Cork and Morgan

[sammysaint]

We seem to be linked with a few top CMs, i personally feel Cork and Morgan have a great partnership and we shouldn't break this partnership up, in fact i would go out to say there partnership is one of the best in the league, do we really need a top class CM whos going to come in and replace one of them most likely Cork ?

[skintsaint]

You can't play the whole season with just two CMs.

[Appy]

We are looking to progress, therefore signing players as good as or better than them.

[Pilchards]

It was obvious that we missed Cork at the start of the season and we have nobody else who can play his role, having cover is good.

IMHO Davis can be replaced with those CM that are linked.

 

It would also be great to have a decent cup run for once if we get a better squad.

[hutch]

We were on thin ice a couple of times under the totting-up rule wrt Morgan's yellows. I expect that was in the back of his mind as well, and his performances might well have been affected. Morgan's always had a bit of a mean streak, and that's no bad thing in some circumstances, so long as a 3 match ban doesn't ruin your season.

[mulletsaint]

Most of the previous posters have hit the nail on the head. It's a long season and with the way Pochettino likes his team to play I'd imagine everyone will get plenty of game time. We need competition for places and we need the level of whoever's on the bench to match that of those on the pitch.

[saintbob40]

We do need a third DM as I dont think SD and JWP really fit that role. They look better in the middle of the three where we are being slightly less adventurous.

 

Cork and Morgan are however a very good young partnership. It will be interesting to see how a third DM fits in with the other two. It is however all about the team not the individuals and I think we are very close to being a very good side (...and a new CB who can head and pass certainly helps).

 

We do not want to be this year's QPR so let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[georgeweahscousin]

I've just written something for ESPN on this very subject. It's the biggest tester of fans patience this summer I think. Possibility of Cork not starting the opening game?

[Appy]

I've just written something for ESPN on this very subject. It's the biggest tester of fans patience this summer I think. Possibility of Cork not starting the opening game?

 

Pretty high if we sign Wanyama, although with our first game being away, maybe Pochettino will play all 3.

[leithsaint]

I think a lot of people, myself included, see a certain player or combination of players perform well over time, and begin to think that they can't be replaced. It shows loyalty and appreciation built up over time. In reality there are only a handful of players in the game who ARE the best. In a way it feels wrong to be thinking about changing the centre midfield partnership because we all know how the team improved once Cork returned. The wins against Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea were all really special moments. It would be nice to think that the team from last year can stay together for years to come, but teams evolve, and hopefully move up to a new level.

[Sour Mash]

We are looking to progress, therefore signing players as good as or better than them.

No-one would disagree with that logic, but Wanyama appears to me more of the Schneiderlin type of midfielder than doing Cork's role of sweeping up infront of the back 4 and protecting them, so who would be our likely first choice out of those three?

[batterseasaint]

There will be plenty of opportunities to play all three next season. It will give us an opportunity to control the midfield in away games, which we largely failed to do last season, hence our pretty abysmal away record. Mo will flip the 4231 into a 4321. The places of Lallana, Rodriguez and Gaston are just as likely to come under threat with someone like Wanyama coming in as Cork's is.

[richardc]

As good as Cork is - he does need to chip in with a few goals and assists and this is what a Cork upgrade might provide

[Sour Mash]

There will be plenty of opportunities to play all three next season. It will give us an opportunity to control the midfield in away games, which we largely failed to do last season, hence our pretty abysmal away record. Mo will flip the 4231 into a 4321. The places of Lallana, Rodriguez and Gaston are just as likely to come under threat with someone like Wanyama coming in as Cork's is.

We controlled the midfield in plenty of away games last season, that was the least of our problems on most occassions.

[Appy]

No-one would disagree with that logic, but Wanyama appears to me more of the Schneiderlin type of midfielder than doing Cork's role of sweeping up infront of the back 4 and protecting them, so who would be our likely first choice out of those three?

 

I don't know enough of Wanyama to say which one he would replace, just going by the the reviews i've had of him, looked very good against Barcelona last year, my guess would be Wanyama and Schneiderlin first choice, only a hunch though.

[Sour Mash]

I don't know enough of Wanyama to say which one he would replace, just going by the the reviews i've had of him, looked very good against Barcelona last year, my guess would be Wanyama and Schneiderlin first choice, only a hunch though.

Maybe MP's idea is that an improved back 4 would need less protection, therefore the need for Cork to sit and protect all the time isn't needed so much and to have two CMs that can also pose a bit of a threat in the oppossition's half. Edited 21 June, 2013 by Sour Mash

[georgeweahscousin]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/southampton/id/721?cc=5739

[Olallana]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/southampton/id/721?cc=5739

 

Good read, just one question.

 

Where does this use of MoPo come from?

It´s not even initials for his name.....

[Sour Mash]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/southampton/id/721?cc=5739

Your continued use of "MoPo" makes that article pretty unreadable.

[tajjuk]

Good read, just one question.

 

Where does this use of MoPo come from?

It´s not even initials for his name.....

 

 

Mauricio in English is Maurice or Morris, and Maurice is sometimes shortened to 'Mo' and the Po obviously comes from Pochettino, either taking the first two letters or first and last.

