I find it quite amusing when I look at other teams' players and realise that we once thought they would be good enough for us. Perhaps it's lucky we don't have control of the purse strings.
I think that perhaps JRod is an example of that. When we finally bought him, I thought we had perhaps bought him too late (like Billy Sharp), but he has come right out of himself. Perhaps he always would have done, but I like to think that Saints have been good for him. P.s. Before I'm jumped on, I know Billy contributed to our promotion, but I don't think he was thought to be quite right for our style.
I still think Hooper would be good enough for us. Given the right service in a good team I think he'd score loads. Never really liked Snodgrass though. Decent enough player on his day but like Adam Johnson has good spells that are shorter than his bad spells. Had it not been for the fact that he dives, moans, thinks every contact is a foul then you wouldn't have known he was on the pitch until he scored yesterday. Would be an ideal player for West Ham to go with Nolan and Carroll.
I agree and I don't agree. Regarding Billy Sharp, you are right, he doesn't fit our style. However, this was equally so in the Championship. But he is one of those players that seems to get the deflection or be in the right place when something weird happens in the box. I think he would have ended up getting a few important goals for us but only ever as a last 10 minutes sub. As for Jay, I still have some doubts. Yes he is hugely improved this season and, yes, he scares defenders when he runs at them, but I would still like to see a more considered element to his game. At the moment he reminds me of a (very good!) Sunday League player, head down, running with the ball with no real thought other than to beat everyone in sight and get a shot away. It looks amazing when it comes off and he is scoring goals regularly but I think he has a long way to go.
You still have doubts as to what? He's a good player? Will be a good player? Will be the next Messi? The lad is a good player and is improving all the time. He makes wrong decisions, but then who doesn't. I am stunned that someone can express 'doubts' over Jayrod, unless you mean you have doubts that he will be an international world class player (not many achieve that). He is already proven to be a good Premier League player. I do hope your doubts aren't when your eye drifts from Lallana to JayRod, because I think you'll find that Adam is a player with a special technique and something that a low % of players have. Am I saying Jayrod is perfect? No, but I am saying he is doing very well thanks and I'd take more of the same even if there was not much more improvement (I think there will be) and I'll be happy if he delivers the same again next season thanks. I think you seek perfection.
There's a difference between potential and perfection. JRod has loads of potential, he needs the nous that SRL has to reach his potential. To quote the cliché, 'it's about decision making.'...
Saints can pass a team to death, but JRod has that something different. A sudden spurt of speed and an ability to score from a quick shot from a wide position. He is young and will get better...I would always put him in the starting eleven...even above Rickie.
Since you ask, my doubts concern the one thing that you cannot coach, the ability to play with your head up. I can only really repeat what I said above. He is good running at pace but as often as it comes off it ends with him running out of space. And this is where I disagree with others who say he has potential to be better. Right now I think he's as good as he's going to get. The only thing that might improve is his finishing as he gets more confident and takes his time more when he gets a chance. As such he will probably be a decent player for us. However, reading these threads, many people think he's going to be a truly great player (whatever that means) and I don't think he will. If you want to put it into perspective I think he's way better than Wanyama
Maybe if he got his head up a little more, he wouldn't be so direct, he wouldn't take so many people on and he wouldn't score so many goals. Boy, we'd be doubting him then.
Nah, Snodgrass is a good player !. Now QPR have a couple of players Saints were linked with in the past - Hoilett and Phillips - they`ve both sunk without trace under `Arrys`s coaching mastery. Well done you useless, over-rated as$hole.
They are down then. Out of all the teams still in the mix they would be my preference to stay up. Why can't West Ham go on a Blackpool type run.
