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Reply | Saints showing some balls?...
at 11:45 9 Jun 2014
That argument doesn't make sense when he has left to go to a club pursuing at least the top six-he wouldn't have done that if he was afraid to take the next step! Far more likely he left us because the limit of the club's ambition was top 8 not his. |
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Reply | Utd suffering after Fergie departure
at 12:44 11 Jun 2013
Well we're going to find out if you're right over the next few years, I'd imagine Utd were paying out considerably more money than most other teams in First Division when they were relegated in '74 or were a mid table side in the 80s though. |
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Reply | Billy Sharp
at 09:35 27 May 2013
He's a good mate of Beattie's who's got the manager's job there, that must be why this is happening. Not exactly a great career move though... |
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Reply | Rodriguez
at 22:18 6 Apr 2013
Why would we do that when he is playing so well in his current postion? The flexibility of our system means he gets to run into the space created by Lambert who pulls players around with his movement and drops into midfield areas and allows Rodriguez and others to run ahead of him. The understanding between the two of them is growing all the time as well. As an out and out target man he would want to stay high up the pitch and he therefore wouldn't do the job Ricky does for him and others because his qualities are about being direct and scaring defenders with his pace. Today he played centrally at times anyway and our system can vary between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1 with Ricky dropping into the hole and Jay Rod ahead of him with Davis shifitng to the left. The fluidity of our play is superb at times and Lambert's movement is central to it so as I say I don't see why we would do it. |
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Reply | What player has been your biggest disappointment this season ?
at 11:38 22 Feb 2013
A bit harsh, not ready now but potential to be a very good keeper. Club got it wrong going with KD as no1 and he was then thrown in at the deep end behind a defence that was not exactly solid at the time. Going from lg 2 to struggling PL side was hardly ideal for him and his development. |
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Reply | What player has been your biggest disappointment this season ?
at 10:45 22 Feb 2013
Both Hooiveld and Fonte have performed better playing alongside Yoshida and in fairness Hooiveld has actually done a half decent job recently which has been a pleasant surprise. Davis was never going to be up to the PL so I won't count him as a disappointment as it is no surprise.
For me:
Ramires
Mayuka (given the money paid and lack of appearances)
Fox (though like Davis not really a surprise) |
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Reply | dream on fat sam
at 17:42 15 Feb 2013
Nick, I don't think anyone disputes what you are saying about Cortese's plan, we are debating whether WE think that is right, isn't that the whole point of discussion? In any case, forgetting sentiment, I think it would be the wrong footballing decision to sell him for £4m to West Ham, no doubt you'll say this can't be considered in this world of 'soccernomics'. It would also be a bit sad if as supporters we took any sentiment out of everything anyway and we don't actually know Cortese would accept an offer if the manager wants him to stay and, from what he's been quoted as saying about Lambert, it appears that he does. Rodriguez will be a top player imo but he is nowhere near being a replacement for Rickie unless his game changes dramatically over the next 6 months which I can't see. I actually question your judgement in that you have suggested he could replace him which is why I made a comment last week about under rating Rickie's imprtance to us. I genuinely think the team will have to adapt/evolve when he goes and his absence could be a lot more costly to us than a mere £4m if it's done rashly, it would be better phasing him out when the time comes. The Man Utd model for Giggs and Scholes is preferable to Chelsea's treatment of Lampard etc, and look at how they miss Drogba who could be compared to Rickie in terms of importance to their sides- that's my opinion though and will be dismissed as sentimental I expect! |
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Reply | dream on fat sam
at 12:02 15 Feb 2013
I accept you have to be objective but until we have someone who can replace him or change the way we play, it would be folly. He is our most important player, a talisman whose presence on the pitch clearly influences his team mates and the current manager seems to rate him too. Take him out of our side and the rest of the side would be lost. Obviously he will need replacing at some point but the side will have to change the way it is set up and evolve to play without out him. To just remove him for economic reasons and expect the side to adapt straight away would be daft. I rate J Rod and he is the future but I just don't see him as the replacement, totally different player with different attributes who may be part of a side without Rickie in the future. It would not be good 'soccernomics' to sell him for his market value and then struggle on the pitch because the side is not ready to play without him. |
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Reply | dream on fat sam
at 11:37 15 Feb 2013
Manchester United don't adopt this policy with players that are long serving and still able to make important contributions although past their best It works for them, do you really prefer the Chelsea approach to the likes of Lampard? |
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Reply | Defenders on posts at corners
at 15:14 8 Feb 2013
If Shaw hadn't been on the post Maloney would have been offside for Wigan's equaliser, if we'd had man on the post for their first it wouldn't have gone in so there is an argument. I'd still put me on the post but it's as black and white as that. |
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Reply | Hope for Lambert and England???
