Saint IQ Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Where would we be in the table? Pelle misfiring since december and a lack of that final killer ball or spark in the final 3rd. I can't help but wonder if we would be higher in the table right now had those two stayed, the amount of goals and assists they got for us over 5 years must of been a considerable % of all our goals This is not meant to be a negative thread I was just thinking about it today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 I'm sure we'd have more points overall, but it's an impossible question really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Lallana might have held the ball up a bit better high up the pitch and maybe created a few chances from nothing but he certainly wouldn't have solved our shooting problem, and Lambert was a busted flush 6 months before we even sold him and would have spent all this season wondering why people kept passing the ball too far in front of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Rees Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Would Lambert have been able to score that overhead vs QPR? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Would Lambert have been able to score that overhead vs QPR? Perhaps he might have scored a pen or from a free-kick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Why doesn't Pelle take penalties? He must be desperate for a goal and Tadic pens are flakey. Fragile confidence perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Hmmm, I reckon we'd be about the same, but its really hard and kind of pointless to to make a guess really. I don't think Lambert would have made more of an impact than Pelle and we've covered attacking midfield quite well but spread over a few players. I don't think there's much point thinking about it. I'm certainly more than happy with how things have turned out. Onwards and upwards and hopefully we get Europa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarniaSaint Posted 7 April, 2015 Share Posted 7 April, 2015 Reckon Swansea would be above us......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Why doesn't Pelle take penalties? He must be desperate for a goal and Tadic pens are flakey. Fragile confidence perhaps. Because he'd take a wild swing at it and smash it 20 foot over the bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevy777_x Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Yeah, there is something odd about strikers who aren't desperate to take pens. I mean if you're not confident in your ability from there, don't be a striker. He took pens at Feyenoord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 The question is entirely academic of course, but methinks we would most likely be a somewhat better team with Adam and Sir Rickie still here - the table shows that as little as two points more would put us back above Spurs and Liverpool today. I remember being told - after he been here for about five minutes - that Tadic was a much better player than Lallana was and those who claimed that had the stats to prove it ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 We definitely are crying out for Adam at the moment. Rickie is Mr Dependable too. Could argue we miss JRod more than Rickie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooney Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 We seemed to create more opportunities and score more goals last season, with these two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Where would we be in the table? Pelle misfiring since december and a lack of that final killer ball or spark in the final 3rd. I can't help but wonder if we would be higher in the table right now had those two stayed, the amount of goals and assists they got for us over 5 years must of been a considerable % of all our goals This is not meant to be a negative thread I was just thinking about it today. I think we'd still be around the same point we are now. Lambert was already slowing down for us, I'm not sure if he'd manage to be a regular starter for us. Lallana has been replaced by Mane and Tadic, so net overall impact there can't be much in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Yeah, there is something odd about strikers who aren't desperate to take pens. I mean if you're not confident in your ability from there, don't be a striker. Yeah, he should knock it all on the head, turn down those Italy call ups, what the point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Yeah, there is something odd about strikers who aren't desperate to take pens. I mean if you're not confident in your ability from there, don't be a striker. Didn't do me any harm over the course of 30 years playing. Nothing to do with confidence, everything to do with having too long to think about it. Stick me in a position running through on goal with a couple of defenders nipping at me and it's like clockwork, you just move the ball, wait for the opening and slot it. It helps if you're fast enough that defenders don't catch you. But stand there for a couple of minutes with time to think about where you're putting it and you can second-guess yourself. I'd always take one in shoot-outs because as you say, as a striker it's your responsibility, but I had a terrible habit of missing important penalties (and once topped one which was sat in a hole and bounced three times before the keeper got up off the floor and saved it - THAT will make you think). Tadic is bloody awful at pens though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Because he'd take a wild swing at it and smash it 20 foot over the bar. Glancing blow deflecting it towards the corner flag, surely? A bit like that spawny Defoe goal against Newcastle on the weekend where he clearly meant to put it in the opposite corner but sliced it off the side of his boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Because he'd take a wild swing at it and smash it 20 foot over the bar. No no, he's nailed on to hit the crossbar, every