Lallana

[simo]

Is he still injured as he has been poor by his standards for a while now or is it as my mate says he just doesn't link up with Fox as well as he does Harding?

[Liquidshokk]

Can't help but think he's not fully committing himself for fear or getting injured.

 

That said, thought he was awesome against the skates..

[Verbal Kint]

Is he still injured as he has been poor by his standards for a while now or is it as my mate says he just doesn't link up with Fox as well as he does Harding?

 

Combination of both, but mainly the latter. He looked back to his old self in the first half at Brighton playing with Harding behind him

[Saint Garrett]

Certainly doesnt look as sharp as he has done this season...I'm sure he'll come good again though. Don't think he is fully fit, but needs some competition IMO to give him a kick up the backside.

[sammysaint]

Played well vs the skates as mentioned, but i think hes playing with injections to keep the pain away, he will be rested now for a week or 2.

[shurlock]

Noticed at Brighton that he needs to collect the ball while he's running at pace. Maybe its because he doesn't have the greatest acceleration from a standing start; but he looked better in the 1st half on Monday precisely because others were involving him in give and gos -and giving him the opportunity to pick up the ball in mid-flight.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I have myself never seen Adam Lallana deliver a performance that could fairly be described as 'poor' - he has his ups and downs like any player but poor he most certainly ain't. Someone told me the other day that we get more from him when he plays alongside Harding rather than Fox - I think there may well be some truth in that.

[Redondo Saint]

Certainly doesnt look as sharp as he has done this season...I'm sure he'll come good again though. Don't think he is fully fit, but needs some competition IMO to give him a kick up the backside.

 

Surely when you are top of the league and on track to play in the premiership you don't need a kick up the backside?

[Saint Charlie]

He was causing Brighton lots of problems until the ref got involved.

[S-Clarke]

He's getting there, but I think his injury totally knocked him out of his grove. That combined with teams learning how to contain him.

 

Once he gets his confidence back, which you can't imagine isn't sky high at the mo, he'll start taking one touch again...rather than trying to over complicate things in dangerous positions.

 

He does seem to play much better with Harding in the team though, even against Brighton, for the time Harding was on the pitch, Lallana probably had his best 30 odd mins for a while.

[Channon's Sideburns]

Have to say I rate Harding over Fox to be honest.

 

You know when based on what you see....that a player doesn't 'fit' with a club? I get that with Fox. Had it with Neil McCann and Phillips as well.

[simo]

I find Fox wacking to many 40 yard cross field passes rather playing Adam down the wing

[shurlock]

Have to say I rate Harding over Fox to be honest.

 

You know when based on what you see....that a player doesn't 'fit' with a club? I get that with Fox. Had it with Neil McCann and Phillips as well.

 

Don't know. Can't fault Fox's attitude - is always well up for games (think the skates amongst others). Not aloof like Phillips. Think its his play rather than personality that's the issue. Fact is if Lallana is as good as people suggest, he should be able to adapt to and play with any kind of full back.

[CanadaSaint]

From what I've seen he needs to get back to shooting because he can be - and IMO needs to be - a clinical finisher.

 

He - infuriatingly - turned away from goal when in a great shooting position at FP, after we'd opened them up like a can of sardines. A second goal then would have killed P*mpey off.

 

And he's caught the over-elaboration sickness that I think has hurt our game recently.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I find Fox wacking to many 40 yard cross field passes rather playing Adam down the wing

 

I can only agree.

 

Fox is top class when it comes to delivering dead balls and the very impressive '40 yard' passes you mention, he's seldom seen anywhere near the oppositions corner flag however. Harding on the other hand is a rather more 'old fashioned' type of fullback, he can beat his man, take the ball to the goal line and cross it rather than cutting inside constantly. I myself can't see very much to choose between them when it comes to defending. Given the number of appearances each has amassed this season, I can only conclude that Nigel Adkins prefers Fox's style of play to Dan Harding's.

 

Now whether that preference is advisable if getting the best out of Lallana is your top priority is debatable. Not that I would commit the unforgivable heresy of questioning the managers judgment you understand ......

[thefuriousb]

From what I've seen he needs to get back to shooting because he can be - and IMO needs to be - a clinical finisher.

 

He - infuriatingly - turned away from goal when in a great shooting position at FP, after we'd opened them up like a can of sardines. A second goal then would have killed P*mpey off.

 

And he's caught the over-elaboration sickness that I think has hurt our game recently.

