I think you may want to re read Ian's comments; to me it came across as well balanced with some good points. Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk
Interesting that people are describing the game as entertaining. I've spoken to several neutrals who watched on BT and the words I've heard used most about the game are "boring" and "****e". Ian's a bit harsh on Boufal but I take the point. He's incredibly talented but seems to be a bit too much of an individual at times. He's had a disjointed season though so he's by no means the first player I'd get rid of.
As 0-0 games go this was very entertaining. Without manolo we reverted to being the same team as earlier in the season not sure we would have scored if we had another 90 mins Stephens is promising BUT when we play a team who crosses to a big unit up front him and yoshida are an inadequate partnership. Against passing sides with lesser or smaller forwards they work well. Boufal - low on confidence needs the fans to give him a lift but all they did was moan when he tried something and it didn't work. Very helpful. He is a good player but needs a bit of patience. That said puel made a mistake moving redmond to get boufal on we lost our shape completely. Tried to rectify it later bringing McQueen on but bournemouth had control of the game. Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk
Yes but my point is he can't wait to twist the knife on Puel - no matter how subtle. I probably was too harsh and apologise for that. I'll do the right thing to save you all my rants and pop him back on ignore as I always see his undertone that is having a dig.
Boufal - injured from April to October. No pre-season. Trying to do things too much too often. Hugely talented. I'll judge him after he has had a summer pre-season with us before I knock him. If it is the same come October/November then he deserves the stick. Until then I'll give him a chance. On the "Puel made a mistake," I agree but will defend Puel as I would have down the same, as I think he was trying to turn our (at that point) control, into a win. I said just before the change to my son that I'd take JWP off and bring on Boufal and then Long for Jayrod. It's exactly what he did but it didn't work. It is easy with hindsight to say it was wrong. It was wrong, but the logic was there. Sadly it was countered by Howe bringing off a forward and putting Wilshire in the hole. They took control, but I have no issue with what was tried.
I did not find the game that entertaining until the last 20 minutes and then it was nearly all the action around our penalty area at which it stopped being entertaining and became something approaching scary as Bomo seemed to carve us up through the middle rather too easily for comfort. Overall, I thought nobody really stood out for us - Redmond/Romeu were probably our better performers - but that is in comparison to the rest being 'pedestrian' at best. The more of see of Boufal; the little bit more concerned I get; I appreciate he is very talented, new to the EPL and that has had his injuries, but just not seeing enough of why we paid so much for him. Time will hopefully prove me wrong. Jack-at-the-back on the other hand; seems to be maturing into the role of first team CB incredibly well.
My only issue was moving redmond - absolutely needed to try and win the game so changing it was essential If he hadn't have tried something he would have rightly been hammered for not trying to win the game. Substitutions are always a gamble some work some don't. If they work I applaud them if they don't then I believe we can say so and discuss it. Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk
Just watching a re-run on BT Sport, and no way was that a penalty, Dusan could study it and learn the way to tumble when he feels any sort of contact, the theatricals fool no one, it is an art form. The defending in the second half looked chaotic at times, but it was effective.
Ian has a definite anti-Puel agenda, which I also find annoying - especially as a lot of our fans seem to share that negative, and imo completely unjustified, view. But apart from that his posts, like the one in question, are usually pretty balanced and thoughtful. He's not a knee jerk neg-head, he just doesn't share the positive opinion you and I have of Puel. On the subject of Claude, I spent a day last week working with a new colleague who has just moved to London from Paris (PSG fan, no surprises there). His opinion of Puel - "give him the players, and he will win something, no doubt".
No blaming on my part. With my amateur opinion I think both Centre backs are a little too passive in their play. I'm not saying sell these useless sacks in the summer. This is something that can be coached and improved upon and is as much communication as ability But too many times we've conceded goals/chances by defending too deep. This allows shots from distance, players to dribble freely into our penalty box and increase the chances of penalties being awarded
Sorry Ian, I can't agree with this. Players need time to learn the Southampton way of playing. If the people around you (I assume you were at the match this time and not just listening to the radio, when you have previously given us your fourpenneth worth?) are booing then I wouldn't pay them much attention. Managers also need time to mould the team. I can hardly call posts of the length of yours knee-jerk, but I do find so much to disagree with in what you post.
Curates Egg precis, The first statement is purely hypothetical. We were not abject at all. Gibberish statement. Howe made some good tactical moves, that was where we lost the initiative. Contradictions similar to your appraisal in my opinion. Could show more respect in getting the name right. There are other points that I disagree with and some that I think are correct.
I guess it comes down to what your definition of "clear cut chance" is. For me it's "should be scoring that (subject to a keeper wonder save)". As LFF says, you can't score an offside goal. So that's an irrelevance. Completely different story if Jay was onside (and he did score it, so it wouldn't even go down as a miss). To say that Tadic "should be scoring" the chance he hit the post with, is being exceptionally harsh on Tadic in my view. Same with Yoshida, I'd say. I don't see that as he should be scoring that. Again, harsh. Attempt at goal cum flick on for someone else. Jay connected sweetly with his chance. And it was a good chance. But still I don't think we should be expecting him to score that. Hitting a ball first time, that is coming out of the air, at an angle, with the keeper well placed. Good hit, good save, move on. I think JWP's chance is better than those listed above, and I don't call that a clear cut chance missed either. The one Tadic blasted past the far post? If he's doing that with his left foot, then I agree that it's (in my book) a clear cut chance. But his right foot is some way weaker. I'm not expecting Tadic to be scoring that with his right. So I'm not quite there with calling it a clear cut chance. But it is nit-picking. Maybe I am slightly being kind on Tadic.
Technically the fact that Arter touched the ball twice when taking the penalty it could have been ruled no goal had it gone in!
Up until about 70 minutes, when Bmouth starting bombarding us somewhat (having done absolutely nothing up until that point, deserving nothing from the game), I was even saying myself that whilst we were finding the game relatively enjoying, my suspicion was that neutrals would be turning over in their droves. Two sides badly missing their main men up front.
Is that a crime? The guy dislikes Puel, has his reasons for that. Don't see where the problem is, he entitled to do that.