single time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 No no, he's nailed on to hit the crossbar, every single time! I do think it takes a genuine large chunk of bad luck to hit the post as much as he has this season. I bet he's got some kind of record for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 I do think it takes a genuine large chunk of bad luck to hit the post as much as he has this season. I bet he's got some kind of record for it. There's no luck involved in hitting the post. Unless it's deflected, it has literally gone exactly where you aimed it. Decent players aim just inside the post, because obviously it's more difficult for the keeper to get to, but hitting the post all the time just means you're either not aiming it right or you're aiming it well and not executing it properly. Look at Ward-Prowse's free-kicks. They're amazing and near-unstoppable, but when they all go a yard the wrong side of the post they're worthless. If you're THAT sure you have a technique that'll beat the keeper, add half a yard of leeway and at least force a save - it might go in anyway, we might score from a rebound. As for Pelle, if he'd stop making such a stupid near post run giving him no angle at all to turn the ball into the net he'd stop missing half his shots short of the near post as well. I just think he's making his runs either too early or from/to the wrong place. Get there when the ball is between the posts, makes it a lot easier to score. Yes defenders are more likely to clear, but getting the ball with the goal behind you is not usually conducive to scoring. Short of the near-post deflections haven't worked for him all season, he should stop trying to force it. Then again, maybe we're holding it up too long and that's the only place he thinks he can get the ball from a pass into the box. The likes of Tadic, Elia and Clyne haven't been bursting into the area like they were earlier in the season, which means defences are set and more difficult to break down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosin Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 I Think the criticism of Tadic is a bit harsh considering he has played alot better this year than good old Lallana has in a liverpool shirt, Scored same amount of goals but Tadic for chances created is quit far ahead of Lallana in that department and so is Mane ahead of Lallana. Cant really compare Lambert and Pelle, but im happy with Pelle performances despite his lack of goals this year ( Start of season he was banging them in for fun mind so a bit disappointing he has not carried that on like most ppl ) for his first year in the league i think he has done well, Same for tadic and Mane and will be expecting them all to be better next year after a year settling into the league and country, i do expect Pelle to be dropped next year for J Rod though, Cant see it this year as j Rod has only just come back but i expect are front line to be tadic mane and J Rod next year and J Rod will be are top goal scorer and think he will get around 20 - 25 goals if his knee has not hampered him to much. Overall i have 0 complaints about this season and if Lallana and Lambert stayed i think we would be worse off considering we finished 8th last year and look set to finish higher this year, So saying Lambert and Lallana would have done a better job when we all know how many chances they FAILED to stick in the back of the net last year is silly, Plus we have missed j Rods goals this year too......... just think if he had not been injured all year he might have got us higher up the table with his goals at important moments like he got last year for us. What im trying to say is - Stop moaning we are having an awesome season and its down to the current team, not the efforts of the deserters who left us for a team 1 point ahead of us in the league...... and who's star players are all wanting to leave too - eg sterling, Henderson, Cortinho.. all these players will be looking for Champions league football next year and will NOT get it at Liverpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Could argue we miss JRod more than Rickie. 100% this. What a season it would have been if he was fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Where would we be if Mick Channon and MLT were still with us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint in winchester Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 If you're only as good as your last game, then for us Lambert and Lallana were v.good. Don't get all this 'busted flush' nonsense. They were on top of their game when they left and didn't get bad over the summer. Lallana is still playing well but not playing every game, and poor Rickie has been ruined by not playing at all. Would Pelle have joined if Rickie hadn't asked to leave? Only Koeman knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Lallana might have held the ball up a bit better high up the pitch and maybe created a few chances from nothing but he certainly wouldn't have solved our shooting problem, and Lambert was a busted flush 6 months before we even sold him and would have spent all this season wondering why people kept passing the ball too far in front of him. Agree with this. Lambert would not have made any real difference IMO. Lallana might have helped in the odd game but he seems to be suffering from the old glass legs again this season. I honestly doubt he will have another top-flight season as good as last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 If you're only as good as your last game, then for us Lambert and Lallana were v.good. Don't get all this 'busted flush' nonsense. They were on top of their game when they left and didn't get bad over the summer. Lallana is still playing well but not playing every game, and poor Rickie has been ruined by not playing at all. Would Pelle have joined if Rickie hadn't asked to leave? Only Koeman knows. Simply not true re Lambert - he was poor for most of last season and needed