A left footed player, maybe. Puncheon, no. His understanding with Clyne is getting better and better by the game and I think we are becoming increasingly strong down the right. Also, the point of him being that side is that he's fantastic at cutting in and getting the shot or cross away. I just don't think he's get as much joy on the left. I think what Nigel will do is start how we were when Adam came off. Gaston LW, Punch RW and Jay and Rickie in the middle. Seemed fairly effective, just need to be taking more chances! PS I've actually been really impressed with Rodriguez
Yep I agree. One thing i've noticed is that he loves to run onto a through-ball, and Gaston seems to have a 6th sense for timing them. This isn't something we have exactly excelled at this season so far, so I reckon it could help us change things up a bit. I think J-Rod will grab his big chance with both hands (feel free to hurl abuse at me later if he flops)
I think the great thing about our current front players is that they are all adaptable and can keep changing positions. Ramirez can play anywhere, Rickie plays everywhere, Rodriguez can play on the left or right and up top. And don't forget that our second goal against Newcastle came from Adam and Puncheon linking up down the left. And there's always Guly and Mayuka to throw into the mix as well. Irreplaceable as Adam may be, I think we have some great alternatives.
Agree with all of that except playing Rodriguez up top with Rickie. We can't play 4-4-2 against most teams, we'd be out run in midfield. It was fine against Reading as they played 4-4-2, but most teams have 1 main striker and play 4-2-3-1.
I don't think it will be as bad as people think. have a look at Jimmy Bullard or Zdenek Grygera, that's how you damage youR ligaments. I think it will be 1 month tops. Maybe a sprained knee.
Hello everyone ... just thought I'd add a post for once ... Personally I think Adam is (certainly from within the squad) irreplaceable. It's his knack of being able to hold the ball up allowing the rest of the team to break out and build an attack which is so undervalued. The ball "sticks" with him. I do however have a crazy idea. How long is Danny Fox out for? Normally everyone agrees that going forward he is very useful but not the best defensively. If he becomes available again, we could have his crossing back in the side but without having to fit him in at LB to accommodate it. Just a thought
You should post more often, that is certainly outside the box thinking! I have thought for a long time that Fox would make a better midfield player than he is a full back, especially if he had a decent left back behind him, which with Shaw he would. I think it depends who we are playing really, certainly against Sunderland we would be more attack-minded, but away from home against Fulham, and against Arsenal at home we might need a bit more defensive lineup. Certainly worth thinking about.
Lee really is the only cover for Lallana that we have, we tried with Fox last year but was not up to it. Mayuka is a right sided player so him and Punch could swap, but playing JRod out of position would be a mistake. We could be really radical and use on of the youth wingers like Rowe,Sinclair or McQueen
I expect Nigel will try not to change the team much if we lose Adam. One for one if he can, rather than shift everyone.
Lee would be the obvious answer, surely? When he played up top last year with Rickie he had a tendency to drift wide anyway, and he's pretty effective on the wing imo. He tracks back too, I'd say he's one of the hardest working players we have. I don't know how good his crossing is, but in terms of everything else he is the player who I would bring in if Adam is out for a while.
I have to admit I had completely forgotten about Tadanari Lee! Good call, he played on the left last season until he was injured IIRC.
Lee looked poor for the U21s the other day, didn't look up to speed, unfit and a poor first touch. Might have been a bad day at the office but I can't see him getting near the first team based on that performance.
And he missed a last minute pen! I'm asking for a fit Lallana for christmas. He is our best player by far.
put JRod up-front and Sir RL on the left, with a licence to roam I think Rickie could play anywhere. (he used to be a midfielder) maybe RL and RG could swap positions in the game, would certainly throw any man marking plans out the window.
Adam was taken to the Southampton General Hospital today http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/saints-spread-christmas-cheer-538709.aspx
