.... they have wasted so much time watching reality TV crap that they end up thinking they're Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent and therefore have to be scathingly critical in a most offensive way about some of our players. In particular I am thinking of the way Ramirez is being criticised when he was the architect of our victory over Liverpool and he was superb again yesterday. So should we be football supporters and get behind our players and our team or should we all act like Simon bleeding Cowell and be cruelly critical of individual players?
Godders, I'm with you. I don't agree he was great yesterday but he had moments of good creativity and is a class act. I am baffled as to why there seems to be a growing tide of criticism against him on here.
Alternatively if all football supporters just got behind the players the whole of the time and did not have a range of opinions then we would simply be a bland and homogeneous talent band rather than free thinking, opinionated spectators.
I don't disagree with you provided people are analytical and balanced in their analysis. I don't think there has been a lot to choose between Ramirez and Lallana this season in that neither has lived up to our expectations but both have made important contributions. No one suggests that we should ship out Lallana but there are some idiots who would like us to say cheerio to Ramirez. What we need is debate that is fair, balanced well reasoned and analytically critical not just the expressions of someone's bigoted view of a player.
I agree that the scathing critism of some about Gaston is uncalled for.....he hasn't set the world alight yet but we must be patient as he is young, getting used the thePrem and getting used to living in the UK. Give him a break! However to say he was great yesterday would be a little over the top and we only really got control when Lallana replaced him but I think that is much to do with his position out wide where I think he struggles. He plays better in the middle of midfield/in the whole. That said Davis who holds that position is playing really well and I would be loathed to drop him for Gaston at this moment in time especially in away games where we need a bit more bite in the middle. So in summary, let's give the lad a chance and let's play him in his best position as there are better wide men.
I'm entirely with you StG. Players may be inconsistent, but there's no need to damn them as though they some spawn of the evil one. But that's [so-called] football fans for you. Situations or people are either brilliant or crap with nothing in between. It's not an endearing trait.
Both had a few injuries limiting their contribution as well. Whereas players like Schneiderlin and Lambert have been able to play pretty much every game and made themselves into probably our two most important players. There's no reason to worry about Ramirez, he'll be here next year and he'll be a big part of Pochettino's plan.
There is a middle ground you know, you can be critical of a player while still generally getting behind them. People seem to struggle with this concept. A few weeks ago I said I thought Lambert had a poor game by his standards and people acted like I said he should be sold at the earliest available opportunity.
Personally I do not think Ramirez was great yesterday, however I have never openly criticised him either. Unfortunately both Lallana and himself have been injured quite a bit this season and been in and out of the side. I think Davis has been outstanding recently though.
My only criticism of any player is if they don't work hard and try. Not much anyone can do if they are not good enough for the team. That's the manager's problem. Ramirez is good enough for us and does try...we just have other good players who don't have the misfortune to cost 15 mill. People forgive Lambert and Lallana anything...give Gaston a break.
Nothing wrong with believing a player played poorly in a game and voicing your opinion. It just just gets boring when one play gets criticized every single week.
I quite agree, it seems our fellow fans must always find someone to pick on. Is Ramirez the new De Ridder?
I am very impressed with your avatar TSS as I was greatly annoyed when the Boundary Commission (AKA the Maud Commission) put some of the loveliest parts of Berkshire including the Valley of the White horse into Oxfordshire and to compensate gave the Royal County Slough FFS. The White Horse Hill is one of the best places I know to sit and listen to and watch skylarks.
Well, in fairness he did kind of ask for it! Now he's back in favour I haven't noticed any particularly unwarranted criticism against him.
It's interesting isn't it that Yoshida and Hoovield get constantly criticized even after clean sheets or great displays. No one is really upset about that are they? That boils down to the fact loads of fans want their favourite centre back Fonte in the side. He's bound to be a lot of people's favourite CB as we've had him since league one. Then there's the Boruc situation. Some people were desperate for him (and Gazzaniga Although Gazzaniga was too inexperienced to be playing) to stay out the side so fan favourite Davis didn't get permanently frozen out the starting line up. Why are so many people getting so upset about calls for Ramirez to be dropped? I really don't understand this favoritism at all. Support the team not a player. Davis deserves to play on merit at the moment over Ramirez. Ramirez is best at CAM and not as effective at RM. He was ok yesterday though he played a few nice passes. He was playing RM though so I find it hard to be critical (gave him a 7 in match rating thread). It seems a lot of fans refuse to warm to S.Davis. Probably because he often plays instead of their favourite player Ramirez! If we start playing badly and Davis becomes ineffective drop/rotate him and start Ramirez. Ancelotti's response when asked if he was forced to play Beckham by the owners was : "It annoys me that anyone would think that. I am not a supporter or friend of Beckham, I try to be objective. Beckham deserved to play even if he is 37 years old." You should not be a supporter of a certain player or certain players but the actual team. Support Southampton FC. If any Eleven players are on the pitch I want them all to do as well as possible. I thought Lallana should have started (if fit) instead of Ramirez against Reading. But I was still hoping Ramirez scored goals and/or got assists. I think some people what rather their favourite eleven started each game even if it meant less points.
