Cork played like crap-- way worse than Wanyama today-- in the League Cup against the same team in a similar situation.
I don't entirely disagree as a whole, but these criticisms bear no resemblance to his performance today. His passing was absolutely fine today, and he barely lost the ball. You seem to be extrapolating faults from other games, and popular perception, onto what he did today. That's the part that confuses (and frustrates) me.
I'm not a fan of the Wanyama/Cork debate but Cork hadn't played for an age, if I recall. And on the other side of the argument, I didn't think Wanyama was noticeably worse than the majority of the players today. Vin
Wanyama was ok today. Not great, but much better than his last game. Don't see how he can be made a scapegoat really.
Not "an age" since he played, then. This place has gone all black and white again. No greys visible. Vin
Thank you. You see the same player I do. PS - I'm not looking to scapegoat. Guly, Yoshida, JWP were all dross today.
Oh come on. You know the point being made is that Wanyama lacks match practice now just as Cork lacked match practice when he was poor in the League Cup. I didn't watch the game but I'm very confused by the team selection.
Just got back from the match. Can't believe I've just seen a team 8th in Premier League put on such a weak performance. As soon as I heard the team I thought League Cup mark 2 but at least that wasn't a match where Sunderland fielded their complete reserves. Just glad I wasn't facing the long trip back to Southampton. Two fans behind me only arrived just before half time. Nightmare train journey from Southampton. They bothered to turn up!
The only reason to play Wanyama ahead of Cork would be for him to go and win the ball, to give the rest of the team a platform to play from. Clearly he didn`t do that today, most notably when Sunderland scored. He isn`t mobile enough, and unlike Cork, his lack of mobility means he isn`t there to retain the ball when the play breaks down. Poch will be inclined to play Wanyama since he paid 12M for him, but sorry, he just isn`t very good.
But Wanyama wasn't dross today!?!? Lambert was if you need someone. Adam wasn't a load better. I think I could probably name at least 8 players worse than Wanyama today, but y'know, let's just talk about him!
Not really fair. I was pointing out that Jack had a reason for not playing terribly well in that game. And I pointed out that Wanyama today was certainly no worse than most of the Saints players. And that he'd played some time recently. See, shades of grey, which are absent in many posts. If you need it spelling out, Wanyama is a good player and Jack Cork is a good player. Both are better when match fit and both of them have better and worse games. Sorry I don't have a black/white opinion but I don't feel much in life is like that. Vin
I wasn't trying to say Wanyama is better than Cork or vice versa. People are saying that Wanyama needs players around him to make him better but Cork doesn't. I was simply pointing out that Cork, when given a somewhat similar team around him in a match we were treating (rightly or wrongly) as a throwaway also failed to distinguish himself. And that's really the only comparable example you can point to. The question is why do we play so badly against Sunderland reserves in non-league matches? That question is much bigger than Wanyama vs Cork. We should have been able to win either match, with either player. It's some combination of surrounding talent, tactics, and lack of effort. Focusing on Cork vs Wanyama is missing the point. Both those matches are on MP. Cork has played well in the league with the first team as has Wanyama. They were both part of horrible losses in Cup matches where the team as a whole played like ass and where they were paired with Harrison Reed or JWP (as well as other non-regulars) instead of Schneiderlin.
Saw the team sheet and I was so saddened to see who the manager had named this starting 11. No respect for the oldest football cup tournament in the world - especially made worse when you think of the sad news of the demise of Tom Finney yesterday... for me that made it all the more damning; the disregarding of our football heritage. As others have written; there are cases where extenuating circumstances apply; top/bottom of the league, or a string of injuries in the squad, even a desire to blood younger squad players. But no such excuses can be applied to us. So I decided not to watch the match; I do not wish to sound disloyal but maybe it is better we did not go through if this is how the club perceives the triviality of the FA Cup.
Even if there were, only extreme prejudice would lead to anyone picking Wanyama. He wasn't brilliant but he was probably one of our better players today (talk about damning with faint praise).
For all the club trying to be touchy feely with the fans, they simply have no idea the lengths many go to just to support the team. I know that "**** happens" result wise at times, but now Cortese has gone, I'd hope we'd see some more common sense regarding appreciating fans, instead of just exploiting them. I think it's a fact that Southampton is the ONLY club in the Prem that hasn't assisted its away fans in some way this season. That is shameful.
