I know Harding played at right back yesterday and by all accounts very well but i have been pondering the fact that he is a player who has been consistant if not always eye catching .When considering Lallana's disappointing form of late it seems to have coincided with Fox playing regular behind him it always struck me that Adam and Dan had a great understanding down the left hand side. Iam not questioning Fox's skill and ability as it probably is superior to Dan's.Fox is probably more attack minded and maybe invades Adam's space more he also more ambitious with long passes that dont always work whereas to me Harding likes to link up and work the line with Lallana .Not knocking Fox but just wondered which pair you think complement each other
Yes i suppose. I just think that as a player Harding is more understated but has forged a good partnership with Lallana over a couple of seasons and it just struck me that his form dipped when the left back position changed hands
Harding may get the best out of Lallana but Fox gets the best out of Lambert. Plus, Fox is a lot better defensively so I prefer him. I would like to see Fox link up with Lallana a bit better though.
Just to be clear I think offensively Harding links up with Lallana a lot better than Fox. As I mentioned though I think Fox creates more goals and defends slightly better, even if he does give the ball away now and again.
Lallana is a good enough player to play his own game, whoever is down the left, everybody raves about lallana but maybe it's just a case he isn't doing it at the moment for some reason (confidence/fitness/injury) you take your pick? Fox is a class above and I for one didnt see why we bought him in the summer but my word do I now! He is a premier league left back and is far superior to Harding in every area! Harding is a good squad player...that it!
I agree with this. Harding is the better attacking full-back imo, but defensifely Fox is more solid, and less often found out of position.
Chaplow shiny head - I think you've got it the wrong way round. Fox is better defensively and doesn't get into Lallana's space enough. Harding bombs forward well and therefore links well with Adam whereas he is always exposed defensively. Fox has a good set piece delivery but try's the long cross field ball too often. Nigel will stop that. Harding did well at Coventry on the right, but think defensively fox is more secure as a left back. As for fox being the reason for Lallana's drop in form, Adam looked pretty awesome in September and October to me! Adams drop in form is him.
Yep, you've hit the nail on the head. Fox holds back more, Harding gives the ball and goes all out to the byline. All our full-backs are like that, Frazer and Harding get to the line, and Fox and Butterfield sling them in from deep.
Harding certainly links up better with Lallana no question about that - but Fox's crosses are a key part of the team these days but Harding is better defensively imo, Fox is often caught far up the field so that during an opposition attack down the left leaves Hooiveld or Lallana covering for him down the left hand side of defence, as demonstrated at Coventry from what I saw with Schneiderlin at left back and Fox nowhere to be seen - as a left back Fox should be doing that work but WE ARE lucky to have 2 VERY GOOD left backs who could both do a job when called upon, they also very different players in the way that they play
There was no surprise our fullbacks were being caught out of position in the first half on Saturday. If you play with wingbacks and no wingers then they can't be in 2 places at once.
serious question Saintsfan4life - did you go to Coventry? I'm not having a dig, just asking because I was there and didn't see that. I really must watch a different game, because every time I watch Fox play, he is sat back (as per someone else above saying) and there is a 40 yard gap between him and Lallana. This is where Lallana lets Fox down defensively (he doesn't cover back enough), but Harding is better going forward becasue he is closer to Lallana and hence Fox lets Lallana down offensively (he is too far away to support in the way Harding does). A combination of the two would be great.
i didnt go to Coventry, i only saw about 10seconds clip of it and i saw Schneiderlin at LB with Fox nowhere to be seen - im sure your judgement is better than mine on this. It's hard to judge on a brief clip but its all I can do as its what i saw i do agree that a combination of the two would be great as both are good players where one players good point is the others bad Point (if that makes sense)
10 seconds is a little harsh to judge a performance on (unless you are my wife) and yes, they have opposite strengths and weaknesses which is good for Saints.
