Minty

I'm with Turks. Another way to look at it would be to ask what skills a player still has if you made them all the same pace? Could Theo have scored the goal Lallana scored last week for example? Equalise their pace and see what you're left with.

Well judging by those highlights, if he's not taking the corners, he should be on the near post for flick-ons...

I particularly like this one for highlighting the 'role roversal' - with foreign players in those areas that are typically strong 'English' positions, whilst English players comprise pretty much all of the primary attacking positions...

Absolutely yes, but prefer some flavours to others. Caramelised Onion, Roasted Red Pepper, Morrocan are all lovely, not such a fan of it plain or with just lemon/garlic... we also make a few other variations, e.g. we make a lovely quinoa salad dressing with peanut butter, honey, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame and olive oil, which we tried as a houmous flavour and it worked beautifully. That's the great thing with houmous, you can adapt it almost any way you fancy.

Well he's certainly not an unmitigated disaster. He *could* theoretically fail from now on, but that would seem unlikely, and arguably we already ARE at the next stage, it's just a question of keeping us there. Or is GM just going fishing for a bite?

Indeed. I bumped another thread back up about him after the Hull game with these comments: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?47074-James-Ward-Prowse&p=1813297#post1813297

Re-read what Gemmel originally wrote... he is referring to a friend of his, who met MP and his son. Nothing to do with the interpreter.

I didn't mean anything significant - just understanding a little more of his sense of humour, or the emphasis he might put on certain words - it can make a difference sometimes and all helps us understand a little more about the man and how he does things.

It's not a big deal... it would be *nice* if only for the fans, to hear things directly from him because something is always lost in translation, but I don't think many (if any) fans really care that much.

No fear from me either... and I actually feel that the way we've developed and moved on even since last years wins over Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, means we are even more likely to get something. MoPo admits himself, our high line and high press DOES carry risks... so we will lose again at some point soon, probably to a team who have the ability to move the ball quickly to cope with our high press, and expose us before we can get numbers back behind the ball. Chances are that will be a team like Arsenal or Chelsea, with sharp players with a good touch. Either that, or we will have games where we're not up to our usual standard, or a bit of luck goes against us. But we have performed pretty consistently in recent games, which gives me confidence that the players know what is required and are more able to deliver it nowadays. The key then is whether we can score at the other end. That's the area I think we can still improve more, our movement and interplay, and the creation of chances. If we're on top of our pressing game, then I can see it being a tight game, which either side could win by a single goal, depending on who is able to get the better of the opposition defence and take their chance. So, after all that, my prediction...? 1-1.

Some of you can debate this for 10 pages and you won't get anywhere... might be better for your own sanity to agree to disagree. The way I currently see it is as follows: - The past is the past, we are where we are, and that has little or nothing to do with the players or the teams future. - Currently, he is not performing to the standard required to break into the team. There are others who deserve to be ahead of him both in the starting XI and on the bench. - Whether he has the potential to do so in the future depends on him and MoPo. For all the predictions and judgements passed on here, we all WANT him to do well, none of us truly know the situation with his fitness, with his mental preparation and with the managers current opinion, and so, to a certain extent, we just need to trust the clubs judgement whatever they choose to do. While he is our player and when he gets on to the pitch, it is in our interests to support him to get the best out of him.

That's your perception, and is arguably contradictory, not sure that is our 'tradition'... I would say that, in the past, we were OVERachievers, given the size of our ground and budget... yes, we hung on by our nails on occasions, partly because we had little or no money for players, but we actually haven't been relegated all that much throughout our history if you look at it either. But I take your overriding point, that the club that is now being built is fantastic. I would rather he didn't call us what he wants, but I do accept that to a certain extent, such might be the price of our place in modern football. It's not just us, it's football as a whole.

Similar to with the kit and many others things... it goes against the traditional view of how it should be so most fans will probably not like it, me included. But of those fans you'll have the usual split: 1 - some who will not shut up about it, might start a campaign to change back, and will use it as a stick to beat the powers that be with forever more 2 - those who will not be happy about it for some time, but will gradually just accept it and won't be fussed about it after awhile 3 - the ones who accept it from day one as 'part of modern football' and get over it quickly. Lets be honest, most people will probably be in number 2.

Fair enough, could be an interesting one to follow in that case...

Perhaps, just as a VERY rough guide, we could add a poll to the thread just to gauge current opinion about where we'll finish the season?

Perhaps Suarez doesn't like him either...?

It's not just about the amount IMO, it's about getting the right player to fit the team, and making that team far greater than the sum of it's parts.

If you don't know who is behind you, the last thing you do is turn blindly and let the ball run into that area. At the very least you stop the ball, protect it with your body, and move it quickly, even if it went back to Boruc. I agree that Wanyama wasn't awful during the whole game, but that specific moment was pretty awful IMO.

Aside from the above reasons, I would state again that, IMO: a) I'm pretty sure MP was joking about it... b) Morgan wouldn't be interested anyway.

I think, although can't be sure, that MP was probably having a little joke about it. I'm pretty certain Morgan wouldn't contemplate it, even if it would be flattering to have the opportunity. France cannot continue to ignore him.

Well, lets add in the thoughts of Martin Keown and Alan Shearer on this subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24893777

Another thought - by having such a good training and development set-up, we also put ourselves in a strong position when it comes to recruiting coaching staff, or even retaining retiring players who want to go on to coach. Young players want to be part of the Academy, but potentially so will coaches, new and experienced, who want to work at the best places.

Arguably one of the best in a LONG time (Cup win and promotions aside).

Sorry, can't agree. We've done it in game after game, it's a clear part of our game where possible, to pass short to Morgan or Vic, to start play from there, and it's never been a problem before. Wanyama wanted the ball, and even just by taking a first touch, he would've at least had his body between the man and the ball, but he made the worst possible decision, to allow it to run across him, to try and move forward with it. It was a misjudgement on Wanyama's part and, to be fair, a great finish. He's had a couple of similar close shaves and he will learn from it. The sentiment on the thread is right, he doesn't deserve a mauling and should be proud of what he has achieved so far, but such mistakes can make a big difference, especially in games against fellow top sides.

Thought I'd bring this thread back to the top (the one about his set-pieces wasn't quite appropriate), because yesterday demonstrated JWP's versatility IMO. Whilst his primary starting role was on the right of the supporting 3, and he often allowed Clyne to overlap and tucked in behind, when Wanyama went off, it was JWP who actually moved back into the holding role alongside Morgan, with Davis further forward. It showed to me another reason why JWP is so in favour at present (aside from being a technically excellent footballer and in great form)... he can actually play in any of the 5 'midfield' positions... either the holding role, or one of the supporting 3. And he is equally adept in ANY of those positions. Add in his set-piece delivery and I would actually suggest that his contribution to the team is more significant that he is perhaps given credit for. He cannot be dropped at present. Naturally, he won't win as much in the air as Wanyama, or be quite as strong in the tackle, BUT his mobility and unending running mean he often nicks the ball away from the opposition without needing a solid tackle or header... he is just quicker and sharper than most and is rarely shaken off by any player who is marking/shadowing. He is a truly great player in the making, IMO.