Shane Long

[Stuttgart88]

Assist for Long, Southampton 1 up

[Stuttgart88]

In light of the legacy banter about Long-Cox on this thread, I just noticed Pugh-King in the Bournemouth line up. Sickening.

[tricky_colour]

In light of the legacy banter about Long-Cox on this thread, I just noticed Pugh-King in the Bournemouth line up. Sickening.

As a precaution against flooding Leicester City have been playing King Kanute in midfield

[tetsujin1979]

Third start in a row today for Long. First time this season he's started more than two games in a row for the Saints, never started more than four in a row.
They've Palace next week in the cup, be interesting to see if he starts that or not.

[seanfhear]

Good and bad from Shane. Aggressive and good in the air. Pretty good all round performance… but one too many touches on a good chance and did not convert.

[Stuttgart88]

Yeah, was thinking the same but it wasn't easy by any means. He had a lot to do and it'd have required a really good first touch to set it up right. Keeper did well too. Koeman looked frustrated which doesn't look good.

[osarusan]

Great header by Long to score the first goal against Watford. Smart run to get in front of the defender and a firm header from about 12 yards out.

[tricky_colour]

Interesting how we go on about Long missing chances, however he has 5 goals in 839 minutes, the average for the other player on 6 goals is about 1400 mins (for all 5).
His shots per goal (2.4) is about average or maybe slightly above, but not as high as Rooney (2.6).
There are only about 7 players who have fewer minutes per goal, and not many of those play for Southampton. :)

[Stuttgart88]

ah stuff the stats though, just seeing him over the years is enough to doubt his reliability in front of goal. Maybe not so much this year as he looks to be doing better. Lovely headed goal on Wednesday, super stuff.

[DeLorean]

Newstalk felt the need to mention the Irish Daily Star linking him with a move to Tottenham or Liverpool this morning.

A lot of our players are in good form, it's kind of scary.

[tricky_colour]

Seems to be better with his head than with his feet, although I don't know if he is as bad as we tend to think, trouble is were expect him
to put every chance away, was the same with Robbie Keane you would curse every chance he missed.
I think he is often running at pace when he gets chance with his feet, that tends to limit your time and options.

I would agree a lot of our players seem to be in good form, were look stronger than we have done for quite a while, more options
available.

[SkStu]

he is definitely not as bad as some on here think. He brings so much to the teams he plays for. Speed, skill, the right kind of aggression not to mention his leap and his heading ability and the ability to find the net. His goals per chance ratio might be average but everything else he brings is above average. He terrorizes defenses.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree. I don't think he's bad at all, I think he's a super player. Just not a really reliable finisher, but signs he's getting better. I was critical of 25 year old Robbie Keane's finishing. His early career one on ones were awful.

Anyway, SSN saying Long is a target for Liverpool. A great accolade that Klopp rates him, if true, but Liverpool can be an unforgiving place for forwards.

[DeLorean]

he is definitely not as bad as some on here think.

Does anybody actually think this though? I find that he's a very popular player amongst supporters, despite his undoubtedly erratic finishing. I think the majority (maybe even everybody) on here acknowledges what a handful and generally good player he is. Open to correction though.

[DeLorean]

Anyway, SSN saying Long is a target for Liverpool. A great accolade that Klopp rates him, if true, but Liverpool can be an unforgiving place for forwards.

It's mentioned in the online Sky Sports transfer centre but they source The Sun, as opposed to their own sources. Southampton are on the verge of signing Charlie Austin though so who knows?!

Edit- Southampton have completed the Austin signing. Apparently Koeman said last month that the injuries to Jay Rodriguez might force him into the market though.

[paul_oshea]

You can't edit posts on the mobile without it deleting. I basically said in 3 or so years when he loses/starts to lose his pace I'd be worried about hkm

[DeLorean]

Well a Shane Long without pace is obviously not going to be the same player, but he may not lose it that early i.e. 30/31... and the end is in sight for the majority of players beyond that anyway.

[Olé Olé]

It's mentioned in the online Sky Sports transfer centre but they source The Sun, as opposed to their own sources. Southampton are on the verge of signing Charlie Austin though so who knows?!

Edit- Southampton have completed the Austin signing. Apparently Koeman said last month that the injuries to Jay Rodriguez might force him into the market though.

Lots of talk in the gossip columns in relation to Graziano Pelle at the moment too- being linked to Juventus and Fiorentina. Austin is probably a more similar player to Pelle than he is Rodriguez (even though Austin and Pelle are intrinsically different).

Long is going to be 29 soon. He looks as quick now than he did when he signed for West Brom. For evidence, compare his performance against Arsenal to those that Roy Hodgson waxed lyrically about in the first half of 2011/2012 when he was 24. Hopefully it won't be an issue for a while.

Interesting to note he's up to 5 goals so far this season. He got 5 in the entirety of last season.

