Match Day Thread Swansea v Southampton 31/01/2017 KO 19:45

I love reading "This might not go down well but..." or "I might get abuse for this but"... posts.

 

I think we are a better side than the league suggests (yes, I know it is the league position that counts and the league doesn't lie). We have good players...if only we had them fit at the same time. Our problem is consistency....we aren't a poor side that can have the odd good result....we are better than that, but it hasn't gelled this season. Without blaming him, it comes down to fitting in with a new manager. Some tweaks in the summer and we could look a lot better next season.

 

Completely agree. I mean when fully-fit our best line-up is:
Forster
Cedric VVD Yoshida Bertrand
Romeu Davis JWP
Boufal Austin Gabbiadini*

Bench: Hassen, McQueen, Stephens, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Tadic, Long.

*assuming he is the best thing since sliced bread.

For me that's a squad that should be challenging in the top half.

 

We have a good team and can turn out performances worthy of us, but been up and down this season....presumably due to changes introduced by Puel and by losing good players including Mane (who Liverpool miss as well). We create chances, but as usual fail to convert (this happened with other managers, not just Claude).

 

I'm not moaning mate but it's the same points gained I'm afraid.

 

Boufal is very good at winning the ball back, he doesn't seem to shy away from a 50-50 which is surprising. Maybe he could play as a CAM in a similar way Lallana does for Liverpool. Where he pops up all over the pitch in attacking areas.

 

Only issue I have with him is that he doesn't have to beat a man *every* time he gets the ball. That'll come though. I would never want to try and coach that instinct away.

 

Why? I guess what I meant is we're no where near the quality of the teams of the last few seasons and results reflect that.

You're right that you don't want to coach him out of that. His decision making will improve in time and he's still quite young adapting to a very tough league.

Hell of a talent though, something tells me that if we are to achieve glory on the 26th, then he will play a big part.

 

Totally agree, he got bundled off the ball by 4 Swansea players last night but if he'd only passed instead of trying his fancy footwork something could have come of it. Definitely don't want to coach that out of him, though

 

Boufal clear motm. The defensive/press hard/hit on counter style works really well against the top teams if everyone is on it, Swansea used their own defensive style against us and easily matched us. Our goal was simple but quality. Quality movement from Bertrand, quality pass, and quality cross, and quality finish.

 

me neither

 

On this basis, Puel really has to win the Cup. He can get away with murder up till the cup final, then he has to win for our goodwill to carry him to the end of the season.

 

I lost interest in the league around about Xmas...

 

The league is stupid...who wants it. Now a cup on the other hand......

 

We have 15 games left and I would want to see 15 points minimum from those to give us 42 points total. Given our performance over the last five games we gained three points and if we keep that rate up we are in deep trouble.

 

You'll get told off talking like that!

 

No he won't - Godders is like one of those old testament prophets. He's expected to wail and moan, gnash his teeth and rend his garments. It'd be a genuine worry if he stopped predicting pestilence, damnation and woe.

 

I am always in trouble. It is the story of my life. I do like the idea of being perceived as a prophet though. I suppose I can now see myself as that bloke Gandalf as I look a bit like him anyway and I walk around with a stick although mine is shorter than his.

In this world there is no room for complacency. Standing still is really going backwards.

 

There we are then

 

Good, now toodles.