sidthesquid Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Nothing but good things today, but can I just put in a word for Jose - after a shaky start, and a lot of us wondering if he could cut it at ths level, he is looking more and more like a Prem centre-half and he was almost faultless today. (Also, you can see why we didn't buy a left back in the summer - we had one all along!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Onside or not it was a great finish by JR... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 We have let in just 2 goals in the three games Shaw has started and the defence has looked more solid. It has to have something to do with the left back actually occupying that position and not going walkabouts which was pulling the rest of the defence out of shape. No longer will we have to see Hansen draw those bloody great big green squares where there should be a left back on MOTD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 So you are changing what you say now. Before he was offside and there was no debate. Now the linesman's decision was correct in real time. Which is it? Methinks you have seen the replay yourself and are issuing a hasty retraction as you have made yourself look a little foolish... No I haven't seen a replay, Either way I couldn't give a toss as it wasn't a goal. I'm happy with the decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brussels Saint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 There is no doubt we are looking much more effective. There might be a few reasons, but for me the clearest is our finally adopted "Premier League" formation, namely 2 defensive central midfielders, one up front and 3 attacking/creative mids making the play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 No I haven't seen a replay, Either way I couldn't give a toss as it wasn't a goal. I'm happy with the decision. why would you be happy with a wrong decision against your team....if we go down by 1 goal, would you still be happy..? really odd rather just saying "oh ok, I have not seen the replays so will have a look later" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 There is no doubt we are looking much more effective. There might be a few reasons, but for me the clearest is our finally adopted "Premier League" formation, namely 2 defensive central midfielders, one up front and 3 attacking/creative mids making the play. Agree 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Onside or not it was a great finish by JR... This is what I took from it........But he was still onside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 A brilliant result. 10/10's for several of the players today; there really wasn't a weak performance from any of them. I am hard-pressed to nominate the MOTM, because Puncheon, Ramirez, Clyne, Cork would have a good shout at it and others might be nominated where a case could be made for them too. OK, being realistic, this was a great time to play Newcastle, when they had played in Europe a few days ago and also had some key players out injured or suspended. But when we had key players like Cork and Ramirez out injured, few accepted that as a valid excuse for us, so why should it count for them? I believe that tactically Adkins out-thought Pardew today and the team out-fought them. Interesting to read the OPTA stats before the match that had Newcastle as the team which played the highest percentage of long balls. This has been a good tactic where they have two very fast and mobile strikers like Cisse and Ba to run onto a perfectly weighted long ball, but they were without the key players like Guttierez and Ben Arfa to supply them. A lot of their passing was very wayward and bread and butter for our midfield to mop-up and start counter-attacks. We also played a high line defensively which was highly effective. We hit the post three times, had a couple of penalty shouts, had what looked like a decent goal from Rodrigues ruled out, so it could have been 5/6 goals. The referee was poor, but I can hardly remember a linesman quite as poor as the one on the right side line in the second half, where he awarded at least two throw-ins to them which were blatantly ours. The support was pretty good and lovely to hear Nigel's name chanted so loudly by all sections of our fans. Perhaps we have turned a corner and settled on a good team selection and formation that is balanced and effective. Our passing and movement these past three matches has been superb. Where Cortese had expected Saints to become a team playing football which would come to be known as "the Saints way", I believe that we are beginning to see glimpses of what that will look like. Playing as well as that, we would have given any team in the Premiership a game today. Norwich and their style of play will be a good test of where we can be this season. Cork without a doubt - we have really missed him in early season. He is the difference in us being more solid at the back - gives so much potection and time to the back four. We have always scored, but the change is we have plugged the hole in defence. Well done Cork - already my man of the season - please please do not get injured again this season! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 why would you be happy with a wrong decision against your team....if we go down by 1 goal, would you still be happy..? really odd rather just saying "oh ok, I have not seen the replays so will have a look later" It's thoroughly bizarre. There are tons of decisions at football that I question and then subsequent tv replays show me why a ref did or did not make a decision. I kind of trust that the linesman or ref is going to be better at spotting things than me sat in the stands as firstly they are closer to the action and secondly it is what they do for a living. If a ref is wrong following replays then generally the reaction is well they will learn from it in the future its unfortunate they got it wrong. According to derry as long as he is satisfied when he sees it in real time, then that is the barometer for whether a ref or linesman should be criticised or not. Strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
