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Why has mayuka not started a prem game?


Roger

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Traitor! Did you do a subdued celebration when scoring against saints?

 

I can confirm though that Mayuka isn't very good in the game and the system works better with Junior Hoilett, let's just hope QPR don't read this. I know Mark Hughes is a bit of a fan of the muppet show.

 

The Saints fans abused me in their usual witty way with chants of "turkey, turkey" "stuffed at christmas, you're getting stuffed at christmas" and "look like a chicken, you f*cking look like a chicken" I was most upset.

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Mayuka is surely a good player......but he has to " play himself in " to borrow an old cricketing term, and the reason why we haven't experimented with him up front (8 defeats) must be obvious to everyone.

 

He can't replace Lambert (because Sir Rickie's fan club would threaten to burn down SMS) if he doesn't start every week....even if RL doesn't always play front man, and that he hasn't scored for 6 games.

 

Puncheon?....he seems a possible choice... except I think he's played some of his best football this season so far, and is quite agressive on the wing.....so.....who then ?.

 

A midfielder? ....not Ramirez obviously and Cork has only just returned to the side. Schneiderlin is one of the few midfielders with height and enough aggro to get stuck in - and is even prepared to get booked in the cause......which leaves ..our captain (!). Adam is surely one of the most skilful players in the side, though his lightweight build makes him a prime target for the bully boys...and as we saw last match....he seems to get himself booked - whenever he is felled to the ground.

 

Not an easy decision. Rodrigues ....(and /or Guly) are the " natural " subs. for Ricky ..so we're back to square one (to borrow an old footballing term).

 

I'd like to see a fit, and agressive Mayuka ..(and Tadanari Lee..for that matter) back in the side with a vengence, but it's a brave man who'd make the decision. So ....what about it Nigel?

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How many times in the games Ramirez has played has he thread a ball through and the player hasn't been quite quick enough to reach it? It happened about 3 times against Swansea where the player would have been on goal if he'd been half a yard quicker. With Mayuka there that is 3 good chances in on goal, not counting the times Ramirez could play a ball in behind the back centre halves for him to use his pace to run onto. I actually think the way we play now suits Mayukas game.

 

So you're suggesting we play Mayuka as a lone striker? I see your thinking, but how many times did the full backs and centre halfs play that diagonal ball to Lambert up top? It just wouldn't have stuck with Mayuka up top on his own. The goal itself came from Lambert's aerial threat. I read somewhere that we have played the third amount of long balls I think, we're just not good enough to play out from the back so are forced to hit Lambert, which although not ideal is a hell of a lot better than hitting Mayuka or Ramirez with a long ball.

 

Agree completely on your Lee comments though :lol:

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Mayuka is surely a good player......but he has to " play himself in " to borrow an old cricketing term, and the reason why we haven't experimented with him up front (8 defeats) must be obvious to everyone.

 

He can't replace Lambert (because Sir Rickie's fan club would threaten to burn down SMS) if he doesn't start every week....even if RL doesn't always play front man, and that he hasn't scored for 6 games.

 

Puncheon?....he seems a possible choice... except I think he's played some of his best football this season so far, and is quite agressive on the wing.....so.....who then ?.

 

A midfielder? ....not Ramirez obviously and Cork has only just returned to the side. Schneiderlin is one of the few midfielders with height and enough aggro to get stuck in - and is even prepared to get booked in the cause......which leaves ..our captain (!). Adam is surely one of the most skilful players in the side, though his lightweight build makes him a prime target for the bully boys...and as we saw last match....he seems to get himself booked - whenever he is felled to the ground.

 

Not an easy decision. Rodrigues ....(and /or Guly) are the " natural " subs. for Ricky ..so we're back to square one (to borrow an old footballing term).

 

I'd like to see a fit, and agressive Mayuka ..(and Tadanari Lee..for that matter) back in the side with a vengence, but it's a brave man who'd make the decision. So ....what about it Nigel?

