Considering the changes

[Professor]

GK - Forster - upgrade from Boruk

RB - Clyne - no change

CB - Fonte - no change

CB - Gardos - small downgrade from Lovren (Yoshida - no change as cover)

LB - Bertrand - small downgrade from Shaw

DMF - Wanyama - no change

DMF - Schneiderlin - no change

RMF - JWP - no change (Ramirez - no change as cover)

CMF - Davis - no change

LMF - Tadic - equivalent to Lallana

Striker - Pelle - equivalent to Lambert (Long - cover, or second striker - in place of injured JRod)

 

Others can make their own assessments of the individual comparisons but the point of this is see how the present team compares following the departures. Overall, in terms of quality, it doesn't look that different with only four outfield changes. Blending them together may be a factor but adapting to a different structure and different tactics could be the bigger challenge.

[Batman]

Talking out of your arse IMO

 

How you have decided gordos is anything is beyond me. And your assessment of pelle so far.... My god

 

Bit early to rate tadic on par with Lallana. He was in the Pfa team of the year and cleaned up at the clubs end of season awards, ffs

[farawaysaint]

GK - Forster - upgrade from Boruk

RB - Clyne - no change

CB - Fonte - no change

CB - Gardos - small downgrade from Lovren (Yoshida - no change as cover)

LB - Bertrand - small downgrade from Shaw

DMF - Wanyama - no change

DMF - Schneiderlin - no change

RMF - JWP - no change (Ramirez - no change as cover)

CMF - Davis - no change

LMF - Tadic - equivalent to Lallana

Striker - Pelle - equivalent to Lambert (Long - cover, or second striker - in place of injured JRod)

 

Others can make their own assessments of the individual comparisons but the point of this is see how the present team compares following the departures. Overall, in terms of quality, it doesn't look that different with only four outfield changes. Blending them together may be a factor but adapting to a different structure and different tactics could be the bigger challenge.

 

So you want to compare the team but say that the individual comparisons are irrelevant? I disagree.

 

I think Pelle is somewhat of a large downgrade from Lambert as things stand, Long is nowhere close to J-Rod's level, we have no idea of Gardos' level and Tadic is not close to Lallana (while he appears a good buy).

 

The team is greatly weakened there is very little wiggle room here.

[scotty]

Talking out of your arse IMO

 

How you have decided gordos is anything is beyond me. And your assessment of pelle so far.... My god

 

Bit early to rate tadic on par with Lallana. He was in the Pfa team of the year and cleaned up at the clubs end of season awards, ffs

 

That was a swift edit Jamie. And prof is entitled to his opinion just as you are, no need for insults.

 

fwiw, the professor seems to be focussing mainly on the positions replaced rather than the quality of the replacements. I don't see the slightest evidence as yet that Pelle is an equivalent replacement for Lambert, not to mention the rest (Forster and Tadic excepted.)

[KingdomCome]

Disagree on Pelle at the moment. Too early to judge really but from the 2 games so far, he's a big step down.

 

No idea about Gardos yet but if he is only a small step down from lovren I'd be immensely pleased.

 

The problem is getting them to play as a team.

[Shroppie]

The biggest weakening is at manager level. Ricky is also a big miss as is JRod - we were struggling for goals the moment he got injured.

[St Chalet]

The biggest weakening is at manager level. Ricky is also a big miss as is JRod - we were struggling for goals the moment he got injured.

 

Think it is far too early to say that.

[Killers Knee]

Pelle will need 6 months to get up to speed, he's played all his 29 years at half pace, his brain cannot even think at premier league speeds yet, so I will judge him around March.

Tadic and Forster are good players, they wouldn't have looked out of place in last season's team.

Gardos is somewhere between Lovren and Forren.

 

Tactically we are worrying.

[red&white56]

It's interesting to see the comments on Ricky, and how big a miss he is for us. Last season many posters were saying he wasn't good enough to be in the team, that he should be dropped.

 

Is this a case of our memories growing fonder as time passes or many of us under estimating the controbution Ricky made to the team?

 

For me it's the latter.

[StAndy1970]

Normal service resumed on every post on this forum. The Prof starts a thread with his opinions, and with 2nd reply there's a " talking out of your arse" comment thrown back. What a bunch of numpties there are.