de-fence Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 We were yelling at Puncheon to release the ball but he delayed for a few yards which allowed Rodriguez to run offside. I'm happy with the linesmans decision which is real time. You're incredibly stubborn considering you're arguing with those who have actually seen a paused split screen of the moment the ball was passed and it can be seen that he is onside. The camera angle wasn't from the half way line it was perhaps 5 yards out of check with Rodriguez's line. Once and for all, HE WAS ONSIDE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 There is no doubt we are looking much more effective. There might be a few reasons, but for me the clearest is our finally adopted "Premier League" formation, namely 2 defensive central midfielders, one up front and 3 attacking/creative mids making the play. Cork has been vital to getting that balance. I'm sort of hoping we get another dm in January in case he is injured because we don't really have any backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Cork has been vital to getting that balance. I'm sort of hoping we get another dm in January in case he is injured because we don't really have any backup. we really dont need any more attackers IMO definitely a CB and a good one...and maybe a LB...but shaw looks really good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 There is no doubt we are looking much more effective. There might be a few reasons, but for me the clearest is our finally adopted "Premier League" formation, namely 2 defensive central midfielders, one up front and 3 attacking/creative mids making the play. Yep. We've also seemingly stopped shoehorning players into positions that aren't their natural own, either through design or injury. Rodriguez playing out wide; Lambert when paired with Rodriguez up top dropping off and not playing as the main striker; Yoshida at right and left back, amongst others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 we really dont need any more attackers IMO definitely a CB and a good one...and maybe a LB...but shaw looks really good A dm isn't an attacker. If cork is injured then we really have no backup and I dot want to see the defence unprotected again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 I will be fair to derry . In Orkney it looked like he was on side . I know where derry sits so he probably was in line . There didn't seem to be any real protests but an acceptance by the saints players . I thought the Lino did get something's wrong there was a foul on puncheon near the corner but he gave it the other way . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Yep. We've also seemingly stopped shoehorning players into positions that aren't their natural own, either through design or injury. Rodriguez playing out wide; Lambert when paired with Rodriguez up top dropping off and not playing as the main striker; Yoshida at right and left back, amongst others. That has been key to our success. After Tottenham it seems to me that something changed as some players have been disposed of and we are now playing the right players in the right positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 little things like Shaw replacing Fox, moving to a 4-4-1-1 formation, left and right midfielders working harder to protect the fullbacks, Cork returning, Ramirez getting match fit and having a settled back four have all added to up to make us a half decent side. We played a limited Newcastle off the park and craved them open time after time. They did offer a threat in Ba and Cisse and for the first ten minutes our back four looked all over the place with Fonte and Yoshida getting the run around and failing toi mark either striker. But that quickly changed and by the end Yoshida and Fonte were bullying their strikers. Very very happy. I hope we can keep this up. The pressing game is working well and we are finding that Premiership defenders get rattled if you don't give them time. Gazzinga 7 one tremendous world class save and kept his kicking simple Cylne 8 dived in a couple of times but got away with it. Great game apart from that Fonte 7 poor start but grew into the game. He's have a good season. I just wonder if we had given Jos a little more time he would have show that he also could make the step up. Yoshida 7 thought he was poor early on with some rubbish headers and poor marking. Got better as the game went on and by the end was dominating. I'm not convinced by him if I'm honest, but good enough today. Shaw 8 never flustered and never beaten. Very solid game and every time he plays he seems to look even more comfortable. Bit worried about him looking like he injured towards the end of games, but Adkins seems to managing that beautifully so far. Lallana 7 relatively quiet game for him, perhaps overshadowed by Puncheon and Ramirez, but he still had a good game and protected Shaw. Holding his position better which is helping the side. I think he must have ****ged the lino's wife. Cork 9 brilliant game. Won so much and kept it simple. Morgan 