Tbf to Hodgson, it is mainly the media who keep banging on about Carroll. I think Roy appreciates Rickie...it's just down to form and fitness.
But what good the competition to Jack if he's ousted from the team the minute the his direct competition is back. It doesn't matter how well he plays, he'll find himself on the bench. MP should shake the team up when it needs refreshing.....not just because someone is back from injury.
Mauricio said that Cork needed a rest and Victor needed game time....he made a decision. Not all decisions work out, but nothing has been lost. Wanyama has 45 mins under his belt and we won 3.0, so who can say it didn't work.
Corks season didn't start till early December, he doesn't need a rest. I'm not trying to keep this debate running, I just feel very strongly about it. We're going to lose Jack in the summer if we don't treat him fairly, & that would be a disaster IMO.
I think you're right about Schneiderlin but I'm not sure it's as simple as just the international snubs. The way he has spoken recently suggests he almost expected a call-up, and the fact it hasn't come probably is demoralising when he's seeing his English colleagues being rewarded in that way. Even before that though, at the end of last season after he won the player of the season award he was saying how he expects to improve even more, then he was talking early this season about how disappointed he was in his form. I think it happens to people in all walks of life, sometimes you have a setback in your career or whatever, and that can be stressful. I think he has struggled to adapt to playing alongside Wanyama, and his form this season hasn't been what we've come to expect, but he has started to look more like his old self again recently and I'm sure one day that call-up will come. Or he will move to Arsenal and get called-up immediately... I don't know why Wenger didn't bid for him in January, he's a known admirer and he's exactly the kind of player they need. Not that I mind of course!
Think Hodgson is definitely weighing up Shaw. Ashley Cole doesn't get enough game time any more. Can't be good. Hopefully looking at Clyne as well because he should.
It is surely true that he must wonder what more he can do. People talk of drops in form with Morgan, but the fact remains that he is rarely less than good, and more often sublime. He is also very important for me as the one signing who has stayed through the crap, learned his trade in the lower divisions and come good in the Premier League. Maybe the French authorities just don't like being snubbed. After all, we are told that he ignored their advice to move when we went down. I hope he knows that, whatever he does in the future, the loyalty he has shown over the years makes him an absolute legend in the eyes of the fans. As for the original post - Jay is better than anyone in his position, IMHO. He's learned how to score in different ways, and is going to be a huge name in the future. Book his seat Roy - in one of those rows of 3, please, with Adam and Rickie
It doesn't necessarily work on that. They will have looked at his data and taken measurements of his health and decided that a break from 90 minutes might be good. It worked out fine, as his introduction helped along a significant improvement in the 2nd half against Fulham.
Well, indeed. The thread might have taken a little turn for the lighter side, but Saints do seem to have a few of the best performing English players kicking around currently. People must have seen this article. NOTE: It isn't well written: http://www.givemesport.com/426415-are-southampton-the-best-english-team?autoplay=on
Are we in a secret pack with Roy and FA to provide the entire England Team!? I've always believed that what England have missed since a kid is an understanding between players. Well if you take our front 3 plus Cork, Clyne and Shaw it would be a strong team with a good understanding between them. Team play is so much stronger than individual star players!
Completely agree, but as usual the "big" sides players are going to get pick. Johnson is so overrated, and Shaw is a better back up to Baines than cole
Says that we are favourites to avoid the drop....surely Arsenal/City etc have a greater chance of avoiding the drop than us.
Exactly. Well, I did mention that it wasn't well written. If the author had said something along the lines of... from the traditional candidates, or words along those lines that categorised the subset of teams, then perhaps Saints might have been favourites.
Agree with this. The debate about Lambert or Carroll is dumb as they are different sorts of players, not even remotely close. If he's looking for an out and out target man for hoof ball then Carroll is your man. If he wants a clever player with great control and vision then its Lambert. Its not really about Carroll or Lambert, its about what Hodgson has in mind for his 'plan B'.
We could have 8 players with Hart in goal but with Wilshere and Gerrard being absolute nailed on favourites of Roys it wouldn't mean a jot with them constantly giving the ball away.
Indeed, well put. With Carroll you get a very good Plan B. With Rickie you get a very good Plan B, C and perhaps even a D.
My first post here on the forum. I've been thinking for a while now how clever it has been for Cortese/Saints to celebrate themselves as a English team at the core. The sheer number of press articles that are being generated by the current english lads and by the academy conveyor is pretty incredible. Saints 'Englishness' has turned the team into something of a darling of the press and blog world. Somewhere along the line those headlines must become cash.
