Saints 2-0 Norwich - Match Thread

[Chez]

13 minutes ago, fanimal said:

Brendan Williams or Tino????

 

Williams looked very average. Championship level.

[alehouseboys]

Just seen the Rommy-Rocket online, was a bit special in the stadium but boy did that fizz!

[hasper57saint]

My MOTM is KWP. Outstanding performance of a player ‘out of position’ who broke through the Narch defence time after time. Wonder how many miles he covered in the match? I said before the game that we shouldn’t expect a walkover but with their ten men behind the ball for most of the match and the performance of Gunn we may have reached double figures if they had wanted to take us on. As for the taters, why do I dislike Carra so much? The patronising Neville too. So pleased we won. I’m a very happy Hasper today. COYS.

[Saint_Tony]

Have to agree with Carragher and Neville. Ralph is now getting the best out of this team and like it or not, those above and even some below have better squads than ours. Whilst its unlikely, if we keep playing anything like this for the next 10 games we will get close to 7th. Just enjoying the moment though, 2021 was so depressing, a real struggle at times. Great to see us competing with and at times outplaying so many teams

[Toadhall Saint]

1 minute ago, alehouseboys said:

Just seen the Rommy-Rocket online, was a bit special in the stadium but boy did that fizz!

If it wasn’t for the net it would still be going, Gunn dived after the ball hit the net😂

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, Chez said:

Very enjoyable evening at SMS.

No idea what Norwich thought they were doing. They have some very average players at the back with the ball, know we press, yet continued to play it short from the keeper which eventually lead to a hoof to an isolated Pukki. The played completely into our hands. The only issue we had was finding a way past 10 men in their box. Once we scored it was game over. Norwich did up their game after the double substitution and Hanley perhaps should have scored with the headed chance. It would have been a total injustice though.

They are doomed. We are on roll. This is THE year for us in the cup. Playing like this and with the threat we have up front. I'm excited again.

Very few negatives. Broja seemed slightly out of step with the rest. Part of the issue was a lack of space and also the slowish building up. Ask him to lead the line and make things happen when we are up against it and he's your man. But when its all tight and you are watching the play all night (a la Lakaku), and he struggled. Bednerek made some poor choices (which went unpunished, but Salisu pointed out the error of his ways) and Pukki made him look like a carthorse in the first half when burning past him.  Forster struggled to get air with his long kicks...boy I'm scraping the barrel now to find a negative. We were that dominant. I guess you could say we got a little casual in the second half, but there was just no opposition. 

I thought Eli had a good game. He could have scored hattrick with a little more luck/better finishing, but he was heavily involved and made a lot of very good runs, Gave us nice balance. KWP and Livramento were bloody great. 

Romeu. He's some player.

Happy days. 

 

And a banana skin avoided - how many times in the past after performing so well would we have lost a game like Norwich? Great focus from the whole team.

[Dorchester Saint]

7 minutes ago, alehouseboys said:

Just seen the Rommy-Rocket online, was a bit special in the stadium but boy did that fizz!

Reminded me of Nick Holmes goal in the 1979 League Cup final. 

[badgerx16]

The thing with this team at the moment is the number of players presenting a goal threat; if Broja or Che don't score we still have KWP, Ely, Stu, and now Romeu, all of whom are shooting on sight, with effect, without counting JWP's free kicks.

[lambtiss]

22 minutes ago, Chez said:

Very enjoyable evening at SMS.

No idea what Norwich thought they were doing. They have some very average players at the back with the ball, know we press, yet continued to play it short from the keeper which eventually lead to a hoof to an isolated Pukki. The played completely into our hands. The only issue we had was finding a way past 10 men in their box. Once we scored it was game over. Norwich did up their game after the double substitution and Hanley perhaps should have scored with the headed chance. It would have been a total injustice though.

They are doomed. We are on roll. This is THE year for us in the cup. Playing like this and with the threat we have up front. I'm excited again.

