Pretty sure Harding has 0 assists this season..hardly complementing our attacking way *Also one cross hardly means a player isn't one footed. He is one footed, very much will try to use his left no matter what. Lots of players are like this it isn't a dig at him for it it's just a statement since he was playing right back as a left footer hopefully it isn't a problem again and Richardson is back to full fitness because he is great at that role.
I am a Harding fan,but also thought he looked dodgy today. Hopefully Richardson will be back for the next match. In Hardings defence he was playing out of position again,which isnt the easiest thing to do,but he definately looked the weak link today. I would have no hesitation in playing him in the left back role if Fox needed a rest or got injured,but if he continues to fill in at right back he will be targetted by teams.
No need to rate any players really, they were all excellent but Lambert and Cork especially, my word, they were excellent. Lambert's touches around crowds where Zidane-esq.
Actually he has one. (which is that same a sea hammond and he is a midfielder so should have more. and he has also played a lot more games than dan). but that is beside the point. it is a team game and everyone needs to perform to win (Especially in defence) and today... they did. Defenders aren't there to provide assists anyway. I am sure that he has created lots of goals without the direct assist.
Stupid statement. Hammond is a holding midfielder. He is a defensive player. The way Saints play is almost with wing-backs, getting on to support and sling crosses into the box or go on the overlap. Reject that Hammond bashing as he has a completely different role in the side. Most of the times he plays he sits and allows his midfielder partner to roam, then when play switches it is his aim to break it up and give it to a Saints shirt.
The way we play we play with wing backs rather than full backs. Hammond is a defensive minded midfielder. Completely different roles. A defensive midfielder almost never gets goals or assists however good he is. Hammond is the type that fills in for a RB/LB that is caught out of position, he is very tactically aware and great at providing defensive cover. I think it's something that's not appreciated. You were arguing before Harding helps us with 'our attacking way' so why are you saying defenders aren't there to provide assists anyway? Yes they are particularly the way we play. Richardson and Fox have almost 20 assists between them in the league. Harding has 0 on the Football League site so he doesn't contribute and he is incredibly poor defensively at RB so what's the point in him playing there? I'm just about ok with him covering Fox's position for now as he looks more comfortable there and not as much of a rabbit in the headlights like he is a RB. You're fighting a losing battle here
Harding was awful today , but what puzzles me is Adkins gave Butterfield a new contract and he was playing right back last year....so if he thinks he is good enough for another contract and he wasnt injured then why was he not playing at right full back??? Harding would be a great left wing back in a 3-5-2 formation were he doesnt have to defend to much. Overall though the team were very good but for me Morgan was Motm he was just awesome , some people should just watch him for 10 minutes and see everything he does on and off the ball.....starting to fulfill his early promise at long last after a good run of games.
Butterfield said on SaintsPlayer that he has started training again this week but wasn't fit enough to be pushing for the side this week.
I'm guessing that Richardson will be fit for next weekend, but if he's not then at least this suggests that Butterfield will be - so either way, we'll have a natural RB in the team again.
Hopefully Richardson's fit. Butterfield should always be second choice behind Richardson at RB if match fit. When I was giving options for RB instead of poor old Dan for when Richardson's injured I didn't realize Butterfield was almost back.
Why does NA insist on playing an average LB at Rb when we have a good quality youngster in the shape of Stephens ready to fill in Harding looks very dodgy and relies on Fonte and the midfield th cover him being out of position and completely ruins our shape going forward as he can't go on the overlap as he has to come back onto his left. Today we hardly had any threat coming down the right - NA please play a real right back!
Think it's pretty clear that Sharp wasn't at 100% today. Harding was shockingly bad at RB, just like he was against Leicester. He can't use his right foot at all which is worrying. Hopefully Richardson and Butterfield are back asap.
If you had Saints Player and saw the Butterfield interview he said he is just getting over a hamstring injury, but todays game is 1 game too early to risk aggravating it, if Richardson doesn't make Watford, Butts will, and I thought Harding put in a good shift and certainly was brave enough to get stuck in where it hurts and took a hit in the process, not for the first time, I fail to understand the absolute loathing that some have for him, I had a similar spat on the BBC606 with one individual, can it be he is on here as well, his hatred is irrational.
He is a good left back. And can cover at Right back like he did adequately. He was the left back that got us promoted from league 1. We all wondered why we bought fox when we had Harding and Dickson, so i don't see why people don't rate him. I just give up with some fans.
I can't believe 'Le God' would put Guly in his best midfield, Yet he thinks that harding is an awful player. Ummmm Harding would give guly a run for his money in the RM position IMO.
How people are rating Fox a 9 on here is beyond me! Yes he got 3 assists, yet two of them were corners. All he did all game was get the ball look up and hoof it long to Lambert or Tadanari. The one time he did get forward like a LB should be doing in a diamond he got an assist worth of the player he is usually - a good one! He was the same against West Ham as well, more of the old hoofball down the line looking for Rickie. Here are my ratings: Davis - 8 Harding - 5 Fonte - 7.5 Hooiveld - 8 Fox - 7.5 Chaplow - 7 Schneiderlin - 9 (Absolutely top drawer, like a Quarterback sitting deep picking off passes, the cog in our machine!) Cork - 8 Lambert - 7.5 Sharp - 6 SUBS: Martin - 7.5 Lee - 8 Puncheon - 7.5
