saintbob40 Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Davis out and Cork in-problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Davis out and Cork in-problem solved. Not comfortable with this "Cork Second Coming" attitude that is developing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydenhamssocks Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 I can kind of understand Billy Sharp going (even despite him having a very good pre-season). Lambert #1 striker, Rodriguez pushing for that, Tadanari Lee coming back from injury and Mayuka in, Billy would in all likelihood have been 5th choice striker in a team that were looking to play 1 up front. Harding; I don't understand why we let him go when we had no realistic left back cover. Stupid, really. I don't think he's quite good enough for the PL, but he'd have been a better option than Yoshida, that's for certain. Hammond, very much agree. Again, not sure he's the answer for a PL team as a starter, but as a reserve he could have been vital. At times we could/should have been playing with 3 proper CMs and with Cork injured we've only had JWP to rely on, which is a big ask for a youngster. If Hammond had been available for the United game I wonder if his introduction to add a bit more bite into CM and nullify Scholes would have made the difference. We'll never know, but again I think it was a silly move to let him go. Absolutely ! looking back at last season,albeit a division below, our midfield generally looked to have the right mix of bite and creativity to handle anything. Our mix isn't right so far this year and whilst the beleaguered defenders are bearing the brunt of the blame,a bit of 'bite' in the middle of the park would take the pressure off. It doesn't have to be a world class star, just a good pro with a good brain who can be economical but assured with the ball and stop his opposite numbers from playing. Granted, the level of opposition has risen in the prem but not at every club. Albion's midfield were not technically so much better, they were just stronger which in turn buys time for the defenders behind them. Who'd be a manager ?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaneNero Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Hammond lost the ball way too often in midfield last year. Imagine what it would have been like in the PL. However, he is a good motivator and captain, hence still would have kept him, give him a chance at least. Why we shipped off Sharp..... really don't understand :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marino Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 I too would have preferred to see the likes of Hammond and Harding given a chance in the PL. If the likes of Fonte and Fox were thought to be good enough for the Prem then we should at least have given these two a chance. Show them the door if and when they failed, not beforehand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleysfc Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Not comfortable with this "Cork Second Coming" attitude that is developing. Yep, the hype aroud Cork is amazing. He's still better than Hammond though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch01 Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Amazing how this glib comment keeps rolling off everyones tongue. I am of the opinion that they would not have done worse than we have now in the form of Steven Davis, for example. It is not a glib comment. I honestly believe it should be a self-evident truth to anybody who bothers to even casually follow football and SFC. Davis, while not brilliant so far, is a far superior player to either of these two. I watched game after game last season, and while Chaplow's energy was superb to have in the team at times (especially before his injury at Bristol City), he really lacks the fundamental skills that you really do need to have in this league now. Look at any team, ANY team's central midfield in the Premier League and you will find players who are far more technically accomplished. Chaplow's particular set of skills may suit L1 very well, and even the NPC at times, but he is so far off being a Premiership player. For what its worth, I don't think the central midfield are the big problem. Nobody on here can really decide what the problem is - one minute Schneiderlin is our best player, the next he is useless - and the simple truth is that we are just going to have to start defending better, as a team and as individuals. I have seen Fonte play well at times this season, but not consistently enough. In the main I've been impressed with Clyne, and trust Nigel to make him an even better defender. Fox and Yoshida have given me little cause for optimism, but we really don't have any better options. The answer to conceding a record number of goals in the opening 10 games is unlikely to be introducing a 17 year old. Or Dean Hammond, or Richard Chaplow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Spooky thread I turned my saints calender over and there is dean Hammond and I thought we need his spirit and determination in the side . I was also wondering if the fact we have made significant changes to the side that this has had a detrimental impact on the team this season . Last season the lads were really a cohesive unit but for me it is the one thing that is missing this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Spooky thread I turned my saints calender over and there is dean Hammond and I thought we need his spirit and determination in the side . I was also wondering if the fact we have made significant changes to the side that this has had a detrimental impact on the team this season . Last season the lads were really a cohesive unit but for me it is the one thing that is missing this season LOL me too I wonder how many players in the 2012 calendar are actually regulars in the team this season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Into opinion we desperately miss Hammond . He is so underrated . Davis gives the ball away non stop , he's just not up to it. Also we miss a captain and Hammond was a good skipper. He's nothing flash and doesn't shine as a class player but he goes about his business and hardly ever gives the ball away. I would like to see him given a crack in the prem just to see if he's up to it. Bring on the back lash. I strongly agree with the issue of what we are lacking, but strongly disagree that Hammond is the solution! I feel we have been short of a real strong character in midfield for a long time. Energetic, physical, vocal - who will carry the team when play goes against us. The type of player that other teams dislike... Jimmy Case, Chris Marsden, Dennis Wise, Robbie