Very few negatives. Broja seemed slightly out of step with the rest. Part of the issue was a lack of space and also the slowish building up. Ask him to lead the line and make things happen when we are up against it and he's your man. But when its all tight and you are watching the play all night (a la Lakaku), and he struggled. Bednerek made some poor choices (which went unpunished, but Salisu pointed out the error of his ways) and Pukki made him look like a carthorse in the first half when burning past him.  Forster struggled to get air with his long kicks...boy I'm scraping the barrel now to find a negative. We were that dominant. I guess you could say we got a little casual in the second half, but there was just no opposition. 

I thought Eli had a good game. He could have scored hattrick with a little more luck/better finishing, but he was heavily involved and made a lot of very good runs, Gave us nice balance. KWP and Livramento were bloody great. 

Romeu. He's some player.

Happy days. 

 

Agree with all of that Chez, although I thought Eli had a poor game, not just for missing those chances but also being too hesitant in good positions and/or choosing the wrong option. He seemed to be having a niggle with Broja over the course of the match, perhaps he thought he wasn't making the right runs? Although Elli has improved this season I still think this position is one that we need to improve upon in the transfer market. 

[miserableoldgit]

7 hours ago, lambtiss said:

Agree with all of that Chez, although I thought Eli had a poor game, not just for missing those chances but also being too hesitant in good positions and/or choosing the wrong option. He seemed to be having a niggle with Broja over the course of the match, perhaps he thought he wasn't making the right runs? Although Elli has improved this season I still think this position is one that we need to improve upon in the transfer market. 

Really? I thought that he had an excellent game. I said to my daughter (we were both at the game) a couple of times, how good he was and how much he had improved. He deserves his place in the side now. As for missed chances, virtually all of the saves that Gunn made were shots straight at him.

Edited 26 February, 2022 by miserableoldgit
Pedantry...

[Chez]

9 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Agree with all of that Chez, although I thought Eli had a poor game, not just for missing those chances but also being too hesitant in good positions and/or choosing the wrong option. He seemed to be having a niggle with Broja over the course of the match, perhaps he thought he wasn't making the right runs? Although Elli has improved this season I still think this position is one that we need to improve upon in the transfer market. 

yeah, I saw a couple on here that weren't impressed. I thought he looked confident, and seems to be an integral part of our game now, and he was the one of the key players in the first half in terms of our build up play, and the stuff he and KWP did created a huge amount of space for Livramento. I didn't think Eli was given that space, but he continually looked to thread balls through to Che and make runs himself. Not everything came off, but we seem to have found a solution where the likes of Djenepo have failed. 

Maybe he should have scored all three goals. Two straight at the keeper and the other wide of the past. Decent strikes. On another day...

Broja wasn't on the same wavelength with anyone, especially Eli. One Eli flick that Broja didn't read had them at loggerheads. Nothing major.

[alehouseboys]

49 minutes ago, Dorchester Saint said:

Reminded me of Nick Holmes goal in the 1979 League Cup final. 

Fast forward to 15:30 for a little reminder...

 

[iansums]

Are there any stats for number of shots straight at the keeper? I remember Lineker saying that he was taught early on not to worry about power but to aim for the corner.

[spyinthesky]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

Williams looked very average. Championship level.

Spot on.

Also on the other flank Max Aarons did OK but would rate him well below our three full backs and yet he is highly rated in the transfer market.

[suewhistle]

I'm not sure about "OK", I was thinking during the match how much he was struggling although he looked a little better in a few attacking moves in the second half. As for Williams, I didn't even notice him either way, so we saved ourselves a wasted loan fee there..

[Chewy]

Really enjoyed the evening, great view of Romeu’s goal which was a brilliant moment and finally sealed the well deserved win.

Lots of positives, no bad performances as such. Thought Broja struggled to impose himself - don’t suppose he’ll often come up against defenders more physically imposing than he is!! Their number 5 especially was a proper unit!!

Romeu and Armstrong the best but everyone played their part.
Although I can’t fault them individually, thought the lack of a left foot between Eli and KWP restricted us - probably more so in a game we dominated possession. Not being able the threaten the full backs outside was frustrating. For that reason I’m keen to see Peraud back in the side though suspect it will be less of an issue when we’re not faced with 9 defenders.

