Man City v Southampton on Saturday. Joe Hart v Rickie Lambert. Nine years since Rochdale v Shrewsbury in League Two on the 16th of April 2005. Rochdale 1-1 Shrewsbury Town. The Rochdale scorer? Rickie Lambert. please log in to view this image
With all the talk of Rickie being unfit and overweight when he came to us - he looks pretty slim there!
Rickie had a couple of years, like Matty before him, during a part of his career where he let himself go a bit. Crucially, Saints stepped in and got him properly sorted out, unlike Matty, who was allowed the freedom of too many burgers later in his career [it was a different era and a different Saints]. It is due to the modern attitude that Saints take, ie, properly looking after their investment, that Rickie appreciates over everything else. It's why he's an international player these days and he cited Saints intervention in his career in his first England post match interview.
I think it will be a good game. City have lots of quality and should pip us, but as long as it's close and entertaining i'll be happy. Davis to score for Saints
The games I hate the most are the games we play really well in and get pipped! If we play well I want to win. If we don't play well and lose I can say OK they were better than us and get over it faster. Got a feeling for the headlines on this one "Saints shock shaky City!"
Was watching my file of the Hull City 4-1 match late last night. Davis' take and finish for goal number 4 was sheer class. Of course, it gets overlooked because of Adam's mazy run around Hull's defence, but that goal is the best I've seen this season, bar none.
Isn't that Steve Davis through and through? Plays great football in most of his games but seems to be anonymous; nothing too flashy, just great skill and vision without histrionics. Vin
It's true. He's plays quietly and calmly. Does all the right things. Never loses the ball. Distributes it well, links with Adam really well, and has very good feet. First goal on Saturday was down to his aerial pass, after Artur's throw out to him, and he made several through balls throughout his time on the pitch. Still gets missed though and it isn't that he fades out of a game. As you say, he just doesn't do flashy stuff, but he's class.
For a few games Davis was misplacing passes and looking a bit sluggish on the ball, but he's right back in form now. He's the main reason for Gaston being kept out, and that's an impressive feat.
I won't argue with you on that Joe, because earlier in the season he was in and out of the starting 11, but it would help if you could point out a particular game. Personally, I can't think of any game where I can definitely say he's been poor. At worst he's been average. At best, he's real class.
Throughout January and February I think he was inconsistent. Some good games, some ineffective. The one which jumps out at me is the Hull game in which I was getting frustrated with his oddly rash defending (which at one point should have gifted Jelavic a goal) and not particularly great passing either. I wasn't the only one suggesting he could do with being replaced by Gaston for a few games during that period.
Understand where you're coming from, but performance over result for me. Usually the two go hand in hand, but for example I preferred the Arsenal 2-2 compared to that infamous 1-0 at Leeds. I applaud the saves and some of the defending from that game, but the only enjoyment was the goal and the final whistle. Also preferred our 3-2 defeat to Villa compared to the 0-0 against West Ham.
Pass of the day against Newcastle for me was from Davis. It was the ball that set up Rodriguez for the 1st chance. I had a lovely view of it in the stadium as he picked it up from one of the defenders and floated it perfectly over the full backs head and Jay could take on his chest on the run and hardly break stride. Shame he hit the post/side netting and set the tone for our finishing in the 1st half. As mentioned he set-up the 1st and there was another wonderfully weighted through ball for Lambert after Shaws burst forward. He is a very good player and has had a very good season. Sometimes I think he could be stronger in the tackle, but thats nit picking
That was a great pass I agree, but JWP made an equally good one for the chance that Rickie headed down to Jay for the chance from which Elliot made a great save. I'm just saying that because I think Prowsey's contribution isn't getting the credit it deserved. In fact Cork, Davis, and JWP were all outstanding on Saturday.
Not forgetting Jack or James either. They are all doing very well and putting in a shift, and a quality shift at that. We've just been concentrating on Steve Davis a bit because he hardly has any lines written about him, good or bad.
