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Blimey. We got away with that one.
In that first half Soton played some lovely stuff. We were scrambling left right and centre.
Adrian again proved me more and more wrong. He exudes confidence and his shot stopping has to be up there with the best in the world.
Jenkinson is shot to pieces. It's a worry that Slav thought he could plug a hole at LB. why no Hendrie? Geezers a LB by trade? Gotta start somewhere.
For a player like Carl who is low, this was a poor decision.
Across the back, well, what more can you want from the ginger Pele? Immense, committed, hungry. If ever a new contract was earned, he did it.
I'm liking Ogbonna more and more. Looks savvy and hard.
Tomkins was very good considering he had his face smashed up. He's looking more and more confident and like a leader. I think he'll get a lot better.
Midfield....midfield....calling midfield?....looked like boys in the first half. Everyone of them.
Not sure how long Song needs to get fit. But Sully has played a blinder in his contract. Right now he doesn't near the first team. We are seeing "lazy, more time than he thinks he has and better than he thinks he is" Song. And we can't carry that.
Noble? MIA. Lovely passer when the ground work has been done, but I think his time has gone. Not quick enough, and with the way the league moves, he's a walking red card.
Kouyate. Not up to his usual until the 2nd half. Not good enough to coast and be casual. I hope he doesn't think he's made it. Needs to be hungrier.
Zarate was woeful. I he's hot and cold, but he's not for me. He's not a team player and as a result he tried so hard to redeem mistakes he loses focus and sight of the bigger picture.
Antonio. First half anonymous, 2nd he was a beast. There's a bit of marmite about him, poor first touch, head down...but he has something. He's risen to the crowd rather than shied away. He was lifted by the buzz to charge a ball down and show willing, and took off from that. This boy could be very good.
Valencia did well. He's a bridesmaid, but he works so hard he partners Sakho and those 2 hound everything in front of them. He's earned the time, and his ball in that set up the winner was wicked and undefendable. Good lad in my books.
As for Carroll. He's divided lots. I've always backed him as there's nothing like him in the English game. He's got faults, but no defender in the game fancies him, let alone defend against him.
A luxury for sure. But whilst we all wait for Payet, he provides a rudimentary route that many a side hate.
Well played him.
Oh Lanzini.
Yeah. He changed the whole game and is one of the biggest discoveries in recent times.
Dictated our play, bright, smart and honest.
A 'kin gem.
COYI
post match thoughts
pheww we got away with that & don't wait until feb/march bloody well sign lanzini now!
Have to say Darren one of the
Have to say Darren one of the best pieces I have read. Well written. Baffling what is happening to Hendrie but that's because we have yet to see anything of him. Clearly Slav doesn't rate him at all! How old is he? Maybe he needs some time?
Yep agree nice 1 D.H!
Big difference lanzini coming on,antonio-i went to the stoke game & me & my son were saying "hes got something about him!".does not stop trying,he really could be a gem in the making!If his header that hit the bar for carrolls goal had gone in,we would all be raving about it!
We are upgrading the server
We are upgrading the server over the new year's break in time for the match against Liverpool, until then no new topics can be posted, but comments can be. Sorry for this but it is required! - Ed
Must say after the Vila
Must say after the Vila result, this was a must win for us if we wanted to stay in touch with the sides above us and we got a much needed 3 points. We've weathered an unbelievable injury storm these last 2 months with almost every attacking option falling by the wayside but hopefully lanzini and Carroll will be the first of the injured returning en masse. We've probably deserved a little more than we've got recently and in the past the results have tended to trend downwards for us with that many wounded but hopefully this resut allows us to kick on and give us something to really cheer about in 2016. First up the klopp Koppers and I'd absolutely love it if we did the double over them this season.
Lucky !
First half was like being beaten up by Mike Tyson in his prime and could easily have been 3-0 down second half was much better, add to that Lanzini adding intelligence and pace as well as confidence for his team mates Brilliant.
Great to see Carroll nod one in.
Welcome back chubbs!
Where you been??;)
No brainer that Carroll will
No brainer that Carroll will score goals in a team " on the front foot" that is playing with pace and an ability to get forward" .
Also no doubt that Noble is absolute wank and should be left to look after the UP stadium when all has left.
This won't get toress as Nev will no doubt censor or.
If noble is wank, then song
If noble is wank, then song and kouyate are diabolocal because while he has his faults nobles the only one of the three thats turned up
Spot on Fred well said. Let's
Spot on Fred well said. Let's remember tho this team is playing like its stretched desperate for some players to return. I'd expect Everyone to play a more relaxed and confident game when not under so much pressure. The players that are going missing are a worry but noble always stands up to be counted regardless of how he is playing. If we had everyone back I'd be shouting for kouyate to be rested for a couple of games
Sign Lanzini up now
Why wait till Feb/March if we are going to sign him do it now , plus if we do it will open up a loan place if we need someone. I'm
Good point regarding Hendrie
Good point regarding Hendrie Darren! Does this kid even feature in any of Slav's plans? I doubt it. Still he's played 100 games for Hamilton at left back ( I know the SPL is bog standard but still has a lot more exp in this position than poor Jenkinson ).
