http://www.rokerreport.com/2013/8/27/4663010/talking-tactics-southampton-a? Interesting bit on Larsson Further forward, Larsson was impressive as Sunderland's central midfield set about trying to blanket a vibrant Southampton midfield. He made the most interceptions in the game, attempted the most tackles (5, 3 won) and his ball recovery total was only bettered by Victor Wanyama. There is always a concern with the Swede - and Gardner for that matter - being susceptible to conceding fouls, and he matched O'Shea in that department, yet his energy and determination provided a buffer that the home side found difficult to surpass. Is Larsson under-rated ? Does his "quiet" game make him susceptible to criticism as he doesnt get noticed, even he gets the job done?
He was better against Southampton but he's still woeful, slow and soft as ****e. There's better cm in league 1. If he's a regular starter in centre midfield then well do well to stay in the league.
He doesn't get the job done. The middle of the park is no place to be quiet. He's not connecting defence with attack. It's what we need and he doesn't give. Not his fault he's out of position I know, but he's ineffective when it comes to what we need.
we play a 5 man midfield, thats 3 central midfielders. Who says Larsson has been told to connect defence and midfield. Wouldnt that job have fallen to gardner? Yes there are better CM's out there. I just dont think he is quite deserving of all the stick he gets.
But paolo has already said Gards was played in place of Cabral as he was more physical. So obviously Gards was delegated the job of breaking up play, Even if Seb did it better than him. Also, I'm not giving him stick, I just said in the very paragraph you quoted that it's not his fault he's out of position. Don't lay the doom monger blame at my door, I've always defended Seb as being played out of position. Who's our 3rd cm who's being played then btw?
when did i ever say you were a doom monger? I said Larson doesnt deserve some of the stick he gets, but I never said anything about doom mongering and I didnt mention you personally anywhere. we play a 5 man midfield, with 3 in the middle. 1 DM, 1 CM and 1 AM. Sorry for not being precise enough Though I dont think we have a traditional DM in Cabral, who seemed (based on 1 premier league game) to get forward and make runs. Larsson seemed to be staying back a lot more than Cabral did, with Cabral getting stuck in all over the pitch.
don't see how you can compare the performance of Cabral in a home game against Fulham where we set up to be offensive, and the performance of Seb at Soton in a more defensive formation
Ah, sorry. Just don't want to go into the Seb hating category. I think with tall strikers like we have he still has a role to play on the wing, Especially as Paolo want's to adjust tactics for the opposition. I don't think Sess has been playing deep enough to give us a 5 man midfield. He's been off the frontman and absent in turn.
I know Sess was quiet on Sat, which is why he was taken off at half time (looked like 2 players were marking him all the time to me, which didnt help), but I would have liked to see how he played when we finished playing 3 across the back - 3-5-1-2 would have suited him imo
Larsson has been a waste of a shirt for over a year. "He made the most interceptions in the game, attempted the most tackles (5, 3 won)" Correct me if I'm wrong, but 5 attempted tackles in 90 minutes and only managed to win 3 of them and they are supposed to be good stats? I was a **** footballer but would guarantee I made ten times that amount of tackles in a match. Just proves to me he is a waste of a shirt even more, he spends more time marking space than getting amongst the oppos. I love the way Roker Report keeps popping up as if they are in the know, they are just fans like us voicing their OPINIONS! No different to reading a fellow Mackem's opinion on here. In my opinion Seb has had his day!
