooting or shoots poorly. Mind you having said that RL didn't seem to have his shooting boots on on Sunday either; The real SRL would have buried that sitter that Morgan set him up with after some superb running with the ball down the right.

[Bucks Saint]

Lallana was shocking on Sunday - god knows what game you were watching - lets not pussy foot around with confidence being a concern over the Captain's armband - he's not a captain and needs to sort his game out.. flatters to deceive far too often.

 

"shocking" and "flatters....far too often". You must be on some of Lance Armstrong's gear. total tosh. Yet another who labels one of our most talented and able players having a slight off game, as someone who does not deserve to be on the pitch. get real

Edited 11 October, 2012 by Bucks Saint

[Graffito]

Good write up on AL

http://thinkfootball.co.uk/a-tactical-look-at-adam-lallana-not-your-typical-english-winger/?

 

I read that and I saw elsewhere that Lallana has the most assists this season (4) alongside Santi Cazorla and Eden Hazard. So yeah let's drop him because this clearly isn't good enough. He has defensive shortcomings, which of course isn't uncommon with creative players, so the solution is to build the team around Lallana and the creative players in the side.

[Lets B Avenue]

I read that and I saw elsewhere that Lallana has the most assists this season (4) alongside Santi Cazorla and Eden Hazard. So yeah let's drop him because this clearly isn't good enough. He has defensive shortcomings, which of course isn't uncommon with creative players, so the solution is to build the team around Lallana and the creative players in the side.

 

2 corners.

[Legod Third Coming]

I don't want to comment on Sunday's game as I was too busy to see it.

But having watched all the other games, he is our one truly international class player at present.

[This Charming Man]

He wasn't great on Sunday but has impressed in other games. Left midfield isn't his position as he doesn't backtrack enough and leaves our LB exposed - but there is nowhere else we can play him when Ramirez is fit. Also, he isn't a captain - take the armband off him and give it to Morgan.

[Window Cleaner]

I read that and I saw elsewhere that Lallana has the most assists this season (4) alongside Santi Cazorla and Eden Hazard. So yeah let's drop him because this clearly isn't good enough. He has defensive shortcomings, which of course isn't uncommon with creative players, so the solution is to build the team around Lallana and the creative players in the side.

 

Mata,Adam and Hazard all have 4 assists to date, don't know how many Cazorla has though, probably 3

[Village Saint]

Just when you think it can't get more ridiculous, people start criticising a player who has stuck with us to secure 2 promotions, taken the captains armband, played well against some very good sides and got into the england squad.

 

What a bunch of ****s.

 

You are actually too nice to these ****ers!

[The9]

I was watching the game and that simply didn't happen, it happened ONCE and he was working bloody hard to get back. I love how people flat out make things up to put their agenda across Also he can't spend the whole game babysitting Fox, at some point Fox as a defender has to actually do some DEFENDING, just standing in the position doesn't count. Unless you want our most creative player to just sit in front of Fox and never make runs forward?.

 

Sorry, you're just outright wrong on this one, the "at least three" occasions when Lallana left Fox exposed is accurate. Fox was left covering two wide men twice leading to goals alone. Lallana was "trying to get back" but that's not a lot of use from 20 yards away as the two opponents pass between each other.

 

I don't actually blame him for it, but it illustrates the problems we have in that our midfield is too attacking, and we don't have either the fitness to play 90 minutes in the Prem or the quality to bring on from the bench.

 

I don't think Lallana should be captain simply because he's not been a "leader" in terms of being vociferous when he wasn't captain. Everyone should be leading by example, but captains are about vocalising it.

Edited 11 October, 2012 by The9

[Saint Charlie]

Does he need dropping?

 

No.

[Roger]

I don't want to comment on Sunday's game as I was too busy to see it.

But having watched all the other games, he is our one truly international class player at present.

 

Garbage. Lambert and Ramirez are much better

[SaintSteve]

No he wasn't. I can't believe anyone actually watched the game and comes away with the idea that Lallana was shocking. It is quite extraordinary. In fact he was actually pretty good (I watched the game live at SMS and then watched the full game again on Monday on Sky+). You do know which player Lallana is I assume, if you are not sure he wears 20 on his shirt. I might agree it was not his best game ever, but to say he was shocking is just unbelievable, he was partly responsible for their 2nd goal, thats all, he also supllied the corner that was converted for our first, he was the only creativity we had.

 

Its all about opinions and the whole group around where we sit had the same opinion - don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of lallana's and don't see dropping him as the way forward but he has not reached heights of last season - partially due to better opponents, partially due to NA making an error of judgement in Captaincy terms but he's 24 and should be dictating the midfield offensive moves and he has been peripheral in most games,.

[This Charming Man]

Its all about opinions and the whole group around where we sit had the same opinion - don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of lallana's and don't see dropping him as the way forward but he has not reached heights of last season - partially due to better opponents, partially due to NA making an error of judgement in Captaincy terms but he's 24 and should be dictating the midfield offensive moves and he has been peripheral in most games,.

 

You're not allowed to have a differing opinion to VectisSaint. If you do, you're normally branded as knowing nothing about football.

[ottery st mary]

Lallana does NOT need dropping from the side..Great player and doing very well..

AND

 

YES ..he can play even better and will..

 

Not Captain though...over to Steve Davis..please..

Edited 11 October, 2012 by ottery st mary
spellin

[Window Cleaner]

I wouldn't think Lllana will be replaced as Captain unless he asks to be, whether he'll do that or not I just couldn't say.

[Legod Third Coming]

Garbage. Lambert and Ramirez are much better

 

Ramirez based on one game? Brilliant. Lambert is a superb player and would be in my England team, but even Rickie rates Lallana higher.

[Saint Garrett]

Of course he's going to say that as he's a very modest guy.