Also good sensible point regarding Nobes unlike the love/hate opposing posts and opinions around. We will be far too overconfident and a tad bit ungrateful if we say that we have already outgrown him but yet it seems that it's getting harder and harder for him to keep up with opposing midfielders. Let's face it atmo you have to be at least a fantastic athlete like Kouyate and the best of them are not only good athletes but have a great ability mentally and technically. Nobes main fault during his career has been that he is not as athletic, strong and quick as some of the other midfielders around. 10 years ago it seemed that there weren't so many beasts around and smaller players could get away with not being that athletic. Not now. He'll be 29 before this season ends and I believe that with the starting months of next season we will see less and less of him ( given that we have a better option of course ).
However, it's great to see him captaining the side ( and doing a great job in my opinion ) in our last season at the Boleyn. Good hammer. Not the flashiest or the toughest but a great servant to the cause. Will become a legend within a year or two and will be remembered fondly when he leaves or retires. COYI.
Pretty Good Sum Up
But disagree about Valencia. I think he's the biggest waste of 12 million I have seen and am getting tired of watching his theatrical writhing on the ground when tackled ESPECIALLY when play is waved on. Thought Bilics tactics of playing right sided players at left back was pathetic especially with a Left back on the bench, and like Allardyce, it would seem that none of the kids (Page for example) are going to get a run. I didn't think Southampton were particularly good (even in the Arsenal game it was more how bad were the gunners), and injuries or no, that team should have been good enough to beat Villa and do better than scrap last nights win.
Maybe im wrong but i think
Maybe im wrong but i think Antonio will turn into a top class player ,all he needs is a bit of conference, just shows you how hard it is to make the transition from chumps to prem ,he has a real good attitude
Totally agree Burkie on
Totally agree Burkie on Antonio I have said similar myself. This bloke is gona excite fans. Just loved his rampaging run the length of the field at the end yesterday, the sort of thing that will get bums off seats! Could become a fans favourite
Valencia
I totally agree and have said so all along, not strong enough for the PL and goes down looking likely to go off injured in nearly every game he plays. A Karl Probosky type signing in my opinion but a lot of people seem to disagree? without any foundations of a worthy debate....
Good comment
Good comment but I would not point the finger too noble, his is a work of sacrifice. Whereas, injured players and especially with Song nonexistent and Kouyate to half its potential. Agree on Antonio, I think he just needs to find the right rhythm and then it will be hard to exclude from the starting eleven. Carroll, he was in the right place at the right time. I hope that this goal it have spurred a bit
Agree mostly DH
I said the same about Hendrie, what's the point of keeping him if we don't play him when we really need someone in a particular position? Zarate made my blood boil as he gave the ball away so many times last night, a liability and agree he's not a Team player. We should have bought Trippear at the beginning of this season for £4m instead of sticking with Jenkinson IMO, we have to have think long term rather than short term loan deals and Trippear looked good against us last season. If Antonio had scored when he ran 70-80 yards up the pitch near the end then his confidence would have gone through the roof, but then he still managed to score a lucky goal and played a part in the winner so hopefully he will come good although I'm not totally convinced. Kouyate makes a big difference but only when he wants to, if he was more consistent then he would be immense. Lanzini creates a magical air of excitement when he is attacking and what a good find, fingers crossed a deal is done within the next 2 months.
The pass was on to
The pass was on to Kouyate after busting a gut to get up there with him from Antonio,i'd like to see more team work,than going for gold, same with Zarate would save a baby from a burning building then run back in with it to feint past another beam
Come one, antonios team work
Come one, antonios team work was fine all game. Kouyate busted a gut to get up there with him and if you watch it didnt actually position himself to receive the pass and to be honest after Antonio ran 80 yards with the ball if think you can let him off. He looked absolutely shattered.
I know it's easy for me to
I know it's easy for me to say fred,but going by Kouyates body language on the end of that run,i just thought Antonio could or may have took Romeu out the picture when 2 on 1,but saying that not knocking his work rate he's like a bulldozer just needs to steady himself a bit
Good summary DH, I thought
Good summary DH, I thought our midfield was the biggest worry, our central three were awful, I'm not sure if Song has the right prescription in those glasses, he found the opposition every time, Antonio looks like a modern day Boa Morte, I have a feeling the pitch will never be long enough for him, fair play though, plenty of effort when 75% of the rest of the team were giving none at all. I think we could've been dead and buried in the first half, would've been no surprise if Soton were 3-0 up, better effort from the players in the second half but far from convincing