Match Day Thread Southampton vs Everton 26/11/17 1:30PM KO - Embarrassment on National TV Edition

Not an attack on Davis. Doesn't change the fact that I'd rather give Hojbjerg some time, because I believe that he ultimately could provide the quick transitions from defense to attack that we badly need.

 

I like Manolo as well, but I don't think he would've scored those headed goals and we can agree that Charlie is definately not finished as some on here have suggested.

 

Really? I think he would. And a couple more too, the way we played.

 

All just speculation really though. I’m going to stop thinking about it and just enjoy the win.

 

The team performance was such that I would play exactly the same team. Nobody deserves to be dropped.

 

Charlie is much better in the air than Manolo IMO.

 

You wouldn't bring Lemina back in for a trip to City?

 

I'm very pleased for Charlie, but I didn't see anything today to change my view. If anything, it made me more worried - because when chances were falling to his feet in the box, he was missing them. Putting the ball in the back of the net from close range, similar to Hernandez, is his thing. So to see him missing those chances was a concern.

Yes he obviously ended up with two goals (although the second of which, I think any of our players - including Long, and Cedric - could have scored), and that is brilliant. For him and us. But today alone wasn't sufficient to change my view. Not on the back of two close range headers. I'm sure Gabbi and Long were watching that match - and in particular, that Everton defence - and crying that they weren't starting. Hopefully though I'm proved wrong, and Austin shows that he's very much still good enough.

One thing I will say though is that it doesn't surprise me that he was more effective starting, than coming off the bench. Firstly, it means he's on the pitch for longer. Secondly, he's not being asked to score a goal at a time when the opposition have a lead to hold onto. Combing both things together means that the likelihood of chances falling his way are increased.

 

As much as I like Manolo, i'm absolutely convinced he wouldn't have scored those headers.

 

The first goal was more than just a "close range header" Brendy, it was a superbly glanced and guided header that only a top finisher would've got right, it took a lot of skill to score that.

 

Maybe he would've scored the second one, but would he have been there in the first place?

 

No problem with him coming off. That was one of those, ‘take a bow’ substitutions.

 

He uses his head to get in the right place for people to knock the ball along the ground for him to score, not to header

 

I don't disagree with that. I'm not convinced that Gabbi would have scored that first one, for example. It was a very well taken header. But it was from close range.

My concern this season over Austin has never been about his ability to finish (which I why, as I say, I was actually somewhat concerned at HT - at the very minimum, I'd be expecting Austin to at least hit the target with one of his two chances). It's been his legs, his movement. He's done little more than come off the bench for 20 mins, and jog around the centre circle.

Playing one up front, against any half decent defence, I do think you need that one man to be able to do more than excel when the ball comes their way in the penalty box.

 

I agree with Lovelocum. I think the MP1 philosophy is good here. It does not matter how good a player you are - If the incumbent is on form you have to wait to take your chance.

 

Can’t agree with you about his second goal, he made a move to the near post and then stepped back to the middle throwing off both defenders. And it was a proper header not just a glance.

 

I think that you can forgive him for being a bit "rusty" in the first half although his overall play and movement was good and he was involved in the first goal.

 

Austin is a goal scorer, he always has been. He's barely played this season or since his shoulder injury really, so other than he's put on weight and the talk that he has a bad attitude, i don't know how people have been able to judge that he's finished. If you play him right, and get the ball to him in the box, he'll get you goals and even out of shape and with little game time or sharpness, he proved that again today.

 

For anyone who has not yet read the BBC match report:

 

A proper header can be a glancing one. A glanced header takes nothing away from the CF.