Shane Long

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I wonder where Mario ranks in the list of big money strikers who flopped at Liverpool? Hmm...

[geysir]

I'd have been a better fit than Mario.

i don't know, ........ you did name yourself after the Delorean, all style, little substance?

[DeLorean]

Exactly, just like Mario. Except I have the capacity to go back in time and change the course of history if I don't like they way things pan out.

[BonnieShels]

I wonder where Mario ranks in the list of big money strikers who flopped at Liverpool? Hmm...

It's such a skill you have.

ROBBIE KEANE... GO!!!

[samhaydenjr]

It's such a skill you have.

ROBBIE KEANE... GO!!!

Now, don't jump to conclusions - he was probably referring to Anelka...or maybe Carroll

[BonnieShels]

Now, don't jump to conclusions - he was probably referring to Anelka...or maybe Carroll

Forgive me.

And there was Alberto Aquilani... though he was an attacking MF... wasn't he?

[samhaydenjr]

Forgive me.

And there was Alberto Aquilani... though he was an attacking MF... wasn't he?

*Adopting accent of 10-year-old Scousers*


"Ian Rush says, if I don't drink my milk, I'll only be as good as Alberto Aquilani"

"Alberto Aquilani - who's he?"

"Exactly"

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I'm so surprised how some people are good at dishing out the banter but can't take it.

So many smart and provocative comments about Long but as soon as one is made in kind about Keane people fly off the handle.

No shame in it anyway. It just doesn't work out sometimes. The lack of deference shown towards Keane by Benitez was similar to the lack of deference shown towards Shevchenko by Mourinho. I thought Keane should have been given at least a year at Liverpool at the time but I was probably being biased. His form after leaving Liverpool didn't exactly disprove Benitez's assumptions that he wasn't good enough.

I don't think Long is exactly good enough for a team like Liverpool but I look at a team like Tottenham and can't help thinking he offers a lot more than Soldado and isn't far behind Adebayor at this moment in time. As long as he isn't the focal point of the attack.

[Stuttgart88]

So many smart and provocative comments about Long but as soon as one is made in kind about Keane people fly off the handle.
Jesus, you're relentless. Quote those "smart and provocative" comments about Long. Quote the "flying off the handle" comments relating to Keane. "as soon as one is made" against him. What about the scores of comments you have made against him? You think Bonnie's reaction is to one isolated comment? You're a devious, disingenuous sophist and a total WUM.

Just grow up, you're a complete pain in the hole.

[tetsujin1979]

Stutts, we have a rule about attacking the post, not the poster

TOWK knock it off. Don't tell me you didn't do anything, don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about, just stop doing it.

[dong]

What amazes me is lads who have been on this forum for ten or more years getting wound up by another in a long line of WUMS.
Stutts and his ilk should surely know how this all plays out?

[BonnieShels]

This is different.

But yes, I would be definitely of the view going forward that we should minimise the oxygen.
When someone like Stutts snaps you know it's time.

[geysir]

The more perceptive of the board members did try to inform and set the example to Stutts (and his ilk:)) but they were all just too stubborn to take on board some sage advice.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone watching him tonight? Starts against Man U, playing well acc to BBC match tracker.

[Stuttgart88]

The more perceptive of the board members did try to inform and set the example to Stutts (and his ilk:)) but they were all just too stubborn to take on board some sage advice.
I can't remember what you advised!

[paul_oshea]

Long woeful as usual.missed 2 sitters.subbed cos he is crap.

[paul_oshea]

Could have actually had a hat trick.

[geysir]

I can't remember what you advised!
To not engage, engagement was/is futile.

[paul_oshea]

Funny luck is how many described utds win tonight on the tele.

[DeLorean]

Missed a great chance with a header that De Gea saved, needed to try to adjust his body shape to direct it away from the keeper but just headed it straight at him, it wasn't a sitter but it was a very good chance. Ballooned a more difficult chance in the first half. Was involved in the Southampton goal, sent a cross back into the box and it eventually fell for Pelle to score. Usual industry otherwise but I'm not sure he'll ever really excel in this role.

