Clyne wasn't that bad. Crossing was pretty average but to be fair, the West Brom defence did a good job today. Blocked nearly everything.
No. I said the variation in his games is due to luck. He has a good workrate and he's fast. That's not luck. Those are two things he brings to the table every game, and it sets a baseline for him as a decent, semi-dangerous player. But for now, that's all he's got. Sometimes the ball bounces his way and he scores. Sometimes it doesn't. He doesn't know how to control the game. You have to be careful ball in your own end and you have a halfway decent defender who knows how to play against attackers with pace to handle Rodriguez. Not everyone can do that, but most of the big clubs can and if that's the case you can pretty much mark him out of the game. Teams have to be aware of him, but they aren't that worried by him. Today was an obvious example. West Brom stayed behind the ball and largely negated Rodriguez's speed. Had he seen Lambert then he could have easily created a goal, and instead of people giving him low scores he might be the player of the match. But he did what he always does which is run fast with his head down and it wound up with him taking a poor shot.
I read that as if you'd had a drink to be honest. Your first line says "no" and then a long winded explanation. How was I supposed to get that from your original post, where you clearly said his game was luck? I re-read it and didn't see the word variation. I think you just don't rate him highly which is fair enough. I rate him. He is 23 and a lot of learning ahead.
Same for Shaw on the crossing front. Both have never shown great competency and always prefer a low drive across the box to a whipped in ball to someones head. Clyne has improved this season, but WBA defended the cross very well. They have two commanding centre backs and two full backs who are competent in the air. It would have taken a special delivery to pick out a free Saints head. My main disappointment with Clyne was his reluctance to push up the pitch when our defenders were in possession. With Ridgewell at left back and the left sided midfielder for WBA being so anonymous I don't even know his name, there was not much danger in pushing an extra 10 yards up the pitch. With Lovren and Schneiderlins ability to switch play Clyne could of found himself in possession in a dangerous area and give WBA defenders less time to adjust
You seem determined to pick an argument. I wasn't arguing with you in the slightest. I tried to clarify my remarks, but you seem to want to read into them whatever you want. I never said that Rodriguez couldn't improve, or that I don't rate him highly. I think he's a pretty good player as it stands, and the flaws in his game can be improved with hard work and experience. I hardly think it is controversial to point out his passing and vision are rather bad and that hurt him, and the team today. Until he improves in that area he won't take the step up to the next level. He'll be a guy who can score a few, and teams will need to be aware of but that they don't fear.
Well sorry if I am expected to know what you meant to post. I'm not that clever and responded to what you did post.
Yeah, Clyne fell below his high standards today but tbf he was overdue for it. He and Morgan have been the most consistent performers for the past one and a half seasons IMO and I still think that he has an outside chance of going to Brazil. One average match does not make an average player.
Yeah, I totally posted that I didn't rate him highly and that he wouldn't improve. Your lack of reading comprehension is not my problem.
In fairness to ISIRTP I can see what he's getting out on both points. Jay doesn't quite have the experience/nous/ability to control a game as yet and the fact he remains our top scorer says more about the dip in performance/influence of our other frontmen than the prowess of Jay. He's improved from last year, yes, but remains very much a rough diamond, hence (I think) the comment regarding lucky breaks. His speed and work rate compensate, much as Lukaku's physicality compensates for his 'roughness' for Everton too.
Because it's indicative of the fact that our offense isn't really that good. Our top goal scorer should have more than 8 goals, and with Lambert taking our PK's we should really have two scorers with more than 8.
Rodriguez has been our best striker easily this season (possibly also in the 2013 calendar year) and doesn't even play up front! I do reckon that Osvaldo will find a bit of form if he plays up top on his own for 5/6 games with Rodriguez one side and Lallana on the other. He's certainly no worse than Lambert.
Give Rodriguez Lambert's penalties (and assume that he scored them) and he has 10 so double figures. Whichever way you look at it, he doesn't play up top centrally so has fewer opportunities.
I don't think it's a problem. We tend to share our goals around, much like Chelsea. Chelsea's top scorer (Hazard) has 11 goals, only 3 more goals than Rodriguez. And besides, 8 goals is good for this stage.
Yes, but they're being judged against Man City, Liverpool (who with Aguero and Suarez, have the two best strikers in the PL) Arsenal and Man United.
