Summer 2013 Transfer Rumour Thread
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I like Ramirez and think he will come good and all that. But to somehow blame Lambert is... well, I find it rather mind-blowing.
Lambert's job is (or should be) primarily to finish. I don't think there's any doubt that he can do that. I don't see an inherent problem with a creative attacking midfielder being given a free role to feed one of the best goal scorers in the Premier League. That sounds actually like a winning formula to me. And in Pochettino's tactics, speed upfront if anything is LESS important as we press rather than play on the counter. If we lose the ball, we win it back in the opponent's half.
Ramirez shouldn't need really quick wingers and strikers to play with. I'm sure he would be better if he had them, but so would anyone. He's an attacking midfielder, his job is to create. Not have other people do the work and he just passes to them. Ramirez's problem is that he isn't doing his job.
He hasn't played that well. As a result, instead of Lambert being a finisher-- which he is perfectly fine at speed or no speed-- Lambert is being forced to handle Ramirez's duty. And also to some degree Lallana's duty because Lallana's been off his game and/or injured for quite a bit of the season.
Lambert's job is (or should be) primarily to finish. I don't think there's any doubt that he can do that. I don't see an inherent problem with a creative attacking midfielder being given a free role to feed one of the best goal scorers in the Premier League. That sounds actually like a winning formula to me. And in Pochettino's tactics, speed upfront if anything is LESS important as we press rather than play on the counter. If we lose the ball, we win it back in the opponent's half.
Ramirez shouldn't need really quick wingers and strikers to play with. I'm sure he would be better if he had them, but so would anyone. He's an attacking midfielder, his job is to create. Not have other people do the work and he just passes to them. Ramirez's problem is that he isn't doing his job.
He hasn't played that well. As a result, instead of Lambert being a finisher-- which he is perfectly fine at speed or no speed-- Lambert is being forced to handle Ramirez's duty. And also to some degree Lallana's duty because Lallana's been off his game and/or injured for quite a bit of the season.
It's not really Rickie's lack of pace that slows us down. It's the fact that he'll frequently leak out to the wing as an outlet, something which is certainly useful at times, but frequently overused...we end up turning fast-paced attacks into ones where he has the ball 40 yards up the sideline, with three attacking players (none of whom possess much height) in the box, surrounded by most of the opposing team. Making those runs to drag away defenders has its utility, but I do wish that he'd use his passing skill more aggressively at times; when he stays central and allows players to run past early in a move, those dinked balls through are a nightmare for teams to defend.
There's only two things wrong with Lambert: he's really slow and he's too unselfish!
His best position, IMO, is CAM. He may not have pace or do all these tricks, but he's our best creator and this will allow him to play deeper, allowing him to have more time on the ball and to not have two CBs on him all game. Before Rodriguez became good, I would have said to play Lambert up top and Ramirez behind, but now that he's found his feet I would have Rodriguez in front of Lambert. Rodriguez has high energy and constantly chaces down defenders, as well as being in his prefered position. Lambert, if up front, won't play up front and will come deeper and drift out wide, meaning that when he gets the ball, there's no one ahead of him to play through, hence the slowing down of play. Playing Rodriguez ahead would give Lambert a target and someone who he can distribute the ball to quickly and effectively.
His best position, IMO, is CAM. He may not have pace or do all these tricks, but he's our best creator and this will allow him to play deeper, allowing him to have more time on the ball and to not have two CBs on him all game. Before Rodriguez became good, I would have said to play Lambert up top and Ramirez behind, but now that he's found his feet I would have Rodriguez in front of Lambert. Rodriguez has high energy and constantly chaces down defenders, as well as being in his prefered position. Lambert, if up front, won't play up front and will come deeper and drift out wide, meaning that when he gets the ball, there's no one ahead of him to play through, hence the slowing down of play. Playing Rodriguez ahead would give Lambert a target and someone who he can distribute the ball to quickly and effectively.
Alan Nixon has been on Twitter tonight, talking about Saints.
Anyway, here are some comments tonight - from Alan Nixon:
"I did wonder if u could be planning to play three centre backs next season ... Just a guess."
