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Koeman Confirms His Hand Was Forced
Wednesday, 4th Mar 2015 13:57

Ronald Koeman has confirmed that his recent retinence to change the attacking set up of the team has been more about the options he had rather than a reluctance to make those changes.

Many Saints fans lately have been commenting that perhaps Graziano Pelle should have been rested and that the player had looked jaded in recent games resulting in a barren spell in terms of goals scored.

Now with the team going off to a break in Switzerland and with most of the squad fit again Koeman has spoken of his reasoning behind keeping faith with the Italian striker who now has gone 10 Premier League games without scoring stretching back to Boxing Day when he netted in a 3-1 win at least nights opponents Crystal Palace.

“It’s difficult. I think he was working very hard. He was maybe one or two situations a little bit unlucky but we have now the bench to change,” said Koeman.

“Maybe in the last two or three games we have that possibility to do changes in the game what we did today and Shane Long is working hard, he’s doing well and if Pelle is a little bit struggling then it’s normal that you give opportunities to Shane Long.

“It’s not about Pelle, it’s about the whole team and that’s the most important.”

Koeman has been wise on this in not speaking out till the crisis is over,whilst he will feel that some of the criticism aimed towards Pelle has been unfair on a player who despite not scoring has been involved in plenty of goals for others, he will also have known that the striker needed a break, the problem is that he had no one to hand who could play in the way he needed with Shane Long spending much of the past six weeks injured and Mane away on International duty.

Now he has taken the pressure of both the player and the situation itself by confirming just why Pelle played on for so long, now the player can look to regaining his confidence and scoring touch whilst hopefully the supporters will get off Pelle's back as they realise that he was playing through the tiredness as there was no other choice.

Photo: Action Images



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Zimmer1961 added 14:59 - Mar 4
In terms of the criticism the Pelle is getting, I keep hearing people around me commenting about how Ricky would have scored that etc. I remind them of the sitter that he missed at Sunderland in the cup last year. Also, last season Lambert scored 14 goals in all competitions including 2 penalties. So far this season Pelle has scored 11 all from open play. So based on that he's not doing too bad.
1

WestSussexSaint added 07:33 - Mar 5
My only issue here is why didn't Ron get another striker in on loan during January if he knew Pelle was already struggling. Instead he brought in two more attacking midfielders neither of who can play up top in the same way.
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BoondockSaint added 13:33 - Mar 5
I think Koeman's great and am rooting for Arsenal to do well, because if Wenger steps up into the boardroom, you know they will come a'courting for Ron!

However, his statement doesn't address the big issues: 1) The awful delivery of balls into the box on set pieces and why hasn't he given them the hair dryer at halftime in the last few games for having no sense of urgency in the final third?

I'm worried that they are acting like Saints teams of the past, they figure they have done enough and can coast the rest of the season-In the two promotion seasons Saints led the leagues up until the last 10 games and then just couldn't find the will to win the one or two games that would lock up first place, losing to teams they should beat handily, and settled for second (due to others losing). It would be a pity to throw away this season's accomplishments now.

And I don't want to hear about he didn't want to upset their delicate egos!
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Newdawn2014 added 21:33 - Mar 5
I love the fact that Ron doesn't talk about players in a negative way, as he says " its not about Pelle its about the whole team", and this is how it should be, do you want your boss discussing your shortcomings with others in public ? , I think Saints will get back to previous form
I have to my medication runs out on May 24th
COYS
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