I think one or two people on here are doing JWP a bit of a disservice and seeing only the errors. 1] His crosses were floated or hit with pace, from set piece or open play. 2] He did indeed have a pop at goal or two, and his link up play and distribution was impressive. Remember, even though he plays like a fully rounded out footballer, he's only 18. And he's playing in the most competitive area of the pitch. He's going to be a great player for Southampton in the years to come.
Amazed to see Lambert still being picked as 10 in 4-2-3-1. Lambert would be completely out of his depth at this level in midfield whenever the team loses the ball. It's like you all forget that half the game is played without the ball. If Osvaldo plays second striker or 10 he could play a one-two with a winger or Lambert. Or they shift the ball around and Osvaldo can make a run through the middle. Or Lambert knocks on or down to Osvaldo. In all cases Osvaldo ends up furthest forward and central. Lambert is comfortably the taller and stronger of the two (him and Osvaldo) as well to aim at on any long balls or clearances. Lambert also likes to drop deeper anyway. The formation a lot of you are going with suggests you want Lambert to do the defending out of the two which is ridiculous..
I think the problem with JWP like with Davis is that he doesn't take the game on and risk making mistakes. When Davis, instead of dribbling slowly forward and passing backwards ran at defenders or at least looked for a forward ball we looked much better as an attacking unit. Both are too negative, perhaps it is a lack talent but Davis has shown that he can pick a pass and score goals. I think to play our best team we will need to change tactics and not press nearly as much. It's unfortunate for Poch that both Gaston and Lambert are amongst our best but aren't really his type of footballer. To fit them in we can't strangle teams of possession i feel. Perhaps Gaston will find his niche out on the wing but from seeing him play there last season it's not where he plays best, equally lambert and Osvaldo would be wasted wide, as is Rodriguez and Lallana in many ways. I wouldn't mind seeing a christmas tree formation but we could also make do with the current tactics which seem to be effective against the attacking teams
------------Boruc------------ Clyne--Yoshida--Lovren--Shaw ---Schneiderlin--Wanyama--- Rodriguez---Osvaldo---Lallana -----------Lambert-----------
It annoys me that the neat and tidy play is seemingly mistaken for something more. I accept that he is a young lad and is going to show his inexperience, like when he needlessly gave the freekick away that lead to boruc saving us the game with an excellent save. If it had have been ramirez who did the silly thing jwp did there would have been derision. Fwiw i think he can do a job for us this season, he will be particularly useful if clyne or shaw pick up an injury as he does provide that cover well.
Should we abandon pre season and give up and coming players no hope of a prem career? These young lads applied themselves well when called upon. The reason from them being called upon is because they performed well in pre season and are massively talented at only 18 too. They earned their chance, and Isgrove will have a chance to take his too. Luckily these decisions are left to people who actually reward progress.
But you're glaring at every mistake a young, inexperienced, 18 year old is making and then using it as a banner to say "I TOLD YOU HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH" - it doesn't bear up to scrutiny and smacks of agenda and an obsessive need to put the lad down. If you'd seen Rickie Lambert at 18, then you know what, he wasn't good enough either. There's a LOT to be said for giving a chance to someone who is clearly talented, bright, and moreover supported and thought highly of by our management and coaching team who might.......just might.....have a better insight into these things than any of us......
This is exactly why I struggle to understand why you think Davis is the better footballer. Neat and tidy play is all I ever see from Steven Davis, and he's 28.
Surprised there are tickets still available, even giving for Sunderland not taking up their full allocation. Question is, if we can't sell out despite all the good vibes around the club, is some fans talk of stadium expansion unsustainable?
From what I have heard, Poch thinks that JWP has the best set piece delivery out of the entire squad.
Anyone who thinks JWP isn't an attacking midfielder and Isgrove isn't ready, hasn't paid enough attention.
Totally agree. Our squad is to be made up in part of academy graduates, so we all better get used to youngsters finding their feet in the first team and not blowing away the opposition from the off.
Davis has played for some big clubs and is the captain of his national team, I would have JWP on a par with him at the moment. The only thing that Davis has over JWP is 10 years more experience. JWP will be a fine player in a few years and playing him now will bring him on that much quicker.
I have no problem with JWP starting but I do want to see Gaston flourish this season. I can't see him doing that on the wing so the only place for him appears to be centrally in the 3.
That chance resulted in Jay hitting the cross bar! How on earth can you be critical about that?! If anything whine about Jay's finish!
JWP featured on the latest PL podcast...you could trap that lad in a bear pit if you put a microphone at the bottom