replacing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Well they were here last season and we are doing better this season without them so I doubt they'd make much difference. Not sure there is much difference between Lambert and Pelle TBH and if recall correctly Tadic has more assists but less goals than Lallana did last season. A more interesting question is where would we be if we had a fit J-rod in the team this season.... ....of course if J-rod had been fit in the summer he probably be playing for spurs now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Well they were here last season and we are doing better this season without them so I doubt they'd make much difference. Not sure there is much difference between Lambert and Pelle TBH and if recall correctly Tadic has more assists but less goals than Lallana did last season. A more interesting question is where would we be if we had a fit J-rod in the team this season.... ....of course if J-rod had been fit in the summer he probably be playing for spurs now. Many of Tadics assists came in one match. He is a good player But I felt lallana was far more consistent over the season and was a threat to most sides in the prem. and then was selected in the team of the year and was in the shortlist for player of the season tadic now sits on our bench whilst we struggle to score. Hopefully, he can more consistent next season. I think he can be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzmeister Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Not fussed about Lallana, Lambert would have been a nice option off the bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Many of Tadics assists came in one match. He is a good player But I felt lallana was far more consistent over the season and was a threat to most sides in the prem. and then was selected in the team of the year and was in the shortlist for player of the season tadic now sits on our bench whilst we struggle to score. Hopefully, he can more consistent next season. I think he can be TBF last season our front three just clicked and looked excellent. Lambert and Lallana had been playing with each other for several seasons and just knew each others games so well, J-rod caught on in his second season playing with them to, which was good for us. This season are front players were all strangers maybe next season they will click to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Many of Tadics assists came in one match. He is a good player But I felt lallana was far more consistent over the season and was a threat to most sides in the prem. and then was selected in the team of the year and was in the shortlist for player of the season tadic now sits on our bench whilst we struggle to score. Hopefully, he can more consistent next season. I think he can be But for the money we got for Lallana we've brought in both Tadic and Mane haven't we? So an overall improvement I'd argue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 I'd also agree that Jay Rod is the biggest miss. I think we were pretty much trying to replace Lambert as our first choice CF since we got promoted. Obviously he still had a role but I think we brought in Jay Rod then Osvaldo with a view to becoming first choice. Lambert was slowing down noticeably last season and I think this year would have been one season too far. Our problem at the moment seems to be having loads of decent possesion but nobody willing to dig out that clear chance or have a decent shot. Lallana is hardly the cure to that problem. I don't think he would give us anything we aren't getting from Mane or Tadic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCholulaKid Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 A bit like that spawny Defoe goal against Newcastle on the weekend where he clearly meant to put it in the opposite corner but sliced it off the side of his boot. Good. Wasn't just me that thought that, then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint1977 Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 I think we'd still be around the same point we are now. Lambert was already slowing down for us, I'm not sure if he'd manage to be a regular starter for us. Lallana has been replaced by Mane and Tadic, so net overall impact there can't be much in it. Feel you've nailed it there. Lallana is a better player than Tadic as it stands but this is Mane's first season in the PL and not yet had a pre-season with us and you have to say the same about Dusan, started really well but pace of the league has caught up with him as with Pelle second half of the campaign. Lallana was well established at the club and had a season in the PL to get a sense of how to improve. Judge Mane next season but I think his contribution has not been miles off what Lallana's was last year. Also, his sale paid for one of them and good chunk of the other once you take signing on fee, agent fees and taxes out. In terms of Rickie, gutted to see him go but there were plenty of disrespectful threads last season about Rickie slowing down etc (considering he is a legend) and he wasn't quite as dangerous in open play as previous season but link up play, set pieces and penalties still A1. Pelle was on fire Sept-Dec with some brilliant displays but has covered so much ground up front on his own with lack of midfield support that he is very tired when chances come along. Agree with many posters on penalties, can't do any worse than Tadic, I'd rather have Bertrand, JWP or Davis take them. Even Fonte smashing one would be preferable to a dribble down the centre of the goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 It's a pity that Chambers moved on more especially as Clyne has decided to bugger off, we would have had our replacement without spending a penny and no hassle. With none of our defector's nailing down a first team starting position it must make us rethink how good these people were in the first place or was it more about the system we had here founded by Nigel Adkins and polished by Pochettino. We are probably better off with the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 But for the money we got for Lallana we've brought in both Tadic and Mane haven't we? So an overall improvement I'd argue. Agree with that. And we are a bit better than last year in terms of league placing and play. Just imagine if we last seasons Rodriguez with this side. !