BS has a huge amount of time and effort invested in ALL of his opinions about EVERYTHING.
You should all realise BS doesn’t do discussion…discussion is a sign of weakness.
BS isn’t capable of original thought…he has a given Mantra that he will repeat endlessly.
Don’t engage with him while reciting his Mantra…he’s not listening.
Originally posted by @Barry-Sanchez
Originally posted by @BTripz
Originally posted by @Barry-Sanchez
Originally posted by @TheCholulaKid
We were unlucky today against a team with one of the best home records on the division. We moved the ball around well and created chances which, with the exception of Wednesday, we’ve struggled to do recently.
Clearly we need someone who can finish but Heaton made another couple of great saves. Poor keeping from Forster aside we should have had at least a point from that game.
That’s my assessment and if you don’t agree with it then you’re either wrong or have an axe to grind.
I have a huge axe to grind, Puel is a clueless bell and where is his intent to sign? Oh he says we don’t need players.
C’mon Barry you know he isn’t clueless! He is stuck with a very mediocre squad and has been fighting on 3 fronts all season. His English isn’t fantastic but he is obviously doing something about it, I challenge you to learn and become fluent in French to the same degree as Claude in as short a time frame.
And why the fuck should he broadcast his intent to sign? The world and their fucking dog knows we need players, repeating it ad infinitum ain’t going to change that.
Signing players isn’t his remit anyway, it’s down to the new players commitee (or whatever Les called it).
I would seriously suggest you direct your anger in Les’ direction for the lack of quality incomings.
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear and that it what Claude has been charged with doing.
All IMHO
Rotation
A necessity as we are going to play a minimum of 51 games. Small amount of injuries and chances given to kids prove the genius of this policy. Your a forward thinking man Cluade.
Performance
up and down, but when the players perform as required, it looks good and will improve the young players technically whilst bedding in a younger but more skillful group of players. Genius Cluade, i salute you.
Style of play
Frustrating at times, but clear to anyone that understands football the benefits once the squad adjust. Signings are needed but brave of the manager not mention it. Strength in the face of adversity does you credit Cluade.
Weaker Squad
Temporarily weaker squad as we have bought younger but better players, whilst still needing additions the ability to grow as a team is hugely improved. Your track record of developing players is second to none Cluade, how do you do it?
Weaker manager
hahahahaha A weak man would not be brave enough to play all the kids whilst changing the style of play. Your stronger than i would ever of believed Cluade.
Owners wanting to sell
This is a worry
Lets get the cards on the table.
now you barry. Explain your reasoning please
Ha vindication, from the BBC report of the match
The 34-year-old had only been on the field for five minutes when he fired in a low 25-yard free-kick which took a deflection before beating keeper Fraser Forster.
And I think the rest of the same report should be read by Bazza
Burnley rely on rearguard
Burnley could be considered lucky to come away with all three points. They were weak in attack and had three shots on target in the entire match, with only Barton’s deflected strike troubling Forster.
Without the disciplined defending and brilliant keeping of Heaton, Southampton might have ended their streak of three matches without a win.
Defender Ben Mee was on hand to clear off the line from Dusan Tadic and Jeff Hendrick placed his body in front of a fierce Shane Long effort that appeared goalbound.
And when the backline was beaten, Heaton was a brick wall as the last man. He reacted quickly to block Ward-Prowse’s header before making two superb diving stops to prevent Rodriguez and then Sims, with the follow-up, from equalising. The second save was truly exceptional.
With 24 points from a possible 36 at home, Burnley are 10 points clear of the bottom three and appear a good bet to avoid a relegation battle.
Positive signs for Saints
Southampton fans should not be too disheartened by the result.
Four league defeats in four makes for bad reading, but there was little to fault in the display at Turf Moor.
They were competent in defence and a handful in attack, with Tadic, aside from the effort cleared by Mee, going close with an angled shot before Long’s header rippled the side netting after the break.
And had Heaton switched off in the final few moments, visiting manager Claude Puel would have been heading back to Hampshire with a deserved point.
