First of all, allow me to make it clear that I am in no way criticising Jay, particularly after a great showing yesterday. However, watching him this season has kept me in mind of repeated conversations I had with my mates whilst watching Beattie's early time with us. I was of the opinion that Beattie simply needed to be stood in the 18 yard box in training, have balls pelted at him for an hour every day and be told that he had two touches maximum to finish. Apparently, that's not a million miles away from what Hoddle actually did with him and just look at the dividends it paid. Like Beattie, Jay too is strong, he's quick and he consistently finds himself in tremendous positions. I feel that the potential we've paid for really isn't too far away from being realised and it's his decision making at crucial moments, confidence in his own ability frankly, that needs work. Some of his shooting is weak and his attempts at picking out a team mate after doing the hard work are often inaccurate or poorly weighted. Would the Beattie finishing treatment turn him into the real deal? I rather suspect it would.
Agreed. He had two chances where he came through on goal from wide and he should have either scored/got an assist from both chances. He's certainy got quality and an impressive workrate but I think he needs to practice his finishing and maybe bulk up a bit, he'll gain more composure the more he plays.
Agreed, his ability to find space between the defenders yesterday was great and really impressed and with the likes of Rickie sliding the ball into his path he should have got something in the game. A lot of the problem came because he made most of the space on the left side and seemed very reluctant to use his left foot to shoot. Instead he kept trying to check back inside so as to use his right foot but in this league you havent got that much time or space. So get him out on the training field hitting the ball with his left foot too!
Agreed he needs more strength, gets pushed around too easily. Found himself in a few one on ones yesterday, he was indecisive and seem to lack the confidence to actually try and score. He had similar opportunity at Stoke, Guly took the flak for the miss. Cannot fault his workrate, he ran his socks off yesterday. But what he does seem to lack is anticipation, the amount of second balls he failed to win, the defender anticipating them, JRod reacting after the event. Obviously hope he proves me wrong and becomes an estaplished PL striker for us but I'm not convinced he will. Beattie was very raw when he came here and took a few years to blossom, JRod maybe needs a dose of Beattie treatment for him to be effective.
The way he's built, and the role he plays, is sort of like a Fernando Llorente type of player. Unfortunately he's nowhere near as good at putting away his chances. If he gains some confidence and imposes himself a bit more, he'll be class.
I'd rather we focus more on getting the ball to Rickie inside the box as I feel its something we are doing less and less of... when its clearly our best option always of getting a goal. Jay probably won't get wide open spaces like he did against Villa again this season. Probably gave him too much time to think when he appeared a more instinctive striker for Burnley.
I agree but since losing Lallana Saints have created fewer and fewer chances. Whilst Puncheon has been playing superbly he hasnt really got a right foot so will always struggle. His shots are also a bit off at times and , like Jay Rod his decision making is often poor. That leaves Lambert who needs to get himself into positions where he has the opportunity to score more often as, as of late, he has seemed really quiet. I wonder if Sharp would have done any better. Personally I think that Sharp could have made a difference in games where we struggled to create clear opportunities such as Fulham and Sunderland.
What I've noticed is that he is strong and quick with a good touch, but not that great in the air. He barely wins any headers against CBs, and while this isn't the worst thing in the world as he has other great qualities, I don't think he can be as effective as Lambert playing on his own.
Sharp is an out and out goal scorer, wouldn't describe him as a creater. But saying that I would like to see Sharp in our squad.
Lambert needs to get in the bloody box for that to happen! At Burnley, Rodriguez played as a supporting striker to Charlie Austin, who scores lots of goals but is a selfish sod who left Jay to pick up the work. Reverse the roles and Rodriguez would have banged in more than he did and would have run Lambert close. The lad needs confidence to raise his composure ond he'll get that by playing.
Mm perhaps strong isn't quite what I mean, I mean his running is quite direct and strong, but perhaps he hasn't got great upper body strength.
I think that he'll come good when and if he has a run in the team in the central position. The issue is that we usually play with one down the middle now and right now, he can't play instead of Rickie, so he and we will just have to be patient.
JRod had a good game yesterday and he adds a few things to the team - especially the way he chases down the opposition defenders quickly when the ball has been kicked up field from the goalie, he won loads of throw ins for Saints yesterday deep in Villa's half. This takes the pressure off. Another thing i noticed is that JRod's timing is often all wrong when jumping for a header - this is why he often loses out in the air. He seems to jump too soon and is on the way down when the ball arrives - did anybody else notice this yesterday as it happened quiet a few times ? Like the lad though - he does give the team something.
He's getting better in every game and having more effect in games IMO. He does need to bulk up a bit I feel though
Sometimes he reminds me of a schoolboy in a mans league - needs to get a lot stronger so he can "out muscle" players when he is shoulder to shoulder with them. don't get me wrong I like the lad but 7m? A tad expensive for what we have seen so far!