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 A bit like that spawny Defoe goal against Newcastle on the weekend where he clearly meant to put it in the opposite corner but sliced it off the side of his boot. Yes but it went in the net didn't it! Around half the goals you see in the PL are like that, mis-timed yet somehow they go in off shins, toes knees, shoulders. What gets me is that they have the firkin cheek to do a hero's worship routine even when it's clear to everyone watching that the goal was a massive fluke and really they should be holding their heads in shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint IQ Posted 8 April, 2015 Author Share Posted 8 April, 2015 People say Rickie was slowing down, but if we had the option of him and Pelle surely more goals would have been scored. Both of them on the pitch chasing a game in the last ten minutes would also of been tough for defences to handle. Also an in form 3 attacking midfielders of Tadic Lallana and Mane would be frightning, I think Tadic and Lallana would of linked up really well together. Such a shame Lallana was a liar when he said he would of bit your arm off to stay a saint for life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 But for the money we got for Lallana we've brought in both Tadic and Mane haven't we? So an overall improvement I'd argue. With Rodriguez out, we would have probably brought in a 'pacier' player like Mane - regardless whether we sold Lallana. And in all likelihood, we could have funded it from the proceeds of other player sales. Ultimately, its moot though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorgiesaint Posted 8 April, 2015 Share Posted 8 April, 2015 Pelle & Lambert have suffered from the same problem in that they've both been asked to lead the line on their own with no back up (Lambert post J-Rod's injury in particular). Both started the seasons ok but have drop off without the opportunity to re-fresh them by allowing a few games rest. Having both would have solved that. Whether the wage bill policy allowed for both is open to debate - but if we do qualify for Europe next season, then we will need a 2nd out & out front man to share the workload. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Wonder what reception Lallana would get if he came back to Saints? I expect he would be revered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonist Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 He took pens at Feyenoord no, lex immers tok the penalties. pelle took a fe wwhile immers was not playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van Hanegem Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 no, lex immers tok the penalties. pelle took a fe wwhile immers was not playing. Pelle told Koeman at Feyenoord that he wasn't any good at penalties. The only way he knew was the Panenka way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Lallana would have been out injured and Lambert would have been bench warming. Where would we have been if we had Messi and Ronaldo? Pointless question. Why worry? We could actually have been worse off. We will never know and there are better things to worry about (like who is going to be the next PM). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Completely agree with the comments that we've missed Rodriguez more than any of the players that left in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redslo Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Lallana would have been out injured and Lambert would have been bench warming. Where would we have been if we had Messi and Ronaldo? Pointless question. Why worry? We could actually have been worse off. We will never know and there are better things to worry about (like who is going to be the next PM). Instead, let's speculate about where we will be next year if Mane turns out to be the next Suarez, minus the biting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Wonder what reception Lallana would get if he came back to Saints? I expect he would be revered. Hes already been back, he'd have got booed to hell if he'd touched the ball more than twice. I know you mean permanently, but we can't afford those kind of wages. We'd all forget about it all pretty quickly though, it's the nature of the thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 April, 2015 Share Posted 9 April, 2015 Pelle told Koeman at Feyenoord that he wasn't any good at penalties. The only way he knew was the Panenka way... Which is a bit of a problem once anyone sees you do it twice in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarniaSaint Posted 10 April, 2015 Share Posted 10 April, 2015 Pelle & Lambert have suffered from the same problem in that they've both been asked to lead the line on their own with no back up (Lambert post J-Rod's injury in particular). Both started the seasons ok but have drop off without the opportunity to re-fresh them by allowing a few games rest. Having both would have solved that. Whether the wage bill policy allowed for both is open to debate - but if we do qualify for Europe next season, then we will need a 2nd out & out front man to share the workload. Lamberts season never started ......was one of the subs.........is he still on the subs bench?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 10 April, 2015 Share Posted 10 April, 2015 Completely agree with the comments that we've missed Rodriguez more than any of the players that left in the summer. Agreed. A fit JRod would have made a big difference this season. Massive loss for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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