Went to Wolves match yesterday. Friendlies have a different tempo with no last ditch defending, risky tackles etc, but until all the late changes was interesting. After an initial phase where Wolves had their best spell, I thought we demonstrated that we are a better football playing side. I thought we would be as a promoted side playing a demoted side, but there was always the fear that they would damage our confidence (as if NA would let that happen!). Clyne and Puncheon shone especially...Puncheon scoring a good goal and Clyne pulling a great save from their goalkeeper. Good to see Hammond giving a solid performance. Sharp looked good, but got little service or he could have scored more than one. Jack Stephens gained some experience..not very adventurous but since Clyne spent so much time going forward it was just as well. Gazzaniga did all that could be expected of him but he was under little pressure. Good to see Steve Davis fit to come on, but hard to judge anyone at the end of the game. Controversial to some, but de Ridder is just not good enough for us in the PL...I will be surprised if he makes final 25 (but one should never be surprised in football).
He'll make the final 25, whether he will get gametime regularly I don't know but I hope so personally - useful player in last 10/15 minutes or so
I know it's probably not what you meant, but on a sidepoint... If the question is "Guly or De Ridder?" - I would pick Guly every time. Others?
I would always pick Guly over De Ridder just meant they both have that unknown quality. Guly just has lots more of it!
I enjoy watching Southampton play football and will gladly pay within reason to see it. Feel free not to post on this thread if you aren't interested.
De ridder looks good on the ball until he's got to do something with it.....like shoot,pass or cross the thing........!!!!!!!!
As with a lot of people, I too don't rate De Ridder. All pace, and little else. If we sold him tomorrow, I wouldn't bat an eye lid. I don't think he's particularly that good, and I think Lallana, Puncheon and Guly are all vastly superior. However, a small, small part of me just wonders if he could maybe do something in the PL. I'm pretty confident that he wont do anything at that level at all (maybe confident isn't the right word, it almost suggests that I want him to fail), but I'm not 100% certain. Maybe, just maybe...
I think now he has had time to settle he might surprise a few perople. He clearly has shown Nigel enough in training to still be part of the squad. What he does have is pace and that will always scare defenders.
Adkins said some will be disappointed when he names his 25-man squad. I saw nothing yesterday that would suggest de Ridder was safe, but it was only one preseason friendly and I haven't been at training. We'll all have the answer soon.
But when there's the Olympics going on, something that's once every four years, I just can't see the attraction of going to a pointless friendly, especially so close to the beginning of the season.
De Ridder is your typical pace merchant. Capable of changing a game but also capable of having a stinker or looking anonymous. Pace merchants who can turn it on consistently play for better teams than us. He'll be a useful impact player.
I went to the game and was keeping in touch with the Olympics using my moble phone radio, using a pair of earphones that cost me quid. I was able to relay to those around me that wanted to know and still was able to keep watching the match. I could have been a couch potato and stayed at home to watch the events on TV, but I have been doing that for hours all week, it was a nice break to get out of the house for a while. Being on the night shift, it has been 8 hours of work, 1 hour travelling to and from, four hours of sleep and the rest of the time glued to the box, except for an occasional walk with the dog. I am multi-tasking by following updates on the net while watching the TV. Why should I get a life when I am enjoying this so much. However roll on the days leading up to the start of the Premier. Bring it on, now come on Ben, another Gold would be most welcome. Come on Andy be the victorious Brit rather than the Scottish loser! What's on next?
I think De Ridder will, it's just that he won't get much game time. We have Lallana, Puncheon and Guly ahead of him and there are rumours of another winger joining. If he doesn't make the 25 man squad, then that's another space free and I'm not sure how many of the current squad count in the 25-man squad but I can't see us making any signings that we don't need to, I think there's too many vacancies already.
Clyne and Gazzaniga are u21 and we can assume that Barnard, Forte and Dickson won't be in the squad. That leaves K.Davis, Richardson, Butterfield, Fonte, Hooiveld, Seaborne, Fox, Schneiderlin, S.Davis, Cork, Hammond, Chaplow, Puncheon, Guly, Lallana, De Ridder, Rodriguez, Lee, Lambert and Sharp. Even if Clyne and Gazzaniga did count, we could still make 3 more signings without dropping anyone. De Ridder will be in it and if we do drop anyone, it's likely to be Butterfield as we don't really need a 3rd choice RB.
That's what I mean, we've got too much space in our squad! Unless we're making room for some January signings...
Adkins may want to leave some space for emergencies, but he said at the end of last season that he was no fan of the January window...would rather get it right at the beginning of the season.