[DeLorean]

Just seen Long's chance from the first half again, a better chance than I originally thought, set up very nicely for him and a pretty poor finish really.

[geysir]

Long was lucky that that limp cross found its way to Pelle.

[KK77]

Koeman not happy with the miss in his after match interview. I got the impression he was holding back as well. Terrible miss but not unusual.

[tetsujin1979]

Pretty sure I've jinxed him for the weekend by adding him to my fantasy football team, replacing Berahino who's going to score a hat trick now.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

To not engage, engagement was/is futile.

Poor geysir. Still pretending he's an intellectual wunderkind; and still pretending the reason he is "disengaging" with me is because engagement is futile, and not because he's licking his wounds after he bizarrely attacked me because I posted a story linking Anthony Pilkington with Swansea which was later, of course, corroborated as being true and because I quoted a line saying he was "out of favour" which was again, of course, corroborated as being true.

Build a bridge.

[tetsujin1979]

This is your last warning TOWK, attack the post, not the poster.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I see Long has predictably been scapegoated by Koeman. Long out. Jake Hesketh in. Jose Fonte keeps his place despite his gaffe gifting United a goal and Sadio Mane keeps his place despite everyone agreeing he was worse than Long. You know it's funny. Southampton wouldn't even have scored against United if it wasn't for Long's play in the build up!

He's 28 next month and I don't think many teams are going to pay 7 million let alone 12 million for him when and if things go wrong here. They have a pretty weak squad as it is. Once everyone (J-Rod, Ward-Prowse, Cork) are fit and they reinvest next month, I can see his game time decreasing.

Pertinent to note that Long wasn't a Koeman signing and it's telling that he hasn't once played in his natural position.

My gut told me he should have stayed at Hull where he was guaranteed starts and had a manager that trusted in his abilities.

It was pretty pathetic for Koeman to call him out like that.

[Charlie Darwin]

You're taking this too personally. I don't really know if Long is being unfairly kept out of the team, but I don't think you do either.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Not taking it too personally! He had a decent game and he's the first person the manager drops. You don't sign a player for 12 m and then play a youth team player ahead of him. He's barely strung two games together. Graziano Pelle's form was rotten recently but Koeman has continued to persevere with him, play him in every game, play him in his favored position and tailor their tactics to suit him and it reaped dividends when he scored against United.

There is already pressure on Long because of his price tag, because it wasn't Koeman that personally signed him, because the fans are on his back and because he is playing out of position.

It is petty to to publically belittle him like that. They have lost three games on the bounce, their form is beginning to tail off, he (Koeman) is used to being lauded and now things (predictably) aren't going to plan. It's not his (Koeman's) fault. It must be someone else's. He's hardly going to publically question Tadic, Pelle or Fonte so it's Long who gets the blame/shaft.

[Closed Account]

It's possible all you say is true TOWK. Mane or Tadic could have easily been dropped also. But it's Shane this time. He did miss a couple of great chances against United and Koeman probably feels it cost them points. It's the nature of the beast.
Hopefully it'll turn out to be good management and Shane will come on and make sure with his next chance.
Which will ultimately benefit Ireland. It's his achilles heel. Playing out of position or not, those chances have to be taken at the level he wants to get to.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well you seem to be taking his treatment to heart in a way I suspect you wouldn't for other players. I don't know Koeman's exact thought process, but the most likely reason for his sporadic omission is tactical. Like Robbie Brady at Hull, he's being played in a position to which he isn't entirely suited, so when things aren't going right he will always be vulnerable to a more specialised player taking his place. It's difficult for a player when the formation doesn't allow him to play in his best role.