 

 

Well we could take out a defender to make way for Mayuka....everyone knows defenders are just there to make up the numbers right ??:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

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So you're suggesting we play Mayuka as a lone striker? I see your thinking, but how many times did the full backs and centre halfs play that diagonal ball to Lambert up top? It just wouldn't have stuck with Mayuka up top on his own. The goal itself came from Lambert's aerial threat. I read somewhere that we have played the third amount of long balls I think, we're just not good enough to play out from the back so are forced to hit Lambert, which although not ideal is a hell of a lot better than hitting Mayuka or Ramirez with a long ball.

 

Agree completely on your Lee comments though :lol:

 

As was suggested earlier, i'd go with Mayuka and Lambert/Rodriguez up front together. 4-1-3-2 with Cork holding, Davis/Lallana, MS and Ramirez as the three and Lambert and Mayuka up front.

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Traitor! Did you do a subdued celebration when scoring against saints?

 

I can confirm though that Mayuka isn't very good in the game and the system works better with Junior Hoilett, let's just hope QPR don't read this. I know Mark Hughes is a bit of a fan of the muppet show.

 

Funny you say that. I'm Crewe on my game and go on holiday when we play Saints!

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I have it on good authority that the reason he's been sidelined is because he displays a insufficient level of positivity towards all things SFC related. As we know this is the one 'thoughtcrime' that Nigel just can't tolerate, so he's been sent away to our equililent of Siberia (Portswood) for a spot of re-education.

 

Expect him back any day now spouting bullsh1t like all the rest .....

 

Surely that is Stoneham?

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The way we play we need at least 2 players with pace, and if that means dropping Lambert and Lallana or Punch and giving players with pace like Mayuka and Lee (if fit) ago to get results i'm all game but the thing is it wont happen because the fans are too fickle and players like lambo and lallana must play at all costs. I dont think AL has had a good season so far, trying to hard cause he's captain maybe, and the lack of pace from lambert is showing now. I'd give the captains armband to Cork ( i've always said the captain should always be a central defender or a defensive mid) and try Mayuka and then try Lee when fully match fit in the side to give us some good movement and pace which we miss. Our front line is ok on paper and will probably always get us 1 goal but we need 2 or 3 more with our defence as it is, like i and many more have said, we need players in the team with pace and movement in which will suit Ramirez's game.

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The way we play we need at least 2 players with pace, and if that means dropping Lambert and Lallana or Punch and giving players with pace like Mayuka and Lee (if fit) ago to get results i'm all game but the thing is it wont happen because the fans are too fickle and players like lambo and lallana must play at all costs. I dont think AL has had a good season so far, trying to hard cause he's captain maybe, and the lack of pace from lambert is showing now. I'd give the captains armband to Cork ( i've always said the captain should always be a central defender or a defensive mid) and try Mayuka and then try Lee when fully match fit in the side to give us some good movement and pace which we miss. Our front line is ok on paper and will probably always get us 1 goal but we need 2 or 3 more with our defence as it is, like i and many more have said, we need players in the team with pace and movement in which will suit Ramirez's game.
I agree that we still could really do with more pace in the side, particularly going forward, I'd like to see Mayuka starting with Lambert personally. But there are a few contradictions in the rest of your post. The fans are "too fickle", but insist on sticking with Lallana and Lambert (two of our best performing players over the last 3 years). That is the opposite to fickle. And Lee isn't good enough and you're unlikely to see him or De Ridder anywhere near the first team as things currently stand.
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I would like to see Mayuka come into the team from the start but not this weekend. The Loftus road pitch is narrow with the crowd right on top of you. I think this is why Wright-Phillips never showed his Man City form at QPR. Secondly, Traore is likely to play at left back and he cannot be exploited for pace. I like the idea of mayuka feeding off of ramirez's through balls, but does he have the intelligence to make the runs of lallana/lambert/puncheon. Lambert may not have scored recently but he is one of the few players that can make something out of nothing and in a game as tight as this saturday's he could make a massive difference. Mayuka off of the bench troubling a tiring and slow Nelsen or if Fabio is back after 2 months out Mayuka could well exploit a lack of match fitness. Mayuka is the perfect player to exploit weaknesses towards the end of a game.

