How is he a direct replacement for Lambert. He can't win headers and is a player that offers flicks and runs that Lambert doesn't. He holds the ball up well but that doesn't make him a direct replacement - far from it.
I really can't see what anyone would have to wonder about..? A 2-0 win. Not a 0-2 loss or a draw. Let's leave the criticisms of player selections to other fans with less capable managers and squads, eh..? And before you defend your right to complain, think of this. Adkins knows far, far, FAR better which players to select than your personal favourite. He has their playing, training, fitness and injury statistics at his fingertips. He knows the players strengths and weaknesses on a minute level everyone here can only dream about, should they wish to do such things. We know his attention to detail, so if he selects someone due to form, their fitness, their suitability to the task, their tiredness, their skill, their whatever-it-takes-to-get-them-selected, oh, and squad rotation, you can bet he's thought about it, and not just jotted 11+5 names down on a sheet that is up for discussion. I'm all for debate, but for pete's sake, get a grip, some of you. And remember 2-0.
Completely agree ref Adkins choice of squad and subs etc. His call and knows what is best. I am just wondering why we bought Sharp. He is quality and has scored a lot of goals this season, so why bed him in? That sounds a bit silly but look at it this way. We have ten or so games left so if we are not playing him now then when? Two three games to go after he's been on the 'Adkins diet'? 1.8 mil is a lot for a few games. If we go up I would expect us to be in for a proven premier league striker to play with Lambert so can't see him playing there. If we were building for another season in this league it makes sense but not at the moment. For the record I do rate him highly, just currently not sure what the short term benefit is and can't see it as a long term investment.
Money has nothing to do with it. It is a squad and they all play their part. Adkins has to make sure he keeps everybody happy and therefore why not bring on Connoly at 2-0. With Connolly's injury record and nearing retirement, Sharp will have many chances and is one for the future squad. He will no doubt get many starting appearances. I don't think Lambert is irreplaceable. Definitely he is our best striker but like all players he will have spells of injury or poor form and we need good replacements. We now have Lee, Sharp and Lambert all class strikers that can be brought in when needed and cover each other as well as having Lallana and Guly that we can use in the deeper striker roles. Adkins isn't looking short term at a starting 11 and 5 subs for just this season. He is building the crux of the squad that will hopefully make Saints a success over the next few years. He is forward thinking not impulse buying and in that way you have to say Lee is an inspired buy, Sharp we all know is top class. both great additions however I'm not sure Sharp will get to the level where he will be the first choice partner in the Prem should we get there. Lee is already looking like he will make that step up and Lambert is proving he can make the step up by what he is doing this season. I expect Lambert will step up and still be in the top ten scorers in the Prem (should we get there). Chill guys we have a manager for the long term here. He's not trying to get a couple of years of success with the intent of a 'big club' coming in for him. He wants to turn us into that 'big club'.
I too, initially was wondering about the Connolly sub move, but it worked well, Conn is the master of creating space for himself and others and that was what he was doing well until taking a knock on the knee, he was hobbling quite badly towards the final whistle, Sharp looked a wee bit slimmer on Saturday and was not looking so glum this time, his time will come I am sure and it is up to us, not to keep knocking him before he has a fair chance to perform. It seems that when NA considers a game to be under control he brings his best players off to receive their accolades for good performance, that has to be good for morale, but you have to sympathise with De Ridder who made an impact on Tuesday but didn't get a sniff Saturday, NA obviously thinks horses for courses and will select the player who will have maximum impact in the prevailing circumstances, we are lucky to be blessed with such a versatile squad.
A more direct replacement than Sharp. At the end of the day, who gives a toss if Connolly came on instead?
Put it this way, if we hadn't signed Sharp, and a week or a month later Lambert picked up a bad injury, would we be as confident about automatic promotion as we are now? Personally, I'd be writing off our automatic chances. As I've said, money is nothing to do with team selection. Adkins wanted Sharp in our squad. It cost us £1.8 million to get him in there. That's the start and end of the story.
If lambert get injured and is out for a month i would still write off our autos as sharp has hardly played and wouldn't be used to the way that we play. that is why i was say he should have come on instead of connolly. I am not saying that he should have started cause i love Chung playing.
Sharp will have a role to play this season. It just so happens that Lee also came in and grabbed his opportunity by the throat. Lee has a massive workrate and will need resting at some point, which will give Sharp another opportunity.