This forum used to be good. Too often now a days frequented by opinionated cyber warriors sitting behind the safety of their keyboards.

Yes Pelle has been disappointing so far, by Roko I'm sure has a better insight into his ability than any of you bedwetters. If things are so bad at Saints then do us all a favour and go support someone else instead of spreading your negativity around all the time! ( waiting for the sticks and stones now!!! )

[Smirking_Saint]

Think it is far too early to say that.

 

I dont, and thats not saying Koeman is poor at all, I think he will go on to be very good. Poch however is exceptional.

[Turkish]

It's interesting to see the comments on Ricky, and how big a miss he is for us. Last season many posters were saying he wasn't good enough to be in the team, that he should be dropped.

 

Is this a case of our memories growing fonder as time passes or many of us under estimating the controbution Ricky made to the team?

 

For me it's the latter.

 

We have a lot of players like that, ones who have their best games when they don't play. Lambert is a saints legend and I was gutted when he left however in many games last season he was anonymous, he is 33 this season and sooner rather than later he was going to be phased out of the team. Cortese wanted shot of him in January as well as the fact it was pretty clear we were looking for a long term successor. If Osvaldo had been the player he was meant to be it would have been him. Its shameful that so many utter freaks are giving Pelle abuse after just two games.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Regardless of the personnel changes I will miss the aggression and style of football we played under Pochettino. It got the best out of the players.

[S-Clarke]

As the season goes on, I think we'll realise just what Rickie offered us in terms of assists and goals as we struggle to break ourselves away from the bottom half. A unique player of which Pelle is nowhere near.

 

Tadic looks ok, but a little slow in thought and speed. Will see how he adapts as time goes on.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Pelle and Lambert are playing two completely different roles. Whenever Lambert stayed up top for us and dealt with balls pumped forward he also struggled a lot. Pelle is not a downgrade in that respect.

 

But Lambert had more in his locker to get involved in moving us up the field and making it stick when he got it to feet. I have not seen much of Pelle but I will say this - I am not quite sure what he is particularly good at yet. That may be because we are not playing to his strengths (which is an issue in itself) however my concern is what can he do for us? What is he going to do to impose himself on the game?

[Dellman]

The biggest change is that we now sign older players-Pelle is 29-they wont gain in value and probably not in skill which is a lose-lose situation. When we were buying young -Morgan, JRod, Big Vic, Clyne- both the skill and the value increases so that we are in a win-win situation.

[RobM]

What seems to be overlooked at the moment is we're still incredibly lightweight in terms of depth and options in some key areas. All focus is on replacing those who have left, but we had a light squad last season and we're even worse now. Regardless of how our current first team compares to last seasons, we're still one injury away from a big problem in some key areas and have very few options to change things from the bench.

 

Last year we had no LB cover, we still don't. We did have RB cover though, we don't any more.

At CB we're still reliant on Yoshida and Jos, which is a problem. Less so this year since our playing style means our defence is better protected by midfield, but it's still a problem.

With Boruc leaving we're in the hands of Davis, Gaza or Cropper should Forster get injured. We missed an opportunity to have quality competition and cover here.

Up front we have three players who could be up to the standard (assuming Pelle finds his feet) but little if any cover or options to change.

We've plenty of midfielders, but few game changers other than maybe Gaston when he's on form.

 

I really hope we use the rest of this transfer window to improve our starting lineup, then use Jan to add depth. I know we have plenty of youngsters, but few have much game time to prove they're ready.

[SaintSteve]

Pelle and Lambert are playing two completely different roles. Whenever Lambert stayed up top for us and dealt with balls pumped forward he also struggled a lot. Pelle is not a downgrade in that respect.

 

But Lambert had more in his locker to get involved in moving us up the field and making it stick when he got it to feet. I have not seen much of Pelle but I will say this - I am not quite sure what he is particularly good at yet. That may be because we are not playing to his strengths (which is an issue in itself) however my concern is what can he do for us? What is he going to do to impose himself on the game?

 

One difference.. Lambert read the flight of the long ball early and used his strength to hold the ball up. Pelle needs to improve that skill.

