I used to listen to Man U fans berating Van Nistelrooy for doing nothing but score goals. I felt awful for them as he scored in game after game after game. "He doesn't do anything else," they would moan. "That's his ***** job!" I'd shout then retire, foaming gently at the mouth. Vin
He was in the right system. Don't know if he would have done as well at a bigger club, he might not have even gotten in the team.
I think the definition of world class has changed with the changes in football. For example, these days strikers have to be able to put a shift in to defend well occasionally. They have to be up and down the pitch, interweaving with the play. Ex-world class strikers like Jimmy Greaves barely came back into their own team's half of the pitch. But he scored goals by the bucket load, and his conversion rate was highly impressive. Same with Gerd Muller. He barely got out of the opposition penalty area, except for staying onside. Were they world class players..? Arguably not by todays parameters, but they were certainly world class at what they did well. Would they get into a top team these days..? Some would say that that kind of player needs more to his game. Personally, I think they defend by giving their team a goal or two to defend, in the manner that the best form of defence is attack. However, I can see the other side of the argument too.
If Danny Wellbeck had played for Southampton last season he would have scored as many if not more goals than Jay Rod. An Analysis of Saints so far this season has already proven that Pelle does not offer the same kind of service as Lambert. Graziano plays the width of the penalty box and rarely drifts wide to create opportunities for others to drift in like Rickie did. When Jay Rod returns I think he'll see his goal scoring opportunities diminish slightly. As for him as a player, he has been improving greatly. He has all the natural attributes and the technical ability to go all the way. As ever the difference maker is between the ears. I'd say it's fair to judge he has the right attitude and the willingness to improve. It's now a question of decision making and the confidence to execute those right decisions. I see a criticism of his tame shooting. That's confidence. The goals against Fulham & Sunderland(top of head examples) which were struck with power and little back lift show the ability is there. All he needs to improve on this aspect and other weaknesses is game time in the premier league.
Jrod's greatest asset is his physique and athleticism. He's not dissimilar in build to the likes of Bale in terms of having a muscular leanness about him as well as having good natural fitness and a decent spring
How is this even a response to what I said? Welbeck has nothing to do with Rodriguez. They both should have been in the squad. Stop rambling on needlessly.
A poster can ramble as much or as little as he/she likes. There is no limit on words, to my knowledge, if the poster is making a relevent point or argument. Please don't consider it your job to jump in to censure people. Thanks.
How about this for a headline..? http://www.anorak.co.uk/406095/spor...city-target-spurs-striker-jay-rodriguez.html/
Is that why they underperformed at the world cup? (Or was it because they were all Liverpool/ ManUre players by then?) BTW does anyone else think Woy had anythng more to do with that, being an ex-Liverpool manager who would benefit from lots of his future England players playing in the same squad week-in week-out and all?
He HAD a decent spring, let's hope he gets it back... Always wince when the ligaments go, horrible...
Welbeck has a lot to do with Rodriguez as they would have been competing for the same role in the England system for the World Cup. That's not too hard to understand. Saintlyhero made some very good points there, both in response to your call for JR to be in the WC squad and also to the original post. Far better to ramble some good points than to briefly talk bollocks, no?
I thought it was very suspicious that he announced Rickie's transfer to Liverpool on live TV before it had been officially announced by Saints. At best, plain bad manners, at worst, he was in on the move somehow.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sa...driguez_s_recovery_ahead_of_schedule/?ref=mac JRod making good progress according to Koeman, but no time scale set. I understand Jay is saying January himself. Does anyone think that another club was putting a serious offer in for anyone out for this long? A team may come in later if he returns and plays well, but I doubt there was any danger of him going in the summer or January. It is reported that Jay has turned down a new contract...don't blame him for keeping his options open now he has seen Saints play hardball with Morgan...but would we risk another contract until he has started playing again anyway.
What do people think our midfield and attack will be when he is back and fit? Would tadic, mane and jrod all be in the same team behind pelle or would koeman think we would lose too much in midfield. The YouTube (i know) vids of mane seem to have him either playing from the left or through the middle (when the right is where we are light) Does anyone think he is an early replacement for Jay (smart move) and we will still be looking for a right sided attacker? Or are the three I mentioned versatile enough to play left or right?
