Shane Long

[tetsujin1979]

Long hits back at Southampton critics: www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30573104

[DeLorean]

They got my hopes up there for a second saying that he's only 25. He turns 28 next month.

[tetsujin1979]

I was thinking that didn't sound right myself

[DannyInvincible]

They got my hopes up there for a second saying that he's only 25. He turns 28 next month.

It's no surprise they think he's three years younger than his actual age; sure isn't he only 5 feet tall? :p

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Time for a loan move?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Sadio Mane off. Harrison Reed on as substitute.

[tricky_colour]

Goaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!

No time to think = no time to fork it up.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What do you know? Long is played up front for just the third or fourth time this season and it reaps rewards.

Pelle has 2 goals in his last 13 Premier League games.

Maybe Long will get a chance if that kind of form continues?

He's having an impact at both ends. Clearing two Ipswich corners and pressuring the Ipswich goalkeeper into making several mistakes by chasing lost causes - one of which led to a goalscoring opportunity.

Hunt and McGoldrick are having good games for Ipswich. Murphy has been very quiet. Just as I type this, McGoldrick could have put Hunt through with a cross but elected to selfishly take a shot from a stupid position - which he, of course, missed.

[back of the net]

Goaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!

No time to think = no time to fork it up.

Sometimes no time to think can indeed be a good thing .....lovely finish

Having a great game so far..........been excellent all over the pitch

http://gfycat.com/AngelicIdealAlbino

[Charlie Darwin]

What do you know? Long is played up front for just the third or fourth time this season and it reaps rewards.

Pelle has 2 goals in his last 13 Premier League games.

Maybe Long will get a chance if that kind of form continues?

He's having an impact at both ends. Clearing two Ipswich corners and pressuring the Ipswich goalkeeper into making several mistakes by chasing lost causes - one of which led to a goalscoring opportunity.

Hunt and McGoldrick are having good games for Ipswich. Murphy has been very quiet. Just as I type this, McGoldrick could have put Hunt through with a cross but elected to selfishly take a shot from a stupid position - which he, of course, missed.
Bet Pelle comes on and scores twice now.

[tricky_colour]

Sometimes no time to think can indeed be a good thing .....lovely finish

Having a great game so far..........been excellent all over the pitch

http://gfycat.com/AngelicIdealAlbino


By the way I found how you can capture what is on the screen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcHLWkx4gIU

So if you are watching a stream you can save it to file, you don't really have to bother about all the file type
stuff he did apart from the frame rate, just select convert and put in a file name on your desktop (the default place is hard to find again).

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Long well placed to be put through by Pelle but Pelle went for the glory - and ballooned it over the bar.

Hunt had a perfectly good goal ruled out earlier in the match. He went off after 55 minutes. I thought he played well. Still doesn't look out of place.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHZeZPmTwSA

[Charlie Darwin]

That was an absolutely lovely finish. He had one in the second half where he tried to bend it with the outside of his right foot but the defender got a good block in. More of that, please, Shane.

[DeLorean]

Why would you want to see him having more shots blocked? :) I didn't see the game but that was a brilliant, instinctive goal. It came at him so quickly I don't know how he kept such control of the strike. I saw a bit of the analysis on BBC afterwards. The three analysts (Shearer, Jenas & some other guy) were basically mocking Mark Lawrenson (co-commentator) for giving motm to somebody other than Long, think it may have been Fonte he selected. They said Long was so obviously the best player on the pitch. The commentator actually tried to encourage Lawrenson to pick Long as well at one point when I flicked over!

[Charlie Darwin]

Long dropped again.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It was obvious that he only played against Ipswich so Elia could be rested for this game. Thought maybe he could get a game with Pelle up front due to the injury problems in midfield and due to how well they played last time they went with two players up front but it was always an ask.

Unfortunate given he was probably their best player the last time he started (Everton).

Pelle has 2 goals in 13 league starts. I don't think Long has even started three league games in succession yet.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/ian-rush-thanks-to-shane-long-robbie-is-in-it-for-long-haul-30914594.html

Long does have some admirers though.