Aside from that, keep going exactly as we are and we could be on for a special season. Form and confidence everywhere, Broja will come back into form and we have a great team ethic. It’s a brilliant combination!!

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, Saint_Tony said:

Have to agree with Carragher and Neville. Ralph is now getting the best out of this team and like it or not, those above and even some below have better squads than ours. Whilst its unlikely, if we keep playing anything like this for the next 10 games we will get close to 7th. Just enjoying the moment though, 2021 was so depressing, a real struggle at times. Great to see us competing with and at times outplaying so many teams

That's debatable surely. What means better? Individual reputation counts for nothing if it is not successfully harnessed into an effective system of play.

Anyway, it's good to see the good times back.

Hail Oriol! Our player of the season by a country mile.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Just now, Charlie Wayman said:

That's debatable surely. What means better? Individual reputation counts for nothing if it is not successfully harnessed into an effective system of play.

Anyway, it's good to see the good times back.

Hail Oriol! Our player of the season by a country mile.

Yeah, I'd agree with that, I think we are on par with West Ham to be honest. Wolves, possibly better, however I think they are going to struggle to hold onto the likes of Neves etc.

[Boris Karloff]

I thought there was some truth in what Carra and Neville said, but are they all better sides? Take Spurs, obviously we'd take Kane and Son in a heartbeat but I can't think of anyone else in that team that would improve ours very much. A lot of them just have bigger reputations and transfer fees. 

West Ham, Man U and Wolves, I'd probably say half their teams would get into ours on current form, Arsenal a little more and the other three are a different matter. 

We won't get into the European places, but that's simply because we're just too far behind and other teams have played fewer games. 

[Sheaf Saint]

9 minutes ago, Boris Karloff said:

We won't get into the European places, but that's simply because we're just too far behind and other teams have played fewer games. 

I wouldn't be so sure about that. As of this morning the gap is only 5 points, and we're the only team among those around us that is currently grinding out results consistently, and we've got a very favourable run of fixtures ahead. 

One thing I've come to learn with Ralph is not to underestimate this team when it is in this kind of form. Let's see where we are at the start of April shall we? 

[Jack]

12 minutes ago, Boris Karloff said:

I thought there was some truth in what Carra and Neville said, but are they all better sides? Take Spurs, obviously we'd take Kane and Son in a heartbeat but I can't think of anyone else in that team that would improve ours very much. A lot of them just have bigger reputations and transfer fees. 

West Ham, Man U and Wolves, I'd probably say half their teams would get into ours on current form, Arsenal a little more and the other three are a different matter. 

We won't get into the European places, but that's simply because we're just too far behind and other teams have played fewer games. 

We see it time and time again with Saints, and it’s no wonder so many players’ form tails off when they leave. Those sides mentioned have higher profile players on bigger wages, and are possibly more skilful individuals, but it means nothing if the work ethic and knowledge/lack of a system they’re trying to implement isn’t right. 
 

All credit to Ralph. 

[beatlesaint]

Romeu has been absolutely fantastic for the past few weeks, I've always been a big fan of his but during this run we are on he has been different class.

KWP is my other fanboy player. What an absolute cock up by Spuds letting him go....thankfully ! He has grown into that left sided role and while he will probably always be better on the right he has, for me, become one of the first names on the team sheet. Outstanding player.

[trousers]

25 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I wouldn't be so sure about that. As of this morning the gap is only 5 points, and we're the only team among those around us that is currently grinding out results consistently, and we've got a very favourable run of fixtures ahead. 

One thing I've come to learn with Ralph is not to underestimate this team when it is in this kind of form. Let's see where we are at the start of April shall we? 

I'm one of the eternal optimists on here but my head is saying that we'll finish no higher than 9th. My heart on the other hand...

[Chez]

Do you think are we playing better than the 1 defeat in 9 run in games to the restarted 2019/20 season? We took teams apart during that period and where absolutely flying.

Personally I thought many of those opponents in 2020 were on the beach, while we looked like we had a brilliant `mid season preseason' so had an advantage. Can't say that now and we are on a similar roll. Not sure we are `flying', but we certainly seem to know what we are doing, individually and collectively...

