Thats what any CF should be doing! I could have stood there and let the ball go over my head while wrestling with a defender. Ings didnt do that, he actually scored a flipping goal. And thats why we won the game. And you all are saying it was because Long was somewhere near by. Faerie Magic. I will wait for this worm to turn.
I'm glad that the Saints fans at the ground recognised his efforts and sang his name loudly when he went off yesterday.
Football is and always will be a team game, it doesn't matter who scores as long as you win the match.
I think people recognise his efforts, but it’s something that absolutely needs addressing in the near future.
I don't think anyone disagrees with that to be fair. I just think seeing as the board largely ignored it again in the Summer that he may be one of our better options and that his performance in the last two games support that.
My thoughts on Long and his place in the side. Elyounoussi had a pretty decent game, IMO. As did Redmond. Also, Ings is more mobile than Austin. And Lemina and Hojbjerg seem pretty fast as well, or at least have the skills and work rate to be able transition from defense to attack and back more than say, Romeu or JWP. And we played two strikers. Those factors to me had a lot to do with there being more space and generally a semi-competent attack. Also, Wan-Bissaka sucked. So I think Long was less vital than some are making out. Having said that, two things about Shane Long. It’s not just that he always gives effort, it’s that he always gives EXCEPTIONAL effort. Like, crazy World Class effort. Being exceptional in any way is always useful because players seldom see it and must adjust. The opposition is never quite sure where Long could turn up. And they can never quite relax. It also inspires his teammates to greater heights. Also, Long doesn’t just run around a lot. There’s quite a bit of intelligence involved. He’s very good at finding channels between players in the line as well as between lines. Also, he’s very fast. So him running 20 yards after a guy in what should be a lost cause really does put just a tiny amount of pressure on them and can force a bad mistake. In a way that me giving 110% effort to chase a guy down with my 9 second 50 yard dash speed never will. And when you play two strikers, someone has to do the dirty work. Unless you are very lucky and have two well-rounded players who are interchangeable, probably one guy does more of the defensive pressing and decoy moves and support and the other stuff Long does well. And it’s not just that he does them well, it’s that he is happy to do them. He is a very unselfish player. But the man cannot score. He’s not just bad. He’s awful. And he has a bad first touch, is not a great dribbler or passer...which limits his ability to do much in support with the ball even if he is unselfish and willing. The ball is an important part of a football match. It would be a stupid game without it. Therefore, no matter how awesome you are off the ball, it really doesn’t matter if you can’t do much with the ball. So in the end, yes given how we are setting up I am fine with Long starting. But it’s because the team is rather flawed rather than because I think what Long does is so indispensable. It’s still a position we need to strengthen. And I wonder what Armstrong might provide in some kind of withdrawn/false striker or advanced/false mid role. It’s working okay for now, so I won’t complain if Hughes sticks with this side. I keep rooting for Giabidini but I have to acknowledge that he’s been a bit disappointing. And who knows about Gallagher. But it’s also a bit hard to get very excited about Long being in the side. He’s still, for all his admirable traits, just the least bad option rather than a good one.
I presume Garth Crooks nipped out to make a cup of tea when our match was on! Surprised neither of Hojbjerg or McCarthy made it into his team. Hojbjerg even scored a goal, which is the usual entry requirement!
Actually I didn’t say that we won the game because he was near bye. But there is such a thing as making a nuisance of yourself so that defenders have to mark you and you as a player help to create a gap for other players to move into to score. If that is what you mean by standing near then yes he assisted in this way. In other words doing what he should do!!
Exactly what I was going to say. His finishing is actually okay. He's scored some very good goals. I just think he lacks the composure of a really quality striker. While a 20-goal striker might need just half a second on the ball, Shane needs a full second or more. And that, at the top level, is a massive difference. Otherwise, his hold-up play, and the pressure he puts on the oppo defence, is absolutely crucial, particularly away from home or against a side of better quality.
I’m happy we won. I’m still not a fan of Long. The two aren’t inextricably linked. My last thought on this as I’m getting bored with discussing Shane Long is this. If we were loosing each game, with Long starting, would people still be happy at his immense work rate or would we be looking for something different? Anyhow, up the Saints, we won
Can you imagine billy and TLL how we'd feel if we had lost Saturday.........we'd have a whole two weeks to discuss it.......
Hodgson said this of Benteke. 'At the moment, we still consider him to be our best option in that position,' Hodgson said. 'It depends what your options are, doesn't it? Had we had other options, maybe we might have considered those.' He may be telling the truth, but hardly likely to make a player feel great.
