Pelle for 8-9 m so far looks a bargain, I honestly think he wil get better and better. Work rate,and attitude first rate.
I don't understand why he gets such a high rating from you. In the first half only thing i noticed from him that he got bullied of the ball on number of occasions and that his passing wasn't as crisp as usual. In the second half he was anonymous, but there weren't nearly as much evident errors as in the first half.
When we were in our Championship promotion season Cork got forward a lot, some of his play on the right with Clyne and Puncheon was fantastic. Funnily enough most of the Corkites I've read don't think this was one of his better games. However, it does show that he, Vic and Morgan can play together which is what I've been shouting for all summer.
2 things: Firstly, didn't actually think we were that good yesterday. Not compared to second half performances at anfield and upon park, but hey, you can only beat whose out there against you and we did that. Secondly, congrats to Bertrand. Great performance and more assists than Shaw already!
Just one strange thing from very enjoyable match. It sounded like they announced Mayuka coming on rather than Vic. Do I need my ears clearing or did other people hear that also? Newcastle were poor defensively, but they had their chances. Had they taken them it wouldn't look quite so comfy this morning, albeit the points were never in doubt.
Yes, Steve Bennett definitely announced Mayuka on for Long at the start of the second half. Vic didn't seem to mind, and played a faultless half, despite being the wrong person!
Wanyama was a strange substitution for Long though. Perhaps the announcer thought so as well. I just presume at 2.0 up, Koeman wanted to shore up the team rather than take a risk.
Long had possible concussion and needed to come off, but it seemed strange to bring Vic on, until you saw Cork playing as a no.10, and doing it very well. I don't think we lost any attacking threat by the change. Koeman is going up and up in my estimation, even considering the high place he started in!
I am going to go crazy and use this thread for actual ratings! Forster 6 - A bit wobbly at times. He made a couple of good saves, but not as convincing as previous outings. Still, clearly a fantastic keeper. Clyne 7 - I thought he played an important part in keeping play up in their half. Didn't do anything to wow - but no real mistakes. Alderweireld 7 - Solid. Loved that sliding tackle he put in. Fonte 7 - I think this guy looks better and better. Class. Won't go to an 8 as the defence weren't really tested - and when they were they shook a little. Bertrand 8 - Very good. Worked hard and offered an attacking threat too. Schneiderlin 8 - Quality player. Thought he quietly got on with making us tick - until that goal. Cork 8 - Similar to Morgan. Quiet and industrious. The goal gets him an 8. Tadic 8 - He scares defenders. Everything he does is dangerous. His link up with Pelle is brilliant. Davis 7 - Very solid. He's an unspectacular chap - but he sure harries players well. A few times he harried back, won the ball and started off another attack when you wouldn't think it possible. Long 7 - Set the tone for the win. It was his efforts in the first 5 minutes that left Newcastle against the ropes. I love his work rate. Pelle 9 - What I love most about him is his link up play. This guy is no donkey. He's not even close to the player people were warning us about when we signed him. He's a talented, hard-working and likeable player. I even want to believe he made that pass on purpose! Koeman - 10/10. The mansh sheriously a legend.
Must admit that, when I knew Koeman was on his way, I wasn't exactly excited. I read up his achievements and pedigree as a manager and started to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think I was in mourning still. I didn't really start to wake up until I saw us against Liverpool. Then I saw unmistakable signs that Saints weren't going to be pushed about. Everything since then has added just a little bit more to the jigsaw puzzle. I'm still not quite out of the woods, in terms of being totally convinced, even though I want to be. It's still a wee bit too early to tell, but the signs are that we've improved on last season, not only in a first 11, but throughout the squad. The only place where one could really argue is at LB, where Shaw is a tough act to follow, but I like Bertrand a lot. His only weakness is that he gets bundled off the ball easily. Apart from that he's fast, tenacious, hard working and smart. I'll take those qualities and accept his one weakness.
Think Bertrand's a better crosser and probably as quick as Shaw, but Shaw's definitely a better defender.
I never understood it. The guy has never played English football before now, to write him off before he had even kicked a ball in anger was bizarre, to say the least. It wasn't even as if we'd spent £25m to buy him. Gaston, Osvaldo, Mayuka, Yoshida, Pelle, Tadic. The list goes on. I am always happy to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone new to English football, regardless of their record abroad. It's apples and pears. That said, on the flip side, it has only been four games (plus Millwall). So I also think it's far too early to say his signing is a success etc.
