Saint Garrett Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Amazing how much change has happened in the last 12 months. This was our "best" team last season. ----------------Boruc-------------- Clyne---Lovren----Fonte---Shaw -----Schneiderlin-Wanyama----- Davis--------Lallana-----Rodriguez --------------Lambert------------- This year: ----------------Forster-------------- Clyne---Alderweireld----Fonte---Bertrand ----------Schneiderlin-Wanyama----- Mane------------Davis----------------Tadic -------------------Pelle------------- Arguably Shaw, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert were all better than what we've currently got. (Yes I know JRod is still ours but not counting him this year cos he hasn't played!) Although they are similar, and we have got more points this year, I have to say that I think we were better last year. Stronger defensively this year, but we were far better to watch last, far more exciting going forward. If they played each other, who would win? I think last years.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Difficult one. It's be impossible for both teams to dominate possession and lose to a sloppy goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 this years defence, last years attack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 this years defence, last years attack This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 The teams I'd pick of the two, on paper at least, is: Forster Clyne Alderweirld Fonte Bertrand Morgan Wanyama Mane Lallana Rodriguez Lambert. So this year's back 5, and last year's front 3 but with Mané thrown in. If we lose Clyne, Alderweireld, Wanyama and Morgan in the summer, I fear for our league position next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint IQ Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Amazing how much change has happened in the last 12 months. This was our "best" team last season. ----------------Boruc-------------- Clyne---Lovren----Fonte---Shaw -----Schneiderlin-Wanyama----- Davis--------Lallana-----Rodriguez --------------Lambert------------- This year: ----------------Forster-------------- Clyne---Alderweireld----Fonte---Bertrand ----------Schneiderlin-Wanyama----- Mane------------Davis----------------Tadic -------------------Pelle------------- Arguably Shaw, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert were all better than what we've currently got. (Yes I know JRod is still ours but not counting him this year cos he hasn't played!) Although they are similar, and we have got more points this year, I have to say that I think we were better last year. Stronger defensively this year, but we were far better to watch last, far more exciting going forward. If they played each other, who would win? I think last years.... Would any saints fan argue that Shaw last year was better than Bertrand this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersubpuckett Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Lallana was our biggest loss last year and his creativity is exactly what we're missing this season, the others have all been replaced like for like. As SNSUN says if we lose those players (plus JR) then I think next season will be horrible. The academy don't have any players ready for a consistent top 6 challenge level of football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 10 May, 2015 Author Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Would any saints fan argue that Shaw last year was better than Bertrand this year? Don't think there is much in it tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggles31 Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 this years defence, last years attack Hard to disagree with this. If we had a fit Rodriguez this year we would have a few more points. The summer we need to focus primarily on spicing up our attacking options. Preferably with some domesticated players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfahaji Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I think our attack last year is being a little overhyped with the benefit of hindsight. I remember countless occasions watching games thinking how we lacked a cutting edge - lots of possession in the middle third and even around the penalty box, but when it came to creating chances we were found wanting. The first half of this season we were more incisive, but second half it has dried up. I do recall games last year being bemused at how good we were, for example, Fulham at home (but perhaps that was also how bad they were). Where every time we lost the ball we won it back within about 10 seconds. And there weren't many games that we were outplayed by the other team (West Brom home springs to mind). However, this doesn't mean we were necessarily great in the final third. Also, Lambert may have been better than Pelle, but everyone could see he was on the decline (last year in Champ probably his best season), so not convinced that we'd have been better off keeping Lambert this year. Lallana is the only player we have missed, such a shame Tadic wasn't able to keep up his early season form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfahaji Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Before anyone picks me up on semantics, I realise that the 'last year in Champ' was also our only year (on the way up)...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I think our attack last year is being a little overhyped with the benefit of hindsight. I remember countless occasions watching games thinking how we lacked a cutting edge - lots of possession in the middle third and even around the penalty box, but when it came to creating chances we were found wanting. The first half of this season we were more incisive, but second half it has dried up. I do recall games last year being bemused at how good we were, for example, Fulham at home (but perhaps that was also how bad they were). Where every time we lost the ball we won it back within about 10 seconds. And there weren't many games that we were outplayed by the other team (West Brom home springs to mind). However, this doesn't mean we were necessarily great in the final third. Also, Lambert may have been better than Pelle, but everyone could see he was on the decline (last year in Champ probably his best season), so not convinced that we'd have been better off keeping Lambert this year. Lallana is the only player we have missed, such a shame Tadic wasn't able to keep up his early season form. I agree with every word of this. Under pochettino, we played with such an emphasis on defence and possession that I always found it hard to see how we were ever going to score ourselves. I know that's the main issue he was brought in to address, but our forwards definitely lost something under his system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I agree with every word of this. Under pochettino, we played with such an emphasis on defence