Is greater than the sum of the parts. Is this a reasonable assessment of our lot? I pose the question as a Scouse mate has just been on the phone to discuss a possible bid from LFC for Jose. All irony aside, I'm bemused. I really like Jose and he's had a great season but. ... Come on, we all know he has his moments. So the question is, how many of our players look good because this team is bigger than any one individual - even the magnificent Mirgan?!
Is Mirgan Scouse for Morgan, Lambo? You been up there too long. In short, yes, always! We have some very good individuals who could easily succeed in another team, however one never knows. My advice to them: why take the risk
I have said for some time that our players are better as part of our team. This may be the suspicion of the PL clubs buying our players now....hope so, then they will leave us alone. Our very best players are Toby and Morgan...the others are still learning. Most of the others are quality that have been improved by being in the right team, playing the right way.
Surely the sum of the parts argument also applies to so called top clubs, finding the balance, players that complement each other is a necessity for squads to be successful at any level. That Lovren for instance has failed at Liverpool isn't down to him suddenly becoming a bad player, its more to do with the facts that Saints were and are collectively stronger defensively than Liverpool. Yes it might be easier if you can cherry pick, but you still need a good recipe.
Indeed, and you could say that he and his defence colleagues got precious little protection from esteemed players like Steven Gerrard.
You still have to wonder why a player of Tobys class was pushed out on loan to a "small" Premier Club, you also have to wonder at how good we have made him look! Who is the most surprised at the result?
Was he pushed or did he ask..? Was it a mutual agreement..? Personally, I think the destination was sensible. They wanted him to get plenty of gametime. What they didn't reckon on was that Toby would end up loving playing for his loan club to the extent that he wants to leave his parent club, if given a choice.
Kind of you to point out a typo. Scouse for Morgan is "Morgie lah" as well you know. On your substantive point, you are right. There is a risk they will crash and burn. So if offered double his salary would Jose go?
Can't remember the details, but I'm sure there was someone else in for Toby. He chose to come here....probably with Koeman as the lure.
My knowledge of European football is far from Stella, but Ateltico Madrid arguably have the best defense in Europe. So it was little wonder he was getting few opportunities. I think another reason was that he wanted to play centre back and not right back. We've had great defensive displays with Yoshida & Gardos, but you don't have to strain your eyes to see what a step up Toby is. His pass to Benteke Saturday was one of the first big errors I can remember from him.
May be wrong fran, but I think Sunderland were after him when he did the sensible thing and signed for us?
it was newcastle ..... wonder what difference he would have made there ? nah, he's ours & anyway, long may that remain!
It's great to have a team team and there are a few very good premiership teams who have no big stars and do well. But to win a top league you need a Messi, Ronaldo, Aguero, Suarez or Hazard, a player who can always make something from nothing. We can't buy one so we need to develope one and keep him for a couple of years. I'm hoping Mr. Mane may just be that man next season!
One of the things that has impressed me with Toby is that off the field he really seems to have a sensible, mature head on him. Perhaps he even has smart advisors around him too, though that might be pushing it...!
He wasn't quite smart enough to not say that the Southampton area is a bit boring, though he may have been accurate. As an area, Southampton grows on the newcomer, and you only really begin to appreciate it after seeing that we get the best weather in the country, and we have superb links to other places. The slightly boring nightlife and the traffic management is the only dull thud really. Plus, Hitler did some nasty things to the local building environment and the city planners have done their level best to uphold that tradition since.