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Surely you cant also mean Lee? Who despite only playing about 3 times for us was our saviour this season and hailed on here as being "class" and "going to be a massive player for us this season".

 

A tad tricky to make an impact when you're injured I guess.

Edited by Greenridge
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Does this mean i see the game as someone who has played at Semi pro level?

 

*glows with pride*

 

I'd class it as "having the same opinion as someone who knows what he's talking about when it comes to football", so it appears so and you should be very proud.

 

I haven't mentioned that recently, btw. I'd love to see your wallchart of SaintsWeb mongs and the things you can mention about them to remind them of things they said in the past. I assume it takes up a whole wall.

 

Still, got to be at least as much fun as recreating the 1980s in Pro Evo 2013...

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  • 3 weeks later...

Retarded signing. Obviously Adkins had decided early on in the season that we were going 4-5-1 and Mayuka is equally obviously a through-the-middle striker who plays on the shoulder of the last man alongside a big man in a 4-4-2.

 

Ironically I actually really like Mayuka and would have liked to see us use our cup matches to test something like a 4-4-2 with Rodriguez and Mayuka up front, but no, we missed that chance as well.

 

I've complained about Adkins signings a fair bit I know (especially with respect to the keeper situation) but bloody hell it is true, we really did screw up our transfer window very badly. £11 odd million on our bench in backups when we don't have a solid CB or GK. Enough to make you weep.

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Why did we buy him if he can't get a game? If NC picks the team as some say, and NC bought him, why does he not get a chance? Totally confused, and will be even more if Nigel starts moaning if he goes off in January to the African cup and the fact that we are short of cover up front. Why did we not keep Billy Sharp?

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Why is Rodriguez ahead of him?? Myuka can play in Punch's position (who is consistently very inconsistent) and allows us to play 4-2-3-1 instead of the GASH 4-4-2 that doesn't work when Lambert and Rodriguez are on.

 

Adkins Adkins sort it out sort it out. Just a stupid situation to be in for once, cannot see why we run an ineffective player into the ground instead of give someone 45 mins to show what they can do.

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Why did we buy him if he can't get a game? If NC picks the team as some say, and NC bought him, why does he not get a chance? Totally confused, and will be even more if Nigel starts moaning if he goes off in January to the African cup and the fact that we are short of cover up front. Why did we not keep Billy Sharp?

 

 

 

It's probably all to do with keeping our payments to agents down to a minimum which is infinitely more important than signing players we actually need in positions where we are short.

 

Well played Saints.

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Not a NA signing? maybe NA was dead against it from the start? who knows but I know this there has been times when we have looked desperate for something different this season and all NA has done is swap a like for like player!

We were cruising past Villa when he came on and looked decent and won us a pen,he came on 2nd half of spurs and had a right go at there full back,I never saw the Leeds match he did start right? but the team was awful anyway.

You would think the FA cup might be his only chance but wont he be at the ACON?

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There were some comments attributed to the coaching staff that for the WBA game, Adkins was going to use players that have delivered for him in a simple set up to control the midfield and get back to some form of base. Fair enough and at least he no longer looked like a rabbit in the head lights and was capable of engaging what was going on the pitch.

 

In the past Adkins has been guilty of blinking before the opposition and throwing extra men forward, but just leaving more holes than creating any more. As Liverpool showed and we nearly did against Norwich, that argument has validity. The flip side of this when you continue with the formation to the bell is that it tends to make the team look toothless against any half decent defensive set up. Get any team come and play more open and we can open the up, but we need far more pace and skill to do it on our own.

 

The cause of the problem is Ricky, he just does not have the pace and requires far more support to score as with the less talented Rasiak. That does not mean Ricky is of no value as we all have seen when he does have the space and support and contributes to the goal tally. The Liverpool game showed you all you needed to know, did their homework and having that extra man in midfield took control from us at the expense of weakening their own attack (familiar scenario). With our specific problems we have had in getting a team to work we did not have the luxury of pushing an extra body alongside of Ricky, all were needed to try and wrest control. The only player that was readily changeable was Ricky himself, but then who do you bring on?

