Not sure if it's just a confidence thing, but chap low is still struggling for me since his return. Looked a shadow today of the fantastic player before his injury. Right midfield remains the open position in this team for me. Guly is the front runner when Richardson plays, but de ridder is a better bet with butterfield, who doesn't overlap much.
He certainly does seem to have lost the spark he brought to the team at the start of the season. His performance at Millwall was appalling, one of the worst performances I've seen any of our players put in this season. It's a real shame because in the early stages of the season he was brilliant. st brendy summed it up well last week saying there seem to be two Chaplows - the incredible one we were treated to early this season, and the one from when we signed him - decent enough but not good enough for our team. I thought he looked quite good today - not brilliant but certainly not as frustrating as in the Millwall game.
Every player has poor runs of form, but he's been fantastic overall this season, and his work ethic should guarantee him a chance to play in the Premier League.
I think people were, in our blip, over estimating what chaplow brings to the side Don't get me wrong he is a good player, but I think people seemed to think he was better than he is
Possibly overstating what he brings to the side, yes, but there's no denying he was top class before his injury, if he can regain that form then we've got an incredible player on our hands.
Our dip in form no doubt coincided with his injury and perhaps that did leave us to overstate his importance to the team. That said as I commented at the time during the peak of his form. A lot of it was down to his work rate and fitness. In fact I would go as far to say that I have never seen a player as physically fit as Chaplow. He found his form from performances off the bench and I think that's how he should be used for the run in
Chaplow was fine it is the excessively over rated De Ridde than I worry about. I wish one of his supporters would come on here and tell us of 2 brilliant things he has done.
I think the reason for the 2 Chaplows is mainly due to fitness. Earlier in the season, he looked like the fittest player on the pitch most matches, chasing lost causes and pressuring the opposition all the way back to their keeper. Since his return from injury, he has not looked the same player and I suspect there may not be enough time for him to get his fitness fully back this season.
Yep, I'd agree. Chaplow's play is all about high energy levels. I remember Steve Claridge's comments on him just a match or two before he became injured. He said he couldn't recognise the player, who was playing for Saints, from one he was used to at immediate previous clubs. Such was Chaplow's level of fitness, he seemed able to cover two football pitches worth. He was astounding Claridge with the impact of his play. We might have seen the best of Chaplow this season, but watch out for the next August.
I actually thought there was a bit more spark to the side after he came on and he looked like he maybe coming back to where he left off before theinjury
If that is all you can offer then that makes Guly more than three times the player De Ridder is and that is probably just about right!
I don't think that Chaplow has been too bad bearing in mind that he is still coming back from fitness. The problem for him is that the midfield is so strong that it is difficult for him to maintain a regular place. He wasn't too bad yesterday. There were a few stray passes and he lost the ball a few times but he definately fought for everything and gave 100%. As someone else said, he was a marked improvement of De Riddder who seems to be an impact player for me and not really worthy of a regular place in the squad.
Not every player can come in and be a world beater straight away. Strangely I think because De Ridder gets a good response from the crowd that some feel the need to be overly critical on here. He is still a raw talent and is getting a little more used to English football. Sure he needs to get his head up a lot more, but if he works hard with the right attitude he can be very useful
I have to admit that at times there was the sparkle of the old chappers showing through yesterday. Making things happen being industrious. It was an improvement from his last offering. So another camio or two should see him back to normal for the run in which will be great. As for De Ridder, not sure what to make of this character. Another one that can make things happen although you never know what. He doesn't appear to have an end product as others have already said although he does provide that badly needed width down the right.
Don't forget that Saints were still playing almost 100% on the ground until Chaplow's injuries. The long hofs by Fox only started in that blip. We're still doing a mix of hoof and good football and maybe that is why we see a difference in Chaplow. Also seemed to be in a much free-er role before where he would chase from right to left back and worked well with Lallana. Seems to be in a more rigid and fixed role since he came back. Just suggesting maybe the change instyle/tactics may well be making Chaplow look more ordinary?
