Adam Lallana - has he flattered to deceive?

[Smirking_Saint]

This means nothing. So did Stuart downing, Nathan cleverly and Danny Welbeck and they are terrible!!

 

see what you did there

[GAS]

IMO he is an outstanding player. One who you would want to sign if not playing for us. Just an observation but I think today v Schalke - it is apparent he and SRL rely and compliment each other. When not together they do not shine. Only a friendly I know but just my thoughts.

[obelisk]

He's a fine player. Happy to have him in the squad.

 

If he has a noticeable shortcoming it's in his poor finishing. He really doesn't have much of a shot on him. If he works on this then more goals will come.

[OfnPanad]

 

If you can bear the 'my first attempt at video effects' styling and odd music choice you have good examples of both Lallana's finishes here. The curl around the keeper into the bottom far corner and the horrid scuff shot that barely crosses the line. What frustrates me is that he's stopped trying either and now looks to pass the ball to Lambert, Puncheon or JRod 100% of the time.

 

He will never get any further than he has now unless he adds goals to his game. Just do your dragback to get yourself a yard and then effing smash it, Adam!

[Glasgow_Saint]

 

If you can bear the 'my first attempt at video effects' styling and odd music choice you have good examples of both Lallana's finishes here. The curl around the keeper into the bottom far corner and the horrid scuff shot that barely crosses the line. What frustrates me is that he's stopped trying either and now looks to pass the ball to Lambert, Puncheon or JRod 100% of the time.

 

He will never get any further than he has now unless he adds goals to his game. Just do your dragback to get yourself a yard and then effing smash it, Adam!

 

 

Loved the music..... Made me think of Louis Walsh for some reason

[austsaint]

I think Adam deserves another season before judgement on him is passed. I keep monitoring Nathan Dyer's progress at Swansea given they both came through the Saints system together, and at this stage Dyer has made more of an impact at Prem level than Adam. I hope the Captaincy goes to someone else too.

[benjii]

He's obviously got a great touch and ability but he's not that good at kicking a football which is quite an important part of the game.

[kpturner]

He's obviously got a great touch and ability but he's not that good at kicking a football which is quite an important part of the game.

 

Fantastic insight!

[saint_stevo]

Brilliant thread. Some people really are short sighted mongs, he was quality until getting that knee injury (**cough, England call up...**cough) remember the histeria on here wondering what we would do without him while he was injured? Yeah, that.

 

With a re-charge during post season and a decent pre-season no doubt he will do his bit this season.

[Lord Duckhunter]

He's an average premier league player and would do a job for us, Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland ECT. He's not going to get into a top 6/7 premiership side, but could get into any other squad. I find him frustrating, goes over way too easy, poor delivery and poor at offering full back cover, but can show glimpses of great ability. His lack of pace means that at this level he's not going to have the impact he did in other leagues.

 

All in all , I've seen a lot worse play in the premiership and it would be fantastic if he stayed a one club man. So although he's not quite top quality, he's certainly a decent option and seems a decent lad.

[AussieDog]

I've always rated him quite highly but last season was a bit of a disappointment, hopefully only because of his injury problems and that he is now over them. Both Managers must have seen something though as he kept the captaincy. The team always seemed more unbalanced with both him and Gaston in it together. Maybe the 2 of them need to be interchangeable with one of them on the subs bench and coming on as an impact player for the last 20/30 minutes when the games has started to slow down? I do agree he went down far too easily last season. I hate that in the modern game!

[alpine_saint]

Brilliant thread. Some people really are short sighted mongs, he was quality until getting that knee injury (**cough, England call up...**cough) remember the histeria on here wondering what we would do without him while he was injured? Yeah, that.

 

With a re-charge during post season and a decent pre-season no doubt he will do his bit this season.

 

I watched him for the entire 2nd half yesterday and not only was he completely off the pace, but his decision-making was off as well.

[Chez]

IMO he is an outstanding player. One who you would want to sign if not playing for us. Just an observation but I think today v Schalke - it is apparent he and SRL rely and compliment each other. When not together they do not shine. Only a friendly I know but just my thoughts.

 

 

Very good observation. The link up play between these two is always seamless. Lallana is a class act. I don't think I've seen a player control the ball on the run as well as him ever at Saints. For me he just lacks a yard of pace, which means he can't go past a player quite as easily as someone with pace, and he struggles to stay with a pacey overlapping fullback every now and then. I think he more than makes up for that in tricks and skills and much improved work rate. These are the things I want to be watching when paying god knows how much for a season ticket. Hey, but the fella doesn't have a powerful shot, so lets start getting on his back (as we seem to have very few poor players these days) and maybe look to get rid ASAP.