Agree on the second point; but we are expecting too much of Pelle to see him as a direct Lambert replacement.

I must say though, I thought Pelle would be quicker to fit in with a more direct style under Koeman.

[S-Clarke]

What seems to be overlooked at the moment is we're still incredibly lightweight in terms of depth and options in some key areas. All focus is on replacing those who have left, but we had a light squad last season and we're even worse now. Regardless of how our current first team compares to last seasons, we're still one injury away from a big problem in some key areas and have very few options to change things from the bench.

 

Last year we had no LB cover, we still don't. We did have RB cover though, we don't any more.

At CB we're still reliant on Yoshida and Jos, which is a problem. Less so this year since our playing style means our defence is better protected by midfield, but it's still a problem.

With Boruc leaving we're in the hands of Davis, Gaza or Cropper should Forster get injured. We missed an opportunity to have quality competition and cover here.

Up front we have three players who could be up to the standard (assuming Pelle finds his feet) but little if any cover or options to change.

We've plenty of midfielders, but few game changers other than maybe Gaston when he's on form.

 

I really hope we use the rest of this transfer window to improve our starting lineup, then use Jan to add depth. I know we have plenty of youngsters, but few have much game time to prove they're ready.

 

Don't forget Target, he's the cover at left back. Also pretty sure we'll see a utility player come in who can cover RM/RB and CB.

 

I'd say in terms of depth we're stronger up front. Last season we had Lambert and Jay, and an unproven and inexperienced Gallagher. You could even say that as Jay wasn't often played up front, we only had Lambert and Gallagher. We've got Pelle, Gallagher, Long and Jay in the forward areas this year - so more depth and quality to choose from.

 

Not sure what you meant with regards to the club missing an opportunity in the GK position, I'm pretty sure we just signed Forster with the general idea to have Boruc as the competition. It's not the clubs fault that he decided to throw his toys out, even if it was him who laughed at his lack of competition last year. Bit of a mental head is our boruc.

 

So I think by the end of the window we will end up with a wider squad, but about 2/3 notches down in overall quality.

[Saint Jude]

..there seem to be a lot of emotional reactions based upon 1 or 2 results.

 

Yes Spurs played well against an awful QPR side, and yes MoPo is a ver good manager, but let's get it in context. He plays with one dimension that frustrated us all last year. He has taken over a Spurs side, full of expensive players, that performed way below how they should have performed last year.. and in my opinion they had awful managers last year. They will be much better this year, MoPo will get them playing a certain way, longer term there will probably be cliques and falling out, but overall he'll get them playing well.. he's a very good manager, but has weaknesses as well.... but Saints need to move on...

 

I don't think right now, anyone can judge RoKo, other than to say, he's better at engaging with the fans/more open... the players broadly seem happy with his style behind the scenes and based upon 2 games, 1) the team has done well.. and 2) very similar to last year we struggled beyond a one dimensional style..for me it's a slight upgrade in that RoKo came out and pretty much said as much.

 

In my view, the team is currently not as good as last year, partly because they haven't had time to gel... but let's be honest we've lost some of our better players... BUT a lot of what we've lost is 'potential'... i.e. Bertrand for Shaw... Shaw wasn't exceptional in every game last year... he made a ton of mistakes... but he was 'very good'... but at his age he had/has the potential to be world class...whereas Bertrand is a pretty good replacement, but will most likely on marginally improve... and I think that optimisim for the future is what we've lost most with Chambers going, which what hit most hard.

 

What's most disappointing about the Long transfer is that I don't think anyone thinks he'll get better... or we'll do anything but lose money on him...

 

..so overall (in my opinion)

 

GK - Forster is an upgrade, probably about the same now but more potential than Boruc

RB - The same, but we've lost 'potential' in Chambers

RCB - the same

LCB - Currently downgrade, but here's hoping Gardos adjusts quickly and coudl easily reach same levels as Lovren

LB - Slight downgrade, but mostly in future potential... although might allow more hope for Targett

CMF - Added Taider, who has 'potential' but need to sort out the Morgan situation before we know if this has been strengthened or not

RMF - Same..

