Mid Term Report Please/Player Progress

[TijuanaTim]

From those of you that watch Saints pretty well weekly, individually how are the youngsters doing? I would appreciate your opinions.

 

The half dozen or so games I've seen I have been impressed with Morgan (where is he right now, nothing on Saints 'injury' page), Adam, Drew, Jack, Lee and KD. Are there any others improving learning their trade or that could be very good prospects?

 

Thanks and have a Cool Yule

[Glasgow_Saint]

The league table and the results achieved provide the only tangible 'report'

 

In summary - we are sh1t and somehow getting worse week by week!

[70's Mike]

From those of you that watch Saints pretty well weekly, individually how are the youngsters doing? I would appreciate your opinions.

 

The half dozen or so games I've seen I have been impressed with Morgan (where is he right now, nothing on Saints 'injury' page), Adam, Drew, Jack, Lee and KD. Are there any others improving learning their trade or that could be very good prospects?

 

Thanks and have a Cool Yule

 

Blimey Tim , i hope your not putting the boot in.

Problem is to learn their trade they need someone to teach them and as, like yesterday, other than KD . they are all kids they are learning nothing.

JP is , imo, completely out of his depth in a standard of football where everyone does not play the beautiful game , in holland all teams play the same way.

To be honest if Jack Cork goes back to Chelsea we will be f**ked

[TijuanaTim]

Blimey Tim , i hope your not putting the boot in.

Problem is to learn their trade they need someone to teach them and as, like yesterday, other than KD . they are all kids they are learning nothing.

JP is , imo, completely out of his depth in a standard of football where everyone does not play the beautiful game , in holland all teams play the same way.

To be honest if Jack Cork goes back to Chelsea we will be f**ked

 

 

Merry Xmas Mike...nah more what I was looking for is e.g. 'Lloyd James started the season allowing his winger to get inside him and frequently pinging the ball up too early, but now he's settled into his role and is better both defending and using the ball' or 'Simon started the season full of confidence covering every blade of grass and has now lost his way slightly'...or stuff like that.

 

This is more about the pieces rather than the whole??

[Andy_Porter]

I started but it was too depressing, can't be arsed to right a load of negative stuff about the lads.

 

Davis, Cork, Perry, Holmes and Skacel are the only ones who would avoid any criticism from me.

[Benj540]

Kelvin Davis - He is much improved, started coming for ball in the air which will help no end. However I do not agree with a Goalkeeper as a captain.

 

Lloyd James - Not a right back, however been playing very well there. Often, carrying the right side of the team alone.

 

Oliver Lancashire - Needs more experience, for a big lad he's still looking very weak. Has real potential.

 

Jack Cork - Outstanding, first name on the team sheet as far as I am concerned, will be a shame if we cannot extend his loan.

 

Skacel - Not a left back makes good runs going forward, but not all there defensively.

 

Chris Perry - Lacks pace but is still a good player and worth having in the side for his experience.

 

Alex Pearce - Another very good loan player, still a bit raw at times.

 

Joseph Mills - Had a few good games at left back, very quick, just doesn't get forward enough.

 

Jake Thomson - Fast, gets to the line before swinging in crosses. I think Jake could offer us the balance, someone who will hug the touchline and not wander inside. Next Walcott maybe?

 

Jason Euell - His feet are 10 steps behind his brain. To clumsy, not a striker, not really a winger and we have better players in the centre of midfield, I cannot justify his wage.

 

Lee Holmes - Good crosser, works hard. Fairly quick but doesn't seem fit enough.

 

Andrew Surman - Doesn't look up for it, shies away from headers. He is a good player but I don't think he fits out formation.

 

Simon Gillett - Good passer, good crosser. Just too small, he tries hard but gets too easily bullied off the ball.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin - Quality player, enough said. If he doesn't more on I will be surprised.

 

Oscar Gobern - A few good games, a few poor games. I think there is something there but have not seen enough of him.

 

Romain Gasmi - Have not seen enough of him, but doesn't look any better than what we have already.

 

Adam Lallana - Quick feet, tries hard. But no end product yet. Cannot play wide, he drifts inside too much and leave Lloyd James exposed too often.

 

Bradley Wright-Phillips - Good shot, quick and agile. Would like to him upfront in a 4-4-2 formation along side a big player to hold up the ball.

 

David McGoldrick - Just not up to the job. Doesn't seem interested unless he is upfront, but is not going to get you 20+ goals a season.

 

Jordan Robertson - Bullied off the ball to easily, not strong enough to be a loan striker. Does not seem to be fit enough.