As it is, the Saints continue to head down the table. They will now focus on arresting this losing run at home to champions Leicester next Sunday.
Thats all well and good but where was the urgency? Its slow possession passing and we’re afraid, afraid of losing it, the issue is we are and it compounds the issue, he has instilled fear and failure into the side andI can’t see it changing, our team isn’t good enough and that much is known.
Originally posted by @BTripz
Ha vindication, from the BBC report of the match
The 34-year-old had only been on the field for five minutes when he fired in a low 25-yard free-kick which took a deflection before beating keeper Fraser Forster.
That can’t be true otherwise, it will make me look like a complete twat for laying into Fraser.
Might take tomorrow off.
I agree with BTripz, It deflected of of either Cedric or JWP’s left leg. You are correct about Frasers lack of mobility though.
Again and again the same thing. How did we not win that? The reason, we need a goal scorer. You look around the stands at games and everyone knows this, time and time again. The looks on supporters faces are just disbelief.
So why are we just about to enter the 3rd week of January and we still have no new striker. Ok ok so you may say there is not anyone available that is any better, but I am sure there is and it is not my job to find this player, we have professionals at the club, who are paid big money to get the correct player in place.
Striker now please.
Think Fraser has been much better last 2 games.
Im not worried, just something not quite clicking, but when it does (at Bournemouth, West Ham) we look very good indeed. Saying this we looked bloody good today in possession and the build up play. We just need someone who knows where the net is.
As for tactics, we have a manager who tends to get it right most of the time, with what hand he has. Now in the cup in the week, it got it 100% right, but again, with a striker, we could have a giant step in the final, but he does not. This will reoccur all season (apart from the odd game) unless the issue is addressed with a signing!
It’s actually Norwich in the FA Cup but they haven’t won for ages either.
How can we win a football match if we start every game with no proper striker? Week after week, dominating the play, creating loads of chances but no one to add the final touch. It’s crazy. How many other Premiership sides play without a recognized striker? None. Yet our manager seems to think it’s not a problem, any transfer speculation seems to be about signing another midfielder, FFS we have a team of midfielders, don’t need any more. We will be in deep shit if this lack of a striker problem is not addressed. And quickly.
Proper striker? Ok, they’re not scoring too many goals so maybe Rodriguez and Long are not proper.
Recognised striker? We started the season with 3 acknowledged strikers - Austin, Long and Rodriguez,
Yet our manager seems to think it’s not a problem - Austin’s injured so he’s playing Long and Rodriguez - who else should he be playing of our recognised strikers?
We will be in deep shit if this lack of a striker problem is not addressed. And quickly. - it’s January, I wouldn’t get your hopes up for a quality proven striker. You can probably count on one hand the number of strikers that have moved in January and made a significant difference during the rest of that season.
There seems to be a slow but moving progress towards Puel is out of his depth, I’m glad people are finally seeing this.
The next thing is the boards intention as all it seems at the moment is a managed decline and try to sell the club as high as possible.
Why are we weaker than last season?
The injury comofrt blanket doesn’t affect style of play.
If continued selling has mades us weaker ie this season maybe we need to look at the system we employ.
Your 1st point - not sure where you get that idea from - maybe you’ve been on SWF,
Your last point - possibly we do
Hi Barry.
OK, let’s do this.
There seems to be a slow but moving progress towards Puel is out of his depth, I’m glad people are finally seeing this.
Can you justify that claim?
The next thing is the boards intention as all it seems at the moment is a managed decline and try to sell the club as high as possible.
OK. Let’s assume that is the case (I’m not sure it is by the way). But let’s look for a silver lining? If they “sell the club as high as possible” perhaps the new owners will have deeper pockets that will make you happier?
Why are we weaker than last season?
Selling Mane?
Selling Big Vic?
Losing a striker to injury?
Replacements getting injured and taking time to settle?
Losing Ronald Koeman to a rival club that has been taken over by a billionaire prepared to spend silly money?
Failure of replacements to score goals when plenty of chances are being created?
