Interesting about Long. He is a player that I have always liked for his aggressive pressing of defenders and even keepers when there is a sniff of a under hit back pass. The main thing I look at with players like Long, Clasie,Pelle, Martina, et al is are they improving? We tend to buy youngish players and/or those who have not played in the premiership. Even Jayrod took some time to settle into his stride. I think Long could be really good, judging from the the improvement we have seen so far.
Long has been a very good signing. We should continue to buy british, as it seems that, unlike most of the other teams, we cannot fail there (Bertrand, Forster, Long, Davis, jury still out on Austin)
Another nice thing about Long....is he ever not smiling? Always has a little private smile as if he knows something we don't.
There was a moment when Jay picked up the ball on the counter, Long ran off to the right hand side opening up the space for Tadic to run in behind Villa's suicidally high back line. Richards was last man back on the halfway line, all Jay had to do was play it past him and Tadic would have had a free run at goal from halfway.... Jay then plays one of the worst passes I've ever seen. (Can't wait for him to have a full pre season and firing for next season) but
The one right by the half way line? Yes, I remember. He tried to pass it to Tadic rather than into the three miles of space between Tadic and their goal.
For me, I think Long is still too frantic a lot of the time. He plays at such a pace that it's very difficult to control the ball or gauge the situation. I didn't see the game yesterday, but for his two assists for Tadic he had a little bit of time to gauge the situation and pick the right pass. So often he terrifies a defender with his pace and pressing, but when it comes to the point where you need to slow it down a touch and apply the finish, it still feels rushed and I would argue that's the difference between a 20 goal Vardy and a 10 goal Long. My solution FWIW is he needs a big shot of confidence and something which he has not enjoyed in his career for a long time(pun intended) and that's to be the man. The first choice striker. Kane & Vardy don't have to worry about their place in the team, but Long must have felt every match this season is a must to impress and that's a lot of pressure, especially when you're biggest perceived weakness is taking your chances. At Saints Pelle is the man(in Rons eyes and thats most important). I don't know what will happen in the summer, but if Graziano does leave. Then I think the first thing Ron should do is tell Shane that he is first choice. He is at peak age and I think that added bit of confidence could get him to become a 20 goal striker
Visited Ireland recently....the Irish are similar to us, but with a little sideways step. Nice people...apart from the ones who want to kill you....probably fewer of those than you find in Scotland
Tadic, Long and VVD all made The Observer's "Team Of The Day". So, a little surprisingly, did Ashley Westwood.
