It was PEHs quietest game for us. Didn't seem half as energetic as usual and I was wondering myself whether that head injury had something to do with it. I didn't see what happened either though.
I have to admit I keep having to squint and look closer at Valery to see what I'm missing. Seen plenty of people really talking him up as a big prospect, and I keep wondering what I'm not seeing. I think he's another handy academy grad, and has filled a spot in the team abley enough. Defensively he is okay, needs to wise up a lot and he does significantly better fighting for the ball than he does when the opponent has him squared up and on his heels. But given how much other fullbacks have been chastised for their offensive play, he is absolutely lost going forwards. That doesn't bother me and I don't think it's the end of the world, but just not seeing what others are. And genuinely that's not me snidely scoffing at their opinions, I've more been second guessing what I'm seeing. I think he's worse going forwards than Targett was at the same point, and people heckled Targett to no end after being spoiled by the explosiveness of Shaw. He can definitely get better especially because a lot of what he needs is composure and confidence in what he's doing on the ball, but at the moment whereas Targett for a long time seemed thoroughly unsure and hesitant in what to do (not always helped by our team plans), Valery seems outright scared. There must've been three or four times off the top of my head where he got into an 'okay' crossing position, but didn't do so, didn't do anything else particularly, and lost the ball. Not a slag off Valery post, just a 'please tell me I'm wrong' post.
I like him and I think that Ralph sees something too or else there is no way that Cedric would've left otherwise. He is still raw but will only improve in all aspects I believe.
Yeah I'd be worried rather than confused if it didn't seem Ralph likes him, that's good enough for me to not question his place in the team. Just questioning what I see with my eyes!
Ralph rates Valery enough to play him, but I doubt it is set in stone. Valery has been given a chance to prove himself, but wouldn't be surprised to see him displaced by an incomer in the summer.
How have we got back to the "neghead" passive aggressive crap again? Laughable! Things are looking up at Saints, but they are not exactly perfect. I would think all of you mature, intelligent football fans would be able to engage with all viewpoints - calmy and rationally - without thinking you need to pass judgement on the poster. A simple rule is to address the post, not the poster. Harmony will once again be achieved!
Want Saints to stay up by our own efforts, but opposition team losing a valuable player....hell, that will do as well.
Dave, everybody is dead. Everybody is dead, Dave. Not Charlie Austin. Tell me Charlie Austin' s not dead. Charlie Austin's dead, Cedric Soares is dead, Wesley Hoedt's dead. Everybody is dead, Dave.
Decent result yesterday. The genuine wool socks which I wore in combination with the long-johns and thermal fleece kept me if not toasty, then far from freezing. It is not good when the temperature is so low. I have to remain seated at half-time in order to avoid freezing by butt on the glacial red plastic when I sit down again. Regarding the match, we weren’t at the races and often seemed to stop with the ball at our feet, contemplating what to do next. Maybe I am not the only one who doesn’t like the cold.
I just can't see the point in being pessimistic about football. You have a real life for that I don't take offence to others being neggies or for people to not be confident about staying up. I could agree with them, but then we'd all be wrong
Absolutely. And I'm more than happy for him to be given further chances. I just don't like the fact that we've put all our eggs in one basket; particularly for a such a vital position. (I'm relaxed about people dismissing the importance of a RB. But I refuse to dismiss the importance of a RWB. We could end up having to change our entire formation, just in order to get some attacking threat down the right. And aside from that being somewhat perverse, given that we've chosen not to recruit, it also means going back to two CBs. And we all know how that tends to work out for us...)