and possession that I always found it hard to see how we were ever going to score ourselves. I know that's the main issue he was brought in to address, but our forwards definitely lost something under his system. what the feck? we scored more last season than we will this season. we had a more fluid attack, that is for sure this year, the defence is a great deal better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I agree with every word of this. Under pochettino, we played with such an emphasis on defence and possession that I always found it hard to see how we were ever going to score ourselves. I know that's the main issue he was brought in to address, but our forwards definitely lost something under his system. Remember Delldays, Batman, Jamie citing some stat that last season we were near the top of the league in terms of chances created. Would be good to see similar stats for RK's team. To the naked eye, it seems that we were much more wasteful in front of goal last year than this year. Creating chances has been the biggest issue this time round. The open question is whether our lack of creativity and goal threat is the direct consequence of having a strong defense -players holding runs etc in order to stay compact etc. If it is, it suggests we can have one but not the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Would any saints fan argue that Shaw last year was better than Bertrand this year? Absolutely, I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Who played more last season Chambers or Clyne? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintLiam Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Who played more last season Chambers or Clyne? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Absolutely, I would. I'm very surprised by that. Bertrand has been rock solid defensively and is much better in the final third. Shaw often got into good positions but the final ball was nearly always awful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 10 May, 2015 Author Share Posted 10 May, 2015 [ATTACH=CONFIG]1656[/ATTACH] Surely that isn't correct....that's only about 30 games between them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Don't think there is much in it tbh. Bertrand has more goals, more assists and is part of a better defensive unit this season than Shaw was last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 We've missed Lallana, Lambert and Rodrigues. The first two are better than their replacements. I prefer the way we played last year. Thats a personal preference for possession football, and a fluid system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Porter Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Were a better side this season but we also seem to be a fair bit more inconsistent. This years team with a fit Jay Rod would have been incredible. If we had 15 goals from him this season we'd probably still be in the hunt for 4th. Boruc - Forster - 100% Forster IMO Shaw - Bertrand - Shaw edges it, Bertrand has been far better than I expected though. Fonte - Fonte Lovren - Alderwiereld - Toby is the far better player. Clyne - Clyne Wanyama - Wanyama Schneiderlin - Schneilderin Lallana - Tadic - Lallana for me. Davis - Davis Jay Rod - Mane - Close but Jay Rod was more of a goal threat Lambert - Pelle - Pelle for me is the better player and more of a goal threat, although neither of them are quite at the level we need to make the step up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo1976 Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 this years defence, last years attack this looks good idea but defectors saw that this would not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 [ATTACH=CONFIG]1656[/ATTACH] So Chambers edges it overall but Clyne has the assists and almost a full key pass per game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintLiam Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Surely that isn't correct....that's only about 30 games between them? Had to do a little research. It was made in Feb 2014 so it was a 'so far' one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igsey Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I think our starting 11 last season was stronger, but we have better strength in depth this season - Targett > Fox, Yoshi/Gardos > Hooiveld, and Reed's proven useful too. I'd choose Bertrand over Shaw too, but only because of how injury prone Shaw is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintTex Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Forster Clyne Toby Fonte Bertrand Wanyama Schneiderlin Mane Lallana Rodriguez Lambert Probably CL football. But then to be fair, no injury to Schneiderlin or Forster and we'd probably be 5th as it is.I totally agree with that. I think with Forster in goal and Alderweireld never venturing into the midfield, we would be 5th right now. No question. as far as best starting 11 of the last 2 years... Forster Clyne Toby Fonte Bertrand Wanyama Schneiderlin Mane Lallana Rodriguez Pelle I think really of that group, only Lallana and Pell are debatable. Pelle - I just feel he offers more than Lambert. He has had a 11 goals, 2 assists. last year Rickie had 13 goals (3 PK), 10 assists. Would have we had the same stats this year from Lambert, a year later? Hard to say. A lot of mileage on those 33 year old legs. Tadic - if you had asked me at Christmas, Tadic would have been my choice, no reservations. Based on each of their performance's this year, the gulf is not all that great really, a coin flip. As far business, Tadic is a bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 I still maintain the one player we miss from last season, who I would still have in our first 11 is ... Lallana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badr.chalgoum24 Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 http://find-yourselfheree.blogspot.com/2015/05/mourinho-planned-for-5-contracts-in.html Mourinho planned fort 5 contracts in summer .... Know their names Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumstead_Saint Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Clyne had 24 league appearances, 3 FA cup and 1 league cup = 29 Chambers had 22 league and 3 league cup appearances = 25 I could have sworn Clyne was first choice most of the time, except when injured. Not all those appearances are starts ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 10 May, 2015 Share Posted 10 May, 2015 Clyne had 24 league appearances, 3 FA cup and 1 league cup = 29 Chambers had 22 league and 3 league cup appearances = 25 I could have sworn Clyne was first choice most of the time, except when injured. Not all those appearances are starts ;-) Thanks Plum. I owe you a hat off to you sir when I find out how to do it. It did feel like a position we had nailed. Football eh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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