****ing amazing game, only just got in!!!!! That first half, and Mane's HT especially,w ill go down as an I was there moment, I think. Spuerb.
More notable than that Liverpool scout, Terry Paine was there in the picture. please log in to view this image
Hopefully, nobody has mentioned the stat that Saints are the only team to score 5 goals in each half in [this] one PL season. But someone was watching MOTD live, whereas I've been watching about half an hour in arrears. Hence, it has been mentioned. Dammit..!
You've answered yourself. You have a Macbook..! Only kidding. You shouldn't be having problems. Safari is a good browser for the Apple OS, so I can only suggest you download the files and watch them once they are down. They are MP4s.
I've always thought that he's an 'unorthodox' footballer. His positioning, his touches, passing, running style, not normal at all. That's what makes him effective, because he'll do things no other player would do, such as run straight at 2 holding midfielders at pace and try and run in between them, usually getting fouled in the process. A lot of players can't read him at all. The times he's played badly have not been because he's been quiet, but because he's finished poorly or taken a few bad touches. In these poor games he'll always break the line and beat defenders, but some really weird touches and mistakes make him look like a poor footballer. It's as if he always played football without a coach, and he's naturally formed into this spontaneous, tactically unaware player who doesn't over think anything, he just does it. Sometimes he'll leave you thinking 'what the **** is that Mane', but on a lot of occasions he's confusingly amazing. A very unique player.
He's a chaotic player, and I don't intend that as a negative. It's challenging to defend a player who never seems to do the same thing twice; occasionally it appears to be a challenge for teammates to get on the same wavelength, as well, but it opens all manner of opportunities. Perfect player for us, because we frequently could do with a bit of chaos...I do wonder if he'd struggle to find the chance to shine on an elite club that might want a more contained expression of flair, however. Must say, the possibility of a swift-attacking group with Mane, Jay and a playmaker is pretty mouthwatering. Villa's defending was suicidal, but we again saw how much better our attack looks when we exploit space early.
I'm going to have to disagree completely with you calling him tactically unaware and saying he is not thinking. He is very tactically aware and positions himself well. He knows where to position himself defensively. He is aware when Clyne/Bertrand are caught forward that he can't afford to lose possession and will play a simple backwards pass. He did it today. He played it right back to the one of the centre backs. He is also good at gambling on Pelle or Long winning the flick to him, rather than being negative/lazy and staying goal-side of the ball. He and Long out-thought Villa today by switching wings as often as they did. This is a tactic I always liked from pacey wingers. They both defended well on top of their goals and assists. He obviously isn't afraid to take players on. He knows he has great pace and that the other team are scared of it. There are times when he doesn't have much on, so he'll run at the opposition with intent trying to open things up for a through ball to someone or a shot. He tends to make the right decision of whether to pass, cross, shoot or attempt to draw a foul. This shows he's thinking on the ball. I could go on but it's late and I'm going to bed. He's a very good player, fearless with electric pace..but he certainly isn't tactically unaware and certainly knows how to position himself to be most effective in attack and defence.
To a certain extent, I think I know what you mean by that, Q. It has been said of him that he could be the best player of his generation. Certainly his level of control is superb, and his speed is absolutely ridiculous. The direction that football is progressing, it is the faster, more technically gifted players who will be stars of the future. It is said of mavericks [to use a recently commonly used term] that they break rules and sometimes enough others follow their direction. It might be so of Mane. If he has a sense about him that the rules of football won't curtail him then we are in for exciting times in this game.
Lovely to wake up and watch the full replay of the game. Hangover? What hangover?! Pelle's goal is my favourite of the entire season.
Just to add to my post about Mane, there have been times when he has had the ball and literally stalked his opponent. On several occasions today he had the ball under close control as the FB backed off, waiting for him to dart left or right, and so cross into the danger area. It made me think about John Sydenham stalking the ManU FB back in the 1960's when we beat them 4-1 at OT. It was the same slow trot forward as the defender retreated, the same explosion of pace for the cross into the box. These things don't change between eras. Pace, control and delivery are devastating, and Mane certainly has that in spades.
It was a move of quick, incisive precision, but my favourite goal of today is going to go to Shane Long simply because I like the bloke and I think he deserves the recognition. Plus, the magic was of his own doing and not shared.
So far seen the game in its entirety twice and on MOTD twice. Mind you, it was only a week ago that I watched the Sunderland highlights again. Great season...travesty if we don't make Europe. As a pundit said yesterday, it is refreshing to find a club so obviously keen on the Europa.
Imagine what JRod (at his best) could have done today. We'd have had strikers wrestling to get to the ball.
I'm with you on this. I think Shane is top class and he seems a genuinely nice guy. Plus he likes to sing in front of people, which is where the two of us share a bond. I would say the entire game belonged to him, which is strange considering what Supermane achieved. I would give them both a 10/10 in the ratings. How about this... 'Shane's Game, but Mane's Moment'...?
Was almost resigned to another smash and grab 1 - O defeat after Pelle was ruled offside. The next 10 minutes reminded me why I love Southampton: anything is possible. It's all been said on Mane and Long. But I thought Pelle was excellent. He and Long were dominant in the air, and his hold up play was brilliant. He even got in behind the line a few times and showed some pace down the channel! Glad he got a deserved goal.
Good Papa Waigo, he's just a good Papa Waigo. Reason I say that is yes, agreed, like Pap you never quite anticipate what he's going to do, difference being, he has a far better footballing brain and is/does position himself better and is w better all round footballer. If we can hold on to him for a while he could become one hell of a player.
Oh LTL I'm going to ignore that last line and just revel in his glory without thinking about that for now. Anyway there's a few post of at this hour? I'm just up, I bet some of you are just in
We need to remember days like yesterday when he runs straight down a blind alley, or falls over too quickly in future games. Enjoy the great days and forgive him the off days. Consistency in players like that is hard and often goes against what makes them brilliant. #managetheexpectation