 

Matthew Paterson - Have not seen enough of him but could be someone to watch in future years.

 

Tomas Pekhart - Spurs were just having a laugh with us, weren't they?

 

Just my opinion ofcourse.

[TijuanaTim]

Kelvin Davis - He is much improved, started coming for ball in the air which will help no end. However I do not agree with a Goalkeeper as a captain.

 

Lloyd James - Not a right back, however been playing very well there. Often, carrying the right side of the team alone.

 

Oliver Lancashire - Needs more experience, for a big lad he's still looking very weak. Has real potential.

 

Jack Cork - Outstanding, first name on the team sheet as far as I am concerned, will be a shame if we cannot extend his loan.

 

Skacel - Not a left back makes good runs going forward, but not all there defensively.

 

Chris Perry - Lacks pace but is still a good player and worth having in the side for his experience.

 

Alex Pearce - Another very good loan player, still a bit raw at times.

 

Joseph Mills - Had a few good games at left back, very quick, just doesn't get forward enough.

 

Jake Thomson - Fast, gets to the line before swinging in crosses. I think Jake could offer us the balance, someone who will hug the touchline and not wander inside. Next Walcott maybe?

 

Jason Euell - His feet are 10 steps behind his brain. To clumsy, not a striker, not really a winger and we have better players in the centre of midfield, I cannot justify his wage.

 

Lee Holmes - Good crosser, works hard. Fairly quick but doesn't seem fit enough.

 

Andrew Surman - Doesn't look up for it, shies away from headers. He is a good player but I don't think he fits out formation.

 

Simon Gillett - Good passer, good crosser. Just too small, he tries hard but gets too easily bullied off the ball.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin - Quality player, enough said. If he doesn't more on I will be surprised.

 

Oscar Gobern - A few good games, a few poor games. I think there is something there but have not seen enough of him.

 

Romain Gasmi - Have not seen enough of him, but doesn't look any better than what we have already.

 

Adam Lallana - Quick feet, tries hard. But no end product yet. Cannot play wide, he drifts inside too much and leave Lloyd James exposed too often.

 

Bradley Wright-Phillips - Good shot, quick and agile. Would like to him upfront in a 4-4-2 formation along side a big player to hold up the ball.

 

David McGoldrick - Just not up to the job. Doesn't seem interested unless he is upfront, but is not going to get you 20+ goals a season.

 

Jordan Robertson - Bullied off the ball to easily, not strong enough to be a loan striker. Does not seem to be fit enough.

 

Matthew Paterson - Have not seen enough of him but could be someone to watch in future years.

 

Tomas Pekhart - Spurs were just having a laugh with us, weren't they?

 

Just my opinion ofcourse.

 

Benj, Merry Chrimble and genuine thanks...exactly what I was looking for - terrific reply and well thought out!!

[sidthesquid]

Kelvin Davis - Reminds me of Paul Jones - fabulous shotstopper, but I still think he is part of the defensive problem. It is not a coincidence that we concede far too often from set-pieces & high balls into the box. Anything inside the penalty spot should be his and most often it isn't.

 

Lloyd James - Not the greatest defensively, but improving all the time, he has neat feet and an eye to getting forward. Would I swap him for Jermaine Wright at full-back - no bl**dy way! He will surprise people over the next 18 months and just as the crowd grow to love him he'll be off.

 

Oliver Lancashire - I liked the look of him when he first appeared, but like so many of them looks a bit lightweight at times. Still think he has the potential, though, to make it.

 

Jack Cork - Quality player, but needs to impose himself a bit more to move up to the next level. Way to good for this league, he will be a Prem regular in the next couple of years, but not quite top-four.

 

Skacel - I still think he is the most overrated player ever to pull on the shirt. Everyone waits for him to do something great and it never happens. I would be happy to see him go.

 

Chris Perry - Good old pro, but his lack of pace and presence make him borderline adequate in this league.

 

Alex Pearce - I hope he stays for the rest of the season, but his performances have been erratic to say the least.

 

Joseph Mills - Time for him to have another go. I thought he did well when he had a run & I'm not convinced that Skacel is any better.

 

Jake Thomson - Another incredily erratic performer - could be the next Walcott, just as easily the next Dyer, I really don't know.

 

Jason Euell - I tried to defend him last season, but I give up. Possibly the biggest waste of £12000/week ever.

 

Lee Holmes - Looked good early on, I suspect he's not yet fully fit again after his injury.

 

Andrew Surman - Still the smartest, hardest working player we have. When he functions the whole team does. Looks a bit like he did at times last year at the moment, ground down by the weight of all those around him that he carries.