LMF/LW - Tadic currently below Lallana.. but to me...looks like he has more potential.... but that's very much opinion at this stage

Strikers... - Currently Pelle...looks like he needs confidence and to adjust to the premiership...so a downgrade on Ricky...but I'm hopeful by end of the season it will be an upgrade...but we'll see...personally... I think Long is a downgrade, mostly because of that word potential... he's a journeyman who looks like he won't get better... and personally I'd have Lloyd Isgrove over Townsend... partly because of the HOPE is breeds in the club and fans and that's hard to buy...

[RobM]

Don't forget Target, he's the cover at left back. Also pretty sure we'll see a utility player come in who can cover RM/RB and CB.

 

I'd say in terms of depth we're stronger up front. Last season we had Lambert and Jay, and an unproven and inexperienced Gallagher. You could even say that as Jay wasn't often played up front, we only had Lambert and Gallagher. We've got Pelle, Gallagher, Long and Jay in the forward areas this year - so more depth and quality to choose from.

 

Not sure what you meant with regards to the club missing an opportunity in the GK position, I'm pretty sure we just signed Forster with the general idea to have Boruc as the competition. It's not the clubs fault that he decided to throw his toys out, even if it was him who laughed at his lack of competition last year. Bit of a mental head is our boruc.

 

So I think by the end of the window we will end up with a wider squad, but about 2/3 notches down in overall quality.

 

I hope you're right about our position at the end of the window. With Boruc, IMO it is the clubs fault. If the club had told Boruc and Forster that they are here to compete and the keeper in the best form will get the nod, we'd have two decent GK's to choose from. Publicly telling the world Forster is No.1 and has replaced Boruc was only ever going to end this way. Even if it was guaranteed that Forest would be No.1, it did nothing but harm to make such comments publicly.

 

Also Gallagher, as much as I'd love to say otherwise, didn't show he was up to it last season. His effort cannot be faulted, but his quality and end product wasn't there.

[Saint Charlie]

MoPo is a ver good manager, but let's get it in context. He plays with one dimension that frustrated us all last year.

 

Shaw wasn't exceptional in every game last year... he made a ton of mistakes...

 

RB- The same, but we've lost 'potential' in Chambers

 

and personally I'd have Lloyd Isgrove over Townsend...

 

Some utter rubbish here.

 

1. Pretty sure Poch's tactics were the best of Saints Managers in the last 20 years. We actually had a style. It was a massive blow to lose him, he is firmly on an upward trend.

 

2. Can you name even three of these Shaw mistakes?

 

3. We have lost more than potential with Chambers. He has started all three Arsenal games and will be in the England squad. How can you say the RB situation is "the same" when we currently have no cover for Clyne and the guy we let go is getting rave reviews. We are clearly weakthere there NOW.

 

4. Isgrove over Townsend? Jesus.

[S-Clarke]

Some utter rubbish here.

 

1. Pretty sure Poch's tactics were the best of Saints Managers in the last 20 years. We actually had a style. It was a massive blow to lose him, he is firmly on an upward trend.

 

2. Can you name even three of these Shaw mistakes?

 

3. We have lost more than potential with Chambers. He has started all three Arsenal games and will be in the England squad. How can you say the RB situation is "the same" when we currently have no cover for Clyne and the guy we let go is getting rave reviews. We are clearly weakthere there NOW.

 

4. Isgrove over Townsend? Jesus.

 

Seems as if it's a case of ''They've left, so they're ****''

 

Really quite dull.

[saintant]

Biggest difference for me is not personnel but training intensity and tactics on the pitch. I assume we are not continuing with MP's double training regime so even if we wanted to it's unlikely we're fit enough to play the high-press game. For me the drop in fitness levels and absence of the high-press/quick passing that went a long way to making us the team we were last season is what will be missed more than the players who have departed. On Saturday we just looked like a typical Saints team pre MP. That approach to training and style of play more than anything raised us to a level above the Aston Villa, West Ham, Hull sort of sides. I don't think we have a bad squad of players but feel we are going to miss the high intensity flowing football that we were able to produce under MP.

[Saint Charlie]

Brad Friedel on 5 Live Friday night said the gym working Poch gets players to do is unlike anything else he has seen in his career.

 

Said when he watches Chambers he can see the benefit he would have gained from it, and that basically its a massive part of their training regime.