9 him and Cork dominated the middle and the rest of the game looked after itself. Nipped in so many times to win the ball and then kept it. Lots of unseen stuff. Back to his best. Puncheon 9 you just can't get the ball off him. Strong, direct and great work rate too. He is protecting Clyne and tracking runners. Great stuff. Lambert 7 looked like he was carrying an injury in the second half. Worked hard, but relatively quite for him. Unlucky with the free kick. Ramirez 8 Gave it away a fair bit early on, but second half he found space and hurt Newcastle a lot. He's some player, I just love watching him do his thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 A dm isn't an attacker. If cork is injured then we really have no backup and I dot want to see the defence unprotected again. yeah...agree with what you meant..I should have added previously... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Highlights: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/southampton-2-newcastle-0-highlights/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 I will be fair to derry . In Orkney it looked like he was on side . I know where derry sits so he probably was in line . There didn't seem to be any real protests but an acceptance by the saints players . I thought the Lino did get something's wrong there was a foul on puncheon near the corner but he gave it the other way . Oh I'm sure derry thought he was off. The arrogance of being adamant he was and trusting his own judgement over numerous others (including tv replays and our own manager) is something else though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Great performance again, you can see the players growing in belief and confidence. the 4-2-3-1 line-up suits us perfectly. Cork is the difference though, he knits everything together. has a great footballing brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gammon cheeks Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Nothing but good things today, but can I just put in a word for Jose - after a shaky start, and a lot of us wondering if he could cut it at ths level, he is looking more and more like a Prem centre-half and he was almost faultless today. (Also, you can see why we didn't buy a left back in the summer - we had one all along!) Fonte was superb today and mom for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 It never even occurred to me that he was offside. As a referee myself I usually support the officials but some of the simple decisions today were quite plainly wrong. Never a penalty, either of them. Clean sheet at last - lovely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Fonte MoM for me as well - especially considering how often the ball was coming at our CB's in the air. Thought he was fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Martini Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Cork has been vital to getting that balance. I'm sort of hoping we get another dm in January in case he is injured because we don't really have any backup. The backup we have is JWP but it might a tad early for him to be counted on as a regular performer. I think NA thought Davis could play as a DM but he's more of an attacking box-to-box player and when he plays as a DM the balance in the team is not there. But its not the most important area to strengthen. I'd say a LB and an new CB (I'm terrified that either Fonte or Yoshida get an injury suspension) are more important then a back-up DM at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 First time watching them live this season. I have not been fully supportive of NA but if this is the football I will be watching in the future and NC will be fully vindicated by staying with him. Newcastle, apart from the first 5minutes of each half were totally outplayed. It was great to see no nonsense defending added to skill in playing the ball out, MS and COrk working well together in snuffing out any threat. The midfield and forwards linking into some superb counter attacking football. Magnificent play, and attacking threats from many directions. Well done, motm. NA he got everything right. The ref was poor. He should have either given us a penalty or booked GR if he thought it was a dive (I don't think it was) for a penalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Can I clear up it wasn't booing...it was Luuuuke....its like the chant for Luke Donald the golfer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Can I clear up it wasn't booing...it was Luuuuke....its like the chant for Luke Donald the golfer. crap chant though isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 We have let in just 2 goals in the three games Shaw has started and the defence has looked more solid. It has to have something to do with the left back actually occupying that position and not going walkabouts which was pulling the rest of the defence out of shape. No longer will we have to see Hansen draw those bloody great big green squares where there should be a left back on MOTD You mean Lee Dixon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Yep. We've also seemingly stopped shoehorning players into positions that aren't their natural own, either through design or injury. Rodriguez playing out wide; Lambert when paired with Rodriguez up top dropping off and not playing as the main striker; Yoshida at right and left back, amongst others. Come on Krakers, injuries dictated most of those decisions. It's easy to insuinuate that Adkins was being told what to do but I can't see any rational reason why that would suddenly happen and then stop. We stopped playing Fox, stopped