Gaston Ramirez

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Also stop partiallycircumventing the swear filter

 

Seriously though, you post saying you want us to sign English players because foreign players are where we went wrong last time (probably the most stupid thing you've said), complaining during the deal about signing an expensive unproven foreigner, then when he has an incredible debut that left 30,000 stunned you said he made very little impact. I wonder why people think you don't like foreigners?

 

At the time I would've preferred someone with less of a big price tag and someone that would adapt straight away.

But he did well yesterday.

Yoshida I thought was excellent, as I have previously stated

 

RLGB you actually said he didn't do a lot apart from a few fancy flicks, or words to that affect. I'm not interested in the foreigner row, but I'd like to understand your thoughts if you think Gaston was anything other than outstanding.

You said "he did quite well".

I'd like to debate that if you don't mind. Why only "quite well"?

My justification for outstanding is based on his ability to move into the correct space before his team mate gets the ball and becomes a good option, his stunning vision and passing, the fact he gets his head up and thinks can I shoot if he's near the goal, a first touch that looks better than Lallana's (on first showing) and his strength on the ball when harassed by an opponent. Pick me apart if I'm wrong.

 

Not sure about the Northam appropriating Man Utd's "ohh, Robin van Persie" chant for Gaston. But he was immense yesterday. A long time since I've seen a Saint's player with such a sure first touch, and the ability to pick out and execute the perfect pass, just about every time. A legend in the making on that performance.

 

Not sure I would call him "unproven" - in the premier league perhaps, but pretty much everyone was raving about him before he signed, and was pretty gobsmacked when he did. Personally, I think he is going to be amazing for us for the next 2-3 years, hopefully longer. This team is young, we can only get better

 

Why are you wasting your time reading that tosh in the first place?

 

Do you watch football a lot? Because what Ramirez did yesterday was nothing short of icneredble, his touch was pin point aswell his first time passes. I genuinly don't feel silly comparing that performance to Xavi-esque if you don't understand how good he was then you don't understand how hard it is to control, pass and then look up and give the pass. The prime example was when he set up Clyne, and the Lallana, which everyone thought he passed to Lambert when he was offside, He was brilliant.

 

I'm glad most other people here can see how good he was. There's a reason everyone was singing his name at the final whistle, two assists, 89% pass completeion without even having to sprint.

 

For some reason he didn't get any bonus points in the Fantasy League. This is a disgrace. (nothing to do with him being my captain)

 

He did do a "few fancy flicks" - most of them fancy flicks straight through defenders straight to another teammate. His "fancy flicks" were all amazing passes.

But to say he "didn't do much" is factually incorrect - an assist, five "key passes" (normally meaning, setting up a goal scoring opportunity) and would have had two or three more but for attackers being offside. Those are just facts, ignoring the intangibles.

 

Ramirez was crap .

 

That's very OTT.

 

Following the game I thought he had a good game, not spectacular but having watched the extended Football First highlights this morning I would up this to a very good game.
I saw so much more of his skill and influence on TV than I saw from the Northern live

 

I would agree with that

 

I think it's easy to underestimate Ramirez's impact yesterday, because everything he did seemed to be at a mere canter. I'll say it here - the last time I saw someone so comfortable on the ball and pinging passes around to feet or stride, his name was Le Tissier. Ramirez played yesterday as if he'd been at St Marys for years and knew everyone's strengths and weaknesses perfectly. And he's actually going to get better.

Yoshida was indeed very good, and showed that there is not a lot wrong with Jose Fonte either. They teamed up very well, considering that was their first full match together aswell.

 

It's funny, we already had some good midfielders but in some matches I always felt we were lacking a really physical midfield general like Vierra or Keane to pull everyone else together. It's only been one full game but in Gaston we may have gotten ourself a more subtle, even better addition than I hoped for.

 

Indeed, you don't need quite the destroyer of a Keane or a Viera, when the opposition can't get the ball. Besides, Morgan does that job very well indeed, and ain't bad on the creative side either.

Actually, that's some midfield, isn't it..? Schneiderlin, Davis, Ramirez, Lallana, Puncheon, with real quality on the bench. And they all rotate and support Lambert. There's not a bad apple amongst them.

 

JWP and Corky as further options... mmm. And De Ridder, I guess.

 

You'd better add Guly as well, otherwise the very lovely Ms Godders will be complaining.