http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...qualiser-Saints-deny-Di-Canio-win-season.html Great compliment, and him just reeling off those names does make us realise we have some cracking forward players. So my question is... how do you fit them all in? What'd be your first choice selection? DTLW
Yes, OK DTLW. I know it's possibly worth mentioning twice, but we got that from your post in the match thread where you also placed this. One or t'other, next time, eh..?
Paolo Di Canio is a total nut, but he definitely knows football. I think Jay Rodriguez is the most obvious candidate to lose his place. Rodriguez at this point doesn't offer that much aside from scoring ability. And even when it comes to scoring he's a bit one-dimensional as he mostly does it with speed. Osvaldo is a better goal scorer with more ways to finish, and far more complete in his ability to also pass, dictate play, and play some defense. Also think speed is the thing we need least now as we are trying to press and not counter. Ramirez and Lallana with their dribbling skills are better at working in tight spaces. So I would stick with Ramirez in the middle and Lallana on the wing for now. But it should be an open battle. All three of Ramirez, Lallana, and Rodriguez need to broaden their games. They all have significant strengths, but not complete enough games where they are useful as a Plan B when they aren't on their game or defenses key in on them.
I still don't like him. But that was a really honest appraisal of our side and I've got to respect him for that I guess.
I wouldn't consider myself overrated Though this girl really really liked me once and it wasn't reciprocated. So perhaps you don't control how you're rated?
This an odd comment. We have scored in every game so far. We have also had two goals dubiously disallowed. It is early in the season. Our record signing has only played 45 minutes. Our star forward just scored for England. It just doesn't stack up as an assertion. Edit: must remember to include the bloody quote. Obviously I am respknding to Fran's (probably tongue in cheek) comment about not scoring.
Indeed, dubiously disallowed. In my frustration of not seeing the extended highlights put up on the Saints Player earlier, I went back through the archive a bit. Watched the Reading highlights [first game with Adkins in charge] and noticed J-Rod's goal was a clearer case for offside than yesterday's. It's the inconsistency that gets me. If the technology is available... [it isn't at the moment, but give it time]..use it..!
Given the quality we have in front of goal I am surprised we don't score more often, these days. By these days I mean in the Poch era. Fran does have a point.
There's a point, but a premature one. I think the problem is people are looking back at the tail end of last season and seeing this as purely a continuation of that. It isn't. We now have more fire power and a different midfield fulcrum in Wanyama. As fans, you have to be patient and allow these things to come to fruition. I wouldn't normally say this, but the comment followed on from PDC listing our forward players - including the Osvaldo - and it is too early to say we don't score with him in the team. He has played 45 minutes and saints scored one goal. Ignore last season and accept we have scored in every game so far. The fact we can moan that we have had a lot of the play and not scored more is a positive. We all know this Saints team is going places.
I'm by no means condemning the team before anyone gets the wrong idea. I certainly have faith, but Fran does have a point. Yes, this season isn't a continuation over last, because the amount of chances created and the possession is certainly up a few points on last season, so far. However, that possession has to be converted into clear cut quality chances, something I have no doubt will be worked on. It's early days. See..? I'm emerging from my gloom at last. I still have no idea quite why I was so utterly disappointed. It's OK to be disappointed. But not what I felt like. That was dodgy. EDIT: Of course it may have something to do with the fact that I was called away to work, and couldn't see why we made such hard work of only drawing with Sunderland. I wanted to pulverise them [sorry anyone reading this from Macca, but there it is] and we didn't.
Let's moan after ten games. If we still can't covert or make decent chances then I am with you. We will have a good cry! We made a lot of good chances in the game on Saturday though. A free header from five yards out has to go down as a good chance, for example.
Say and think what you want of Paolo but he's as honest as they come and will always give credit where it's due. You've got some frightfully good attacking players and fully deserved 3 points from the game. All teams have days where they should have been more, just unlucky. Lucky escape for us and naturally I'm over the moon with a point. You're in for a cracking season lads. Enjoy the ride. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you this season.
We were too slow and mechanical in possession, no one was really trying to get in behind the defence with the exception of rodriguezs goal and osvaldos smart bit of movement. Under pochettino we havent once beaten a defensive side unless you count west brom. Weve got much better players in and our defense although not severly tested has looked very solid. I dont expect us to really take teams apart for a while but we will be able to grind out a result which will equal more points i feel. I would have a front 4 of lambert osvaldo, ramirez and rodriguez. None of them were excellent saturday but i feel as an attacking force they would provide a consistent threat to any defence. It seems a bit unbalanced having 4 out and out attackers but both rodriguez and ramirez can put in a shift. It was interessting that ramirez played centrally and perhaps slightly deeper when osvaldo and lambert were also central, quite pike uruguay in many ways. A good move by poch as thaat is where gaston is best.
Nice to see some decent and honest comments from opposing fans. From what I saw you need to do something about a CM pairing of Vaughan and Larssen. I'll be interested to see how you look in 6 games when you've gelled a bit.
We did create some very good chances but for good keeping and poor finishing we failed to convert. Another day and they'll all go in.
