Pains me to say it, but if we're in situations where we feel it necessary to lift a flair player in order to give the flanks more defense cover, that player should be Lallana.
As I've been banging on about for about 12 months now, playing Lallana at LM in the PL will only ever lead to us having defensive problems down that side. You either accept it and move on (and that includes not blaming the LB, instead when its actually Lallana's man who scores/creates the goal) or you start calling for something to do done about him. Maybe drop him? Maybe move him centrally? Because of his ability, I'm firmly in the former camp. Goals are going to come from that side. Fine.
Lallana has four assists this season now (same as Mata) so I'd quite like him to keep doing what he's doing. If you want Saints to be a free-flowing attacking side that scores lots of goals and is nice to watch, then you have to accept that midfielders will occasionally abandon defensive duties for more free-roaming attacking roles. Alternatively, we could play a flat 4 in midfield with more rigid wingers and play like England. I know which one I'd prefer.
Everyone is saying how great a game he had but a full backs role in the team to close the crosses of the winger out. We conceded two goals from our left flank today both from crosses into the box. He was nowhere near tight enough on either occasion.
Agree!!! Fox left exposed by Lallana on a number of occasions, who I think should of been taken off before Lambert and Puncheon. Lallana was supposed to take a more central role in this new formation (hate playing 1 up front at home) we now play but it would seem now NA is now playing him back in his familiar left sided position. Lallana is always looking to get involved in play by drifting inside but imo he has got to show more discipline and attack and defend from the left side.
I much prefer the free-flowing attack, and believe it to be our route to survival. Nevertheless, if we're going to start playing defensively at times, as we have to date, having Lallana on the wing is the worst of both worlds...not enough attacking talent on the pitch to retain possession and generate chances, not enough cover to prevent the opposition from exploiting that flank.
Lallana left him woefully exposed at times today. Still a few Hollywood passes nut he had a solid game today
but look where Lallana was when Fox was faced with two players v one again. Fox was okay today; not good, not great. He did okay.
For the first time since he took over, I was very angry with Nigel today. This was when Fulham scored their second. Nigel did completely the wrong thing when taking Puncheon and Lambert off. And Mayuka should have come on for Rodriguez. It doesn't take a genius to work out that we aren't going to win games 1-0.
Well spotted CBK, both goals came when Adam had done a disappearing act and had ceased backing Foxy up.
Always complement where a complement is due, I have No Swearing so I don't know what you actually said.
Hoovield didn't help on the first goal did he? Nor did the right side having no one closing Riise down fast enough . The goals we conceded today were a team effort and unlucky. Hoovield had a nightmare. Could have been a clean sheet another day. Blaming Adam for both goals is ridiculous