[nigel-harps1954]

Got an assist today two minutes after coming onto the pitch. Also booked.

[Charlie Darwin]

Hard to argue with his exclusion, mind. Elia scored two and Pellé was excellent. He'll just have to keep performing and try to make himself undroppable.

[seanfhear]

Hull could really do with Shane Long at the moment.

I would say that they regret selling him even if the money was good.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was the right deal for Hull - Southampton offered probably more than he was worth and they got in Hernandez for the money with some change to spare. They've got a massive injury list right now but bear in mind Jellyfish has been a fringe player for most of the season and would have arguably been ahead of Long.

[Stuttgart88]

He came on and got an important assist for Saints' winner at Newcastle. Unfortunately I thought he was a bit careless in the final minutes when keeping possession was critical and he was pretty sloppy with the ball, once giving away a deliberate foul to recover from his error. Koeman would have noticed that.

I think he's in a good place. Not getting enough game time but there's still half a season to go and maybe a cup run on the way. This is a great opportunity for him and it's up to him to prove he's good enough.

[geysir]

It was the right deal for Hull - Southampton offered probably more than he was worth and they got in Hernandez for the money with some change to spare. They've got a massive injury list right now but bear in mind Jellyfish has been a fringe player for most of the season and would have arguably been ahead of Long.
However, Hernandez is only on a 3 year contract, swings and roundabouts.

[tetsujin1979]

Off the bench today, and then substituted with an arm injury.

[Charlie Darwin]

Should have stuck with the team that beat Ipswich. They had a real chance of winning this, especially with Chelsea, Spurs and Man City all out.

[Charlie Darwin]

Suspected broken rib.

[tricky_colour]

Should have stuck with the team that beat Ipswich. They had a real chance of winning this, especially with Chelsea, Spurs and Man City all out.


I expect a top 4 finish is very important to them, when you look at the results to day you wonder if the top teams really want to be in the cup?

[Closed Account]

Suspected broken rib.
Next game 9 weeks away. What's a broken rib, 6 weeks?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Between 3 and 5 weeks recovery time. By which time Mane & Rodriguez will be back and they will probably have signed a striker.

Out of the Irish players playing in the PL this season, who would be characterised as having a personally successful season?

Marc Wilson doing well to remain in the Stoke team fending off Huth & Muniesa. Jon Walters doing well by his standards. John O'Shea has been having - probably - his best season at Sunderland.

Damien Delaney is doing well but not as good as the heights of last season. Stephen Quinn has been alright when he has played. Glenn Whelan is on and off this season compared to last season when he seemed to be more consistent.

It's really a pretty poor season from an Irish perspective not just in terms of goals.

[nigel-harps1954]

Between 3 and 5 weeks recovery time. By which time Mane & Rodriguez will be back and they will probably have signed a striker.

Out of the Irish players playing in the PL this season, who would be characterised as having a personally successful season?

Marc Wilson doing well to remain in the Stoke team fending off Huth & Muniesa. Jon Walters doing well by his standards. John O'Shea has been having - probably - his best season at Sunderland.

Damien Delaney is doing well but not as good as the heights of last season. Stephen Quinn has been alright when he has played. Glenn Whelan is on and off this season compared to last season when he seemed to be more consistent.

It's really a pretty poor season from an Irish perspective not just in terms of goals.


Robbie Brady seems to have stopped getting injured.

Ciaran Clark getting a bit of game time, albeit in a crap Villa defence and mostly because of injuries.

Jack Grealish also played a handful of games (sshhhh)

Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy mainstays at Everton.

Paul McShane having a very good season at Hull, David Meyler getting plenty of game time there too.

[seanfhear]

Robbie Brady seems to have stopped getting injured.

Ciaran Clark getting a bit of game time, albeit in a crap Villa defence and mostly because of injuries.

Jack Grealish also played a handful of games (sshhhh)

Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy mainstays at Everton.