playing Davis as a deep CM and have Cork instead and also have Ramirez back. All reasons why we have turned things around. Simple but true IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_DB Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 TBF I was in line as well and was sure the linesman got it right until I read this thread. Replays will be interesting. Great to see that Shaw is the real deal. Him and Cork have really helped us turn it around. Fonte MoM for me, followed by Ramirez and Lallana. Before the game I was thinking Gazzaniga isn't the sort of keeper that can win you points sometimes unlike Krul. Good to see I was wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 He's not wrong. Even when he suggests putting a defender in midfield it isn't wrong. He's an ex semi pro manager you know and it's the troglodytes on here who fail to appreciate the subtleties of management that are in the wrong. I expected better from you tdd. Yes lets all laugh... sorry Hypo, you have been hangin out with bad uns too long and are begiining to think its all really funny to just take the **** out of folk ... Derry freely admits he was level, and in REAL TIME as with the lino he was happy with the decision... as he would have made the same, as would most - benefit of replays and different angles may show it to be wrong un... **** thats been part of football for donkeys so who cares...., yet if it pleases you to take the ****, merely suggests some bad habbits have rubbed of from your new 'mates'. You used to have more respect for folk than that, what happened? Worried about ending up on the wrong side of Turkish and his stalking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 crap chant though isn't it? Aren't most football chants?? The worst has to be that Pompey fan on a string I cringe everytime I hear that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergoose Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Great game and result. I know they didn't have much to cheer about but I was amazed how quiet the Geordie fans were. The whole team played well today but I was particularly pleased for Gazza for making that couple of fine saves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Come on Krakers, injuries dictated most of those decisions. It's easy to insuinuate that Adkins was being told what to do but I can't see any rational reason why that would suddenly happen and then stop. We stopped playing Fox, stopped playing Davis as a deep CM and have Cork instead and also have Ramirez back. All reasons why we have turned things around. Simple but true IMO. Read it again Digbury, I mentioned that some of it was down to injury. But I also think there was pressure put to bear on playing JRod more than he should have been, and that came from either having to have him out of position, or up front with Lambert which then negated RL's effectiveness somewhat. There are also other reasons, of course there are; and having a settled back 5 is certainly one of them. But I do believe the shoehorning in was also a big factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Without a Halo Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Puncheon delayed the pass and he was offside Mike, right opposite so I could see. Level on the TV slow mo out here! so should have counted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McGrath's Jockstrap Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Been to the last 3 games. We have got 7 out of 9 points. There is a clear difference between these games and what went on before. Shaw is a proper left back with great awareness around him. As a result we don't leave the barn doors open down the LH side of the pitch for crosses to come in. Fox cannot be played at this level and we need a LB (as cover for Shaw who must not be overplayed). The second (and biggest) difference is the brilliant Jack Cork. He mops up everything in the last 1/3rd of the field. He had an immense game at QPR and did today. These 2 have made ALL the difference to the team (and improvement to Fonte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintBobby Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Is there anyone left in the "Adkins out" camp at the moment? I think it was 22% on the last poll on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Read it again Digbury, I mentioned that some of it was down to injury. But I also think there was pressure put to bear on playing JRod more than he should have been, and that came from either having to have him out of position, or up front with Lambert which then negated RL's effectiveness somewhat. There are also other reasons, of course there are; and having a settled back 5 is certainly one of them. But I do believe the shoehorning in was also a big factor. Agree about JR. I do think Adkins rates him, he's said so many times. I just think he wanted it to work and realised that it doesn't. I don't subscribe to the pressure to play him theory. We're just 1 option short when it comes to playing 1 strike with the 10 position behind. Had Ramirez not been injured I'm sure we would have played this 11 much muh sooner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Yes lets all laugh... sorry Hypo, you have been hangin out with bad uns too long and are begiining to think its all really funny to just take the **** out of folk ... Derry freely admits he was level, and in REAL TIME as with the lino he was happy with the decision... as he would have made the same, as would most - benefit of replays and different angles may show it to be wrong un... **** thats been part of football for donkeys so