...boy its strange (and lovely) describing how good we are.

[John Boy Saint]

These last 2 games have been very weird to watch from my regular spot up in the Chapel, which affords me a good view of the whole pitch and game (depth perception might be hampered when the ball is down at the Northam). 
We just move the ball so nicely, and I think that’s been the key - moving the ball. Folk comment that Man City will pass you to death, we are not far behind, last night we were passing about effortlessly, on the flip side Norwich were scurrying about for much of the game like busy fools. We seem just so fluid. In the lockdown games when we were going well, Karen Carney said about us -“Southampton take you out into deep water and then drown you” from where I sit you can see we are trying to finesse that once more.
When you think Gunns last game at St Mary’s was picking the ball out of the net far too many times, he seemed on a mission to exorcise that ghost on the first few shots he stopped, but when you look at the isolation of Puki up front for them, their  defensive positioning, knowing we were going to shoot at will, was to only offer a gap that they knew Gunn should have covered. Defensive emphasis contributed little else to their game. 
 

Romeus goal was a thing of beauty, having been close to catching his shots up in my double letter row, as soon as he swung his leg you thought “Oh, hello!”.

All good stuff long may it continue………….please 😀

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

Do you think are we playing better than the 1 defeat in 9 run in games to the restarted 2019/20 season? We took teams apart during that period and where absolutely flying.

Personally I thought many of those opponents in 2020 were on the beach, while we looked like we had a brilliant `mid season preseason' so had an advantage. Can't say that now and we are on a similar roll. Not sure we are `flying', but we certainly seem to know what we are doing, individually and collectively...

...boy its strange (and lovely) describing how good we are.

Similiar ish in terms of results and points I guess, but like you say I think we benefited more from catching teams by surprise rather than doing anything tactically clever or different.

This run is a little different as like you say we know what we're doing, we have multiple ways of playing and we can switch systems mid-game to get results etc. More depth to the squad, better quality depth as well which is the most important thing.

Our tactical approach to defending and defensive coaching this year has been what has set us apart, and given our defensive showings in recent years that's testament to the coaching staff over the summer (and probably partly due to not having Vestergaard or Bertrand in the 11 anymore)

Edited 26 February, 2022 by S-Clarke

[The Left Back]

24 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

These last 2 games have been very weird to watch from my regular spot up in the Chapel, which affords me a good view of the whole pitch and game (depth perception might be hampered when the ball is down at the Northam). 
We just move the ball so nicely, and I think that’s been the key - moving the ball. Folk comment that Man City will pass you to death, we are not far behind, last night we were passing about effortlessly, on the flip side Norwich were scurrying about for much of the game like busy fools. We seem just so fluid. In the lockdown games when we were going well, Karen Carney said about us -“Southampton take you out into deep water and then drown you” from where I sit you can see we are trying to finesse that once more.
When you think Gunns last game at St Mary’s was picking the ball out of the net far too many times, he seemed on a mission to exorcise that ghost on the first few shots he stopped, but when you look at the isolation of Puki up front for them, their  defensive positioning, knowing we were going to shoot at will, was to only offer a gap that they knew Gunn should have covered. Defensive emphasis contributed little else to their game. 
 

Romeus goal was a thing of beauty, having been close to catching his shots up in my double letter row, as soon as he swung his leg you thought “Oh, hello!”.

All good stuff long may it continue………….please 😀

I agree with all this.  What's also been weird is the level of control we have had over the opposition.  Apart from about 20 minutes we've completely dominated the whole of the last 180.  And at United we were in total control of the game for the most part.  We're not afraid of working the ball out of tight spots, everyone is happy to take a considered risk and, perhaps most importantly, everyone is on the move so that there is almost always an option or 2.

I really enjoyed everything about last night apart from the same issue we've had all season - we are not clinical enough in front of goal.  

Let's enjoy it while it lasts; and even a couple of setbacks from here shouldn't stop the momentum we've built up.  

 

[Midfield_General]

12 hours ago, bpsaint said:

Follow, follow, follow

we’ve got the best team on the south coast,

we wear red and white

we’re fucking dynamite

and we’ve got Livramento.