 

We do still do double sessions though.

 

Have to say loads of Managers talk about pressing but Poch is one of very few that has a systematic style to it and it is recognisable from very early on in his teams.

 

That aspect is the most frustrating to miss as was good to watch and we often started games well because we were straight onto the front foot.

[monosaint]

I think that when we get Ramirez and J-Rod back to full throttle and get a couple of signings this week i.e a Winger and Defender then I will be more than happy. The challenge will be bedding the new players in to a new system. I believe in RK. He is intelligent, honest and articulate. He gave no excuses about Saturday's performance where some managers would have.

[monosaint]

Brad Friedel on 5 Live Friday night said the gym working Poch gets players to do is unlike anything else he has seen in his career.

 

Said when he watches Chambers he can see the benefit he would have gained from it, and that basically its a massive part of their training regime.

 

We do still do double sessions though.

 

Have to say loads of Managers talk about pressing but Poch is one of very few that has a systematic style to it and it is recognisable from very early on in his teams.

 

That aspect is the most frustrating to miss as was good to watch and we often started games well because we were straight onto the front foot.

 

Yes.. But it didn't always work as teams got used to it and developed good tactics to counter-act it. He did have one style and that is dangerous. So far they have beaten WHU and QPR. Let's see how he goes with the better sides. My bet is they will finish 6th.

[captainchris]

..there seem to be a lot of emotional reactions based upon 1 or 2 results.

 

Yes Spurs played well against an awful QPR side, and yes MoPo is a ver good manager, but let's get it in context. He plays with one dimension that frustrated us all last year. He has taken over a Spurs side, full of expensive players, that performed way below how they should have performed last year.. and in my opinion they had awful managers last year. They will be much better this year, MoPo will get them playing a certain way, longer term there will probably be cliques and falling out, but overall he'll get them playing well.. he's a very good manager, but has weaknesses as well.... but Saints need to move on...

 

I don't think right now, anyone can judge RoKo, other than to say, he's better at engaging with the fans/more open... the players broadly seem happy with his style behind the scenes and based upon 2 games, 1) the team has done well.. and 2) very similar to last year we struggled beyond a one dimensional style..for me it's a slight upgrade in that RoKo came out and pretty much said as much.

 

In my view, the team is currently not as good as last year, partly because they haven't had time to gel... but let's be honest we've lost some of our better players... BUT a lot of what we've lost is 'potential'... i.e. Bertrand for Shaw... Shaw wasn't exceptional in every game last year... he made a ton of mistakes... but he was 'very good'... but at his age he had/has the potential to be world class...whereas Bertrand is a pretty good replacement, but will most likely on marginally improve... and I think that optimisim for the future is what we've lost most with Chambers going, which what hit most hard.

 

What's most disappointing about the Long transfer is that I don't think anyone thinks he'll get better... or we'll do anything but lose money on him...

 

..so overall (in my opinion)

 

GK - Forster is an upgrade, probably about the same now but more potential than Boruc

RB - The same, but we've lost 'potential' in Chambers

RCB - the same

LCB - Currently downgrade, but here's hoping Gardos adjusts quickly and coudl easily reach same levels as Lovren

LB - Slight downgrade, but mostly in future potential... although might allow more hope for Targett

CMF - Added Taider, who has 'potential' but need to sort out the Morgan situation before we know if this has been strengthened or not

RMF - Same..

LMF/LW - Tadic currently below Lallana.. but to me...looks like he has more potential.... but that's very much opinion at this stage

Strikers... - Currently Pelle...looks like he needs confidence and to adjust to the premiership...so a downgrade on Ricky...but I'm hopeful by end of the season it will be an upgrade...but we'll see...personally... I think Long is a downgrade, mostly because of that word potential... he's a journeyman who looks like he won't get better... and personally I'd have Lloyd Isgrove over Townsend... partly because of the HOPE is breeds in the club and fans and that's hard to buy...

 

You can talk about time to gelid you have substance both in terms of skill and tactics. So far we seem to lack both.

[Faz]

So far we've signed players from:

 

Celtic

Inter Milan

Chelsea

Steau

Feyenord

Twente

Hull

 

That's a pretty good shopping centre of the likes of us, and I think we've signed some good players. We don't yet look like the fluent team we saw for the most part last season, but I have faith in Ron. It will come.