 

This

[Chez]

Fox hardly ever passes to Lallana. He did it more times in the Bristol City game than perhaps all the other games combined, but on the whole he just doesn't seemed inclined to pass 10 yards to Adam, which is exactly what he should be doing. Fox also doesn't overlap. Both these things don't help Lallana. These factors haven't helped, but the injury is the real problem.

 

Lallana quite clearly has not got back to full fitness and the lack of sharpness kills him as he is not quick so he has got caught in possession far too often. He did well against Pompey, but in the games before and after he has been poor. He looked much better in the Brighton game, so hopefully he us getting there, but his fitness needs to be carefully managed otherwise we have no chance of promotion.

[beatlesaint]

Fox hardly ever passes to Lallana. He did it more times in the Bristol City game than perhaps all the other games combined, but on the whole he just doesn't seemed inclined to pass 10 yards to Adam, which is exactly what he should be doing. Fox also doesn't overlap. Both these things don't help Lallana. These factors haven't helped, but the injury is the real problem.

 

Lallana quite clearly has not got back to full fitness and the lack of sharpness kills him as he is not quick so he has got caught in possession far too often. He did well against Pompey, but in the games before and after he has been poor. He looked much better in the Brighton game, so hopefully he us getting there, but his fitness needs to be carefully managed otherwise we have no chance of promotion.

 

But those on here that know him or his family (VMAN, Weston) say that he is fully over the injury and has been for some while.

Personally I think its more to do with the Harding not playing behind him situation and the fact all the give and goes he gets from Harding and Connolly have been missing.

Its a hell of a coincidence that he looked much better first half against Brighton when Harding was playing, IMHO of course.

[Chez]

But those on here that know him or his family (VMAN, Weston) say that he is fully over the injury and has been for some while.

really, I thought Weston had said his injury was being managed. If he really has been free from injury for a while I have to question why he looks so unfit. He doesn't look sharp, is struggling to get up and down and his work rate is low - especially closing down and tracking back. None of those things have anything to do with Fox.

[beatlesaint]

really, I thought Weston had said his injury was being managed. If he really has been free from injury for a while I have to question why he looks so unfit. He doesn't look sharp, is struggling to get up and down and his work rate is low - especially closing down and tracking back. None of those things have anything to do with Fox.

 

Weston said on 10 December - "As far as I am aware, Lallana was fully over his injury today"

I'm pretty sure VMAN has confirmed the same thing.

 

So, if true, it must be down to confidence and getting the right sort of service into him regularly.

Whatever it is I hope he finds top form again soon cos we are going to need him big time esp without Rickie.

[Saint Garrett]

Surely when you are top of the league and on track to play in the premiership you don't need a kick up the backside?

 

I think he does though. He hasn't played particularly well since he got injured. Chaplow came in while he was injured and was absolutely fantastic. Chaplow got injured and Lallana is misfiring and now we have a problem. 8 points in 8 games proves that.

[John Boy Saint]

From what I've seen he needs to get back to shooting because he can be - and IMO needs to be - a clinical finisher.

 

He - infuriatingly - turned away from goal when in a great shooting position at FP, after we'd opened them up like a can of sardines. A second goal then would have killed P*mpey off.

 

And he's caught the over-elaboration sickness that I think has hurt our game recently.

 

Seconded!

 

Caught a bit of the Fabrice Fernandes's of late, showed on Monday that if he lights one from outside the box it gives the goalie a problem.

[Chez]

Weston said on 10 December - "As far as I am aware, Lallana was fully over his injury today"

I'm pretty sure VMAN has confirmed the same thing.

 

that's not all that long ago I suppose. He may have not been training and subsequently totally lost his match fitness. As you say he needs to get back to his best quick because we are a shadow of ourselves without him taking players on and creating chances.

[Window Cleaner]

that's not all that long ago I suppose. He may have not been training and subsequently totally lost his match fitness. As you say he needs to get back to his best quick because we are a shadow of ourselves without him taking players on and creating chances.

 

the relative downturn in form of many of our players is probably due to too many high intensity games too often. We've been top for over 3 months now,we've had injuries so the group rotation hasn't worked as well as it was.I don't imagine it's easy to

beat West Ham on a Tuesday evening and then go to Reading and get a draw on the following Saturday afternoon. There are some bloody good teams in our league and the mental and physical efforts involved in overcoming them must be staggering,especially when we've been making do with a group of 12 or 13 players most of the time.

