http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/10405506.Villas_Boas_hails__outstanding__Saints/ AVB believes in us, what a pity a lot on this site don't!
Well done. Still managing to get "just how great is Ramirez" stuff in. You should be his agent On this occasion you are right though.
I did wonder if it would get picked up on!! He was not great that day, but probably the best performer for us ... see, I can even tone it down a bit. Seriously though, I do worry that he'll go before we've really got what we should from him.
And before we know whether he can integrate his game into our style. If he goes to a club that likes to turn games into a track meet, I think that he'll excel from day one; he hasn't really become acclimated to the fact that we want to get people forward before we try to score a goal.
----------Boruc -Clyne-Fonte-Hoovield-Shaw --------Cork--Morgan -Puncheon--Guly--Rodriguez-- -------------Lambert(c) I'd drop Lallana. Move Rodriguez back over to the left. Move Guly central and play Puncheon on the right. Guly was always best central but he never gets a chance there anymore.
I think this mentality is because we aren't good enough on the counter. If we are to be a proper counterattacking side I think that we need to have 2 quick wingers and a quick striker, it would be nice to have more speed and ability in midfield as well. I think Rodriguez, Clyne shaw, and schneiderlin are our only good counterattackers at the moment, puncheon, lambert and are ok, and davis has also scored from a counterattack. I'm not really sure how good lallana and cork are at counterattacking as I can't remeber them in too many successful ones. Ramirez will be very good at counterattacking once he can run at defenders and pass it off rather than lose it. The only successful counterattacks I can remember are Davis's opening goal at city, puncheon's against chelsea and Schneiderlin's at newcastle. Surely there have been more than that. Another area we aren't scoring enough goals in is his headers. Rickie has been excellent this season and I still think he is doing many things well, however he doesn't look as threatening in the air. You have to go back to Rickie playing under Adkins to see him score a header from a proper cross (he scored a scrappy header against wigan.) ofcourse he is often dropping deep or going out wide, also he has been defended well, the service has been average but I think it is also because he doesn't have the energy to get to the back post every time. Rodriguez isn't that good in the air, he can head it when he is unnopposed though, his goal against arsenal in preseason was a very good header, of the others there aren't too many attackers who can compete in the air. Lallana, puncheon, davis, ramirez and cork, haven't offered enough in terms of counterattacking and aerial threat. Perhaps I am over exaggerating the importance of counterattacks and scoring in the air, but these are two areas that I feel we have been poor in this year. We have also been woeful at defending set pieces however I think this can be attributed to way we are setting up for set pieces as much as not having the right personnel, although no doubt clyne marking carrol at corners highlights a lack of height in defence.
Where does this need to be a counter attacking side come from? We are a team that press teams high up the pitch and try to win possession there. We are also a team who when we have it like to keep the ball. This is as far from counter attacking as you can be.
Good counterattacking would have won us the match against tottenham and quite a few other games. Defensive corners and when we drop deep to defend, which happens when ever the opposing team brings the ball within shooting range are ideal times to counterattack when we win the ball back. I didn't quite mean a side that chiefly counterattacks I meant a football team that can score effectively on the counter.
We're not a possession team as we're only averaging 52% for the season. Every top side is good on the counter (other than Barcelona as they always have 60%+ possession). Anyone else can't always dominate possession or win the ball high up the pitch. We have plenty of opportunities to counter during a match when the opponent loses the ball particularly off a free kick or a corner but also when they commit too many players forward.
It's definitely because we are seriously lacking pace other than Rodriguez. Lambert is obviously very slow at Striker but he creates loads of chances so not sure we can replace him. I think he's 7th in the league for chances created. We need to look to buy a very fast winger that has a high work rate. Rodriguez looks promising on the left side and should get better. Since we spent 12m on Ramirez I'm guessing he'll get a run of games at the start of next season. I can't see us selling him and his stamina should improve in the off season.
I have tried to give Lallana a break all season but as you say "if he had the ability to shoot" which on many occasions he has had the opportunity to score with a decent strike. I prefer Puncheon who seems to make things happen more than Adam. I think he needs a good off season rest and come back refreshed. Just my take on it.
Quite agree ref the Adam comments. He shows such a good touch to make things happen, he has great awareness for a pass. I reckon things will fall into place for him next season. These nasty snatch shoots & wrong decisions will turn into goals, of that I am confident.