[Faz]

You can talk about time to gelid you have substance both in terms of skill and tactics. So far we seem to lack both.

 

What did you make of our skill and tactics against Liverpool?

[Killers Knee]

Biggest difference for me is not personnel but training intensity and tactics on the pitch. I assume we are not continuing with MP's double training regime so even if we wanted to it's unlikely we're fit enough to play the high-press game. For me the drop in fitness levels and absence of the high-press/quick passing that went a long way to making us the team we were last season is what will be missed more than the players who have departed. On Saturday we just looked like a typical Saints team pre MP. That approach to training and style of play more than anything raised us to a level above the Aston Villa, West Ham, Hull sort of sides. I don't think we have a bad squad of players but feel we are going to miss the high intensity flowing football that we were able to produce under MP.

 

Good Post, looking at the teamsheets there's not much in it, but tactically there is a big difference. Hopefully this is due to us missing key players or RK not getting his point across. I hope that RK is intelligent enough to recognise that the tactics of last season should become our default with RK's tactical genius supplying additions upon that solid base.

 

If RK gets his men on 31/08 it will take a month for the team to gel and for tactics to become understood, so hopefully it'll start to click in October.

[Saintru]

I think the problem is the link play between the 3 up top last year was so good. This was often pointed out by TV pundits, RL, Jay Rod and AL's movement and intelligent play gained us many goals. Classic example was Fulham home last year. To recreate that will be tough. Suddenly J Rod will have to play with new guys who think differently. I think we look solid as a team and Yoshida should be given credit because he has come in and played well. The problem will be the guys up top working together to score goals, we have not got a world class forward player who will create something out of nothing. At the WBA game Long put a perfect through ball in, but Tadic stopped running. Now last season that could have been a goal because the understanding between the players was so good.

 

I think we are going to have to be patient and accept the fact that goals and points this season will be harder to come by. As most Saints fans have said I do feel we need pace to come into the team. As good as we were last year we did not have a player with blistering pace to come off the bench. On Saturday you looked at the bench and wondered who could come on and make a difference. However I do think Long can cause problems if he plays down the middle, not wide. Management is so easy!

[OldNick]

I al

ways find the Plan B thing a nonsense. The 3 best teams in my lifetime who were successful played the same way until the final whistle. don Revies. Leeds, Liverpool in the 80s and Man Utd. They believed in their system and kept going until the final whistle, hence their late goals to win matches. MP played a fantastic system for us, but needed some more personnel to just make us that little better

[Smirking_Saint]

Yes.. But it didn't always work as teams got used to it and developed good tactics to counter-act it. He did have one style and that is dangerous. So far they have beaten WHU and QPR. Let's see how he goes with the better sides. My bet is they will finish 6th.

 

This was the most frustrating criticism at the time, saying that poch was just a one tactic wonder. This viewpoint is so fundamentally flawed its rediculous. I cant name many teams that have extreme changes of tactics if things were not working. The only team that springs to mind immediately is Chelsea and realistically its more a change of personel than any real change of playing philosophy and poch never had that embarrassment of riches.

 

His tactics were miles ahead of so many other coaches and Im sorry to say it but that imcludes Koeman. Thats not to say he isnt a good coach, nor that he wont do very well for us, its more an observation of what a wonderful coach poch was with his intricate attention to detail.

 

Ive never witnessed a saints team that was so organised, fit and competetive in every game. Also, this easy to work out arguement... Was it ? How many clubs played us of the park ? Very few in reality, many of the losses were teams that managed to nick a goal. My main issue was the fact we took few shots, or did not create enough chances, something easily rectified at a team such as spurs that will have better options up top.

 

I find it rediculous how players and managers are so devalued when they leave the club. The reality is that the team is not as weakened as we thought it could or would be. However it is weakened, Ive already spoken of Poch, but then you have Lallana - Named in the team of the year. Shaw - most distance covered in the prem and most successful dribbles, Lovren - had a shaky period but in the main was excellent.

 

You then have Lambert and chambers who at first I didnt think were massive losses however look as if they will be.

