I thought Ramirez was decent, was showboating a bit early on and nothing really came off so he looked a bit rubbish, but he actually settled down and did ok then. Did better than last week. Seemed to have a knock just before he came off (which I presume is why he was withdrawn).
He did play on Wednesday as well so hasn't been training with the rest of the team. I would guess it was Nigel's plan to change him after an hour.
Everone played there part but pinch was fantastic attacking Lallana was everywhere and still making players look stupid in the 88th minute and cork was an absolute dynamo in midfield. Shaw was very composed as well great win.
I thought he came off so Davis could help stabilise the midfield a little more, didn't look injured to me but then I guess you had a closer view.
Thought he had a fantastic game and had everything that he has sometimes missed this season, he was direct, dangerous and constantly at the front of things. He'd be head and shoulders MotM for me, if it weren't for a little bit of wastefulness as the second half wore on, should really have made it comfortable for us a lot earlier and got a bit overconfident and started shooting whenever he got the ball. But that just counterbalanced the rest of the team who sometimes seem afraid to shoot or just always looking for one more pass, so not the end of the world by any means. In the end I'd probably give it to him but Clyne, Lallana and Lambert right on his tail.
Needs more than a couple of good games to earn that contract. He's earned the starting spot and a longer look for certain, but if Saints stay up they should be looking to improve. Easiest place to start is with players' whose contracts are up.
I was just about to post the same thing. I completely agree that with it being one of his old teams it motivated him more. I just wish he had played for all of the teams in the Premier League.......
That's me!! Of course I'm always glad to be proved wrong in areas like this. We are all football lovers and therefore like/dislike different players for reasons to do with how we like to see the game played. Puncheon never ticked my boxes. Now his commitment has improved and his game has improved. I'm still not convinced 100% (QPR were piss poor today), but as said, more than happy to admit I made a mistake. The irony is, I was one of the buggers saying give him another chance way back when, when everyone else was saying get rid. So who's the daddy now?
I had forgotten he went on loan to QPR - your assessment could well be valid. He has been one of our more consistent players this season and as we don't have many options down the right - a good thing too.
Not sure he had much choice if he wanted to stay in a team of any relevance. He had a rep as a trouble maker. He did try and whore himself out to any Prem outfit going, and in the end no one really wanted him enough to buy him. He happened to come back and apologise when we looked certs to go back up again. But whatever, I've liked him from the minute he signed for us, and that didn't change while he was out on loan and causing trouble. A good player is a good player. My only concern is that he went to both Blackpool, who got relegated, and QPR, who basically should have got relegated last season (though he also barely played for them). I hope he bucks that trend this season - third time lucky. An extremely class player on his day, if slightly difficult to look at. Like his ambition a lot. He won't want to drop out of the Premiership for a third time.
Also fair play to Cortese for listening and giving him a second chance (also made sense because otherwise we would be faced with laying out money to get someone of the same quality). The team were pleased to have him back, so he can't have been that disruptive. Everyone learnt lessons.
Yeah, considering Cortese's reputation he gave him a lot of chances and then gave him an opening to get back into the squad. If you go off of his 'Don' reputation you would have expected Puncheon to have been released a year or two ago. Maybe he's not such a big meanie after all...
Agree Fran. He's very popular wit the other players and you need a few characters in any dressing room as long as it's in a positive way. Maybe that's what he's learnt.
I was only say a week or two ago that Puncheon was my player of the season so far. Yesterday just enforced that belief even more for me - although if current form continues, then Cork will very quickly be catching him. MOTM against Swansea, and sounded very good yesterday too. I always felt that we were missing him more than we really believed. But yes, very pleased for Punch. I'm sure people know how more of a supporter of his I am, and ALWAYS have been since he stepped into this club.
