It is a lot different game here than most European leagues. Everything is 100mph and it is more physical here. You shouldn't underestimate the differences in styles of leagues. So many players take time to adapt; more by far than those who find their feet quickly. It's a shame, because he obviously wasn't the patient type, but he's a good player and will succeed somewhere if he can control himself.
Rory Delap seems to get a lot of stick around here by various posters, he was a good solid pro, the stick he gets is purely because he was our record signing for so long.
Really? Thought he got stick because he wasn't very good on top of being a record signing :-/
Of course I agree in general for most players it is a difficult transition, for players like Gaston it is very much so, but I just don't think a player with the attributes that Osvaldo has can complain too much. He had all the necessary qualities to make it in the Premier League and of course even then it still takes some time to adapt, but I think it is a cop out to run off whimpering about the different styles.
So one good piece of skill means that you are good enough, does it? Don't you remember when Rory Delap scored that overhead kick?
Condescending prick.
Black, ignoring the unnecessary abuse, are you really saying that you could not see that Osvaldo had bags of ability? Just because he didn't "do it" for us, doesn't means he wasn't talented; he clearly was.
Black we can do without the name calling please!!!
Potential is futile if it is never realised.
The fact of the matter is, he wasn't good enough for us, considering the amount we paid for him, and also that the money we spent on him meant that we were (arguably) weaker in another position (perhaps centre-back or right-wing).
Sorry!!
Black, ignoring the unnecessary abuse, are you really saying that you could not see that Osvaldo had bags of ability? Just because he didn't "do it" for us, doesn't means he wasn't talented; he clearly was.
To me there is no doubt the ability is there and I would have loved to see him and Gaston play together more as I think they would have enhanced one another's performances.
I remember seeing a tweet from Osvaldo where you could tell he was getting frustrated as the first goal hadn't came after a few games. He wanted to do well and score for the team (and himself, no doubt). I guess he is a confidence player and when things are going well on the pitch, everything seems better and goes well off the pitch.
Every player has to justify themselves to their team mates (and fans), particularly if they come with a large price tag and have replaced a popular squad member who has been there a long time. The jury is still out on Wanyama, if he really excelled on his arrival, it is likely there wouldn't be so much debate ref him and Cork. Lovren came in and played brilliantly and has been welcomed with open arms by team mates and players a like. The perfect signing.
I just wonder though, if things had been different. what if Lovren had a couple of shockers, would he have settled so well and would we be happy with him replacing Maya or Jos? And back to Osvaldo, do we think that if he started his career here with more goals he would have been much happier and none of this would have happened.
I guess what I am saying is that although players need time to settle and adapt, it can be the first few matches that shape their time at a club, as Lovren and Osvaldo show. I just think it could have been a lot different if the situations were reversed.
To me there is no doubt the ability is there and I would have loved to see him and Gaston play together more as I think they would have enhanced one another's performances.
I remember seeing a tweet from Osvaldo where you could tell he was getting frustrated as the first goal hadn't came after a few games. He wanted to do well and score for the team (and himself, no doubt). I guess he is a confidence player and when things are going well on the pitch, everything seems better and goes well off the pitch.
Every player has to justify themselves to their team mates (and fans), particularly if they come with a large price tag and have replaced a popular squad member who has been there a long time. The jury is still out on Wanyama, if he really excelled on his arrival, it is likely there wouldn't be so much debate ref him and Cork. Lovren came in and played brilliantly and has been welcomed with open arms by team mates and players a like. The perfect signing.
I just wonder though, if things had been different. what if Lovren had a couple of shockers, would he have settled so well and would we be happy with him replacing Maya or Jos? And back to Osvaldo, do we think that if he started his career here with more goals he would have been much happier and none of this would have happened.
I guess what I am saying is that although players need time to settle and adapt, it can be the first few matches that shape their time at a club, as Lovren and Osvaldo show. I just think it could have been a lot different if the situations were reversed.
Si, the jury is not out for me on Vic. The moment he stepped out the team, we struggled. Where the jury is out is on those fans who can't see that playing well or doing a good job is different for each player. Wanyama's job was to make us tighter. He did that as part of an improved team including Lovren and a fit Boruc.
The jury is not out at all for me. He is excellent at what he needs to do. He is not as good a passer as others and so if they play we look a slightly different team (not better or worse, different). For 10 games we had the est defensive record in the league and Vic was a big part of that.
It really isn't difficult to see that when he came into our team at the start of the season we looked harder to beat.if we need to pass a team to death, I may pick someone else. If we need to be as tight as possible, I'd pick him.
I think you've touched upon part of the answer and that's who a player comes into replace.
Hooiveld for all his charming personality had a pretty shocking season of own goals and gaffs. Lovren is a step up in quality and the way he has started his Southampton career is exceptional, but his performances have not been under the same microscope of the other two. Because he is an obvious step up in class from Championship(Hooiveld) to Premier League/International (Lovren).
Our best partnership last season was probably Cork & Schneiderlin, so eyebrows were raised when Victor was signed, but as we saw with Corks injury at the start of last season we needed competition for places in this role. Because Jack is a popular player amongst supports the performance of Wanyama was the main focus. Any slight error or misplaced pass(and there has been a few) would be over analysed and lead to calls for the prodigal son to return.
Apart from that 1st half at Fulham I've not seen a bad display from Victor overall and had he of come in to challenge the place of a Dean Hammond or Paul Wooten we wouldn't be having a debate about whether he was a good signing.
Osvaldo came in to replace a legend...he couldn't do it
Black, you completely missed my question. Completely. I didn't mention potential. I simply asked if you could not see he was a talented footballer. Could you not see he has ability? I know he didn't deliver for Saints; if he had, he'd still be here and happy.
To be fair, THAT goal apart, I don't think he did show much evidence of any real talent. It is only because we know what he is capable of that we can say that he is "clearly" talented. Assume for a moment that all you knew of him was what he did for us.............then I don't think there was much for the talent spotters.