who cares...., yet if it pleases you to take the ****, merely suggests some bad habbits have rubbed of from your new 'mates'. You used to have more respect for folk than that, what happened? Worried about ending up on the wrong side of Turkish and his stalking? I'm sorry FC but it's very difficult to show any respect towards such a patronising poster as derry. He continually makes wild statements about the team and how it should be changed and he justifies these by saying he was an ex manager as if that elevates his mad views above the less enlightened posters. Additionally the last time I made a very reasonable non abusive comment about something he had said, I get unprovoked abuse in response. He has been proven wrong again here (look how adamant he was that it was offside that soon changed when everyone said it wasn't.) yet cannot admit it. He could do with learning some humility as it would serve him well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stknowle Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Cork without a doubt - we have really missed him in early season. He is the difference in us being more solid at the back - gives so much potection and time to the back four. We have always scored, but the change is we have plugged the hole in defence. Well done Cork - already my man of the season - please please do not get injured again this season! Cork plugs hole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Agree about JR. I do think Adkins rates him, he's said so many times. I just think he wanted it to work and realised that it doesn't. I don't subscribe to the pressure to play him theory. We're just 1 option short when it comes to playing 1 strike with the 10 position behind. Had Ramirez not been injured I'm sure we would have played this 11 much muh sooner. Fair enough; and to be honest it doesn't matter. Whether it was pressure or whether it was NA; the decision has been made that it wasn't working and we've moved on from it. I'd still like to see us have a genuine replacement/option for Puncheon and Lallana. I hoped it could be Mayuka but for one reason or another he's not being given much chance to prove its him. And we shouldn't gloss over where we are and think we've solved it all, I still think we need to strengthen with one or two players in January. If Shaw can step it up and show the consistency needed, that'll be great, but I maintain its still a hell of an ask for a fairly recently turned 17 year old to play at the highest level required game in game out for a whole season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Is there anyone left in the "Adkins out" camp at the moment? I think it was 22% on the last poll on here. I don't think a few weeks ago it was controversial to think Adkins' time was up. We had a horrendous start and it did really seem that Adkins was not up to it. He has really turned things around at the moment though so I'm incredibly pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Fair enough; and to be honest it doesn't matter. Whether it was pressure or whether it was NA; the decision has been made that it wasn't working and we've moved on from it. I'd still like to see us have a genuine replacement/option for Puncheon and Lallana. I hoped it could be Mayuka but for one reason or another he's not being given much chance to prove its him. And we shouldn't gloss over where we are and think we've solved it all, I still think we need to strengthen with one or two players in January. If Shaw can step it up and show the consistency needed, that'll be great, but I maintain its still a hell of an ask for a fairly recently turned 17 year old to play at the highest level required game in game out for a whole season. Agree, Phillips would be a good option as can play left or right and AL can play the Ramirez role well IMO. Another LB to compete with Shaw and a CB would be good improvements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint J 77 Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 I hope we never drop back into the bottom 3 again this season. Onwards and upwards. Much like when we were in league one and finally climbed out the bottom 4 after we had already over come our minus 10 points, this feels like that. We never looked back then that season and hope its the same this season. Its going to be a tough game on Wednesday against Norwich but the way we are playing now I think we can beat them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Agree wholeheartedly with Chez's assessment of our recent development into the "Southampton Way v.2" - some key players coming back and a slightly different 4-4-1-1(?) line-up (and seemingly a license to punt a few for the keepers?) has done us good. We really look like a competitive Premier League team now. My conclusion so far is that the bedwetters probably overreacted when we lost to teams now placed 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 15, while the happy clappies shouldn't be carried too much away by wins over teams placed 14, 18 and 20. I'll acknowledge that the team has matured a lot, but maybe we weren't that bad in the start of the season and maybe we're not that good now? On to today's team. For all our criticism and doubts about Gazza we have a 20 year old goalkeeper as our first keeper. Even though he will make some errors along the way, we're blessed if he turns out to be the real deal. Same with Shaw. He hasn't been up against the top sides as Fox etc. have been, but he looks a real neat and tidy player. He's now a regular starter in the Premier League at age 17! Only worry is that it's a tough job to ask him to