 

Since I first saw Mayuka play I thought he could well be the answer, certainly has the pace and I have seen him drag the pacey ball out of the air with his feet to be suitably gob smacked. The penalty he earned against Villa requires slo-mo to really see how quick he is and the eye of a predator on goal. He's not that short and can certainly head the ball. The fact he's off to the African Cup does himself no favours along with the fact when tried as a lone striker it never worked out, but even Drogba would have had problems with that supply line. The biggest problem I feel with Mayuka would be not working with Ricky but on his own I can easily see him keeping Ricky out of the team. The coaching staff see him play all the time and should be able to judge if he's good enough, for £3M how much can we be expecting? The coaching staff are far better positioned to make an informed decision but we have all seen these young African lads rise so high on a match day pitch you wonder if this is possible.

 

I still believe Saints are in the market for that forward with pace and then we may see the way forward but I still don't see it as a partner to Ricky.

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I was told by a very good contact at SMS that Mayuka was highly regarded by Les Reed and a future star and I posted that on Saints Web. When I mentioned this to another very good contact he said Mayuka was far from being an effective Premier player. Those are the opposing views and having gone back to my initial contact I firmly believe he is far from being ready and has a lot of improving to undertake.

 

Adkins must think something of him as he is constantly in the last 18 squad. He did show a little of his pace against Villa. He changed the game in the second half against Spurs and I fully expected him to continue but Adkins stuck with Puncheon who has formed a good relationship with Clyne.

 

This is a settled side and our goals against ratio is improving. There is a better balance in the side. I have not seen the Liverpool game so canot comment but against Norwich we were under the cosh for much of the second half and to change the team by attacking substitutes at that stage might have upset the balace and taken us back to the high goal against ratio.

 

Mayuka is away most of January. Let's see what Adkins does with him when he returns

 

Unlike up and away, whose opinion I value and often agree with, I do not think we need to buy another striker. I do agree Lambert is too slow but his overall presence is needed. There is a lot more to him that scoring goals. He is very much part of the balance of the side. Maybe Adkins feels Mayuka presence lacks that balance!

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I was told by a very good contact at SMS that Mayuka was highly regarded by Les Reed and a future star and I posted that on Saints Web. When I mentioned this to another very good contact he said Mayuka was far from being an effective Premier player. Those are the opposing views and having gone back to my initial contact I firmly believe he is far from being ready and has a lot of improving to undertake.

 

Adkins must think something of him as he is constantly in the last 18 squad. He did show a little of his pace against Villa. He changed the game in the second half against Spurs and I fully expected him to continue but Adkins stuck with Puncheon who has formed a good relationship with Clyne.

 

This is a settled side and our goals against ratio is improving. There is a better balance in the side. I have not seen the Liverpool game so canot comment but against Norwich we were under the cosh for much of the second half and to change the team by attacking substitutes at that stage might have upset the balace and taken us back to the high goal against ratio.

 

Mayuka is away most of January. Let's see what Adkins does with him when he returns

 

Unlike up and away, whose opinion I value and often agree with, I do not think we need to buy another striker. I do agree Lambert is too slow but his overall presence is needed. There is a lot more to him that scoring goals. He is very much part of the balance of the side. Maybe Adkins feels Mayuka presence lacks that balance!

 

 

 

So then what was the original plan? Lambert and Rodriguez together perhaps, might well have worked but you have to forego either Gaston or Lallana in that case. I like Rickie's work rate and his creative contribution but until Lallana and Gaston can shoulder the goal scoring burden on a regular basis and against decent defences we need something different in attack. I am sure that Lallana's goal contribution is causing concern at SMS.

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I was told by a very good contact at SMS that Mayuka was highly regarded by Les Reed and a future star and I posted that on Saints Web. When I mentioned this to another very good contact he said Mayuka was far from being an effective Premier player. Those are the opposing views and having gone back to my initial contact I firmly believe he is far from being ready and has a lot of improving to undertake.