 

Simon Gillett - Liked the look of him early on, but he seems less busy, less combative, less everything since he was injured. I am beginning to seriously doubt he will make the grade.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin - Looks good at times, but doesn't always work hard enough or his dodgy hamstring goes again.

 

Oscar Gobern - Certainly has something about him, but should not be a first-teamer at present.

 

Romain Gasmi - Looks shell-shocked by the whole Championship experience.

 

Adam Lallana - Has the talent to be one of the greats, but has to learn to make it count. I hope he can.

 

Bradley Wright-Phillips - Same old, same old. Flashes of brilliance, but generally clueless, particularly about the offside rule, and looking less and less likely that he will ever make it. Macclesfield or Rochdale within 3 years.

 

David McGoldrick - One day it will all come together but he cannot lead the line and never will. I still think right-wing or inside forward is his best role.

 

Jordan Robertson - A poor man's James Beattie, he has failed to live up to his stunning start.

 

Matthew Paterson - He definitely has something about him, but he is in the team a year too early and it is wrong to expect too much of him. Next year he will be leading the line.

 

Tomas Pekhart - A (very) poor man's Peter Crouch.

 

Ryan Smith - looks like a Millwall reserve and far too lightweight, too.

 

Nathan Dyer - will be turning out for Rochdale with BWP in 3 seasons time.

[kelkel31]

Kelvin Davis - possibly one of the best 1on1 stoppers around, big improvement with high balls, still lacks the ability to command both his area or defense

 

Lloyd James - good prospect, very good going forward able to produce good crosses from any part of the final third. Tackling often hit and miss, not scared to make the hard challenge but often late, positioning can also be poor but is the result of tactics and training!

 

Oliver Lancashire - possibly the unluckiest defender around, very lightweigh and is a long way off being a championship first teamer

 

Jack Cork - superb tackler, great engine, good dribbler and solid passer, lets himself down with his headers and as such is not a center back, holding midfielder for the future

 

Skacel - we all know he has the quality, and shows it in patches, has been solid enough at lb but is the only player in the squad to have the guile to trick opponents or the ref, needs to be played in a more prominent position, but is he reliable enough?

 

Chris Perry - age is against him, and would be the perfect foil for a young good defender like andrew davies, oh sorry we got rid of him!

 

Alex Pearce - when hes good hes very good, and when hes bad hes a liability, got everything he needs in him, and thats why hes with us and not with reading

 

Joseph Mills - very much like james has been let down by tactical training, got good potential but is very much like a headless chicken with his enthusiasm, could be a full back for the future

 

Jake Thomson - much like dyer, very fast, can dribble and crosses but lacks the balls to go past a player, often seen looking to the sideline for guidance, of which none has come!

 

Jason Euell - has improved so much since his first 10 games but age and doesnt help him. one of the most motivated players in the team but has always had a poor touch, in the current set up best to be played as target man on the front line

 

Lee Holmes - biggest plus from the season, and has been sorely missed, speed,dribbles,crosses,shoots and energy, gives the team the balance it needs in the left side of the attacking play, just need someone in the center and the right!

 

Andrew Surman - can take the game by the scruff of the neck if given the chance, put him in a good team in this division and could be the player of the season, but is his head with us?

 

Simon Gillett - his combination in the first months of the season with morgan was superb, but injury's between the has spoiled this, tenacious in the tackle, great link play with the ball, never a star but could be important in the right set up.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin - this kid IS the real deal, one of the best long range passers ive every seen at the club, passes the ball accurately over 5 or 60 yrds, and hes got the football brain to go with it, 18yrs old and he wants to control the pace of any game.

 

Oscar Gobern - changed one game, away from home which few people saw, and has failed to show us why he did it, judgment has to be out on this one.

 

Adam Lallana - amazing with the ball at his feet, ball retention is first class, but often holds onto the ball too long, really cant shoot and all too often has no end product. not his fault really, we dont have a team to accommodate him or use his ability's well, needs o free role and players to work off him

 

Bradley Wright-Phillips - he plays like he plays in the shadow of both his dad and his brother. got the skills but all too often panics and makes the wrong decision, confidence player the all too often lacks confidence.

 

David McGoldrick - i feel really sorry for this guy, he has the weight of the whole clubs expectations on his shoulders, and struggles with it, he can shoot, run with the ball go past players, he has the ability to change a game in an instant, but he is not a lone striker, he gets lost and the season so far is taking its toll on his mental strength.he needs to be dropped at the moment, then given a big partner, the service they need and this guy WILL score a lot of goals!

