Rodriguez has missed too many sitters? Apart from one against Wigan I can't remember any. Lambert has missed more good chances lately to be honest!
We're far from the finished article and were fortunate to get 3 points against M City. First goal the ball was lucky to fall to Punch after Rodders totally messed up an attempt on goal, a goal keeping howler and an own goal, isn't exactly convincing. We also let in a soft goal which broke from our own corner, so the defence isn't unbreachable. We're playing well but our finishing needs to improve, and hopefully we can get at least 4 points from the next three.
Yes, but we should have got more points against Arsenal, Everton and ManU. That's the way things go. Overall, we play well and will get the points we need though not always in the games you expect. We had a terrible start which is why we are down the league...I honestly believe that we are comfortably a mid-table team.
Adam Blackmore was interviewing Rickie, on Saints Player, and AB mentioned about going into the break, to which Rickie replied that he was in game mode and would rather keep playing. I'm sure you saw it, Fran.
Rodriguez is playing well imo, yes he isn't scoring goals but for me that is a matter of time. Until then I'm happy with his very high work ethic and link up play. To say Roriguez isn't playing well just because he has missed a few isn't fair, in fact if he isn't playing well because of his misses nor are Lallana,Cork,Morgan and neither was Guly.
No way were we fortunate to get 3 points against City, as people you make your own luck. Saints totally outplayed City apart from about 10mins, to say we were fortunate is discrediting how good we played.
I can't believe 3 people have chosen 8 points Somebody isn't taking this poll seriously! Edit: 4 now...
A little harsh I feel, Beddytare. Jayrod has been improving with each game he plays. He was a real threat against both Wigan and City. He missed a chance early in the season against Everton away, he couldn't quite stretch to reach the ball properly against Wigan away and he had two chances agaisnt City; one we scored from the re-bound and the other was a snapshot that fell just wide by a few inches. You also said he is not doing well, but I think he is working hard, gettingin behind defences and causing them problems. This benefits Lambert and makes the opposing defenders stop and think as it is giving us a second dimension. He could have scored more goals, yes however he is still second top scorer.
I am a gambler, but I'm very wary about betting on Saints for two reasons; 1) Where you have an emotional investment in an outcome, objectivity is impossible. 2) You'd go skint trying to predict our fortunes. However, I had a meaty bet at the start of the season on us staying up, and my only regret is that I didn't increase my stake after we lost our first four league games. Next three games? No idea, but 3 points would be an acceptable minimum, 5 is realistic, 7 far from unattainable. If it's 9, I'm buying one of them watches.
Of course, if the OP had thought about it, he wouldn't have offered 8 points in the Poll, in the first place. Shall I edit it, or leave it..? EDIT: Aha, just noticed the question mark next to the 8. He's having a wee laugh.
Celebrate a Saints win? That's the first step... Borrow a scarf from me the first time you visit SMS. Then of course you will be bitten and you will want to invest in a shirt! See the light.... Go on, you know it makes sense
Sorry I thought Punchoen was Ok perhaps I should have said in the league......I totally agree that Rodders has picked his game up and is beginning to cause teams problems he is not a bad player...however I feel he needs to be a lot sharper in front of goal. Others have mentioned the centre midfield yes they too have to pick up their game and have done on the scoring front. We cannot rely on shoolboy goalkeeping errors to get us through each game. It ain't going to happen.......so sharpness in front of the sticks has got to be matched to the chances we are creating.......Just the way I see it........
I recall an interview with the then world's greatest player* (Mick Channon for anyone too slow to keep up!) and he was asked about misses. "You have to miss 'em to score 'em" he replied. Rodriguez did not impress me at the start, but his play against United, Wigan and against City (the latter only on telly, so could have missed stuff) have made me change my mind. He's going to score bucket-loads for us. As for the midfield, they are getting chances with this style of play and goals will come. Morgan scored last week and Steven Davis scored this week. What more do we expect? I do agree that we need to improve our chances to goals ratio. I am also confident that it will come. And anyway, Beddy, you grumpy old bugger. Leave us with the warm glow of that City win! * Hype? Probably, but Kevin Keegan described Channon as the best player in Britain when both were in their pomp
Before I added the poll option someone joked about 8 points so I thought i would include it in the poll. The big thing for me is that we have looked a better all round team with Cork, Schneiderlin and Davis in a midfield three. Where this leaves Gaston I'm unsure as he has looked a little off the pace with our new high temp pressing style. I think 7 points but I'll take anything as long as it contains three points from beating QPR
