for me this is the section that worries me the most, we know we can score and the defence has generally been fine. yesterday watching the game i saw that punch came more into the middle. must say his more direct approach and willingness to run at defenders caused more problems than normal . our midfield has how many goals this year? 10, really is low for a promotion chasing team. So how what would you think of chaplow, cork/spider,punch,lallana
They're not scoring as much but they are supplying alot of goals which is just as good. We've had injuries that have weakened the midfield but we now have a lot of options and the only think we lack is a bit more bite in the centre of the park. We've got Falque, Guly, De Ridder, Lallana, Chaplow, Puncheon, Holmes that can hit the flanks and Hammond, Cork, Spiderman ( as well as Chaplow ) that can fit in the middle. That's options my friend!
I think we have a great selection of midfielders. Rickie has 19 in all comps? Do Prado also in the top 5 scorers. With Puncheon back I think we will start rediscovering form again.
We've lost games when we were weak in defence, or had limited options up top. Midfield has been our strong point. The only exception I remember was the Leicester game recently where our midfield were totally over run.
i think most of our goals come from the flanks, fox and richardson have been providing great service and have been working well with the wingers, but i feel our midfield duo (and i do feel our midfield is on a par with the best) has no real attacking threat. they play nice one-two looking for space, but they do not get you on the edge of your seat
Fair to say that Cork, Hammond and Schneiderlin aren't the most threatening in terms of goals, but Chaplow, Lallana and de Ridder have contributed and Puncheon knows where the goal is too, so not hugely concerned about this area.
Tbh... Our midfield options are mainly defensive since chaplow was injured but as he is back now, just needs match fitness I can see that not being a problem... Our passing and creativity from midfield is great.. And that's much more beneficial to the guys out wide and uptop as they'll be the ones causing all the defence Aggro!!
Yep, I would certainly go along with that. Occasionally, the first three you mention will score the odd goal between them, but it isn't as if they have a reputation for racking up the score. The latter four certainly have far more about them in that department, and not only that, but they have more creativity about them in the 3rd and 4th quarters of the pitch. Saints have a good mix of midfielders though.
I initially felt Adkins had one eye on changing our formation if we get promoted. Playing 4-2-3-1 with Cork and Schneiderlin as more holding players, Lallana on the left, Chaplow, centre and Guly on the right. That looked like the blueprint to me but then he went and brought Sharp and T Lee which changed my mind. Overall I think our centre midfielders are mainly there to break up play and pass the ball quickly to our flair players, who then supply Lambert or score themselves.
If we get promoted I can that same formation with cork and schneiderlin as holding midfielders and sharp up front with lambert just under him in a traquatista role and lallana on the left and puncheon/guly on the right!
I'm with you, we do play like that most of the time as it is. Rickie drops into midfielder and drifts from left to right during games all the time. It helps we now have a more threatening striker in Sharp to stay up top.
I'm with you guys on that too. Davis Richardson Fonte Hoover Fox Cork Schneiderlin Punch Lambert Lallana Sharp Looks good that and with Guly, T Lee and Chaplow we have some decent options to change things.
Surely what is more important is how many goals the overall team score and we are the league's highest scorers. Don't forget that a few of Guly's goals came when he was playing on the right of midfield, and Chappers would've undoubtably scored more if he wasn't injured. Cork, Lallana and Schneiderlin are going to be in our midfield when we get into the Premier League. Lallana will always get his share and we have many other options for right midfield that can score...Chaplow, Guly, Puncheon to name just 3.
i agree on the big scheme of things.but look at goals scored in the last 10 games to the first 10 games-its almost half, and now we are shipping more goals. if the two in the middle dont perform or get swamped then we struggle.i know we have had injuries-but so has every other team. im saying punch seems to add energy to the middle
