Oh and on a positive. Lovren has looked very good in all 3 matches so far (unless he had a shocker in the second half today as I missed most of it). Really pleased with him. Fonte has been solid alongside him too. Although we haven't come up against any dazzling attacks yet, our defense has been largely impressive and much improved since Pochettino has come in.
Of the 3 new signings, Lovren was the one people seemed to have doubts about. Apart from Nicola, who was thrilled to get him. I suppose we can look at this two ways....keeping it 0.0 for a while leaves you vulnerable to the sucker punch, but also makes it possible to win the same way (a la WBA). Would still prefer to go 2 up!
Got to remember that we're still at that stage (and by "we're", I include MP) of working out how best to work a system with the players we have. Going to take a little bit of time before we crack this, but the fact that our defence seems solid is a very positive start.
Not good enough really. May have been a close match that could have gone either way, but Saints let it be so. Lacklustre start, can't let games drift for 20 minutes before waking up. Would be nice to score a goal in the Prem that has come from open play. Lack of pace in the squad is again highlighted. Don't understand having Shaw on the bench. He's either fit or he isn't. Are we saying that if Fox pulled a hamstring 1 minute into the game that Poch wouldn't have put Shaw on???
Just listened to the post-match reaction coming home from work Sounded very disapointing, and a bad move to bring off Lallana, and Ramirez on according to the guys on the radio. Very dissapointing Anyone know where Cork is? Very miffed if he's not injured.
Agreed. He's not suiting the set up and he's not performing. Three goals since January that have not been set pieces.
Missed Shaw and Clyne, Lambert was awful for a second game in a row. Formation seemed confusing. Ramirez proving the majority of us right with every game. Schneiderlin plays better with cork alongside. Osvaldo needs games in this team. Would like us to line up against whu (without injuries): Boruc Clyne yoshida lovren Shaw Schneiderlin cork j Rod JWP Lallana Osvaldo.
If he was missing sitters, then yes. He isn't. Its creativity outwide and from midfield that is Saints problem right now. We are not opening teams up or getting behind them. Its just a bit to easy to defend against.
Yep, right up to the point where the same people who have said drop him, forget they said that and moan about him not starting games.
Well most of us would sacrifice a limb for him even if we were scoring 5 a game. Don't see it happening at all though.
Subs bench, there's no doubt he has value, but a full 90 mins seems like it's stifling others opportunity at present. Ideal scenario for me would be to get Moses out wide and put J-Rod in the hole.
West Ham might be a game that suits him; that bus is going to be well and truly stationary. But I do agree in principle, he has not been good enough. Wanyama was fantastic in the first two games. Cork absolutely has a role to play, though; if Schneiderlin is not wholly fit in two weeks, Cork ought to start.