 

Ramirez is far superior to Lallana tbf. Prob not a lot in it techincally but Gaston knows when and where to play it.

[Saint Charlie]

Lallana being captain makes no difference to anything. Aside from Gaston and Morgan there is nobody else guarenteed a place in the team.

 

He is a wholehearted player and IMO leads on the pitch as well as anyone else would.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

No. Adam Lallana is a class act and is just adjusting.

[VectisSaint]

You're not allowed to have a differing opinion to VectisSaint. If you do, you're normally branded as knowing nothing about football.

In your case that is usually true Charmless. You are welcome to your opinion, but you just post things that are complete nonsense. And to brand Lallana's performance on Sunday as shocking really needs to be commented on. How can anyone with an ounce of sense really think his display was shocking. I read a lot of nonsense on here and post a lot of nonsense myself I'm sure, but really its like reading something a 2 year old would write sometimes, you really do wonder if some people actually watch the game or even follow football.

[KK the 2nd]

AL makes thing happen. Without him I'm not sure where the creativity will come from. Fulham was the first match I have missed, in all the other matches I have seen, his application and effort have been excellent.

[Viking Warrior]

What stupid thread . I can only surmise that those that suggest al should be dropped must be wum's . If he got dropped then we will have yet more threads about sacking NA . I would hate to think what this forum would be like if mlt was only 26 today and the comments would no doubt be ultra negative . Give it a rest guys and get behind the team

[Graffito]

2 corners.

 

It's not clear what point you are making. Are you implying that he is not a creative player because someone has scored directly from two of his corners? Or is this pedantry? In which case I'll happily concur as you are probably right and I can't be arsed to look it up anyway.

[Graffito]

Mata,Adam and Hazard all have 4 assists to date, don't know how many Cazorla has though, probably 3

 

Ok thanks, you are probably right. Though I don't see that whether it's Mata or Cazorla alters anything Lallana has done.

[Ziggy]

Garbage. Lambert and Ramirez are much better

 

I disagree. Lambert is proving his critics wrong and playing brilliantly. I haven't seen much of Ramirez but I have liked what I've seen. But neither are better than Adam.

[THEVMAN]

I disagree. Lambert is proving his critics wrong and playing brilliantly. I haven't seen much of Ramirez but I have liked what I've seen. But neither are better than Adam.

You dont know what you've just done lol

[hypochondriac]

You dont know what you've just done lol

 

Eh?

[sandwichsaint]

Who would fetch more (most?) in the transfer market?

 

Llallana

Lambert

Clyne

Ramirez

 

4 different players, 4 different ages, 4 different positions/styles.

 

Not sure there is a single defining characteristic for 'best' player?

[sandwichsaint]

Who would fetch more (most?) in the transfer market?

 

Llallana

Lambert

Clyne

Ramirez

 

4 different players, 4 different ages, 4 different positions/styles.

 

Not sure there is a single defining characteristic for 'best' player?

 

 

add Schneiderlin to that list too!

[Matthew Le Tissier]

He should not be captain that's for sure. He is not a captain and its also ruining his game.

 

Poll

[Window Cleaner]

Who would fetch more (most?) in the transfer market?

 

Llallana

Lambert

Clyne

Ramirez

 

4 different players, 4 different ages, 4 different positions/styles.

 

Not sure there is a single defining characteristic for 'best' player?

 

That's why the player ratings on whoscored.com are interesting, they're based on many, many different aspects.

 

According to those Ramirez is our best rated player, then SRL, then AL then MS but it's pretty close; something like

7.51 for GR, 7.4 for SRL, 7.2 for AL and 7.17 for MS. Those who played against Wigan and the Arse are penalised by fairly low scores from those games though.

[tajjuk]

Not being able to hold onto the ball particularly well and erratic shooting are exactly what are stopping him from becoming a top,top player at the moment. He has such an ability to get himself into some really advantageous positions but then he sometimes loses the ball before shooting or shoots poorly. Mind you having said that RL didn't seem to have his shooting boots on on Sunday either; The real SRL would have buried that sitter that Morgan set him up with after some superb running with the ball down the right.

 

I'll agree it wasn't his greatest day but then his passing pass completion was down around 69% whereas most of this season it has been up around the mid 80's. His shooting has never been a great aspect of his game, I thought he had turned the corner with it last year but he hasn't scored this year, but then it's a whole new level. He will get some goals though but most likely will contribute more to assists and build up.

[This Charming Man]

In your case that is usually true Charmless. You are welcome to your opinion, but you just post things that are complete nonsense. And to brand Lallana's performance on Sunday as shocking really needs to be commented on. How can anyone with an ounce of sense really think his display was shocking. I read a lot of nonsense on here and post a lot of nonsense myself I'm sure, but really its like reading something a 2 year old would write sometimes, you really do wonder if some people actually watch the game or even follow football.

 

Cheers, sweetpea.

 

Some of the more prolific posters on here don't attend games, they just go by the 2 min highlights and post match interviews, then form their opinions. The ones that really crack me up are the people who text in to Radio Solent with their opinion of the game despite not attending.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I refer you to here...

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?40102-The-Captaincy-debate

[SaintSteve]

In your case that is usually true Charmless. You are welcome to your opinion, but you just post things that are complete nonsense. And to brand Lallana's performance on Sunday as shocking really needs to be commented on. How can anyone with an ounce of sense really think his display was shocking. I read a lot of nonsense on here and post a lot of nonsense myself I'm sure, but really its like reading something a 2 year old would write sometimes, you really do wonder if some people actually watch the game or even follow football.

 

Fortunately I don't go to the games with morons like you - if you can't see both sides of any debate then perhaps you should stick to watching on the telly.. you can shout at yourself.