Paul McShane having a very good season at Hull, David Meyler getting plenty of game time there too.The Villa defence can't be that bad or Villa would be relegated already. Maybe they are playing everyone at the back; an 11--0 formation. Seriously the whole team must set up ultra defensive or something.

[Charlie Darwin]

Clark has been fantastic the past couple of months from what I've heard. Lambert very impressed.

[tetsujin1979]

Long back in training today: https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/statuses/567387573895831554

[DeLorean]

Great news. Dare I say we're getting everybody fit at just the right time? Too soon maybe.

[Charlie Darwin]

Le Tissier on Long: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/matt-le-tissier-on-shane-long-robbie-keane-and-his-memories-of-the-lansdowne-road-riot-313803.html

[tetsujin1979]

Starts on the bench vs Liverpool today

[tricky_colour]

Remained on the bench and Southampton lost 2-0

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Good article on Long's immediate impact after a sooner than expected return from injury.

http://www.givemesport.com/551869-shane-long-introduction-gave-southampton-an-edge (http://www.givemesport.com/551869-shane-long-introduction-gave-southampton-an-edge)

I was inspired to do a little analysis on Pelle & Long's stats after Pelle went 12 Premier League starts without a goal and this is what I found.

Pelle has started all 28 Premier League games for Southampton and has scored 8 Premier League goals.
Long has started 9 Premier League games - never more than 3 in succession and never in his natural position - and has scored 2 Premier League goals. (2014/2015)
Long scored 7 Premier League goals in 26 Premier League starts. (2013/2014)
Long scored 8 Premier League goals in 25 Premier League starts. (2012/2013)
Long scored 8 Premier League goals in 24 Premier League starts. (2011/2012)

Long actually has a better goalscoring record at this level than Pelle, yet Koeman won't give him a run up front in his natural position, even though Pelle is burning out and dying on his feet just as I predicted he would earlier this season on this exact same thread.

I am also curious as to why Koeman hasn't publicly denounced Pelle's succession of missed sitters in several successive games, considering he had no problems belittling Long for missing a half chance against Man Utd, even though he was one of their best player's on the night and was heavily involved in their goal.

Hopefully Long will get a chance soon, for Ireland's sake as much as Southampton's.

He assisted Pelle's last League goal in his last start, he was involved in the goal against Newcastle and his running created the space for Mane's goal on Tuesday night. He was also the best player in the cup match against Ipswich.

I find his treatment by Koeman absolutely shocking - before and after the injury.

[DeLorean]

Did you actually predict Pelle to burn out and die on his feet or did you just point out what everybody knew, that his goals had dried up?

[tetsujin1979]

starts up front for Southampton against Chelsea, kicks off on sky at 1:30

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I feel like a father to be waiting for his wife to give birth.

[Closed Account]

starts up front for Southampton against Chelsea, kicks off on sky at 1:30get your excuses in early.... If you were a person who knocked.... Best of luck Shane.

[Stuttgart88]

He and Southampton are doing pretty well.

[Charlie Darwin]

I feel like a father to be waiting for his wife to give birth.
Both father and baby did quite well I thought. Southampton tired second half but baby was a huge part of turning around the Chelsea midfield and defence and keeping the ball further up the pitch.

[tricky_colour]

Wonder if he will be aborted next match?

[TrapAPony]

Gets a goal against Burnley. Quickest to react to a rebound and stabs the ball home.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Confident finish by Longy.

Pelle completely fluffed his lines in the build up to it and then, several minutes later, went on to hit the crossbar when it was easier to score..

[DeLorean]

When do you hate more TOWK... Graziano Pelle or Richard Keogh?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Why can't you just be happy that Long has scored and is playing well?

Long almost scored again with a 25 yard shot on the half-volley.

[DeLorean]

Why can't you just be happy that Long has scored and is playing well

That's exactly what I should have asked you. Don't need a play by play on the career of Graziano Pelle on the Shane Long thread. And stop making out that you're the only Shane Long fan here. Brilliant timing from an Irish point of view obviously.