perform at top level for a full season, so hopefully Fox will keep pushing for a place in the team. But today we had a back 5 with ages 17, 20, 21, 24 and 28. In midfield it seems that Jack Cork was the missing piece. It's difficult to spot what it is he does so well, but others more capable than me have analysed what it is he adds to the team. Schneiderlin keeps evolving as a player. He's had one relegation and two promotions with this team since joining in 2008 (incidentally he chose us over Pompey: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/7477504.stm) but I think his stock has never been higher with the fans. So many times have we heard that he is not up for lower league football and that Arsene should come and get him. But not anymore Gaston is looking the real deal - not only as offensive playmaker but as a full blown midfielder who can hassle the opponent and tackle. He really gets stuck in - oh and even though he looks like a seasoned pro in the middle of the park, he's only bloody 21! And how privileged are we to have a home grown talent to captain the side? Lallana may or may not be classical captain material, but he is a real fighter and a creative, probing player who causes opposition defenders loads of trouble. Not a distinct profile in the team but an important player nonetheless. Puncheon I don't get. Troublemaker, bad attitude, only looking like trying when playing for a contract, frozen out and loaned out multiple times. How did we end at a place where he is one of the more exciting players in the setup? I find it impressive that an unpopular player has managed to redefine his role and shown himself as an able PL-player - even though I still wait for him to revert to his old ways and for everyone to sigh with relief and say "NOW I get him". Interestingly, Puncheon, at 26, is the senior part of the midfield with ages 21, 23, 23, 24, 26... Lambert up front is no longer our one-man army. He's still every bit as good as he has been, but people around him are stepping up. The longer he can keep going, the longer Rodriguez gets to settle at PL level. Lambert's age of 30 lands us at an average age of 23,36 for the starting line-up today. Not too bad, really... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Anyone notice the first two letters of ASton Villa and REading are an anagram of ARSE? Apt, is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Read it again Digbury, I mentioned that some of it was down to injury. But I also think there was pressure put to bear on playing JRod more than he should have been, and that came from either having to have him out of position, or up front with Lambert which then negated RL's effectiveness somewhat. There are also other reasons, of course there are; and having a settled back 5 is certainly one of them. But I do believe the shoehorning in was also a big factor. Thing is Kracken, its just as easy to assume that Nige was TRYING to fit him in, that it worked well in training as he may well have had a big say in the signing - which at 6-7mil will have put pressure on him. There is no real evidence either way and its just what we chose to believe. To date the opinion that there was pressure from other parties to play a player out of position is just rumours. Yes there may be truth in them, but I dont believe expecting some sort of eveidence before we strat assuming the worst is too much to ask - especially as we have as a club progressed so rapidly. The concept that our poor start was due to inexperience, naivity, injuries and getting new players to gell, especially defensively is the 'positive' view for sure, but its seems equally logical to Nige being presuurised - especially when you look at the quality of the opposition we have faced recently and the attcking side of the performances we had against City and Man U. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 I'm sorry FC but it's very difficult to show any respect towards such a patronising poster as derry. He continually makes wild statements about the team and how it should be changed and he justifies these by saying he was an ex manager as if that elevates his mad views above the less enlightened posters. Additionally the last time I made a very reasonable non abusive comment about something he had said, I get unprovoked abuse in response. He has been proven wrong again here (look how adamant he was that it was offside that soon changed when everyone said it wasn't.) yet cannot admit it. He could do with learning some humility as it would serve him well. Hyp, I know Derry. I hav sat with him at games in the past - and I dont always agree with his perspective on a game or what we should do, and we have enjoyed a good debate about it in the Itchen. He is a smart and Does have teh xperience you mention, and like all in football, opinion will always be divided on what is the solution...which is no bad thing. But when someone who was at teh game, has years of experience in the game makes an observation that the officials agreed with in real time, I am not sure that invalidates that experience when viewed in replays or from different angles. Officials make mistakes - as they have only one chance and no benefit of slo mo replays - all Derry was saying was that from where he was sitting, i real time, he had no complaints about the decision. When viewed later on the TV he may well change his mind - but either way, just because you dont agree with everything he says, not sure for the need for the crappy attacks... as I said, you never used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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