 

Good atmosphere in the ground tonight, amazing what a good run of form does to the overall mood.

Great that the crowd was buzzing last night. 

If you’re going to do a Livramento song to that tune though, wouldn’t it make sense to start it with ‘Tino, Tino, Tino’ - his first name feels like something of a gift in that respect - and then follow it with something that rhymes?

Can’t help thinking they haven’t thought this through 

[austsaint]

57 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Romeu has been absolutely fantastic for the past few weeks, I've always been a big fan of his but during this run we are on he has been different class.

KWP is my other fanboy player. What an absolute cock up by Spuds letting him go....thankfully ! He has grown into that left sided role and while he will probably always be better on the right he has, for me, become one of the first names on the team sheet. Outstanding player.

Romeu and KWP have been headline acts for several games now.   Their  consistent excellence, backed up by Salisu, Livramento, Armstrong, JWP and Adams have paved the way for this purple patch which must be rivalling the run we had under Koeman.

[Chez]

40 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Similiar ish in terms of results and points I guess, but like you say I think we benefited more from catching teams by surprise rather than doing anything tactically clever or different.

This run is a little different as like you say we know what we're doing, we have multiple ways of playing and we can switch systems mid-game to get results etc. More depth to the squad, better quality depth as well which is the most important thing.

Our tactical approach to defending and defensive coaching this year has been what has set us apart, and given our defensive showings in recent years that's testament to the coaching staff over the summer (and probably partly due to not having Vestergaard or Bertrand in the 11 anymore)

I'm not sure we won those games in 2020 simply because of an element of surprise. We won them because we were on fire, playing tremendous free flowing football. We looked faster, fitter (than our opponents) and like a well oiled machine. Confidence was sky high...and we certainly looked like we knew what we were doing. I still don't really know how we fell off that train. Injuries paid a heavy toll I guess.

Sure there are difference this time round, especially our ability to change shape and willingness to be more pragmatic (adding a CB last night to sure things up being a good example), agree with you there, but you haven't answered my question S-C - are we playing better?

 

 

 

[Chez]

14 minutes ago, austsaint said:

Romeu and KWP have been headline acts for several games now.   Their  consistent excellence, backed up by Salisu, Livramento, Armstrong, JWP and Adams have paved the way for this purple patch which must be rivalling the run we had under Koeman.

Romeu has been a very good player for Saints almost since day one. Love that he is getting the recognition he deserves. When he got injured last season it left a huge hole that we never filled. What a brilliant goal yesterday. Would love it if it inspired him to take a few more shots going forward. 

KWP is just quality. Not sure why he didn't start in the early games, but he is flying right now. He just seems to get better with every game. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, beatlesaint said:

Romeu has been absolutely fantastic for the past few weeks, I've always been a big fan of his but during this run we are on he has been different class.

KWP is my other fanboy player. What an absolute cock up by Spuds letting him go....thankfully ! He has grown into that left sided role and while he will probably always be better on the right he has, for me, become one of the first names on the team sheet. Outstanding player.

KWP seemed to be enjoying himself tremendously last night. 

[austsaint]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

Romeu has been a very good player for Saints almost since day one. Love that he is getting the recognition he deserves. When he got injured last season it left a huge hole that we never filled. What a brilliant goal yesterday. Would love it if it inspired him to take a few more shots going forward. 

KWP is just quality. Not sure why he didn't start in the early games, but he is flying right now. He just seems to get better with every game. 

Yes, he (Romeu) has been very good for most of his time at SFC.     His controlled aggression and physical strength have long been recognised, but he's such a good passer of the ball and has that good first touch.    KWP is such a good mover - quick, well balanced, evasive and a great touch with his passing.   You have to feel sorry for Perraud, who has proven himself to be a genuine first team left back yet has these two talented young English full-backs consigning him to the bench.

[Roo1976]

3 hours ago, alehouseboys said:

Fast forward to 15:30 for a little reminder...

 

wont see wembley ever look like that again.............

[adrian lord]

2 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

wont see wembley ever look like that again.............