[scotty]

IMO he is an outstanding player. One who you would want to sign if not playing for us. Just an observation but I think today v Schalke - it is apparent he and SRL rely and compliment each other. When not together they do not shine. Only a friendly I know but just my thoughts.

 

Very good observation. The link up play between these two is always seamless. Lallana is a class act. I don't think I've seen a player control the ball on the run as well as him ever at Saints. For me he just lacks a yard of pace, which means he can't go past a player quite as easily as someone with pace, and he struggles to stay with a pacey overlapping fullback every now and then. I think he more than makes up for that in tricks and skills and much improved work rate. These are the things I want to be watching when paying god knows how much for a season ticket. Hey, but the fella doesn't have a powerful shot, so lets start getting on his back (as we seem to have very few poor players these days) and maybe look to get rid ASAP.

 

AL and SRL do work together extremely well.

 

As for AL going down too easily (fnaar fnaar,) well he is lightweight; literally, not disparagingly. His trickery also makes him more likely to get knocked over, and there isn't much of him to knock.

 

I'd be gutted if he left.

[Saint Garrett]

Do agree with that, when AL, SRL and Connolly were all playing in L1 and NPC some of their link up play was absolutely outstanding.

[alpine_saint]

IMO he is an outstanding player. One who you would want to sign if not playing for us. Just an observation but I think today v Schalke - it is apparent he and SRL rely and compliment each other. When not together they do not shine. Only a friendly I know but just my thoughts.

 

Two questions. Firstly why hasnt MP noticed this, if this is the case ? And secondly, does it yield enough dividend when taking into account that it leaves the LB horribly exposed, and that one of our LBs is 18 years old and the other is, well, pants ?

[Wade Garrett]

He isn't a wide player, but is very good playing in the hole behind the forward. Very clever at making runs little runs around defenders, but we aren't playing to his strengths.

[dubai_phil]

He isn't a wide player, but is very good playing in the hole behind the forward. Very clever at making runs little runs around defenders, but we aren't playing to his strengths.

 

Yes but in the hole he will have scoring chances. That ain't any good if he keeps scuffing the shot....

 

Maybe he's out on the side because of that?

 

AL is a great player make no mistake. What I think is getting to all of us is that we can all see how he could be even better.

 

Composure is an issue not just for him but also Puncheon, that final ball or that final shot.

 

Now I am no expert but to me Composure is a mental issue not a skill issue, perhaps these two need to spend extra hours simply kicking a ball into a goal or something (while blindfolded and surrounded by defenders) or maybe they need to see a shrink.

 

It IS there in both of them, but I do think AL needs to sort that out this season.

 

Take the armband away, concentrate on his own game, get someone to sort out that composure England Class

[OldNick]

Yes but in the hole he will have scoring chances. That ain't any good if he keeps scuffing the shot....

 

Maybe he's out on the side because of that?

 

AL is a great player make no mistake. What I think is getting to all of us is that we can all see how he could be even better.

 

Composure is an issue not just for him but also Puncheon, that final ball or that final shot.

 

Now I am no expert but to me Composure is a mental issue not a skill issue, perhaps these two need to spend extra hours simply kicking a ball into a goal or something (while blindfolded and surrounded by defenders) or maybe they need to see a shrink.

 

It IS there in both of them, but I do think AL needs to sort that out this season.

 

Take the armband away, concentrate on his own game, get someone to sort out that composure England Class

Exactly, it is a basic for a footballer to be able to strike the ball.it is something that AL has failed to master. His play with RL is superb and he is a bright footballer, an effective shot would put him to a higher level

[Saint in Paradise]

I said last year that Puncheon would have a better season and be a more important player for us than Lallana and a lot of people called me stupid. Turns out I was right.

 

Find your post or it never happened

 

Nearest I could find was :- http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?40795-Puncheon&highlight=Lallana

 

[Glasgow_Saint]

Nearest I could find was :- http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?40795-Puncheon&highlight=Lallana

 

 

Not sure that qualifies?? What do you think?

[hutch]

Like some have said, his problem is in his head not his feet. Take the armband away.

[Saint Pete]

wHATEVER WE SAY ABOUT lALLANA......He is a top class player..

I trust in MP to sort this out and find the best position/team set up...

 

Every Manager/coach select Adam....the class is there..

 

Frustrating at times...yes..

 

But I believe in Lallana and the coach to get things rolling ...AS WITH RAMIREZ.......Very talented footballers.

 

 

If he's a "top class player", we need to see more end product from him than we did last season.