[Closed Account]

Hesketh injured and replaced by Ward Prowse

http://www.avsforum.com/photopost/data/2147020/0/07/073d66ff_Jackie-Chan-WTF.jpeg
faux outrage btw

[DeLorean]

Pelle's ten times the goal threat Long is and is rightly selected as the main danger man in the attack. If he ever decides to go with an orthodox two up front then fair enough, but it would be utterly bizarre to start Long in that position at Pelle's expense, at this moment in time. I've massive time for Long but you'd have to be seriously deluded (as an obvious result of being too attached emotionally) to think that he deserves more game time in his natural position, when it's clear as day there is somebody more effective and crucially, more clinical, in that role, more often than not. He might be slightly unlucky to be dropped but I think he's a huge asset from the bench, and that's the role he should also have for us imo.

Koeman was spot on in saying that the difference between United and Southampton the other night was Van Persie's ability to take his chances when Southampton didn't take theirs. It just so happened that it was Long who missed Southampton's most clear cut chances, there was nothing personally scathing that I could make out, unless a different interview/press conference is being referred to.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

And again, Long has a goalscoring record of one in just over every three starts. I don't think it's out of the realms of logic to use him up front alongside Pelle or on his own when Pelle is off form/to try something different (to use his superior aerial threat).

7 or 8 a season in 30 odd games is not too shabby. Especially when players like Jozy Altidore and Roberto Soldado get regular football.

I wonder if Dusan Tadic will be rotated now after missing a penalty today? His form has been **** poor more often than not lately. Some of their attacking problems could perhaps be attributed to his recent inability to beat his man or even put crosses in to the box.

[Charlie Darwin]

Some of their attacking problems could perhaps be attributed to his recent inability to beat his man or even put crosses in to the box.
Coincidentally, stats show Long has been the worst dribbler in the league this season: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/who-worst-players-premier-league-4803203

[DeLorean]

Soldado and Altidore don't start ahead of him so I see no sense at all in the relentless banging of that drum. That's Tottenham and Sunderland's business/problem. Anyway, Spurs are obviously still clinging to the unlikely possibility that the Valencia Soldado might show up at some stage. Long should definitely be on the pitch by now though.

[DeLorean]

And he's on!

[Closed Account]

Well he's on the pitch now. http://www.stadium-live.biz/Channel9.html

[Charlie Darwin]

Finished 1-0. This should have been the easiest game of a very tough run for Southampton and you can see them sliding back to mid-table now.

[DeLorean]

They probably didn't deserve to lose but didn't really create enough to win either. The penalty was a gift and you just have to punish teams when you get those kind of chances. It was crying out for Long from an early stage in the second half I thought, Koeman left it far too late. You couldn't begrudge Burnley really, a severe lack of quality being masked over by a massive work ethic and organisation.

[tricky_colour]

Coincidentally, stats show Long has been the worst dribbler in the league this season: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/who-worst-players-premier-league-4803203

Didier Drogba is little better, he is also better the Stephen Gerrard in that respect

[KK77]

Long is a decent hard working player but a clinical striker he ain't. Will always miss more than he will score.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.givemesport.com/530027-shane-long-to-stake-claim-in-capital-one-cup

Long to be given a chance in his preferred striking role after Pelle picked up a (tactical?) booking to miss Capital One Cup game.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Long denied a clear penalty, again, but Southampton have taken the lead moments later anyway.

Long a nightmare for Jagielka to deal with.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Clever assist by Long for Southampton's second goal.

[Crosby87]

What did you ask for for Christmas, TOWKS?
One year we had a grab bag on here. Stutts got Charlie Darwin an iPod.

[DannyInvincible]

Long denied a clear penalty, again

Even the refs have it in for our Shane!

[DannyInvincible]

Martin Keown on the BBC's Final Score just name-checked Long for particular praise after Southampton's win. He was in admiration of his work-rate.

[geysir]

Martin's resorting to stock phrases used to praise the paddy, 'digs a straight trench', 'isn't shy to carry the full load in his hod', 'keeps going until knock-off time'.

[Crosby87]

Does hod mean shorts?