Match Day Thread Sunderland vs Saints - 11/02/17 KO-15:00

It's OK though, CBK, we haven't bought anyone in the last week. Sorry.

 

I was surprised that no-one, not one commentator or post-match pundit, made the point that Gabbi was off balance because he was being wrestled backwards by both arm and shoulder when the ball hit him. I'm sure he'd have liked to have dipped his head and nodded it in but he wasn't given the option.

Anyway, it's academic. The bugger went in and the ref gave it.

Vin

 

Indeed. I went through all the variables myself of where the ball hit Manolo; whether he guided it or whether it was accidental; whether Kone got a touch; how many Sunderland defenders were trying to hold him back, etc... that to save my head exploding I thought, '**** it, the ref gave it.' And relax.

 

In my post match comment, I mentioned that the commentators kept on returning to the "handball", and that neither had noticed O'Shea grabbing Gabby, and potentially could have pulled him into the perfect position for the perfect deflection.
Waiting for MOTD to appear on iplayer, to hear all the comments.

 

Very true.

Although I think you are ignoring the fact that in Beckhams day it was a very different era, in which full backs also lacked pace.

As full backs have become more and more integral to the attack they have become faster and better on the ball. This means wingers must be quicker.

 

King Arthur and a Samurai sword

 

Is that on NBC? Was trying to work out who that was

 

...That Ruben song in my head again.

 

If your co-commentator had an East London accent, then yeah.

 

He`s not as tall as I remember him.

 

I love the way they edit the highlights so that even when there's nothing much happening on the pitch, they leave in those little pearls of Adam and Dave's.

 

Although I agree with what you say about modern full backs etc etc, j wonder if you missed the OPs point. Beckham didn't have speed, nor need it, so it was irrelevant how auxin the full back was, he'd whip a cross around him.

I may have completely misinterpreted you here, due to curry and red wine, but hey

 

Despite the curry and wine I think you got the gist of what I meant

I see what OP meant about Beckhams technical ability but my point was more that if Beckham was up against the sort of full back you see today, he would not have been as effective. The fact full backs were not as quick as they are today meant Beckham found it easier to get a yard of space to put one of his brilliant deliveries in the box. Which is why I don't see JWP making it as a wide-man. He has brilliant technical attributes but I just can't see him getting the space to put a delivery in the box against the likes of Valencia, Rose, Walker etc.


FWIW I dont think Beckham would be crap nowadays, but he would have needed to adapt his game.

 

I don't think JWP, rate him as I do, has Beckham's level of technical ability.

 

As i recall, Beckham hasn't retired in like 1994, he played in the modern era.

 

He last played regular football for Europe 10 years ago though. He had brief loan spells at PSG and Milan whilst at LA but that was more publicity than anything.

Still I appreciate that isn't that long ago so you do have a valid point. But the requirement of being able to attack as a full back has defintely increased somewhat over the past 10 years.

 

Exactly, I seem to remember he played against a fairly speedy left back called Roberto Carlos a few times for England and United.

 

Redknapp has Gabby in his team of the week; Garth Crooks has Gabby and Bertrand.

 

I am surprised to hear some of you say that full backs didn't attack years ago...........I must correct this as at Saints in the early 60s at school boy level we were encouraged to do just that in certain circumstances. Granted unlike today we were not wing backs, we certainly did get forward to put in some crosses. Mind you asking the likes of Terry Paine or Johnny Sydenham to cover you if you did get forward was a big ask, but yes we did attack occasionally.

 

http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/motd-hypocrisy-called-arsenal-southampton-analysis/

Twitter bitter about Sanchez handball being talked about, whereas Gabby's was described as a good run on MOTD. I think questions should be asked in Parliament about Southampton being treated better on MOTD than the mighty Arsenal.