at 15:08 8 Feb 2013
Agree it probably won't and shouldn't happen but I think the point is that but for lack of pace he'd have been be an international, a discussion worth having-especially when you consider more mobile players who have gained caps but with less technical ability-Caroll a prime example. |
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Reply | Hope for Lambert and England???
at 14:57 8 Feb 2013
Yes I probably am taking those points in isolation and good response. Reading your reports over the years, I've just tended to feel that but maybe wrongly so. You sometimes comment that when others are criticsed, Rickie is one of the untouchables who is beyond criticism but his contribution and imoprtance to the side is so great that he has earned that. Barnard yes I take your points but I always felt it was clear he possessed none of the class and intelligence of Lambert, always a 100% player with more limited ability a lower halklf championship player at best- actaully the type the crowd as a whole normally love and you don't (blond runs around a lot!) I well remember being at Doncaster when Guly was being slated and the crowd wanting Barnard on and being bemused at the way some people wanted a player on just because he runs round around at 100mph and shows 'passion' |
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Reply | Hope for Lambert and England???
at 14:04 8 Feb 2013
I would agree up to a point except I would say his lack of mobility is perhaps the only thing that prevents him being an international footballer. Most of his game (control, football intelligence, movement off the ball, stiking of a ball) are as good as most but the only thing he lacks is mobility, but for that I am convinced he'd be an international player.
I wasn't surprised you said this Nick as I think you've under estimated how important he is to Saints over the years, eg Barnard was a better goal scorer/ we should sell him in the Summer and get what we can as he's getting on (31 for a striker who has only ever had limited mobility is not old imo) being two things I remember you saying. Championing Jay Rod as his future replacement I also disagree with as his game is all about mobility and pace, totally different player who lacks the qualties Lambert brings to us and you'd stuggle to play off/'around him in the way we do Rickie |
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Reply | Tonight I'm going to an Indian restaurant
at 17:02 15 May 2012
A few restaurants now do Naga chicken, derived from the fruity but deadly naga chilli. Don't worry though they use a naga paste and then tone it down with a bhuna style sauce to make it madras hot so you get all the flavour of the naga without the pain. They can make it even milder if you prefer. If you see that give it a try. |
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Reply | The Analysis Starts Here
at 12:21 7 May 2012
Not taking it personally at all, merely highlighting that the problems you talked about all season didn't cost us in the end as you predicted but Ok fair enough maybe a little childish of me. My point has always been that the back four was good enough to have the second best defensive record in the league but was constantly slaughtered by you.... but at the same time weaknesses could be seen that would be exposed against better sides and therefore now changes are needed. It's worth pointing out though that as a side we were more open than Reading and a number of otther sides and as such our defence was often exposed. Reading were a disciplined classic two banks of four behind the ball when not in possession whereas us with the likes of Guly and Lallana wandering left us open if we lost possession. That's why we were the top scorers and probably why also we conceded more goals than perhaps we should have done. It made much better viewing than grinding out 1-0s but I imagine you'd rather do it the Reading way and that's opinions and fair enough.
I certainly don't think Hooiveld is premier class, that's you making an assumption that I think that because I've defended him at times as a competent championship defender and laid more blame with Fonte-which you came round to in the second half of the season. You are spot on as to why Fox has weaknesses but yes I agree that Lallana doesn't help and have said that in Fox's defence all season too. For me though it's when someone runs at him that he often stands off and allows a cross and it's fortunate that hasn't cost us more. For what it's worth I believe none of the back 4 is premier class and all would struggle but given Fox's importance to the side with assists he's the most likely to start next season |
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Reply | The Analysis Starts Here
at 11:31 7 May 2012
I think it's more a case that people recognise that the defence was adequate but no more for the championship and short of what is required for the premier league rather than you being vindicated! Anyone can see that the central defensive partnership has cost us goals but then you've ignored Fox's weaknesses all season because he's one of your favourites! That's why people take issue with you as you have clear favourites and blatantly ignore their weaknesses and focus on those you identify but think no-one else does! The fact that we've been promoted with the defence you deemed to be too suspect to do so and with a keeper you said wouldn't get us out of league one balances your case a little I'd say. Yes you'll come back with 'we'd have won the league had we signed Gorkss....' |
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Reply | If Wigan Get A Point Tonight
at 11:20 7 May 2012
From our perspective wouldn't it would be better for Bolton to survive as QPR would probably be the stonger next season? |
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