Puel’s possession at all costs system stifles creativity?
Some combination of the above?
The injury comofrt blanket doesn’t affect style of play.
Well, it does as replacement players (some of them youth debutants) take time to learn the new system.
But let’s assume you’re right. Let’s look at that style of play (from yesterday’s stats) against the team with the best home record in the division.
Category: Burnley-Saints (highest number in bold)
Shots: 9- 20
Passing accuracy: 65%- 78%
Chances created: 6- 13
Crosses: 15- 40
Set pieces: 1 -0 (from which they scored)
Take-ons: 11- 12
Tackles won: 29%- 30%
Interceptions: 10- 16
Clearances: 48 -37
Throw-ins: 21 -20
Blocks: 23 -14
Goalkeeping: 7 -4
So those stats show that our style of play got us into plenty of chances and that had we taken any of our chances and saved from their only set-piece, we’d have one quite comfortably.
If continued selling has mades us weaker ie this season maybe we need to look at the system we employ.
Yep, I’d say that’s fair comment.
Or, if we are forced to sell our prize assets each year (players and managers), then we as fans have to accept that we can’t expect to have continual progress, but that with our support the new players and coaches will come good in the long run?
And perhaps we also need to face the fact that when we DO sell our prize assets to other clubs, we may not have had much of a choice.
It’s shit and frustrating, and I can see you struggling with this and it breaks my heart to see you so frustrated, but sometimes we’ve just got to suck it up and support.
Originally posted by @Barry-Sanchez
There seems to be a slow but moving progress towards Puel is out of his depth, I’m glad people are finally seeing this.
Not sure abut that but then we’re hardly going to be super cheery having lost 4 league games in a row.
The next thing is the boards intention as all it seems at the moment is a managed decline and try to sell the club as high as possible.
Source? Wouldn’t they be likely to get more money for the club if we are flying high?
Why are we weaker than last season?
We have sold Mane and Pelle. 25-30 goals. we need JRod and Austin to get these between them and Long to chip in with 10. This isn’t happening.
The injury comofrt blanket doesn’t affect style of play.
What the fuck are you on about?
If continued selling has mades us weaker ie this season maybe we need to look at the system we employ.
How would you propose to keep players who, for example, are being offered £300K per week?
No Barry, wrong again.
Most people look at the stats and notice that we cannot finish.
We need a quality striker - I suspect Claude has noticed this as well.
Originally posted by @Rallyboy
No Barry, wrong again.
Most people look at the stats and notice that we cannot finish.
We need a quality striker - I suspect Claude has noticed this as well.
Yep, and I think it’s worth looking closely at what Claude is saying here, because the media (specifically The Echo) are being mischievous.
My reading is that Claude is saying that IF we can find a striker that is better than what we have we will make a move. BUT he is stating that is down to Les and the Chairman and that his job is to focus on improving the players he has.
To me that is sensible.
The media is saying that a striker isn’t a priority for Claude.
That’s naughty.
Here from The Echo - note the headline **Puel: Focus on squad rather than transfers. **
The quote from Claude that resulted in that headline:
From Claude Puel
Puel said: “We will see this. We work with the chairman. We will see this with calm.
“If an opportunity to improve the squad we will see.
“For me, for the moment, it is important to keep my concentration about this team and to pass other things.
Add into this the problems he has with the language and it creates doubt over Claude’s reading of the situation where, in all likelihood, none exists.
As I say, mischevious.
The full text of the article…
Originally posted by @Optimus-trousers
Sourced from Daily Echo article
Puel: Focus on squad rather than transfers
Show/hide article…
Claude Puel insists he is staying focussed on guiding his squad towards more goals, rather than worrying about signing a new striker this month.
While the Saints boss has not ruled out a move for a goalscorer during January, he has previously hinted that he is happy with his squad as it is and would only move for a player that is a clear improvement, which he admitted it hard to find at this time of the year.
However, after Saints drew another blank at Burnley to slip to a fourth Premier League defeat in a row, the pressure was turned up a notch on Saints to act.