 

Adkins must think something of him as he is constantly in the last 18 squad. He did show a little of his pace against Villa. He changed the game in the second half against Spurs and I fully expected him to continue but Adkins stuck with Puncheon who has formed a good relationship with Clyne.

 

This is a settled side and our goals against ratio is improving. There is a better balance in the side. I have not seen the Liverpool game so canot comment but against Norwich we were under the cosh for much of the second half and to change the team by attacking substitutes at that stage might have upset the balace and taken us back to the high goal against ratio.

 

Mayuka is away most of January. Let's see what Adkins does with him when he returns

 

Unlike up and away, whose opinion I value and often agree with, I do not think we need to buy another striker. I do agree Lambert is too slow but his overall presence is needed. There is a lot more to him that scoring goals. He is very much part of the balance of the side. Maybe Adkins feels Mayuka presence lacks that balance!

 

I am not sure we need to buy another striker, it's just what I believe the club is looking at. Other than that, I completely agree with your view. You look at certain teams and formations and you can easily see Ricky as the way to go, against other teams I would say the exact opposite and in general it has not been that difficult to predict. We have a big problem with balance because if we are to find a way through the Norwich's of this division, the likes of Ricky, Lallana, Puncheon need that something extra. You could sub Mayuka for any of those but the midfield would suffer for either of Lallana or Puncheon.

 

I would definitely find out what Mayuka could do by replacing those front players at a time so I can get some understanding of what works and whet we need in the market. Remember Puncheon is not that much different to when he was at QPR or Blackpool in the Premier, with the exception he is now putting in a shift which helps defensively.

 

I saw too many Saints players flat on their feet against Liverpool and with two very important games coming up we cannot afford to be jaded. I feel uncomfortable when Adkins tells me they have been flying in training only to find out that was where the performance was left. We lost the midfield at Anfield because they stuck an extra man in there and we could not respond with our set up. Of the three games coming up I felt the Liverpool result was the least important, it's just what hang over it causes.

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Adkins must think something of him as he is constantly in the last 18 squad. He did show a little of his pace against Villa. He changed the game in the second half against Spurs and I fully expected him to continue but Adkins stuck with Puncheon who has formed a good relationship with Clyne. QUOTE]

 

Think this is just a smoke screen..you can't leave a player with that valuation out of the squad in favour of an Academy lad, now can you?...especially if you didn't want to buy him in the first place.

 

I bet NA was just as surprised as the rest of us when he was signed......

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Adkins must think something of him as he is constantly in the last 18 squad. He did show a little of his pace against Villa. He changed the game in the second half against Spurs and I fully expected him to continue but Adkins stuck with Puncheon who has formed a good relationship with Clyne. QUOTE]

 

Think this is just a smoke screen..you can't leave a player with that valuation out of the squad in favour of an Academy lad, now can you?...especially if you didn't want to buy him in the first place.

 

I bet NA was just as surprised as the rest of us when he was signed......

 

If NA thought he was capable of actually offering something different wouldn't he give him some pitch time, 15/20 minutes or so?

He's not going to get much better on the training pitch alone. One of SFC's great mysteries of this season. Yesterday we were crying out for someone to actually get onto Liverpool's defence and put them under pressure and try to make some space for Gaston and Adam, so we waited until nearly full time and brought on JRod, beggars all belief. Still the manager is doing it his way and his survival will depend on what that brings I guess. Still reckon he'll be gone sooner than most think, especially with Di Matteo available.

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Maybe he's just being kept out by better players? Puncheon has been much improved on the right and Lambert has been decent enough and seems essential to how we play so there is little space for him in the team at the moment. Maybe they just see him as a little raw and more one for the future?

 

I suppose we will see if we get any injuries to Puncheon, Lallana or Lambert.

 

Man City spent nearly £30 million on Maicon, Sinclair, Javi Garcia and Rodwell. They have a total of 13 appearances between them.

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