They do occasionally swap, but I wasn't overly concious that he was. I'll have to look at some highlights. Maybe he was put there to be an Agbonlahor stopper.
I'm guessing that was one of the other reasons for choosing Maya to start ahead of Jos last night. One of the things Jos definitely lacks is pace, and with Agbonlahor starting, that may have swayed Mauricio's thinking.
Personally I think the criticism of Maya is a bit OTT, yes he was a bit slow at the start, yes he dropped a clanger for the first goal, but when was the last time he actually started a game with the current XI? You cannot just flick an on/off switch and expect a player to perform with perfection, as the game wore on he was visibly getting better, he won some important headers and I suspect only more match time will see him up to speed, I think a bit of patience is required, for some it is so easy to pick on and victimise a player, not so easy to praise them.
It was basically a 343 after Clyne went off and I think Fonte and Lovren were chosen as the wider CBs because they have the ability to get forward a bit and play the ball. Shaw basically stayed on a level with Cork, Davis and Lallana at that point. I have said a few times that I'd like to see Mauricio line up like that, but that wasn't the right kind of game for it.
The first goal has to be down to a mistake by Yoshida........He went to get it but he seemed to let it squirm past him once that had happened the forward was gone in a flash. The second was just poor marking.........the third was another defensive error by not challenging and running away. The goal itself was a good goal meant or other wise. He just hit it and it went like a rocket into the top left corner. Our Achilles heel seems to be we do not have the ability to worry players when they run at you. That was a bad game to lose.....they came for a draw and got a win..........There were a few players that were clearly off form......Some went off injured...although with the exception of JWP I rather doubted it at the time. Saints can tip tap the ball as much as they like in front of goal....but for me doing this does not create that many chances. Keeping possession is one thing but means nothing if you are not opening defences. Play like that against City and we will be crucified............
Yes have to say that much as I always look on the positive side I'm scared of what the City front line will do to us on Saturday. Just hope the injury news is better than we all fear.
I'd like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and thankyou to our positive goal difference. We've shared some good times, and has been a great insight into how the other six live. Hope to see you again soon - maybe a catch-up after Christmas?
Lovren vs Yoshida Passes completed: 56 - 56 Passing accuracy: 86 - 88 Aerials won: 0 - 4 Key passes: 0 - 1 Interceptions: 0 - 4 Tackles: 2 - 0 Clearances: 2 - 3 Shots blocked: 0 - 1 Neither player committed a foul, got dispossessed or turned the ball over.
Squad players should be able to slot in and do the job. If they can't there is either something wrong with the player of the system ie how we train and keep our reserves.
I'm not sure I agree with you. I put in an earlier thread that I thought neither were that good and that actuallythat Lovren was probably the poorer of the two.