[Supersubpuckett]

I think he's also being targeted by the opposition which will stifle his performances - Nige needs to find a way of getting him his freedom back which could mean a big lunk to marshall the midfield - don't think we have one of them.

[Andyb1]

I have myself never seen Adam Lallana deliver a performance that could fairly be described as 'poor' - he has his ups and downs like any player but poor he most certainly ain't. Someone told me the other day that we get more from him when he plays alongside Harding rather than Fox - I think there may well be some truth in that.

 

I have, against Bristol City last week..

 

 

That said he's my favourite player...

[derry]

I thought he was still managing the injury. The last time Weston and I talked about it he wasn't even training properly just playing. It's not Fox but as Canada Saint says and it's not just Lallana the whole team is trying to pass rather than penetrate.

[BJBSAINTS]

I just think he plays alot better with Harding in the team, they seem to be on the same wave length. If you think back to last year a hell of alot of our good play and goals were created and scored by Harding overlapping down the left and either been put in by Lallana to cross or allowing Lallana to cut inside and get shots away. Fox imo has no desire to get past the half way line and is content in hitting diagonal balls up field.

Not having a pop at Fox because he is a decent player and probably a better defender but he doesn't get the best out of Adam for sure.

[Thedelldays]

I just think he plays alot better with Harding in the team, they seem to be on the same wave length. If you think back to last year a hell of alot of our good play and goals were created and scored by Harding overlapping down the left and either been put in by Lallana to cross or allowing Lallana to cut inside and get shots away. Fox imo has no desire to get past the half way line and is content in hitting diagonal balls up field.

Not having a pop at Fox because he is a decent player and probably a better defender but he doesn't get the best out of Adam for sure.

when we were plating carlise, dagenham, yeovil etc etc

[Weston Saint]

I do not know if Lallana is still carrying an injury or not. Lke many in the team he seems to have suffered a drop in form.

 

BJBSAINTS - Harding only had 2 assists last season as a regular and only 1 the previous season! Fox has already got 5 in half a season.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I have, against Bristol City last week..

 

 

That said he's my favourite player...

 

I was there and if I'd marked him for that game it would have been a 5.5 or 6 - ie average or a little above. If you reckon that was a poor 3 or 4 out of 10 performance then I can only say that I disagree.

[Lets B Avenue]

I was there and if I'd marked him for that game it would have been a 5.5 or 6 - ie average or a little above. If you reckon that was a poor 3 or 4 out of 10 performance then I can only say that I disagree.

 

So you give a "little above average" mark for a performance that involved barely any offensive passing, the refusal to shoot when presented with a goal-scoring chance and being regularly caught in possession or too easily shrugged off the ball. On that basis, did you give Guly a 10 against The Skates?

 

Adam was better at Brighton, but then he had plenty of time on the ball. But against Brizzle he had IMO his worst game, by far, this season.

[derry]

He knows he's not playing well, THEVMAN confirmed that last week.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

So you give a "little above average" mark for a performance that involved barely any offensive passing, the refusal to shoot when presented with a goal-scoring chance and being regularly caught in possession or too easily shrugged off the ball. On that basis, did you give Guly a 10 against The Skates?

 

Adam was better at Brighton, but then he had plenty of time on the ball. But against Brizzle he had IMO his worst game, by far, this season.

 

Needless to say I don't accept your depiction of Adam's performance in that game - were you even there ? It remains my view that placing the blame for another a well below average team performance on the shoulders of one player is probably not all that productive an excercise. As for my view of Guly do Prado's performance that day - well now that really was a 3 or 4 out of 10 - but there again he too was not solely responsible for that defeat.

 

Look closer .

[Window Cleaner]

 

Look closer .

 

I think it has become evident via many years of heated discussion on these forums that not all fans look for the same qualities in a player.Some like a bit of huff and puff with gung ho tackles agogo and some like a bit of refined football where keeping the ball is paramount and it doesn't matter how long it takes to get goalside as long as you get there.So even if LBA looked for a month of Sundays he might not see what you see.

[Lets B Avenue]

Needless to say I don't accept your depiction of Adam's performance in that game - were you even there ? It remains my view that placing the blame for another a well below average team performance on the shoulders of one player is probably not all that productive an excercise. As for my view of Guly do Prado's performance that day - well now that really was a 3 or 4 out of 10 - but there again he too was not solely responsible for that defeat.

 

Look closer .