 

Jordan Robertson - wants to be a target man, but isnt tall enough, can hold up the ball but is often issolated and therefore in effective. given the right team and style of play he could be successful, this is not the right team!

 

Matthew Paterson - all too much like bret olmerod, he hustles the ball well and given the right service in behind the defense will probably score a few goals, but we dont get the ball in behind the defense either from wide areas or through the middle so has been very ineffective.

 

Tomas Pekhart - another player i feel sorry for, i get the impression he is a goal poacher, but lack of opportunities and over enthusiastic desire to do well just gets lost in the game. a bit more strength training could be a good target man as well,. but needs support both with players and coaching.

[TijuanaTim]

Thanks, Benj - Sid - KelKel, quality....consistent themes running through your expert opinions so....

 

I really think that someone (hopefully Southampton Football Club's supporters) are going to benefit from this abundance of...well...potential.

 

I could not help but notice how little actually negative was talked about these kids, for example - I watched pompo on US tv yesterday, for the second time I saw their youngster Marc Wilson is it? Jeeezarse, what a piece of schit and I couldn't help but think he wouldn't play for Saints ressies and yet he is in the prem???

[Doctoroncall]

Only seen a few games this season (more away thank God!) and what's been on Saints TV but:

 

Kelvin Davis - improved immensely from last season. a good shot stopper but still flaps a bit at crosses and needs to command the penalty area with his defenders more (he's captain for God's sake). Still a worthy CCC keeper.

 

Lloyd James - working hard at right back but is better suited to midfield when given the opportunity. Positional questionable although that maybe down to not having a consistent partnership either with the CBs or RM. Needs to stay on his feet when tackling.

 

Oliver Lancashire - clumsy, needs to stay on his feet when tackling. Again doesn't help when partner CBs are different. Hasn't shown hes ready for the CCC.

 

Jack Cork - top performer, shame he's not ours!

 

Skacel - Glad he's come round to knuckle down for the team and has shown glimpses of wht he can do. Wish it was more and in the midfield.

 

Chris Perry - OK player, relies on knowledge know his legs aren't as young!

 

Alex Pearce - Inconsistent, but if he improves would make a good partnership with Perry. good header of the ball and brave too.

 

Joseph Mills - useful prospect but can be naive and with such a young defensive line doesn't have the skill to recover.

 

Jake Thomson - too one dimensional, has pace but doesn't beat a player by skill. Again good prospect but is being asked to do too much.

 

Jason Euell - As the experienced outfield player for the team, he doesn't do enough. Rubbish first touch, all huff and puff and no quality.

 

Lee Holmes - Has been a big miss and he was showing good form, confidence and skill in the early games. I don't think he alone can stop this slump though. I hope he comes back as the same player after this injury though players never seem to!

 

Andrew Surman - Has shown glimpses of why other teams want to buy him although needs to work at his tackling and defending.

 

Simon Gillett - has lost his early season promise. Could be a CCC player if he gets back to his is best. Good at breaking up the opposition play.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin - From the little I've seen he has shown some quality passing and technique. However too much reliance on him I'm sure hasn't helped. Intelligent player.

 

Oscar Gobern - haven't seen much of him.

 

Adam Lallana - Will be a big talent as he has the know how and would excel in a better team. Good passer but needs to work on his shooting which lets him down.

 

Bradley Wright-Phillips - flip a coin to see which BWP you will see. Time for him to get a grip - perhaps Fergy's hairdryer treatment for him to buck his ideas up? I remember the Soccer AM piece about shooting from the halfway line and he was the worst and his body language was negative. He just hasn't improved.

 

 

David McGoldrick - Oh dear! Being asked to do a difficult job but rather than try to make the most out of the situation shrinks away. Undecided on him but would prefer Blackstock back!

 

Jordan Robertson - Doesn't work with the team, sent back, dyer is better.

 

Matthew Paterson - Not seen much but over the few years has shown promise.

 

Tomas Pekhart - Either a waste of space or talent in our system.

 

Gasmi - hahaha!

[lordswoodsaints]

cork has been my player of the season so far,pure class.closely followed by KD he has a great season but on a few occasions he has slipped back into his old ways,not many times mind but i just think cork has given sweat and blood for a team that he doesnt even belong to.

surman and perry have been on top of their game for a good part of the season,so has pearce.lallana although naturally gifted seems a bit lightweight and is not yet the finished product,but his potential is their for al to see.BWP has done better although he tends to fall away sharply in the second half.the rest are much the same imo.

mcgoldrick deserves a special mention.............sh1te.