 

I think he's got a lot of talent, but is yet to prove that he can do it in the prem, for me. This will be a crucial season for him.

[sotonian]

As with many other players Adam has been effected by promotions happening too quick, I think we are all remembering how good he was before last season, but that was against poorer sides, I really hope he can make the step up to prem quality, but really do have my doubts as im not sure we can give him the time to develop, but lets give him a chance

[krissyboy31]

I think he was excellent in our promotion campaign but has definitely not been the same since his injuries throughout last season. I don't think too much can be read into yesterday's game, Shalke were much sharper that we were. Hopefully come West Brom, he'll have had a full (injury free) pre-season and he'll start to show us the player we all hoped he would be.

[alpine_saint]

I think he was excellent in our promotion campaign but has definitely not been the same since his injuries throughout last season. I don't think too much can be read into yesterday's game, Shalke were much sharper that we were. Hopefully come West Brom, he'll have had a full (injury free) pre-season and he'll start to show us the player we all hoped he would be.

 

Fair enough. I will be looking for improvement in him on Saturday. I am also wondering if yesterdays overall strategy of knackering them in training in the morning had some sort of impact. Maybe hes just a bit less fit than the others. I know when I had my babies in our room at home, I had trouble finding the energy to scratch my arse.

[Toon Saint]

Two questions. Firstly why hasnt MP noticed this, if this is the case ? And secondly, does it yield enough dividend when taking into account that it leaves the LB horribly exposed, and that one of our LBs is 18 years old and the other is, well, pants ?

 

Horrible corporate jargon, please keep this in the boardroom.

 

Yes but in the hole he will have scoring chances. That ain't any good if he keeps scuffing the shot....

 

Maybe he's out on the side because of that?

 

AL is a great player make no mistake. What I think is getting to all of us is that we can all see how he could be even better.

 

Composure is an issue not just for him but also Puncheon, that final ball or that final shot.

 

Now I am no expert but to me Composure is a mental issue not a skill issue, perhaps these two need to spend extra hours simply kicking a ball into a goal or something (while blindfolded and surrounded by defenders) or maybe they need to see a shrink.

 

It IS there in both of them, but I do think AL needs to sort that out this season.

 

Take the armband away, concentrate on his own game, get someone to sort out that composure England Class

 

I do agree with a lot of this. Not sure why Lallana was ever made captain, aside from his long association with the club. As a flair player, he doesn't seem the inspirational sort and his own form is too inconsistent to rally those around him. Would much prefer someone like Rickie or Morgan as vice-captain to take over in that role next season.

 

Hoping to see a much more consistent season from Adam next year. I do wonder whether he is more suited to an impact role off the bench, his touch, awareness, and movement being better utilized against tired legs. His relative lack of pace as a Prem winger and slowness in getting the shot away, seem to scupper a lot of his chances last year - leading to his trademarked 'scuffed' effort.

 

When he came on against Reading (away) he was, by contrast, pretty clinical. Don't think he is good enough to replace Gaston in the XI, but employed as a direct subsitute as an AMC once Gaston has had his usual 65-70 mins, think he will serve us a lot better and turn some games for us.

 

He is most definitely wasted out on the wing.

[Wes Tender]

I like his loyalty and want him to do well. I mentioned when he first came into the team that he needed to learn to strike the ball with power. He still cannot shoot with any power and that is a major disadvantage in the PL

 

I agree that it is his weak point. No good for shots on target to be so powder puff. I can recall shots that would have been goals if they weren't so weak that a defender or the keeper had time to get across to save them.

[saint1977]

I think he was excellent in our promotion campaign but has definitely not been the same since his injuries throughout last season. I don't think too much can be read into yesterday's game, Shalke were much sharper that we were. Hopefully come West Brom, he'll have had a full (injury free) pre-season and he'll start to show us the player we all hoped he would be.

 

This, he was our easily one of our best players along with Morgan, Rickie and Punch early on last season, deserving his national call up. That injury v Reading in November derailed him and he wasn't the same player, maybe because he was rushed back too soon. Can't help thinking he'll benefit from a good pre-season and will do well next year. Hopefully he'll have more competition in the wide/AMC areas though which might help everyone.

[tajjuk]

He's a very good player, good movement, good first touch and close control, pretty much either footed, good vision and passer.

 

Two weaknesses really lack of pace and shooting lets him down. Like the above never really been convinced winger is his best position, mainly because of the pace, he's only effective out wide when we are on the front foot and near the opposition box because there can beat a man, get into space round the box and create something. When he's deeper he'll beat a man but go nowhere because he will get caught again so will spend a lot of the time passing sideways and backwards. It also means if he;s on the attack he simply can't track that well because a lot of fullbacks out pace him.

