Sure, but you know what I mean though. Screw pragmatism and trying not to get beaten. We need some inspiration from the top amongst a trudging bunch right now. I fundamentally disagree that we have a bad squad of players here. We have a top 8 squad. We just lack a motivator.
Probably. But if you are saying Pellegrino can't provide that, well I'm inclined to withold judgement. As I've mentioned a few times on here, & said to anyone who'll listen, I saw plenty of signs of improvement yesterday. We were unlucky to lose what was probably always going to be a 1-0 game. We played a lot better imo than we did away to Brighton or at home to West Brom, tho the results appear to tell a different story.
The squad that finished 6th had Mane and Pelle. In terms of type of player they're the missing parts. We have Gabbi and we didn't really have a Gabbi then. We have a Boufal. Gabbi hasn't been given the service and Boufal hasn't been used enough. The rest (from memory) is the same/similar replacement. I think therefore Laces may have a point.
Pelle was a very good striker for us. Of course he wasn't top class else he would have been somewhere else. When we sold him I banged on for months that we needed to replace him and had not and duly got hammered on here for it. Now about 2 years later everyone else is saying we haven't replaced him.
Yes agree,thought we were better but only a little and unfortunately our attacking play is still showing signs of a hangover from last season. Don't understand what the board saw in mp2 that encouraged them to employ him especially after just sacking Claude.
You have only quote half of the comment about Boufal as it as followed by a wish to see him play more games. Merrington's assessment was interesting because he criticised Boufal's lack of desire for wanting the ball. I think DM was spot on in his assessment but I would add Boufal is clearly a skilful player but one either Southampton nor the player himself seem to be able to ascertain how they fit in the squad. I am not convinced he is the answer but I would say the same about Pierre and JWP, two other fringe players who would have struggled to get a regular place in a team led by either Poch or Koeman.
I don’t see either tactical acumen or motivation at a high level with him I’m afraid. It may feel like an overreaction to one game, but this has been building in me for a while! It’s probably too early to pass judgement, but I’ll be amazed (and delighted) if this turns around under his stewardship. He seems a lovely bloke, but it feels like he’s guessing his best team and tactics. I’d rather have a nasty bastard who stamps his personality on the team right now. Difference between CP and MP2 for me is that with the right group of players I could see CP doing well. This feels like a step up too far for MP2.
Here is my take on it the day after. This was the first game this season that I wasn't driving so I could have a drink. Hmmm, doesn't get any better with red wine inside. We didn't play bad as I see it, but we just seemed to be lacking that spark. I do feel we were robbed, but my worry is that we carry on playing like this all season. A lot of huffing and puffing, but we can't blow the house down. The positives for me were that we did seem to go forward more and there were less backward passes from the edge of their area back to ours (I know sometimes it is necessary but it was becoming the norm for us) and to me Boufal is one or two games from being that creative spark we all want. There were numerous occasions yesterday that things almost came off. With time they will. Redmond played better, Davis ok, and the back four in the main were good. I'm not a Forster basher by any means, but my confidence in him is about as low as his in himself at the moment. He literally had nothing to do. Except pick the ball out of the net. Gabbiadini worries me as I feel he will want to leave soon. He is getting zero service, he keeps making intelligent runs, but no one sees them. Well Boufal did yesterday twice, one came off, one didn't. Austin, now there is a weird one. He does look a bit overweight and cumbersome. Is this lack of game time or does he just not care? I am nearly 20 years older than him, eat a lot and drink a lot, but would look more at home in the shirt on the pitch than him - what happened to all the dietary advice and training? How can a professional footballer who has nothing to do but train for 3-4 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week get that out of shape? The last point is the elephant in the post (room). Pellegrino. The jury is out with me. I didn't want Puel to go, but I am beginning to see why the board did it. Like us they look at the talent we have and wonder how we are not better off in points and performance. I am beginning to worry that MP2 doesn't have the know how how to get it out of them, but am really wary of pulling the trigger on him. He needs a chance, but I fear that he may not get it. Anyway enough from me. To quote LL. Up the ****ing Saints!!!! on and We March On.
I just hope to God that playing Boufal at 10 yesterday was a sign that MP is giving him a run in that position. If he is, then really everything might just start to get better after these next few games. An understanding between Boufal and Gabbiadini would surpass that between Tadic and Pellè. But we all need to have patience and not throw our toys out the pram like I did yesterday!
Jeeze, where to start with this Ian. Did you go yesterday? Or do you listen to the radio during the game? Just for clarity. Saying Boufal didn’t want the ball is bonkers. Merrington, I’m sorry, nice bloke and that, but he’s full of crap. Boufal worked as hard as anyone and constantly got himself in good positions to receive the ball and try and dictate play. I can’t even countenance what Merrington says there. You say Pierre and JWP would struggle to hold down a place in a Poch or Koeman side. I’d suggest they are both players that would thrive under the tutelage of Pochettino. In fact I can’t think of two player in our squad that I could name that more epitomise the type of player that would find their feet with him. As I’ve always said, I think Koeman is overrated, so I don’t care if they would or wouldn’t with him.
Prepare to be disappointed then. I dont think MP wants to play Boufal at all but he is now under pressure to do so. He is too cautious and negative to consider the likes of boufal. Put it this way if we were winning boufal would be on the bench.
Agree with every word Laces. They are both still very young players. If JWP was a couple of years older when Poch was here, he may well have developed into a more dynamic player than he is now, one that trusts in his own skill the way a midfielder has to, our own Harry Winks perhaps? PEH is a lot more expressive playing for the U23’s than he is given licence to be in the first team.
That makes no sense whatsoever. Boufal played the best part of 90 minutes yesterday and was one of our best players.
Please read what I have actually said rather the choosing to quote half a sentence that doesn't represent my opinion. You have taken half a sentence and ignored the second half. The sentence was: Boufal has not shown anything yet except the odd moment of class. That is accurate, no?
