Shane Long

[DannyInvincible]

I didn't see Southampton's game against Crystal Palace last night, nor any highlights, but Shane Long was reported to have missed a number of "gilt-edged"chances: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-35597860.html

Maya Yoshida and James Ward-Prowse spared Shane Long's blushes as Southampton hit two goals in as many minutes to sink Crystal Palace 3-1 at St Mary's.

Republic of Ireland striker Long spurned a trio of gilt-edged chances and Saints were almost made to pay for that wastefulness, until Yoshida came to the rescue.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Puel marked Long out for praise in his post-match judgement.

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/southam...e-2258693.html

[Closed Account]

Puel marked Long out for praise in his post-match judgement.

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/southam...e-2258693.html

One of his better albeit stereotypical games. He's due an outstanding brace.

[Stuttgart88]

I didn't see Southampton's game against Crystal Palace last night, nor any highlights, but Shane Long was reported to have missed a number of "gilt-edged"chances: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-35597860.html

I saw the game highlights on MOTD2. He missed a chance in the first minute, a good effort with his left foot that missed the far post by a couple of feet but given the angle the keeper would have been favourite to save anything that didn't go in off the far post. The highlights showed no other miss by Long so they can't have been that bad. They scored two lovely goals actually.

[Olé Olé]

Just watching Goals on Sunday. Long did extremely well for Clasie's goal yesterday. Long ball up from Forster and he controlled it well. Put it out to space on his first touch having eased I off the defender and came back in slightly with a great second touch with a few defenders surrounding him. Lovely pull back to Tadic for his third touch who laid it on for a great strike from Clasie.

Kamara did a nice bit of analysis on how there was havoc among the West Brom defence which was caused by Long's movement I think.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He's a more well-rounded player than Rodriguez. I can see why Puel prefers him.

[DannyInvincible]

Shane Long was taken off yesterday against Manchester City only 20 minutes after being subbed on. However, it appears this was all as a result of some confusion on the part of the Southampton bench: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sai..._substitution/

It was difficult. It seems that Shane felt a touch himself his hamstring and it seems a misunderstanding between him and the staff.

It was a precaution to take off Shane but I hope it’s nothing and it will be good for Shane tomorrow or the next day.

Long seemed to share some heated words with his manager and assistant manager as he passed them on his way down the tunnel after being taken off. Video of it here: https://twitter.com/Sean_McMahon89/s...46855266258952

[DannyInvincible]

'Southampton manager Claude Puel says Shane Long's future will be decided in the summer': http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/152...mains_unclear/

We will see all this [Long's future] at the end of the season. Of course, a striker, all the players, want to play, but it’s another profile like then Gabbiadini for example. [Long] has quickness and he can give other solutions. We will see if we have the opportunity to have a different profile striker and we will see until the end of the season and after another thing. We will see at the end of the season.

...

It’s not the moment to speak [about Long's future], to have conversations [with Long] about this. All the player stay with a good concentration, a good focus, about the last five games now and it’s important to speak in the good moment. This is not a good moment for me. It’s important to finish with five good and strong games.

[CraftyToePoke]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

[DannyInvincible]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

No, certainly not. Puel was quite evasive. Things are clearly a bit uncertain for Long in terms of his future at the club.

[CraftyToePoke]

Very much a 'if we can improve on him, and we'd like to, we'll move him on' kinda vibe.

[DeLorean]

Wouldn't mind seeing Long tear it up at some decent Championship club where he'd be the main man. He'll always be in and out of the side at PL level it seems.

[elroy]

If you were a Soton fan, I don't think you'd be keen to him to stay. Goal return this season been very poor

[paul_oshea]

Its a bit late in the day for him to start adding to his game but perhaps that's the only hope for him to sustain a premier league career.

[DannyInvincible]

Long is supposedly on West Ham's summer wish-list: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foot...-a3535106.html

Against Tottenham, Bilic’s team managed to get behind the visitors’ defence on occasions but, again, their lack of real pace let them down. So, quick offensive players are what are required by the Hammers — and preferably those who have Premier League experience.

Southampton’s Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long, who was on the club’s radar last summer, could again become a target, while another player who would fit the bill is Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi.

[DannyInvincible]

Long started for Southampton today away to Middlesbrough, but missed a penalty in 64th minute. Southampton still won the game 2-1. Long was replaced by Charlie Austin after 87 minutes.

[Stuttgart88]

On SSN Phil Thompson said it looked like a bad injury

[DeLorean]

They were discussing Long's Southampton situation on Newstalk yesterday. I think it was Nathan Murphy who said he tried to interview him in the tunnel after the Liverpool game last weekend and the Irish lads would normally stop for a few words. On this occasion, however, a seemingly frustrated Long said (something like) "not today, I might get myself I trouble or a fine".

I think they said he's only scored six goals in his last fifty-five games for club and country also, granted a lot of them would have been from the bench.

They also discussed the possibility of him playing wide of the front three as opposed to through the middle, highlighting Mandzukic and the job he's doing for Juventus at the moment. They seemed unaware that Long has played this role plenty of times previously. Even Kilbane was saying he doesn't think he's technically good enough, that's it pretty much through the centre or nothing.

[Stuttgart88]

Sweet ball for Rodriguez from wide right yesterday nonetheless. Any word on his injury?

[DeLorean]

Any word on his injury?

Nothing major it seems - http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sai...pdate/?ref=rss

It's not bad, it's just a knock on his ankle. I don't know for the next game, we will see, but it is not a problem I think