Crying out for an attacking midfielder of quality. Game after game month after month. And where is boufal; how on earth the rest have done enough to maintain their places week after week whilst he stagnates on the bench is beyond me
If we are working on a long term basis, I don't see why our academy should not be expected to produce decent forwards . I was disappointed that Gallagher was allowed to go on loan to Birmingham ( even worse that Redknapp is there!) but it is strange when you think of the likes of Danny Wallace, Rodney Wallace, Matt Le Tiss and Alan Shearer that our academy has had a good track record of development strikers in the past yet we seem to better these days with full backs! I think Jack Stephens has shown the benefit of loaning players out ( a talented player performing in an unfashionable position) so maybe there is some logic behind the decision, but I would have preferred to see Gallagher coming on as sub at St Mary's as opposed to him being at St Andrews. The young lad at Yeovil has also been performing well this season. Maybe we will have a glut of forwards in a couple of seasons time?
I like Bertrand as a player, always have. Just think he needs his head sorting as something isn't quite right. Last few seasons I would have expected Bertrand to get a proper head on it and bury that. Maybe I'm being too harsh, but he didn't seem interested in much of the game.
Ok, players. I think you focused on that one player bit too much. I too want top dollar for Virgil, so not sure why you think I don't. Did you read my other reply to you?
Sorry, I had the other end of the stick. I thought you meant Fraser needs to retire and you knew something about an injury
Lemina was very good yet again. Broke up a few dangerous attacks and helped out the CB's when needed. Add Hoedt into the back 4 and Lemina and Romeu in front and I think we are set defensively.
Sorry, my "decent price" comment wasn't aimed at you. I was just trying to quantify my statement about wanting to sell Virgil, given that I appreciate some might see it as being contradictory to my comment about trying to keep our players. As for your other post, I generally agree with it. And in part because the board have done so much good in the past, including player recruitment, I gave them a fairly easy ride last summer when they sold Mane (and Pelle) and didn't replace him. (And that was in addition to my belief that we were already missing an another attacking option - have we had a CM who could score in the PL since Oakley?). I was happy to wait and see. But I just can't do it again, 12 months later, I'm afraid. Unless MP proves himself to be a managerial genius (and that is clearly unfair to expect him to be that), then my fear is that this season will just be last season all over again. We're risking bringing in yet another manger next season. And fundamentally it is because of lack of tools. Very, very early days, but I'm OK with what I've seen from him so far. But if his hands are tied, there's no much he can do.
Got to echo what was metioned earlier about the subs, found them completely baffling and to be honest still don't actually agree with them, but they seemed to work excellently so fair enough. Not a great performance but I thought Huddersfield were excellent. I remember how common it was in our first 2 seasons back for us to play well and completely nullify the opponent, only for their fans and the media to attribute it to said team just playing like ****. So as far as I'm concerned great credit to them. Must say I'm a big Davis fan but thought he was way, way off his game today. Must have been about 4 or 5 times where it opened up for him and he carried the ball into their third with options ahead but couldn't make a decision and missed the window of opportunity. Still really feel like JWP should be starting and should be a foundation in the team. Looking ahead the superstars can come and go (hopefully moreso come at this moment), but the likes of JWP, Romeu, Stephens and Redmond should be what we're building around I feel so should in their own way be the first names on the teamsheet. They might not be the players that take us to the 'next level', but they can be the stable foundation.
As above, over the last few years I've raved about Davis and think he's consistently been a top performer. Think he's been poor all 3 games so far but really nobody to come in and take his place...
https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-08-26/video-james-ward-prowse-post-huddersfield-town-southampton James talking about the game....haven't heard so much from him lately. We used to be unable to keep him away from the camera.
Boufalndidnt play central even in France. MP clearly doesn't fancy him but I don't see how he can be less creative than what we've currently got
We had two headless chickens running around today, one was Tadic the other Redmond, so really a good result playing with only 9 men that also included "pass the ball side ways" SD. Huddersfield played like we used to play, think they will do well this season, made some good signings. For us Lemina looks the real deal and Gabbi must be wondering what he has to do to get someone to see his great runs into open spaces and feed him the ball, I am wondering myself. But Hey Ho we are unbeaten, happy days.
He cannot possibly be less effective than our current incumbents who have been hopeless for 6 months.
We outplayed Swansea, but failed to score; beat West Ham, but allowed them back in the game; today we were outplayed in parts, but managed to keep a clean sheet and possibly could have snatched it. Not playing vastly better than last season, but I think we will score more under MP2 than under Puel. And we'll probably finish about 7-9th. However, people slated Puel and forgot some good European and League cup games. Think Mauricio is discovering the same problems that Puel did....we lost important players the season before and didn't replace with quite the same quality. Not saying they are poor, but that we lost very good players in Wanyama, Mane and Pelle. Our class player is Gabbi....we must get the ball to him and ahead of him. So far I'd give MP2 a 7/10....a tad generous because I don't think the problems are down to him. A rocket up a few backsides might help.
