Puncheon's signature move is cutting in on his left foot and he rarely does anything else. It's predictable and Paul Lambert will be wise to it. Man U were preoccupied by how they were going to win the game at the expense of how they were going to keep the door closed. Villa won't do that. They don't have the quality to think like that. They'll come to frustrate us and nick something if we switch off. Playing Puncheon IMO would be playing into their hands.
Yes nice team, but perhaps too attacking?! With our defensive weaknesses do you think we could do with more midfield battle/control? I'd worry that with lallana, mayuka and gaston we have a (very nice... but) very attacking set up that won't see us keeping a clean sheet.
I hope that Mayuka has the potential to be more effective than Puncheon regardless of who we play and where. We desperately need pace down the wing. Pace that is also prepared to track back. Hopefully his ability on the ball is on a par with his supposed athleticism!
Three points are much more important than a clean sheet but I get what you're saying. We can't rely on an outscore the opposition philosophy. I do feel that whilst our defence improves as a unit, our attack can take the pressure off of the defence, at least at home.
I hink we will start with Gaston and possibly bring on mayuka. I don't think adkins will play 2 new signings in attacking roles. But agree I would like to see more of him (mayuka).
We do need to be fairly expansive in all of our games. We need players running in behind so we're not being pinned back in our own half. When the midfield is flat, the striker gets isolated and the wingers are deeper than they should be to help out in midfield. The outball is a big one into Lambert, which defenders can usually deal with. A midfield packed with ball-winners and water-carriers can end up flat even if they can pick a pass. Ramirez looks like a fantastic player who can add an awful lot to the team.
Yoshida talks the talk, let's hope he can walk the walk, you can tell he has been in Holland, frequent use of the world Ja! is very reminiscent of Hoover.
Terrible omens - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19661629 Plus another unsolicited swing at Nicola.
Getting really bored of the media writing us off already. Just read an article that claims that Saints HAVE to get points this weekend to have any chance of success this season...
Imagine the shock if we won a game, pundits all over the land crying. I must say, I can remember more precarious starts to a season than this, where we deserved to get battered. Although we've got our troubles, I've seen enough to know we will cause teams trouble. Big week on the training ground, just got to bring it into Saturday. uts
Isn't Mayuka more of a striker then a Winger? Anyone know what his crossing is like? Otherwise he's probably as predictable as Puncheon with coming inside for the shot on goal. Willing to be shot down on this but I think I would start with Puncheon who is well versed on the angled ball to the back post for Lambert which we are so dangerous with, If he get's it right then its a goal.
Just posted a link to Nigel's pre match interview on another thread. Some good training shots and all the players look fit and raring to go!
I imagine he was signed to play wide in the three. The thinking for me and maybe others are that Punch and Mayuka are both good players who offer different things. Punch struggled at Arsenal although he did set up the goal with a bit of help from the goalkeeper, but he has been good so far so having him to bring off the bench on 60 minutes could change the game in a big way if we need it to.
I did, there was a shot of him and the camera quickly swung away. I didn't see any bandage or cast on his arm which some fans said they had seen him wearing.
