'The best coached team in the league by miles..'

[Bucks Saint]

Absolutely love the Neville/Carragher piece. Totally awesome. I have been supporting Saints for almost 50 years and I do not remember two such knowledgable pundits praising us this much.

 

Living the dream!

 

I watched it again this morning before heading to work. Partly because I woke up thinking I may have dreamt it.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

I don't think its a striker that is the missing piece, we've two good proven goalscorers in the squad. The missing piece is what Ramirez was meant to be, that creative player who can do something a little different. We don't create many clear cut chances. We are superb defensively, have an excellent keeper, two good strikers but IMO we are that creative attacking midfielder away from being a real force. The problem is there aren't many around who are affordable for us.

 

Pretty astute observation if I may say.

 

It's one of the hardest positions to get right at the top, in my opinion. There are a fair number of players that have the ability, and are able to demonstrate fleeting moments of class (our Gaston being one), but those that consistently do the fantastic and split the well drilled defences you are bound to find at the top are your Ozils of this world.

 

These players cost in excess of £30m. Are more often that not leading internationals, and usually playing Champions League football.

 

Players like Gaston (i.e. #10s) frustrate so because it is about finding that consistently to supply that moment of magic several gives a game. It's hard to keep up, but those that do, who can be regular match winners. Their job is constantly try to pull off 'that' pass that splits a defence. Often, this won't come off - and yes, they may well give away possession more than most, which is also frustrating. But, this is their job, they aren't there to just move the ball on to a player 5 yards away, they are there to make things happen. It's all very well having the try hard runners, that never give the ball away (because they are constantly making 5 yard square passes), but the result of that is often the lack of penetration we saw against the likes of West Ham/Sunderland - also frustrating.

 

Ultimately, we either need Gaston to come good (which I'm not writing off), or admit defeat and try another. It will require a bit of luck, and probably perseverance, as to get a top level #10 we will have to either unearth some gem, or take an unpolished player with talent and promise, and give them the time/coaching they need to start firing regularly. My biggest gripe with the whole Gaston saga, is that he has very rarely been given an extended run in the team. Due to injury, internationals, family matters etc. he has been in and out a lot. Some may see that as an excuse, but I think he may need that, and not having people get on his back every time a ball doesn't come off. It strikes me as people not understanding what his role is, in his role, he is bound to give the ball away at times.

[Olallana]

Link for all of you that want to see the whole discussion and comparison to Sunderland....

 

http://www.footballorgin.com/2013/10/tv-show-skysports-hd-s-monday-night.html

 

Saints bit starts at 15:05.