Oh yeah. Dad said 'Bilić would've been cracking skulls and taking names and Ronald could've gone and done more of the nice stuff'.
Agree and don't think Ron expected to win listening to him before the match. Maybe he was saving Mane and Tadic for Norwich which must be winnable?
I think we both have managers that have some class, I didn't fancy our chances today, and at HT I thought it would be same old, same old. We've really suffered with injuries since our 'game' with Everton when McCarthy was trying to injure everyone he could get close to, nice to see our front-line start to get some players back.
I know Hammers fans have a tough rep, but thought your lot were a really good natured, fun lot today.
Watching match choice. Can't believe the contrast in 1st and 2nd half. Anyone know why Martina was subbed?
He was knackered. Cost us the first goal unfortunately - could not get Yosh on in time. No one individually to blame for the second goal though RK did hint VVD stepping back was fatal. RK talks such sense in his post match interviews. If we were looking for a manager you would definitely want one like that who analyses the game so well. That's my way of saying I don't agree that we need a change!
It would be interesting to know what you have done. Martina was finished and as Yosh was our back up right back on the bench, I don't see much of an option there. As far as Ramirez is concerned, has not half the forum been screaming for him to be given a chance these last few weeks? Mane similarly was running out of steam and we can't afford to risk him getting an injury. Juanmi was the only forward player available to replace him. I honestly cannot see how Caulker, JWP or Clasie would have fared better.
Exactly. The only one I was slightly questioning was taking Tadic off as he'd been causing them issues, but he does seem to be a Lallana-esque "sixty minute player".
After reading a lot of the comments, it seems that southampton aren't able to strike at the end of an attack. That old final ball chestnut. Ronald should plan all his attacks to have one pass less and watch the goals fly in.
I just read above that we weren't rubbish today and that is true, we weren't. Today and against Arsenal were much improved performances however their second goal people are heaping criticism on Yoshida whereas I saw 5 Saints players in close proximity to the chap who eventually crossed that ball into the box. Then I watched said 5 players decide that getting into position was more important than going to that man or to leave that job to someone else. Virgil being the worst who should have stood his ground in front of the attacker and let others pass him and fill in the gap. Said attacker had time to pick up the ball, slowly turn and then cross the ball in with no pressure. So the answer is no we didn't play rubbish today and whilst the subs weren't really the most inspiring I can't see a fault with them. Is Virgil really as good as we believed? He seems to have these headrushes quite a lot where he either decides to run the length of the field or leave closing down to someone else. As for Long v Pelle. Pell has been out of form, Long was good against Arsenal and didn't do too bad today. Romeu has played well and Wanyama much improved over those 2 games. Overall disappointed with today's result because 2 mistakes cost us 2 goals however we are playing better now. I now await a statistical report on Gaston's masterclass today to boot
can not understand why the tactics were changed for this came. Classie out is a gimme as its too much for him, JWP had his best game of the season against Arse but is changed for Tadic so the system is 433. Against Arse we were hitting balls past the cbs for Long and Manè to chase- exactly what they are best at. Today it was set up so the attackers had to beat his man first with the ball - something we are not so good at. Spams cbs are even slower than Arses 2, would have been ripe for the throughball
I still think Virgil is a great signing and a solid defender. But I was close to pulling my hair out the other week when there was that Toby v Virgil thread, and so many people on here were already on the side of Virgil. Toby was total and utter class for us - and continues to be for Spurs, he could yet lead them into the CL - and ten good games or so from Virgil were never going to be enough to convert me so easily and quickly. He has a little way to go yet to match Toby's standards.
Can't really complain about the subs I suppose. With our depth (lack of) were never going to put on 2 great performances 2d apart. Antonio was a handful. If we had Pelle and Cedric fit it may have been different. Yoshi and Carroll are a poor match-only one winner there. Perhaps man:man marking Carroll with Vic or vvd would have been more sensible. One +ve we did look quite good on the break although final ball predictably let us down. Ho hum onto Norwich.
One thing. Two games of professional football in three days should not be happening in the 21st century.
I agree on Toby and at the moment I would say Van Dijk will never be as good as Toby. Early days of course because he may still be getting used to the PL being a league where you need 90 mins concentration. A lot of our problems all season, not just Virgil was before that as well, are that we seem to have lost that ability for other players to automatically fill in where another player gets out of position. 100% of the time the situation for their second goal should have seen VVD front up the oncoming player and someone else fill in behind. In the Everton home game it was the DMs doing it where Wanyama kept going to become CB No3 and noone filled in the centre meaning the 'head outs' dropped to an empty zone. I am starting to wonder if the players are getting confused about what Ron wants to do them positionally.
I actually think VVD is better on the ball and a better tackler than Toby. But Toby's positioning and concentration are better. Which is more important for a CB. But VVD is younger, and his flaws could be the result of inexperience. I think VVD has the higher ceiling to his game, if we are patient and Koeman can coach him well.
Yep. I was waxing lyrical about Virgil and the Spuds game last week showed me just what we have missed. Virgil is still a great signing though and a very good player. I did call out as soon as he backed up and let their player turn and get his free cross in.
You may well be right on your assessment of Virgil, particularly the tackling, although one of Toby's strengths is/was that he put himself where he didn't have to tackle so often.
