He runs himself into the ground as a midfielder. It's very high demand to keep going for 90 minutes so it's obviously tactical. We've got a squad of players who are all good players. If Adam doesn't play for the last few minutes I'm hardly going to lose sleep over it.
I think we get the message, Black. Lallana comes off after 70 minutes or so because Pochettino is putting fresh legs on and giving the opposition a new worry. Adam gets through a lot of work.
Given Adam's susceptibility to injuries that drag on for a while, I do wonder if they've seen something in his fitness and performance records that suggest full games damage him. It's speculation but it could be preventative.
Mauricio said something about the players having to be willing to suffer. Probably necessary to get fresh legs on and protect players against running themselves into the ground.
Pochettino's pressing tactics have suited Lallana defensively down to the ground. Under Pardew/Adkins Lallana's efforts in closing down teams were just the same but without the same support he was left to look like a ball chaser who would leave the left hand side exposed.
It is hard to moan given the result but it does seem odd that he seems to take him off when he is at his most effective. Nothing wrong with fresh legs, Davis did well coming on for example but I struggle to see why it is always Lallana.
Adam never seems surprised or annoyed that he's called off though. That's why I wondered if it's injury related.
It could also have something to do with where our strength in the squad lies and that's midfielders. Because we start with all our strikers, we have none to bring on. Against Norwich & West Ham we were in need of a goal, so it would be surprising to take one off and replace them with a midfielder.
Thats a good point. I would agree entirely except that it would make a certain sense taking Lallana off when we are trying to protect a lead but against the other teams we have been trying to score and he generally looked the most likely to create something.
I'd be open to benching a striker. Probably not Rodriguez as we need him to start on the wing as we don't have much depth there, so maybe Lambert/Osvaldo. I don't think MP will want to drop Lambert as the fans won't like it, even though Osvaldo's been playing better recently. Heard a rumour that Lambert's only renting his house now as he doesn't see much of a future at Saints, but it's probably bollocks!
That's a bizarre rumour. Never heard anyone own their own home and then start renting it. Is he paying the rent to himself? Davis certainly pushed a claim for a start and you'd think one of the strikers would make way over Lallana
That's one of the many reasons why it doesn't make sense! I said in the Liverpool thread about playing Ramirez in home games and having 3 CMs away from home to be more solid.
Jeez!!...Rickie only has to go a few games without scoring and the negativity and rumours start... He is a victim of his own success and is ALWAYS judged by how many goals he scores...I could see a very promising partnership developing between him and Dani on saturday and the only reason that he was subbed was tactical (he wouldn't have been taken off if we hadn't been winning). We all know he is a quality player who contributes a lot to the side, lets not doubt him, he always comes up trumps in the end.
I agree, it's only 4 Saints games without a goal. He's still an outstanding player, and I've got no doubt he is a huge influence and motivator throughout the squad on match days.
