16 Dec 2014 22:09:42
Well that was woeful. We got exactly what we deserved. Where do we go from here then Ronald ?
16 Dec 2014 22:31:30
We paid 12 million pounds for Shane Long ( nice guy agreed ). Why ????
The side are starting to look like the team we feared they might become after the summer exodus. The warning signs have been there for weeks but everyone's seemingly been content to bury their heads in the ground and dream of Europe.
I posted a while back that I was worried that all of Saints' attacking play rested on Tadic's shoulders and they'd be in big trouble if he got injured or lost form. Naturally, I was assured that the squad had loads of creative talent and everything was super rosy. They're totally lost without him (or without him playing well).
I feel for Mane. He'll probably be a good player one day, but at the moment he can't do right for doing wrong. The harder he tries, the worse he gets. Long - as pretty much everyone said at the time of his signing - was hugely overpriced and lacking in quality. Isgrove won't make the grade. Mayuka is just plain abysmal. Why they kept him on the payroll and loaned out Ramirez remains one of the season's mysteries.
He might not have set the world on fire, but Ramirez is at least a reasonable squad player and option off the bench. Mayuka would be underqualified to even be the mascot.
Tough times. Where's the next win coming from? Everton (h), Palace (a), Chelsea (h), Arsenal (h), Man United (a), Newcastle (a)
This run could go on into February (Swansea at home). It really could. Five wins away from safety - that should be the focus. They look a long way off at present. Koeman needs to pull his finger out and find some solutions instead of moaning about fixture congestion and not having as deep a squad as the bigger teams.
Nothing that £50 million can't fix in January. unfortunately there's no way Saints are going to spend that sort of money. I think we need another keeper, an attacking creative midfielder and someone up front who can actually score goals. Boric, Ramirez and Lambert perhaps.
I guess what we're seeing is the more realistic outcome of having a squad full of new players to the league. We have had a fantastic start, we've seen what all the players are capable of at times, but now we are having to witness the other side of the coin. Fitness issues for a number of players, plus injuries and suspensions, and as a result disjointed displays of football. We've had lots more goal scorers, but not consistent one's like we did with Lallana, Rodriguez and Lambert last season.
We cannot just expect Rodriguez to be our saviour for this one either, if he ends up being rushed back and getting injured again that would have been a terrible decision by the coaches and medical staff. I'm not sure Gaston is the solution either, he's another who's form has always been temporary, and a rash decision maker like Mané.
We need another CB to cover the loss of Yosh to the Asia Cup, a right-sided winger as Tadić will likely move to the left wing with Mané at AFCON. A central attacking midfielder would be the key signing and ideally another clinical finisher although perhaps we could go in house and bring Ryan Seager into the first team.