Interviewed for ST for Ireland match talked about his move. '' I was surprised as anybody by the fee but club kept upping bid until Hull accepted. I knew they enquired in January but they didn't follow through. My wife is very happy because there are daily flights from Southampton and she found it hard to settle in Hull. Very impressed with the state of the art Training facilities compared to Hull. When he met the clubs reps they showed him their plans and all research done for years and years in picking players to replace ones they knew they were going to lose. They're not stupid about their transfer policy. The role he is being asked to play by RK is unfamiliar to him... behind the main striker in an advanced role on the right, coming in at the right time and not being picked up..testing the opposition in behind. I'm getting used to it. He concluded by saying he wants to stay for the 4 years and make history. '' Piece about Shane Long lifted from Saintsweb....couldn't find original article (punctuation improved ). .
Thanks Fran. Very interesting that they chose him and yet it is for a role he doesn't fully understand yet. I'd love to se the homework and analysis they do with players. Also interesting that we enquired in January.
Also reinforces what Kreuger said that events of the summer may have looked chaotic from the outside, but plans had been laid and things were calmer behind the scenes. I suppose that is what you do in business...things happen you may not like, but you have to have back up plans for all eventualities. They obviously see something in Shane to fit those plans. May not work...not all plans do...but better than what some teams seem to do (cough, ManU) which is buy good players which aren't necessarily what you need.
It also hints at them knowing some players were off as early as January too and that they were working that replacement line then. This also tells us why (understandably) they went quiet at the end of the season when all the crap was flying. They didn't want to give any hint publicly of knowing these players were off, potentially reducing the fees received. Sounds like a good job. I'd like to know how early they spoke to Mr Koeman, possibly suspicious that the poisoned argie was not going to be true to his word.
In the big interview Led Reed did, he talked about having succession plans for if players leave and also about scouting potential managers/coaches. In my mind it certainly gave them the benefit of the doubt until deadline day, and they've (seemingly) come through.
I haven't given up hope yet. I know he was expensive but it's paid now. Koeman probably thought it was worth it to bring in somebody with Premier League experience to balance up the foreign imports. Against West Ham we looked a better team after he was subbed. The good positions he got into, drawing passes and sqandering the chances he had, I'm hoping this was just a case of him getting used to a slightly different role. Where will he figure when Rodriguez is fit again?
Wenger mentioned how good our scouting department is.....apparently Arsenal have saved a fortune by being able to cut their's and let us do the work
He will be competition, but it should be noted that we have signed two players now who play in a similar role to Jayrod, three if you include Tadic. That tells me what may happen either in January or next summer with Jayrod.
They played the hand they had in the best possible way, that seems very obvious now. And personally I'm glad, I want us to continue under the ownership of Liebherr, the plan looks more long term than most, & lets face it, new ownership is a mine field we do not want to stumble into again soon.
Did seem a strange one, but if he has the premier leagues defences chasing him around like greyhounds this way and that, therefore creating space for Pelle and our more than capable midflield to smash some goals in, I don't give a ****. Obviously if he scores a few a long the way that would be a bonus!
I'm sure I read somewhere that several defenders from the top clubs said they hated playing against him. He doesnt give them a moments peace.
I'm pleased we signed him, 12M does seem a lot, but things have changed this summer. Twelve seems to be the new 8.
This was not a RK signing, pretty sure he had never heard of him before coming here. He has been on our scouting radar for a while and RK probably bought into the idea when showed videos of Long play. Useful squad player and as he showed against Spam the boys got skills. Probably his experience at forming a pretty good partnership with a big fella at Hull convinced RK
Managed to get a photo with his still sweaty shirt over in Georgia on Sunday! Nearly caught it when he through it into the crowd!