No, nor the gorgeous saturated colours of the players’s kits rendered in a pre digital era.

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, Chez said:

I'm not sure we won those games in 2020 simply because of an element of surprise. We won them because we were on fire, playing tremendous free flowing football. We looked faster, fitter (than our opponents) and like a well oiled machine. Confidence was sky high...and we certainly looked like we knew what we were doing. I still don't really know how we fell off that train. Injuries paid a heavy toll I guess.

Sure there are difference this time round, especially our ability to change shape and willingness to be more pragmatic (adding a CB last night to sure things up being a good example), agree with you there, but you haven't answered my question S-C - are we playing better?

 

 

 

No, I don't particularly think we're playing 'better'. We just have more strings to our bow I feel to see games over the line.  The pragmatism has come from a bigger squad and more varied options.

We definitely benefited from whatever we did in lockdown re: fitness, we did catch teams out I think who maybe weren't as prepared as us. We took that into the following season though and played the same way really, dominated games and controlled things as we stormed to the top of the league.

I don't want to speak too soon but it looks like our 'awful run' was more of a freak rather than the norm, that's what I think a lot of fans were feeling and why we didn't pull the trigger (glad we didn't). The lack of squad depth and the use of players who weren't quite ready are reasons as to why we fell through the floor. 

Or it could just be that Ralph prefers years with even numbers.

[ButtikonSaint]

8 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

No, I don't particularly think we're playing 'better'. We just have more strings to our bow I feel to see games over the line.  The pragmatism has come from a bigger squad and more varied options.

We definitely benefited from whatever we did in lockdown re: fitness, we did catch teams out I think who maybe weren't as prepared as us. We took that into the following season though and played the same way really, dominated games and controlled things as we stormed to the top of the league.

I don't want to speak too soon but it looks like our 'awful run' was more of a freak rather than the norm, that's what I think a lot of fans were feeling and why we didn't pull the trigger (glad we didn't). The lack of squad depth and the use of players who weren't quite ready are reasons as to why we fell through the floor. 

Or it could just be that Ralph prefers years with even numbers.

Decent transfer window, a settled, balanced team and a few guys on the bench to rely upon, probably make a a bit of difference to last couple of years. 
I'm just amazed as how calm we can be on the ball (still a brain fart per game from someone but nothing like past seasons), how positive we are, how strong physically and emotionally. Our tempo and press are more aggressive and insistent... A few of the players have really improved as well (Salisu, KWP, JWP, Romeu, Che, Moj even FF...).

Think RH has also improved, last year he was a bit like a roller coaster  of emotion, this year he seems to be really on it. 

I'm really impressed and watching, the games in the past few months, has been a blast... Love it and long may it continue. COYR

 
 

[igsey]

I hope Southgate has been watching us recently, he's going to have nightmares next time he chooses his England squad. KWP is basically playing as an inside forward, I'd have him playing there over Rashford any day.

[Saint_clark]

5 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Great that the crowd was buzzing last night. 

If you’re going to do a Livramento song to that tune though, wouldn’t it make sense to start it with ‘Tino, Tino, Tino’ - his first name feels like something of a gift in that respect - and then follow it with something that rhymes?

Can’t help thinking they haven’t thought this through 

I think it's better as;

Follow, follow, follow,

We've got the best team on the south coast, 

With Ward-Prowse and Romeu, Armstrong and Salisu, Forster and Livramentoooo...

 

It then becomes a chant which you can just replace players name as and when they come/go.

[Koolman]

Anyone notice the cut on Romeu's right elbow while celebrating his goal with his team mates? With blood smeared down his arm, epitomises for me the type of player his is a a real battler who gives his all.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

1 hour ago, Koolman said:

Anyone notice the cut on Romeu's right elbow while celebrating his goal with his team mates? With blood smeared down his arm, epitomises for me the type of player his is a a real battler who gives his all.

I noticed that well before the goal. 
 

But I agree, he’s a battler and I love his sort in the squad. 

[derry]

My thoughts about our finishing place. We have played all of the top eight clubs except Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all at home, the other nine games Brighton and below. We could if we keep our present level do well.