 

Look closer yourself. I asked what mark you gave Guly against the Skates, not Bristol City. And for your information, yes I was at the game and every other this season, bar Leicester. Although I usually refrain from posting about individual performances on here, your obvious blindness to AL's form puts you on a par with those who are blaming Fox for his lack of form.

[Bartosz Bialkowski]

I do not know if Lallana is still carrying an injury or not. Lke many in the team he seems to have suffered a drop in form.

 

BJBSAINTS - Harding only had 2 assists last season as a regular and only 1 the previous season! Fox has already got 5 in half a season.

 

But the point is, how many assists or goals does Lallana average per game in front of Harding or Fox?

 

It certainly appears to me that Fox's repetitive (hit or miss) crossfield passes keep Lallana out of the game

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Look closer yourself. I asked what mark you gave Guly against the Skates, not Bristol City. And for your information, yes I was at the game and every other this season, bar Leicester. Although I usually refrain from posting about individual performances on here, your obvious blindness to AL's form puts you on a par with those who are blaming Fox for his lack of form.

 

Ah so you were there - beer googles then ?

[Lets B Avenue]

Ah so you were there - beer googles then ?

 

Try Realism specs. Beats blind devotion monocles every time.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Try Realism specs. Beats blind devotion monocles every time.

 

So we've established you don't much like my 5 or 6 out of 10 mark so I take it you rate AL's contribution as in the 1-to-4 range then. Go onto the post match threads in question and see how many others were marking Adam quite that low, and here's a clue for you - it's a low number.

 

But what the Hay, you're entitled to your view, however utterly wrong it is.

[Chez]

It certainly appears to me that Fox's repetitive (hit or miss) crossfield passes keep Lallana out of the game

in my eyes this is very true, however Lallana has still been way below par.

[Lets B Avenue]

Marks out of 10? I'll give you 11 for arrogance and a condescending approach to anyone questioning your superior view.

 

I dont bother with the post match thread as its usually about WUM's who wern't at the match and subjective markings are usually formed on peoples preferences, or irrational hatred.

 

However, I see Derry agreed with me.

 

Quote:

Bristol City played with very high tempo, they worked so hard that unless we matched that tempo we weren't going to break them down. Even when DeRidder got down the right we were light on numbers and late into the box. On numerous occasions the ball broke in the six yd box but nobody had made the effort and gambled to get in there.

 

For me apart from Lallana's infuriating self indulgent below par performance the problem was our slow pace of play up the whole spine. The three other flank players put in a good shift and competed.

[THEVMAN]

I must admit i do get baffled by peoples over analysis on this subject,im sure some have started watching AL's every move on the pitch which is making things look twice as bad as they really are.Form always comes and goes in a season with all players,but sometimes i think we can be over critical.

[hypochondriac]

I must admit i do get baffled by peoples over analysis on this subject,im sure some have started watching AL's every move on the pitch which is making things look twice as bad as they really are.Form always comes and goes in a season with all players,but sometimes i think we can be over critical.

 

Possibly, but I do think that on average there has been a marked and quite obvious decline in his performance since coming back from injury. He was unstoppable beforehand.

[Andyb1]

I was there and if I'd marked him for that game it would have been a 5.5 or 6 - ie average or a little above. If you reckon that was a poor 3 or 4 out of 10 performance then I can only say that I disagree.

 

We'll have to, I thought he was poor. But there you go...

[Window Cleaner]

I must admit i do get baffled by peoples over analysis on this subject,im sure some have started watching AL's every move on the pitch which is making things look twice as bad as they really are.Form always comes and goes in a season with all players,but sometimes i think we can be over critical.

 

Probably because Adam is like an important component of your car engine, when it's working perfectly you don't notice it or ask questions, when it's off sync and the car struggles to get up the least gradient you stick your head under the bonnet.

[sotonian]

Hate to state the obvious but Could it be we are a league higher than last year and AL has found his level and is not the wonder player we all thought he was

[hypochondriac]

Hate to state the obvious but Could it be we are a league higher than last year and AL has found his level and is not the wonder player we all thought he was

 

Wouldn't explain his performances for the first few months though.

[Saint Garrett]

Hate to state the obvious but Could it be we are a league higher than last year and AL has found his level and is not the wonder player we all thought he was

No because he was unplayable at the start of the season.

[James]

No because he was unplayable at the start of the season.

 

Could be that owing to his first few months of performance he is now a target for other teams and has been rendered less effective? Even if that were the case though - he is clearly off form at the moment. I can't help but wonder if he was rushed back from that injury and is now feeling the consequences.