In the end, it doesn't matter so much. The Charlie Austin era has begun. So I hope we are a better team without Pelle. He will likely be gone in the summer, and would not totally surprise me if an offer comes from Italy and he leaves in this window.
If/when we get rid of Pelle we will be back to exactly where we were before we signed Austin. Desperately in need of another striker. So no, if Pelle goes we are not a better team we are a weaker team in need of a 15 goal a season striker.
There's been games where pelle has been outstanding, thinking of Chelsea this season.... So no, but some games he's better,some games he's worse...me but don't get all the negativity.. Let's cheer him on for another 10 goals....
Are we never happy unless we are saying some one isn't good enough? First Koeman now Pelle. I think he is good enough for us but he can't play every game which is why we need Austin. He may well go to Italy in the summer but who could blame him, he is Italian. I'm am just amazed that Saints have so many options (when all fit). Can't remember that happening for a while.
The simple fact is that we could never afford a striker that had everything and scored constantly....he'd be at Barcelona or Real Madrid. A good striker who works hard is ideal for Southampton and I don't think 3 is excessive in an EPL club. Pelle is different from Long (can't comment on Austin yet)....gives RK choice.
Interestingly the last few posts have 'hinted' at team meaning squad and with that look on it, I certainly agree that we would not be better without Pelle (without a decent replacement). I made the mistake of ignoring Uncle Nigel's mantra of "It isn't about the 11" and I only looked at the 11.
That's a very long while. The last time we had something of similar quality would have been in the 1960's with Ron Davies, Martin Chivers, and a young Mick Channon waiting in the wings. Even then it didn't last for long as Chivers was sold to Spurs for huge money and Frank Saul in return. Or perhaps in the early 1980's with KK, Mick and one other, but they were ageing players. Several pundits seem to think Koeman will have a nightmare fitting them all in when fit. That will very rarely happen, so let's get the obvious out of the way. Jay isn't going to be fit any time soon. Graziano can't lead the line effectively in every single match - he needs a break even when he's not injured. Austin is returning from injury and I suspect might be of similar fitness circumstances as Pelle, so he won't feature every match. So the starting options are getting smaller even without trying hard, and I'm not a paid pundit. This leaves the every ready Shane Long and Sadio Mane as the two dependables. They'll need the odd break as well as being substitution options, not even allowing for injury or suspension. Remember that Saints aren't just trying to play in the PL. They are trying to press for Europe and all the Cup competitions. It's the thinness of quality within the squad overall which means we need these options, and they can't be produced overnight. The squad has to grow in quality and turnover in personnel, yet maintain an upward curve in progress. I know this. Ronald Koeman and Les Reed know this, yet paid pundits wonder how we'll cope. They say we have too many options then in the next breath they'll say we don't have a squad capable of competing in Europe and other competitions without our league form suffering. Well forgive us you all-knowing people if we take steps to rectify that. I sometimes wonder just how stupid or ignorant paid pundits can get, yet they still surprise me occasionally.
