Attacking Flair

[Saint Charlie]

Good performance last night carrying on a very decent recent run. Players looked confident and we try to pass the ball and play some good footy.

 

What we do miss though IMO is another attacking option. I thought Ramirez had a very good game last night, and Puncheon was tidy if perhaps a bit below his best. Guly also put a great shift in and played well, although if we are honest he very rarely looks like creating or taking a chance.

 

I think we certainly still need an addition who can play in any of the '3' of the 4-2-3-1.

 

This has been highlighted by the injury to AL, and injuries happen - but you need to be able to cover them.

 

If we had been able to replace Ramirez with someone better than Davis we could maybe have pushed on and won the game.

 

Apart from when we have not started Lambert I can't remember the last time somebody came of the bench and turned a game for us. Probably was Mayuka vs Spurs (even though we ultimately lost) - he had a good impact that day.

 

Whilst Ramirez is best in behind Lambert I also think he could be good on the right, cutting in on his powerful left foot.

 

If we had someone else who could play the no 10 role, or wide either side, it would give us so many more attacking options.

 

 

The likes of Chaplow and De Ridder were not good enough in the Championship to do any of these roles and aren't at this level and JR is a striker really, and a promising one.

[trousers]

If we had someone else who could play the no 10 role, or wide either side, it would give us so many more attacking options.

 

The No.10 chap we've been linked with from Espanyol maybe? (who's name escapes me momentarily...)

 

Edit: Verdu...that's the fellow

[Pilchards]

Agree, we don't have some magic on the bench like the Chelsea game.

[Saint Charlie]

Agree, we don't have some magic on the bench like the Chelsea game.

 

If you read the post I said that there is an impact when Lambert is dropped but seeing as most of us would start him and Ramirez like last night, who do you feel could come of the bench and be a matchwinner last night?

[Thedelldays]

Last season it seemed we lacked a lot of pace. Now we seem to have lots of pace and able to counter quickly

 

At times, that counter will stop in the final 3rd whilst we tap it around their area

[Dig Dig]

Last season it seemed we lacked a lot of pace. Now we seem to have lots of pace and able to counter quickly

 

At times, that counter will stop in the final 3rd whilst we tap it around their area

 

Not sure I agree with that. Who would you class as being pacey really...Guly? Lambert? Gaston? Puncheon? (he's got a burst but wouldn't even call him pacey)

[Thedelldays]

Not sure I agree with that. Who would you class as being pacey really...Guly? Lambert? Gaston? Puncheon? (he's got a burst but wouldn't even call him pacey)

 

Talking Walcott and Lennon pace.. No

But have seen clyne, shaw, puncheon, Morgan (many time last night) look very quick

 

Rodriguez is no slouch either

[Pilchards]

If you read the post I said that there is an impact when Lambert is dropped but seeing as most of us would start him and Ramirez like last night, who do you feel could come of the bench and be a matchwinner last night?

 

Nobody and that's why we need some new players as our squad is pants.

[Saint Garrett]

Ramirez is actually our quickest player.

[pingwing]

Davis wan't a bad substitution, more effective than Rodriguez or De Ridder *shudders*

 

Just need to focus on getting one or two players so we don't have to let Punch have a rubbish game when he wants or force Rodriguez away from his preferred position up front. Also De ridder should never have been an option in the Premier league, that's just embarrassing (running bet with a mate is I'll pay him £100 if he scores)...

 

Ramirez is actually our quickest player.

 

De Ridder could have him over 20 yards...

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

We should buy in that young English chap that looked pretty good earlier in the season. Funny name, think it's Lallana.

[Saint Garrett]

We should buy in that young English chap that looked pretty good earlier in the season. Funny name, think it's Lallana.

 

Reckon he might make the team vs Utd, if not then Wigan.

[shurlock]

Ramirez is actually our quickest player.

 

Not saying much really - he's strong and powerful (like Guly) but not doesn't really have much acceleration.

Still think we're lacking a bit of quality pace that can beat a man on the outside as well as cut inside.

[tajjuk]

Good performance last night carrying on a very decent recent run. Players looked confident and we try to pass the ball and play some good footy.

 

What we do miss though IMO is another attacking option. I thought Ramirez had a very good game last night, and Puncheon was tidy if perhaps a bit below his best. Guly also put a great shift in and played well, although if we are honest he very rarely looks like creating or taking a chance.

 

I think we certainly still need an addition who can play in any of the '3' of the 4-2-3-1.

 

This has been highlighted by the injury to AL, and injuries happen - but you need to be able to cover them.

 

If we had been able to replace Ramirez with someone better than Davis we could maybe have pushed on and won the game.

 

Apart from when we have not started Lambert I can't remember the last time somebody came of the bench and turned a game for us. Probably was Mayuka vs Spurs (even though we ultimately lost) - he had a good impact that day.

 

Whilst Ramirez is best in behind Lambert I also think he could be good on the right, cutting in on his powerful left foot.

 

If we had someone else who could play the no 10 role, or wide either side, it would give us so many more attacking options.

 

 

The likes of Chaplow and De Ridder were not good enough in the Championship to do any of these roles and aren't at this level and JR is a striker really, and a promising one.

 

 

Agree, my first thought after the game was that we looked "workman like" without Ramirez on the pitch. Like a slightly better version of Wolves last season.

 

Whilst I acknowledge that having too many flair players in tough away trips might not be the right choice, we certainly missed the close control, trickery and composure that Lallana brings us in the final third last night.

 

We also need pace IMO, compare the counter attacks by Gaston in the first half and then Jay Rod in the second, when we countered second half our players ran into blind alleys and good positions were wasted due to either a lack of pace (Puncheon, Lambert, Davis) or a lack of control/dribbling (Jay Rod, De Ridder).

 

I also think "he sh*ts when he wants" Puncheon needs challenging for his place, he's been very good at times this season but still can be very frustrating.

 

It's why I am hoping the club are pursuing players like Coutinho and Zarate who have both pace and dribbling ability that will turn those draws into wins.

 

This playmaker from Espanyol (Verdu) will still be useful as Gaston can't play everygame and is still inconsistent so brings us options in the no.10 at what sounds like a cheap price, but the priority now has to be a wide man who can play either flank, has flair and pace. Such a player is worth a big fee IMO.