Savage to name a range of abilities. I thought / hope Hammond was going to be this when we signed him in league 1. I was disappointed. He did ok, but not exceptional. He was looking weak compared to Morgan and Cork last season. I would be surprised if he ever played in the premiership...hope he does but don't think he is good enough. I rate Morgan highly but he is not this sort of character. I wonder if maybe he should play further forward. Not sure the Cork, Davis, JWP can offer us this either. Ramirez fulfilled some of this role against Villa. At times you could have argued he was playing CM, coming deeper and deeper, wanting to get the team playing. Not sure if we have the solution in the club...maybe Cork as he matures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Young maybe, but JWP seems to me like a young Wilshere, technical yet snappy and happy to get stuck in, slight of frame yet tenacious and seems to have a maturity in the middle above his age. I think we have missed his presence in the middle TBH. I would rather see three CM but he would certainly be one of them. Why has he dropped out of the side ? No idea, supposedly to allow Adkins to play his gung ho approach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 Young maybe, but JWP seems to me like a young Wilshere, technical yet snappy and happy to get stuck in, slight of frame yet tenacious and seems to have a maturity in the middle above his age. I think we have missed his presence in the middle TBH. I would rather see three CM but he would certainly be one of them. Why has he dropped out of the side ? No idea, supposedly to allow Adkins to play his gung ho approach That's what they do with young players aint it. Play them for a bit, then take them out the firing line for a bit. That's all i can think of as it's wierd that he was good enough to play against Man United and City in decent team performances but not not considered good enough for WBA when we are struggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 That's what they do with young players aint it. Play them for a bit, then take them out the firing line for a bit. That's all i can think of as it's wierd that he was good enough to play against Man United and City in decent team performances but not not considered good enough for WBA when we are struggling. It doesnt make a lot of sense to me. Return to 3 in the middle would be my fix with adam and ramirez flanking Rickie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 7 November, 2012 Share Posted 7 November, 2012 It doesnt make a lot of sense to me. Return to 3 in the middle would be my fix with adam and ramirez flanking Rickie. Nor me, he certainly wasn't dropped because of performance as he was decent. I seem to remember that being the tactic by other managers with young players. I cant think why Cortese has stopped picking him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydenhamssocks Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 Spooky thread I turned my saints calender over and there is dean Hammond and I thought we need his spirit and determination in the side . I was also wondering if the fact we have made significant changes to the side that this has had a detrimental impact on the team this season . Last season the lads were really a cohesive unit but for me it is the one thing that is missing this season I think your right, it has made a difference. I remember Strachan being asked,after the Cov/promotion game "What do Southampton have to do to prepare for the Premier League" He replied," Definitely bring a couple of players to strengthen, but you cant buy a whole team" To be honest we practically have: Gazza,Boruc, Clyne,Yoshida,Davis,Ramirez,JRod,Mayuka, and you could include JWP & Shaw who weren't first team last season. That gives you 10 new faces. I imagine any place of work would have a change of dynamics if 10 new guys walked in on Monday morning. Takes time i guess ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajjuk Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 Not good enough, not really that good for championship level, considerably worse than what we already have. Also by reports, like Sharp isn't really doing that well at a decent championship club. Silly suggestion IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 Hammond is good spoiler, not a great passer. Our problem is we cant keep the ball. Davis & Ramirez gave it away more than anyone else last night. Funnily enough I thought Ramirez was our best player on Monday by some distance. Some of the passes didn't come off because teammates just didn't read what he was trying to do (eg Lambert on the one through ball), some were killer balls which were worth the risk of being intercepted, and a couple of others he was fouled and it wasn't given. He played one pass off the pitch but that was about it. He also moved well off the ball and his run for Clyne's through ball was excellent movement (if borderline offside, but not given). The last time he lost the ball before his inevitable Sports Science Comeback Precautionary Substitution it was a cultural thing, he went for a high ball and assumed the opponent would get called for dangerous play with high feet but we're not as hot on that as the rest of the world so whilst Ramirez pulled out of the high challenge, Halsey played on. On topic, Hammond would make our midfield worse not better, too slow full stop to affect matches, and a little too ponderous on the ball. He does play that defensive midfield role that we don't seem to have any more though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 LOL me too I wonder how many players in the 2012 calendar are actually regulars in the team this season? It's not a new thing, I seem to recall almost everyone in the 2000 (or was it 2001 ?) calendar was sold or out of favour by the time we got to their month. Transfer windows have made that a little less likely. FWIW I'd go for 4 : Fonte, Lallana, Lambert and Schneiderlin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 It's not a new thing, I seem to recall almost everyone in the 2000 (or was it 2001 ?) calendar was sold or out of favour by the time we got to their month. Transfer windows have made that a little less likely. FWIW I'd go for 4 : Fonte, Lallana, Lambert and Schneiderlin. Sounds about right ...December is the legend that is SDR in a suitably exciting action pose with the ball at his feet .....probably taken just before he launched a cross into the back of the chapel stand:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 8 November, 2012 Share Posted 8 November, 2012 Fox? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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