Puel said: “We will see this. We work with the chairman. We will see this with calm.
“If an opportunity to improve the squad we will see.
“For me, for the moment, it is important to keep my concentration about this team and to pass other things.
“It is always difficult after a loss, and after a loss not deserved.
“It is important to recover and to come back for the next game. We will see against Norwich. “It is an important competition, an important game of course. We play important games with all this many games in three competitions and it’s important now to finish January with the results of course.”
It has started to feel a little like being the same old story over and over again for Saints, who can play well but are left to rue a lack of cutting edge in the final third which ends up costing them.
“It is difficult of course to accept this. You can see this game with quality,” said Puel after the loss to Burnley at Turf Moor, which followed up the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.
“It was a difficult game against a difficult opponent with long balls, second balls, free kicks.
“We made strong work to resist without opportunity for the opponent and just one free kick, strange free kick for them to win this game. It is a big disappointment with this good work.
“The attitude, the same spirit, the same quality, like the game against Liverpool, but we didn’t deserve about this good play.
“Of course it is two different games with two different opponent and play but we can do very good work today and miss many chances, Dusan in the first half and also the second half, the opponent goalkeeper made good saves and maintain Burnley in the game.
“It is difficult after this game to tell other things. A lot of opportunities, no chances for the opponent, and it’s difficult to tell other things.”
Go to the original article…
…expatiatingly modelled by Optimus trousers…beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
It is certainly debateable whether or not Long is a proper striker. OK, he chips in with the odd rare goal, but so does Yoshida, Bertrand, VVD etc. I think VVD has a better strike rate than Long this season. As for Rodriguez, he was only brought on for the last 20 minutes, despite it being his first trip back to Burnley with us. He would have been well up for it, and would certainly have been our best bet to score. But no, keep him sitting on his arse for most of the game. Makes no sense at all, and is tactically inept.
Austin, when he is occasionally fit, is a proper striker, a great finisher, sniffs out opportunities that Long especially, and Rodriguez wouldn’t get a whiff of. But we bought him knowing that the odds on him spending more time on the treatment table than on the pitch were very short indeed. That’s why we got him so cheap. I understand his wages are very high though, by Saints standards. I have read that his personal deal is way above any other player at the club. That was a gamble the board took when they signed him, and it would appear a poor bet. Rodriguez suffered a horrific one off injury which led him being out for a year, Austin’s whole career has been one of occasional goalscoring heroics, followed by long periods out injured. Unlucky for him personally of course, but it doesn’t alter the fact that we bought him and gave him a large personal package, in the knowledge that it would be very unlikely that we would be anywhere close to getting our money’s worth. Seems a bit naive to me.
Originally posted by @Goatboy
Originally posted by @Barry-Sanchez
There seems to be a slow but moving progress towards Puel is out of his depth, I’m glad people are finally seeing this.
Not sure abut that but then we’re hardly going to be super cheery having lost 4 league games in a row.
The next thing is the boards intention as all it seems at the moment is a managed decline and try to sell the club as high as possible.
Source? Wouldn’t they be likely to get more money for the club if we are flying high?
Why are we weaker than last season?
We have sold Mane and Pelle. 25-30 goals. we need JRod and Austin to get these between them and Long to chip in with 10. This isn’t happening.
The injury comofrt blanket doesn’t affect style of play.
What the fuck are you on about?
If continued selling has mades us weaker ie this season maybe we need to look at the system we employ.
How would you propose to keep players who, for example, are being offered £300K per week?
You don’t need a source to know the lack of buying is for a reason, other clubs are buying, they’re obviously worng if they think they good enough as our League position says otherwise.
So we knowingly sold for profit which in turn makes us weaker.
Don’t sell, its as simple as that, pay enough they stay, don’t pay enough they go. We’re not paying enough so what is the thoughts behind, continued selling and reliance of the academy? The black box?
I don’t accept the elastic term of continued improvement as thats plainly not working for many reasons, just lets be honest.
