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Shane Long - Keep or Sell?

Discussion in 'Southampton' started by Saints FC 76, Aug 18, 2017.

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Shane Long - Keep or Sell?

  1. Keep him as backup

    50 vote(s)
    51.0%
  2. Sell him and reinvest while he has some value

    48 vote(s)
    49.0%
  1. SaintinNZ

    SaintinNZ Well-Known Member

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    Oh, I just tipped the balance. 34 to 33. Sorry Shane, thanks for the good season and all that.

    Fans dont really get on his back. They're too preoccupied getting out of the way of his shots. LOL!! Lol.
     
    #41
    thereisonlyoneno7 and prendy like this.
  2. SaintinNZ

    SaintinNZ Well-Known Member

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    Goddam. My browser is a mess. Posting dupes and not letting me edit them. Sorry Mods.
     
    #42
  3. Romsey_Saint

    Romsey_Saint Well-Known Member

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    The question l ask myself is by keeping him what value does it bring to the team? My conclusion is very little at the moment; "nice guy", "model professional", "scares people with pace and industry" are all very valid points, but when you balance that with his general lack of contribution on the pitch; he is an expensive bench warmer with a limited shelf life.
     
    #43
    Saints FC 76 likes this.
  4. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    Your lack of contribution on the pitch is based purely on how many goals he scores, I see his worth to the team differently, he has contributed to the team and created goals for others, so it is wrong to conclude that he contributes very little IMO.
     
    #44
  5. st_brendy

    st_brendy Well-Known Member
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    Surprisingly, my view is the same as it was the other day. If the cub want to keep him (and he wants to stay), then keep him. But if we want to replace him, then do that. He's not a great, but I like him. And more fundamentally, he's down at third choice. I'm really not going to spend much time giving thought to who our third choice striker is. Unless of course the club would replace him with someone to challenge Gabbi, with Austin dropping down to third choice. Then it's a totally different scenario, because we'd be going well beyond just replacing our third choice striker. But that would probably be expensive, and I couldn't see happening. Plus, spend it on a goalscoring midfielder or two instead.
     
    #45
  6. TheSecondStain

    TheSecondStain Needs an early night

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    Blimey, the country has spoken. A nation could leave Europe on such a decisive result. :)
     
    #46
  7. Romsey_Saint

    Romsey_Saint Well-Known Member

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    On the contrary; its not just about the number of goals he has scored or the opportunities spurned (there are a lot of those I might add) - but we clearly have differing opinions on his level on contribution on the pitch; passing and crossing are average, got a good leap but does little aerially and can overrun the ball too much for my liking. My point, however, going back to my question; does he add a lot of quality and frankly I do not think he does not. At no point have I said he is rubbish but why keep him?
     
    #47
  8. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    I'd keep him because he offers the team something different. He runs the channels and can turn defences with his pace and stretch them, opening up the game.
     
    #48
  9. Romsey_Saint

    Romsey_Saint Well-Known Member

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    Fair enough; l do think part of the problem is the midfield fail to pick up his running off the ball and fail to see sometimes he had created space for himself
     
    #49
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  10. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    I can avsolutely gaurantee that defenders hate having to play against Long
     
    #50
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  11. SAINTDON13

    SAINTDON13 Well-Known Member

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    The Hammers defence definitely got a bit concerned when Long came on!
     
    #51
  12. fran-MLs little camera

    fran-MLs little camera Well-Known Member

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    All defenders hate pace and it is the one skill that can't be taught. We are lacking in pace, so I like having Long to bring on....especially near the end of a game when players are mentally and physically tired. Sims has pace....shame he's out for a while.
     
    #52
  13. fatletiss

    fatletiss Well-Known Member

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    Good defenders don't give a damn about pace with no brains, the wrong runs or no end product.*

    I get your point Fran, just mentioning that good defenders can deal with "only pace" quite easily.

    * not aiming all that at Long by the way. **

    ** just some of it :)
     
    #53
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  14. fran-MLs little camera

    fran-MLs little camera Well-Known Member

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    Defenders know that Long is an international striker...I'm sure they are wary of him. He may not score that many for Saints, but no defender would want to risk it being his day for Shane to strike and have an Anfield moment. :) So in his case, pace is effective....puts doubt in a defenders mind....could be long enough for other players to be neglected.
     
    #54
  15. fatletiss

    fatletiss Well-Known Member

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    I did say my point was not aimed at Long, but pointing out that pace alone doesn't scare really good defenders.
     
    #55
  16. Beddy

    Beddy Plays the percentage

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    To be Fair to Long......he may be a bit wasteful at times but it is definitely true that defences never know what to expect from him. As such he is still a useful player because of that.
    The defences will think this could still be his day when he gets one in the net............
     
    #56
  17. thereisonlyoneno7

    thereisonlyoneno7 Well-Known Member

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    ^This

    When we had Papa Wago he used to scare defences as they never knew if he would trap the ball or if his attempted trap would land 10 feet away. Unpredictable. it's a good trait :)
     
    #57
  18. VVD

    VVD Well-Known Member

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    Voted keep just to make it 50% each.
     
    #58

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