 

examples - Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeks

Maurice Alberto "Mo" Rocca

Maurice John Giblin "Mo" Johnston

Maurice "Mo" Williams

Edited 21 June, 2013 by tajjuk

[georgeweahscousin]

Good read, just one question.

 

Where does this use of MoPo come from?

It´s not even initials for his name.....

 

It's a handy little nickname. Mo = Short for Mauricio. Po = Short for Pochettino. Like the runner FloJo.

 

Your continued use of "MoPo" makes that article pretty unreadable.

 

Sorry, I like it.

[Appy]

Can't stand all these shortened names like AVB and MoPo.

[Lets B Avenue]

Can't stand all these shortened names like AVB and MoPo.

 

and App.

[Saint Garrett]

Don't mind AVB, MoPo is just **** though.

[DuncanRG]

As good as Cork is - he does need to chip in with a few goals and assists and this is what a Cork upgrade might provide

 

No he doesn't! Where on earth do people get this idea from? Schneiderlin's the one who needs to work on attacking product and he said himself that he's been doing that for a while.

[Appy]

and App.

 

Touche.

[Sydenhampton]

Mo will flip the 4231 into a 4321.

 

This.

 

Deploying Wanyama in front of a strengthened defence with Cork alongside him allows Scheiders to push a little further forward, potentially in to more of a playmaker role which, IMHO, he is more than capable of doing. Our midfield would be much more dominant for it which would surely mean more chances on target, not to mention the flexibility of being able to reshuffle the formation at any time to suit the pattern of the game.

[DuncanRG]

Wait, so we're turning Morgan Schneiderlin, one of Europe's top tacklers and intercepters, into a playmaker? Talk about playing to your strengths.

[Batman]

Wait, so we're turning Morgan Schneiderlin, one of Europe's top tacklers and intercepters, into a playmaker? Talk about playing to your strengths.

 

The insane world of saints web

[Rowan Gorilla 5]

Why would we not try to improve every area of the first team and squad if that option is available? I don't understand how we can settle with what we have and not strive to better what we've got. Where did we finish last season again?

[GAS]

I've just written something for ESPN on this very subject. It's the biggest tester of fans patience this summer I think. Possibility of Cork not starting the opening game?

Why would he not start?

[Saint_Randell]

When Man Utd signed Van Persie, I doubt many of their fans were sat worrying about how Rooney Hernandez Welbeck Kagawa would all fit in. Unfortunately, and I don't particularly like it as I'm a massive fan of Cork, but its how you progress and win things.

 

Its what's held back arsenal in recent years, they havent signed a cm because it may affect Ramsey's game time for example.

 

Premier league is a squad game, would bet that Cork would start at least 50% of the games, probably a lot more.

[toofarnorth]

Maybe having a new CM t sit with Cork will allow Morgan much more freedom. We saw how good he is at going forward ad he could break up play even further up the field knowing there is a second layer of midfield cover behind him. Toure has shown that defensive midfielders that can attack well are a great asset.

[Shroppie]

As good as the Cork/Morgan partnership has been, you can't expect them to play every game and we need to know that an injury/suspension won't leave us exposed.

 

Think back to how we were at the start of last season without Cork. Things started to pick up when he came back.

 

And with a high tempo game having quality on the bench in that position will be key. I imagine all three playing at least part of nearly every game.

[Appy]

Why would he not start?

 

If we sign someone better than him.

[Wade Garrett]

Whoever we sign in midfield will have a battle to dislodge Cork or Morgan.

[Appy]

Whoever we sign in midfield will have a battle to dislodge Cork or Morgan.

 

Which is what we want.

[saintrich]

I don't see the big deal about breaking up the partnership. The reason we done well when Cork came back into the team was that we had two decent defensive midfielders next to each other for once. Having three to pick from will be great. Previously Davis had played a few and so did Ward-Prowse - neither of whom are natural defensive midfielders and later played further forward.

[The Kraken]

Whoever we sign in midfield will have a battle to dislodge Cork or Morgan.

Good. Competition for places is exactly what we need. Cork got taken off fairly early in games towards the end of the season, if anything he looked weary from a long campaign. Fair play to Schneiderlin for keeping the performance levels up to then end. Having three players to be able rotate is sensible for a side looking to push on and improve, and also gives us more potential for midfield variation against different sides.

[Wade Garrett]

Good. Competition for places is exactly what we need. Cork got taken off fairly early in games towards the end of the season, if anything he looked weary from a long campaign. Fair play to Schneiderlin for keeping the performance levels up to then end. Having three players to be able rotate is sensible for a side looking to push on and improve, and also gives us more potential for midfield variation against different sides.

 

Agreed.

[aintforever]

I think some forget how lucky we were with injuries last season. Quality cover for centre mid is definitely needed along with a few other positions.

[Window Cleaner]

I think some forget how lucky we were with injuries last season. Quality cover for centre mid is definitely needed along with a few other positions.

 

Well if his England performance today is anything to go by it's certainly not JWP that will be replacing either of them. Doesn't seem to read the game at all well, always reactive and never proactive.