When you read so many differing opinions it just goes to show the difficulty in assessing any players performance. For me a good example is that earlier someone was saying that Prowse kept mainly passing the ball backwards or sideways (other than dead ball situations, excepted) It could be said that he never gave the ball away to the opposition. Another point on the same player which was also mentioned was the fact he did not make any real telling passes going forward, (Again other than dead ball situations) Yet from what I have read many of us thought he was a candidate for man of the match!! When you compare his game to say Ramirez's they have different jobs to do. So does it not stand to reason that Ramirez passes are likely to go astray more often simply because he is the one who is expected to try and make the more difficult pass? Surely the same can also be said for others I E Lallana? A lot of what he tried in the first half didn't come off but as the game went on especially in the second half as they tired he was doing the same things but they began to come off. Players are not going to perform at their very best each and every game some will have bad days. Surely that is football........isn't that why we say....."football is a funny old game" ?
Yeah, I do agree with that mostly. It might be annoying when people correct your spelling, but at least you're learning something.
Di Canio overflowing with praise for us in this short video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...qualiser-Saints-deny-Di-Canio-win-season.html
Yes, he certainly didn't underestimate us. Hopefully, some of the other managers are still stuck in the old attitude of once a minnow club, always a minnow club. It's probably a belated hope though as I think word is finally getting around that Saints mean business, judging by the comments that are coming out of manager interviews. If anything it's the pundits who seem to be the ones who are still half-asleep.
I'll keep it short as I'm late back LFF. Ramirez - 2 good runswhere one got a free luck on edge of box, one should have. It appeared to me that he didn't give it away often, but as stated earlier, I thought he was only ok Lallana - I really am surprised you thought he was great. First half I thought he was poor and at times seemed to give up which is very unlike him. There was one really poor moment when he passed the ball to Shaw, unchallenged from 10 yards away and it went straight out of play. As I said he started to look good second half Wanyama - how anyone can criticise him as some have is strange. He looks superb. As for his passing square or back, that's fine for me as his job is to get the ball back and let Morgan/Gasto/JwP do the delivery. Great signing.
Ramirez for me did get caught with he ball a couple of times, all attacking midfielders will as they have to wait for the strikers to make thier run or hold the ball if the striker is straying off side. However, the team showed a more cutting edge when he came on. Lallana was playing well at the time but before that did not offer much. Saying VW is lazy is just plain dumb. His job is to protect the defence, which has conceeded 1 goal in two games, and with Boruc making 3 other saves, so I would say VW is performing really well. I have also been impressed with his passing, keeps it simple but keeps the ball moving. So what if he passes sideways, if there is no forward pass then the name of our game is keep hold of the ball Overall, I enjoyed the game and we should do better against a Norwich team that wants to play
Anyone see what poll wrote in the daily mail? Laughable at best. He agrees Rodriguez was offside for his disallowed 'headed' goal. Obviously didn't watch it.
I'm certainly not criticising Wanyama. I've called him immense in both games so far. Incredibly he seems to be doing what both Schneiderlin AND Cork did last year.
Against sides likely to sit back it seems that any combination of Cork/Schneiderlin/Wanyama is a little wasted as Victor has proved he can do that job on his lonesome. You can see the thinking behind Ever Banega more after this game as a more deep lying creative midfielder will help to break these sides down. Sort of in a similar way to Gerrard, Lampard and Dembele. JWP certainly did himself no harm in his 2nd half performance to stake a claim but by the same token you wonder if James benefitted from not having himself on the wide right. Osvaldo offered a bit more movement and the opportunity for a more offensive pass. Personally I have confidence that Morgan can re-adjust his game to become a little more penetrating with his passing and will build an understanding with Victor that will give him the confidence to stay forward more often.
I am getting quite excited about how JWP is progressing. He came into the Saints squad at an early age...did nothing wrong but (in my opinion) seemed bland like a player looking for a position. However, Mauricio really rates him, starts with him and says he can play any position apart from as a lone striker. We have at last found someone to take corners and free kicks (except for Rickie's direct free kicks). He was also used as a bit of a poster boy for the England u21 side. I am expecting great things for him.
Saturday also showed me how difficult a task Pochettino has in selecting our best team each game. We have some really good options now... If/when he finds the perfect combo interms of form on the day, we could really destroy someone and I hope it a home game that's live on the TV. West Ham would do
England squad announced tomorrow, I think. Will mr Lambert get another call up. Surely still in the top four of English strikers available.
It won't just be Saints fans who will be disappointed if Lambert isn't called up...he's captured the interest of neutrals as well. He's good enough to be picked on footballing grounds, but England also need to increase the public interest in the national side. A lot of fans are disillusioned with it.
