And also I wont be itching for pre-season to start because summer is great with loads of great stuff going on like the cricket season, festivals etc. I can live a few months without football.
The problem with Jay yesterday was he wasn't **** but he wasn't good either. He was average. He and Long both offer hardly goal threat, which as a striker you have to do.
I think we've played exciting football in the games we've actually had a proper striker on the pitch.
Soon as they went 5 in midfield is when we had the problems. Taking off Prowse was a mistake. Arter coming on changed the game far more then Wilshere.
But that was Howe reacting to our changes. Good management. Doesn't inherently mean CP changes were wrong - he was trying to win the game and moved his chess pieces first.
I still thought he should have kept him on. Not saying he was wrong to change things up though. Arter is too good for Bournemouth.
Just read this on the bbc report: "Andrew Surman's poked effort was cleared off the line by England international James Ward-Prowse" That was cleared by Northern Ireland international Steven Davis, right? or did i miss something.
But as soon as Howe brought his midfielders on CP should have subbed one of our flaky/ creative midfielders off and bought on PEM or Clasie to get more bit to compete with them Leaving our two CDM completely exposed against their five was causing huge problems and not sure what putting on Sam Mc did to help
I put in down to either: (a) a way to shore up our left flank, as Smith was starting to get forward from RB a fair bit (b) Sam arguably being the most attacking remaining option on the bench (which says more about those options, than about Sam. Personally I think you always needs three offensive options on your bench, not two) (c) a way to move Redmond over to the right, and therefore away from his fued with Bertrand, whilst still maintaining someone who can play wide left But yes, it was never going to be a change to lead to us either regaining control of the middle of the park, or create/score us a winning goal. Personally I was all for us taking JWP off. It is just that Boufal is completely off it at the moment. Maybe bringing PEH on, and putting either him or Davis wide right could have been an option rather than Boufal.
Onionman Jr doesn't film at footy but before Arter stepped up he told me "I need to get this, he's going to miss..." Vin
I might be completely wrong but redmond and Bertrand seem to get on really well to me; they just bicker at each other like mates do (and probably take the mickey) certainly they are creating a strong left side together. I dont think there is any sort of feud quite the opposite. Although I might be wrong Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk
There have been a fair few moments over the season where they've mouthed off to each other. I remember against Watford Bertrand cut inside and passed to Redmond who didn't move, and then looked really pissed off. But that happens with every player at some point. I think yesterday it was more down to the lack of attacking play at times.
Redmond said something similar quite recently...says Bertrand will always point out where he has gone wrong (but said in a smiley way).
I rarely criticise any Saints manager for individual decisions. The only exceptions I can bring to mind offhand are 1. Nigel's subbing off our best players when we were on the brink of a famous victory over Man United first season back in the EPL at SMS- I think that was arrogance and cost us all 3 points, and the other Pochettino's selection in the cup game against Sunderland, which probably cost us an earlier Wembley appearance. I figure that every manager in post knows more about football than I do. If he has lost the dressing room and the players aren't trying then that's a different thing. I have also enjoyed this season for the things mentioned and I can see that we are trying to play with enterprise and there are moments of brilliance amongst the banalities. I think that next season could be excellent. I remember where we came from so I am perhaps more patient than some. Regarding the non-league comment and whether you are more typical of Saints fans, I wouldn't presume to know what the "average" fan's opinions are, nor whether Not606ers are a representative sample. I don't deliberately set out to be an outlier but... damn it, you've got me writing long winded posts and pontificating! Note to self- be more pithy.
Ok, except that Arter came on as a forced change. Straight swap for injured Surman and they bought Jack in after we had made our changes. So your point is a little moot really DL as he can't go back in time.
I was not having a go at tadic as such, I just do not think that he works well with Long or JRod, he does suit Gabbi more as Gabbi is more intelligent and goes looking for space. But one good half and then one poor half does kind of sum up his season so far
Hmmm... A couple of points: 1) Tadic worked very well with both JRod and Long. Unfortunately, neither could put away hos excellent through-balls. Long has the acceleration of a super car and the finishing of a morris minor. Jrod has the finishing, but accelerates like a road roller. 2) We were awful for the last 20 minutes and this has happened too often during the periods Boufal is on. I pray he managed to become a team player, as I love watching him, but I am on the fence. 3) That was such an awful penalty decision, but I enjoyed hearing Graham Poll say he was relieved the penalty was as bad as the decision. 4) We'll be an excellent team when we have 2 fit strikers. At the moment, we have 2 guys you can't really call strikers. 5) i would like Romeu to cut out the kamikaze lunatic tackles on the edge of the box. He's better than that.
