Welcome Back Saint Gaston

I dont think this thread will reach the 2,000 or so pages that his initial arrival managed on here - which was apparently a 'world not 606 record' FYI. But....

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says Gaston Ramirez is back in his plans after the £12m forward made his first appearance in nearly 13 months.

The Uruguay international, 24, was a second-half substitute in the 6-0 League Cup win at MK Dons on Wednesday, having spent last season on loan at Hull.

"He's part of the squad, training well, well disciplined and not complaining. I admire that," said Koeman.

 

If he can stay fit and focused he will be a welcome addition to the squad. Fingers crossed.

 

"He's part of the squad, training well, well disciplined and not complaining. I admire that," said Koeman.

I don't, I expect it. Last chance Gaston.

 

Harsh, if arguably fair. He must be a very confused individual. Arrived as a messiah, and eventually loaned to Hull, poor lad. I do like him, and the reaction of his team mates last night indicated that he is included by them. I'd love to see him build his confidence and show us his talent. Anyone there season before last when he came on as a sub at Goodison will recall the derision his arrival generated, and then he smashed a 20 yarder. He got so excited he gave his shirt to a young Evertonian in the opposite corner to us. He seems like a an over anxious puppy. Very keen to please, but keeps getting cuffed by the boss. But he has never publicly whinged, and let's hope for a turnaround of Jason Puncheon proportions. I miss his song!

 

Good luck Gaston and hope you make a place in the first eleven permanent.

 

gaston

 

I think we all forget how young he still is, and how young he was when he arrived with HUGE expectations.

That said he owes us a decent spell. He also needs to impress in the next few months to be offered a decent contract anywhere. Let's hope we benefit from that. He has taken some flak for 'appearing' not to try but I find this at odds with his willingness to go to Hull on loan (could've sat on his bum/bench and took the wages here).

Nice if he comes on in the second half of the F.A Cup final to score the winner, 15million? pah.

 

Agreed. I think we should look a little bit deeper into how he came to be playing at all last night. He must have impressed Ron in training in the last week or so to get on the bench, even in a League Cup game against a club at the bottom of the Championship. Granted, the game was won before he came on, but he still got the nod, and he played a few decent touches including an inch-perfect assist for Long's second. I can see him getting a few more chances on the bench in the weeks leading up to the January window, and who knows? He might even do well enough to stay.

 

If Classie remains injury prone, perhaps Gaston's presence can offset that issue. After all he is a classy player.

 

"Remains"???? Strewth. He's played 40 off games each season for Feyernoord. This is misfortune; he'll be fine (or Clasie)

 

I hope Gaston does well, if only for all those people still wearing their Saints shirts with Gaston on the back!

 

Nice image that conveys. I imagine the pinstripe shirts will be coming out or the drawers in their hundreds

 

That pass indicates to me that he is a player blessed with great skill but who has just not fulfilled it. I could easily see him as a super sub who comes on to bypass the parked bus with a great bit of movement or killer pass. Of course that supposes that he maintains the right attitude and fitness. And doesn't get himself red-carded. It would be a real testament to Ronald's leadership if he could get Gaston playing well in the EPL where others have failed.

 

The other week I mentioned about all the top teams having at least one major playmaker in the centre, whereas in truth, we don't really have one. Gaston could be our playmaker if he really wanted to be. Yes, that's quite a big thing to suggest, but that was always why he was signed, in the first place. I wonder if Ron thinks he can be resurrected enough to do it.?

 

That reminds me of the infamous 'cornrow' game at home against West Brom a year or two back. We were struggling to break down a West Brom team with Mulumbu and Yacob having their best season together, and Gaston comes on with some fresh rows and plays the killer pass for the goal. I'd get behind Gaston Vol.II., especially if he keeps up the vision shown on the field and in the barbers.

 

Yes, one or two of his headline haircuts in the past haven't suited him.

 

Is this the same game he got red carded for a swinging elbow?

 

S'funny, I've just been watching a couple of Ramirez compilations on Youtube prior to him coming to Saints. I'm sure I watched them during all the noise of his signing back in 2012 and It revived the memories of that expectation. In the videos he's so silky and skilful, ghosting past players, or playing killer passes. It's no wonder a lot was expected of him and why Lawro said he'd never be coming to Saints. We didn't sign players with that kind of class. We usually manufactured them ourselves, if we were going to have them at all, and then they buggered off after 6 months [with the exception of one player].

 

How about this off Wikipedia for a coincidence.?

On 27 April, Ramírez was sent off for an incident involving West Bromwich Albion's Marc-Antoine Fortuné following an elbow on Shane Long.

They were all cuddles the other night.

 

I still think Ramirez is a good player.

The major problem with him is he has never fit in with our tactics. MP wanted everyone to press, and that is not really his game. Koeman last year seemed to want to go with speed and attack down the flanks, and that is not his game, either.

Here is my idea of how maybe we could use him. You know how many people hate the long balls up to Pelle? Put Ramirez there and let him serve as a target. He can play a little deeper so the balls won't quite be as long. Then he can play throughballs to Mane or Rodriguez cutting inside. No more backheels! Remember how in Lambert's last season, we had him playing farther back almost like an attacking mid? Like that. Sort of a "false nine"/withdrawn striker type deal.

This would also push JWP/Davis/Clasie a little farther back, which to me is where they are most comfortable as they are more box-to-box/keep-the-ball-moving type of guys.

We could also use Juanmi in the same position.

This might be advantageous against teams with gigantic, physical CB's or who are trying to pack in their defense where Pelle cannot get good service.