"It's true all right. But Clyne factor did puzzle me."
"Southampton have spoken to Malaga. Deal very close. Malaga a bit chaotic just now. Changing couple of key people at top."
"Gamez would be a starter ... at that price. (6m euro)"
"This guy is not a back-up."
"A big strong boy. Defender. Maybe u see a different formation or new way of playing Clyne. But this guy is deffo a live one."
"Beast (Gamez). U have told them u will buy him. Malaga have to sort out new sporting director. And probably a coach."
"I would rate the chances very highly."
"Different player (to Clyne). Old school defender."
"Think u will be busy quite quickly."
"Forren seems to be taking his time to come through. Not sure what styles Pochettino plays. But this guy up his street."
"Think u will be busy. There will be a limit. But u have not been scared to give it a go."
"Defender or two. Midfield strong man. (when asked about what positions we seem to be looking at)"
"Keeps getting a mention (Astori)"
Anyway, here are some comments tonight - from Alan Nixon:
"I did wonder if u could be planning to play three centre backs next season ... Just a guess."
"It's true all right. But Clyne factor did puzzle me."
"Southampton have spoken to Malaga. Deal very close. Malaga a bit chaotic just now. Changing couple of key people at top."
"Gamez would be a starter ... at that price. (6m euro)"
"This guy is not a back-up."
"A big strong boy. Defender. Maybe u see a different formation or new way of playing Clyne. But this guy is deffo a live one."
"Beast (Gamez). U have told them u will buy him. Malaga have to sort out new sporting director. And probably a coach."
"I would rate the chances very highly."
"Different player (to Clyne). Old school defender."
"Think u will be busy quite quickly."
"Forren seems to be taking his time to come through. Not sure what styles Pochettino plays. But this guy up his street."
"Think u will be busy. There will be a limit. But u have not been scared to give it a go."
"Defender or two. Midfield strong man. (when asked about what positions we seem to be looking at)"
"Keeps getting a mention (Astori)"
would be scary, but exciting. Forren is a quality player bringing the ball out of defence, Gamez should have the skill to push forward as a RB leaving Astori? behind. Would love to see a wave of red pushing forward, then running back like idiots when someone gives the ball away trying to pass 3 defenders on the edge of the box.
Cheers for that, it would be exciting to see us play 3 at the back just to see how it works. I think we definitely have the wing backs in clyne and shaw to pull that formation off. Also we have been lacking width every time we have played and having clyne and shaw putting in dangerous crosses every game would fix this. However Lambert is the only attacker in our squad who can win a contested header, so I don't think playing wide is going to improve our play much. Of course the balls don't have to be lofted and anytime you can get in behind a team you are going to cause problems.
I would rather keep our current formation, it suits the players who are likely to be playing next season. And with two quick skillful wingers we could achieve whatever width clyne and shaw would be likely to provide. And with respect to them I don't think they are quite good enough going forward.
Having the ability to play 3 CBs would give us options.
Opponents would not know how Saints were going to set up until the team heels came in and as such will find it difficult to line up to stop us
We have said before that we want a plan B
Opponents would not know how Saints were going to set up until the team heels came in and as such will find it difficult to line up to stop us
We have said before that we want a plan B
3 CBs and 7 strikers. Remember that pundit who said he didn't want Saints to go down because they play with 8 strikers...well, we will be a bit more circumspect than that
Which is something we needed to do IMO. Love Jos and Maya, but it's an area that needs improving for real progression, and that is what Mr Cortese wants.
No arguments here. I'm also hopeful we can get them in early so a partnership can at least begin to develop in pre-season.
Seems there might be something to the Gamez story then. Maybe an alternative to Clyne against the more physical sides in the league, though as Nixon says, at that price you'd not expect him to be a backup. Having said that, Forren at £4m hasn't played yet so who knows. I guess with Butterfield and Richardson on the way out having two good right-backs to rotate might not be a problem.
I don't really see us changing the formation, though having the option of playing 3 at the back occasionally might be useful.
I don't really see us changing the formation, though having the option of playing 3 at the back occasionally might be useful.
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