 

I think he'd be good in the hole. Maybe Gaston and Him to battle it out for that spot next year but we'd need another wide option.

[Chez]

I think Adam deserves another season before judgement on him is passed. I keep monitoring Nathan Dyer's progress at Swansea given they both came through the Saints system together, and at this stage Dyer has made more of an impact at Prem level than Adam. I hope the Captaincy goes to someone else too.

 

**** me if you want someone with a powerful shot then Dyer's you man. I've often thought he was the next Tony Yeboah. Sadly the little **** can't kick a ball more than about 15 yards. He's lightweight and I massively overrated. Seriously, would anyone on here swap those two players?

[Chez]

Don't think he is good enough to replace Gaston in the XI, but employed as a direct subsitute as an AMC once Gaston has had his usual 65-70 mins, think he will serve us a lot better and turn some games for us.

 

He is most definitely wasted out on the wing.

 

I would agree that it's almost impossible to play both in the same side. I can't recall it ever working. What a fantastic situation we are in though to have those two competing for a place. Now that is what I call a squad.

 

Not sure he is wasted out wide. I always thought he was made for in the hole and his display at Reading four or five years ago justified that. He was unbelievable that day. However he has been very effective out wide giving us great balance. We certainly missed him when he wasn't in the side. he hasn't ever seemed to do quite enough damage to play in that off the striker role. He's better roaming in from out wide. I think he is still OK to play left side especially now Shaw is in the side as we are less exposed when Lallana has gone .

[Deano6]

Adam Lallana, he does a lot without doing much.

 

Not a reactionary thread, but today's game further reinforced an opinion I've had since our promotion.

 

In the sense of, he does a lot of skill in areas where it's not dangerous, or in a way that doesn't actually benefit the side.

 

For all the kickings that people love to dish out on Gaston, he's scored more, assisted more and generally contributed more to our side. I'm aware Adam suffered with injury last season, I just find myself increasingly feeling that outside of the Football League he has been a real disappointment.

 

I find myself frustrated with Lallana insisting on slowing the play, doing the feints and drag backs and not actually getting us anywhere with them. His set pieces are equally frustrating, and why on earth Nigel Adkins made him the captain I have no idea.

 

I'm hoping he's just enduring a sustained rough patch and will bounce back to ram these words back down my throat, but at current I am unconvinced.

 

He needs to earn his place as much as anyone and seems to escape a lot of the kickings people like to dish out to Guly and Gaston, why is that? Academy boy syndrome?

 

 

 

Come on Adam, step it up.

 

 

What does "flattered to deceive" mean? Doesn't seem to make any sense.

[Hamilton Saint]

Some players are relatively consistent; some are very inconsistent.

 

A player's form in football is a mysterious component in their game. Is it a psychological thing? Or are these phases a natural thing?

 

It's one of the things in football that makes following the sport endlessly fascinating.

[positivepete]

Yes but in the hole he will have scoring chances. That ain't any good if he keeps scuffing the shot....

 

Maybe he's out on the side because of that?

 

AL is a great player make no mistake. What I think is getting to all of us is that we can all see how he could be even better.

 

Composure is an issue not just for him but also Puncheon, that final ball or that final shot.

 

Now I am no expert but to me Composure is a mental issue not a skill issue, perhaps these two need to spend extra hours simply kicking a ball into a goal or something (while blindfolded and surrounded by defenders) or maybe they need to see a shrink.

 

It IS there in both of them, but I do think AL needs to sort that out this season.

 

Take the armband away, concentrate on his own game, get someone to sort out that composure England Class

 

 

When he adds goals to his game he will be a very special player

[Hedgehog]

I have said in the past that he and a few other players adored by the majority can have a complete mare of a game, and anyone making a comment to this fact are shot down in flames. Yet a Guly or Josse or whoever make one mistake and are classed as not good enough. I like Adam and think he is a good player, not exceptional, but at times tries too many tricks then F's it up. Hopefully he will be a lot better next season.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Adam got an ENGLAND call up last season, then he got injured and didnt really get going again.

 

Give him a chance and i think he will impress this coming season

 

 

Took alot of stick for this....... Glad I have been proven right

[trousers]

Took alot of stick for this....... Glad I have been proven right

 

I put £100 on him being our best player this season. Looking like a canny punt at 8-1!

[Smirking_Saint]

Took alot of stick for this....... Glad I have been proven right

 

Credit where credits due, he did look poor at the end of last season and the start of this but is looking excellent right now, fair play to him.

[kpturner]

Wtf???