[wild-saint]

12 hours ago, Koolman said:

Anyone notice the cut on Romeu's right elbow while celebrating his goal with his team mates? With blood smeared down his arm, epitomises for me the type of player his is a a real battler who gives his all.

It was probably someone else’s blood to be fair 😂😂

[skintsaint]

13 hours ago, Koolman said:

Anyone notice the cut on Romeu's right elbow while celebrating his goal with his team mates? With blood smeared down his arm, epitomises for me the type of player his is a a real battler who gives his all.

Looked like the sort of cut you get and don't realise until after the game 😅

[Uncle Albert]

Does anyone know any young replacements for Romeo in the long term? I mean he’s 30 now (I think?) and since the tough-tackling midfield is a dying breed it may be difficult for saints to fill in for him.

Diallo strikes me as more of a box to box player so I don’t think he’d fit the bill.

Edited 27 February, 2022 by Uncle Albert
Spellig

[The Left Back]

17 minutes ago, Uncle Albert said:

Does anyone know any young replacements for Romeo in the long term? I mean he’s 30 now (I think?) and since the tough-tackling midfield is a dying breed it may be difficult for saints to fill in for him.

Diallo strikes me as more of a box to box player so I don’t think he’d fit the bill.

Assuming he doesn't leave I could imagine JWP replacing Romeu in a couple of seasons and Diallo replacing JWP.  

[Uncle Albert]

6 hours ago, The Left Back said:

Assuming he doesn't leave I could imagine JWP replacing Romeu in a couple of seasons and Diallo replacing JWP.  

I don’t think JWP could play in the way that Romeo does, his playing style wouldn’t suit the role, the way i see it is that JWPs more of a kind of box to box whereas Romeo is more of a holding midfielder. I can’t see JWP changing his game in such a way that he could fill in for Romeo, besides I’m not sure I’d want him to, id rather he play to his strengths.

[Saint Mikey]

14 hours ago, Uncle Albert said:

I don’t think JWP could play in the way that Romeo does, his playing style wouldn’t suit the role, the way i see it is that JWPs more of a kind of box to box whereas Romeo is more of a holding midfielder. I can’t see JWP changing his game in such a way that he could fill in for Romeo, besides I’m not sure I’d want him to, id rather he play to his strengths.

Players adapt though and it can prolong a player’s career. Not saying JWP will, but players like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Rooney all adapted from attacking positions to the holding midfield role. 

I think it’s a position where you need a good range of passing and tackling combined with excellent positioning, reading of the game and quick decision making, usually under pressure. JWP certainly has some of these attributes already.

[Saint_clark]

4 minutes ago, Saint Mikey said:

Players adapt though and it can prolong a player’s career. Not saying JWP will, but players like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Rooney all adapted from attacking positions to the holding midfield role. 

I think it’s a position where you need a good range of passing and tackling combined with excellent positioning, reading of the game and quick decision making, usually under pressure. JWP certainly has some of these attributes already.

I agree. Romeu is a few years older than JWP, I can see Romeu last another 2/3 years as a starter for us and by that time JWP will start to lose that engine that seems to never stop meaning he'll need to find a more conservative role for himself. Defensive midfielder sounds ideal.

[The Left Back]

3 hours ago, Saint Mikey said:

Players adapt though and it can prolong a player’s career. Not saying JWP will, but players like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Rooney all adapted from attacking positions to the holding midfield role. 

I think it’s a position where you need a good range of passing and tackling combined with excellent positioning, reading of the game and quick decision making, usually under pressure. JWP certainly has some of these attributes already.

 

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

I agree. Romeu is a few years older than JWP, I can see Romeu last another 2/3 years as a starter for us and by that time JWP will start to lose that engine that seems to never stop meaning he'll need to find a more conservative role for himself. Defensive midfielder sounds ideal.

This was my thinking really.  It's unlikely we'll have that level of continuity over the next 2-3 years (player moves, formation changes or injuries etc), but assuming we do then a 32/33 year old Romeu could make way for a 30 year old JWP who can be our latter day Jimmy Case.