[thesaint sfc]

I think we could be really good this season, or we could be really crap. The only thing I'm certain of is its too early to make any drastic assessments.

[Killers Knee]

I al

ways find the Plan B thing a nonsense. The 3 best teams in my lifetime who were successful played the same way until the final whistle. don Revies. Leeds, Liverpool in the 80s and Man Utd. They believed in their system and kept going until the final whistle, hence their late goals to win matches. MP played a fantastic system for us, but needed some more personnel to just make us that little better

 

 

plan B is a "nice to have" when you have a plan A.

[Roger]

Dear me. I think saint Jude is drunk. Agree with Charlie

Edited 25 August, 2014 by Roger
Left out text

[OldNick]

plan B is a "nice to have" when you have a plan A.

I was talking about under MP , I have not seen or heard of our new style of play

[alpine_saint]

I'm not going to jump to conclusions this season.

 

We have had an utterly sh*te summer due to our board going AWOL, a scheming, conniving manager and a bunch of primma donnas throwing playground strops, and we have a whole bunch of new faces that need to adjust and acclimatise. Yes, the performance against the Scouse Thieving Tw*ts gave us false hope that this process would be complete sooner rather than later, but I am guessing the team were motivated by other factors like sticking the proverbial middle digit up at Rodgers, but this Saturday was a bump back to reality. And its clear that the scumbag Argie is doing his best to unsettle the team still.

 

Lets see where we are when the window shuts, when everyone then knows who they are, what they are, and where they feature mid-term in the clubs plans, and see what happens next.

 

As per usual, I think the litmus test is where we are at Xmas.

[leeham_69]

Pelle and Lambert are playing two completely different roles. Whenever Lambert stayed up top for us and dealt with balls pumped forward he also struggled a lot. Pelle is not a downgrade in that respect.

 

But Lambert had more in his locker to get involved in moving us up the field and making it stick when he got it to feet. I have not seen much of Pelle but I will say this - I am not quite sure what he is particularly good at yet. That may be because we are not playing to his strengths (which is an issue in itself) however my concern is what can he do for us? What is he going to do to impose himself on the game?

I tend to agree, we haven't really given pelle the opportunity to show us what he can do with his feet yet. We aren't west ham, we have to be better than hoofing it to the big bloke.

 

I also think selection wasn't helping - Davis, JWP, Morgan and Wanyama doesn't scream dynamism to me. I'm a big fan of Cork so I may be biased but what he lacks in VW's defensive prowess he contributes so much more to getting attacks moving. Haven't seen a saints side so static in years!

[Saint Jude]

Dear me. I think saint Jude is drunk. Agree with Charlie

 

Dear me... I gave an opinion on a forum....

[SaintRobbie]

Too early to tell.

[BlakeySFC]

Think Bertrand has been better than Shaw in his first 2 games.

[S-Clarke]

Think Bertrand has been better than Shaw in his first 2 games.

 

He hasn't.

[monkadill]

consider the Lilly..

[Window Cleaner]

consider the Lilly..

 

And why not, amazing things lilies.

 

LILIA SOLA REGUNT UNDAS, LUNAM, CASTRA ET LEONEM

 

motto of the ancient house of aquitaine, though exactly how you can rule a lion with a lily is a question metaphycisists must ponder over endlessly.

Edited 25 August, 2014 by Window Cleaner

[Whitey Grandad]

Think Bertrand has been better than Shaw in his first 2 games.

 

Not difficult when Shaw isn't playing.

[Norm]

LMF - Tadic - equivalent to Lallana

Striker - Pelle - equivalent to Lambert

 

Far to early to suggest that.

[david in sweden]

WAY too early.... to even start comparing anyone with anyone. Anytime now we'll get someone condemning defenders when we concede a goal, or strikers when they miss a sitter.

 

Dare I mention .....

...that Ricky Lambert frequently went 3- 4 games without scoring....or that we even let in goals when Lovren was playing centre back? ....or that Lallana (good as he was) was subbed 20 times last season.

 

Everyone has off-days, but this type of early season criticism (after 2 games).....is absolutely ridiculous.

[Saints foreva]

CB - Gardos - small downgrade from Lovren (Yoshida - no change as cover)

 

How many times have you seen him play?