The fact that it's just the Sun that's reporting this rumour is a disappointing. Nothing concrete to it, it appears. Maybe Southampton are so grateful to Liverpool for taking Caulker off their hands that they'll give them a cut-price on our Shane?

[DeLorean]

No goal or even assist for Long today but his link up play looked excellent, including some lovely passes, one which directly let to a penalty and a brilliant flick in the build up to the third goal.

[seanfhear]

No goal or even assist for Long today but his link up play looked excellent, including some lovely passes, one which directly let to a penalty and a brilliant flick in the build up to the third goal.
There has to be two assists in there.... Let loose the stat people.......aaargh..........

[tricky_colour]

No assists in the stats, but I had to re-watch the highlight to confirm that, he had a very effective game though.
He got a good rating 7.54, pretty good without getting a gaol or an assist.

[tetsujin1979]

I know it's the Mirror, but there's a report that Southampton have rejected a bid from Liverpool: www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-reject-liverpool-transfer-move-7195174

[DeLorean]

The £8m thing is a bit of a joke. Surely if Liverpool did come in with that as their opening bid Southampton would reply with something along the lines of... "you know we paid £12m for him just a year ago right? okay, so kindly p*** off and stop wasting our time".

I think it should be clear enough at this stage (even to Koeman) that Long will score at least many goals as Pelle but offer a lot more besides, not to mention being a bit younger. He's also more versatile when trying to accommodate Austin and/or Rodriguez. A couple of big Italian clubs are linked with Pelle and he has only a year and a half left on his contract. I wouldn't see the point in giving him a new one as he'll be 32 when his current deal expires, so they might as well just cash in.

Common sense tells me Long will stay and Pelle will go, but football and common sense aren't exactly the best of friends.

[Olé Olé]

The £8m thing is a bit of a joke. Surely if Liverpool did come in with that as their opening bid Southampton would reply with something along the lines of... "you know we paid £12m for him just a year ago right? okay, so kindly p*** off and stop wasting our time".

I think it should be clear enough at this stage (even to Koeman) that Long will score at least many goals as Pelle but offer a lot more besides, not to mention being a bit younger. He's also more versatile when trying to accommodate Austin and/or Rodriguez. A couple of big Italian clubs are linked with Pelle and he has only a year and a half left on his contract. I wouldn't see the point in giving him a new one as he'll be 32 when his current deal expires, so they might as well just cash in.

Common sense tells me Long will stay and Pelle will go, but football and common sense aren't exactly the best of friends.

It'd be interesting to see Long at Liverpool though. It's probably a risk from his own perspective in terms of game time at club level. I don't think it's a risk from an Ireland perspective as it won't make much of a difference given that he doesn't start a whole pile.

Liverpool do have better attacking players in Firmino and Coutinho (I think Mané is good but not as good as those) so maybe his goal ratio would improve. And that Arsenal match was one of the best exhibitions of 'gegenpressing' you'll see from a PL striker.

Also, I'm not sure how much they fancy Benteke and Origi had one good game before getting injured. Obviously Sturridge is a quality player when fit and well ahead of Long but the opportunity could be there to be a squad player at Liverpool. Not many players could turn their nose up at that.

I agree with all your points re Koeman and Pelle. They should cash in on him whilst he's an Italian international and has a premium for interested Serie A clubs. His goal per minute ratio probably isn't much better than Long's. 54 games-18 goals versus 45 games-10 goals with more of Pelle's games being starts. Different players, obviously.

[DeLorean]

Yeah I agree with all that. Basically it would probably be a bit of a short-term fix from Liverpool's point of view and too big an opportunity to turn down from Long's. Southampton are the ones with nothing to gain and plenty to lose in the potential deal, unless Liverpool's alleged offer is increased significantly, which may be a little too desperate from their perspective.

I think Long would see plenty of game time this season and possibly even a lot of starts. The problem for him would probably materialise at the start of next season as Liverpool are bound to do a bit of damage in the summer. That might not be the end of the world for Long though, he's been through a string of clubs anyway so if he moves on again so be it, or if he's getting game time at Anfield (even from the bench) better still. From an Irish point of view I think it would be good to have a player at one of the big clubs but I can't really see it happening.

[KK77]

I would love to see this move happen from an Irish perspective but I am not sure totally sure it's really what Liverpool need but listen every signing is a gamble as such. Does anyone know who is actually reporting this please other than the mirror?

[DeLorean]

Nobody of any note as far as I can see, Sky Sports themselves sourced The Mirror so they obviously haven't anything concrete either.

Danny Murphy (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/no-no-no-former-anfield-star-danny-murphy-pleads-with-liverpool-not-to-sign-shane-long-34373433.html) agrees with you, although his comparison to Benteke is dumb.

[tricky_colour]

I know it's the Mirror, but there's a report that Southampton have rejected a bid from Liverpool: www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-reject-liverpool-transfer-move-7195174 (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/southampton-reject-liverpool-transfer-move-7195174)


In the poll 65% want Liverpool to sign Long. 15% Vardy, not sure who the others are.

9/4 is his price to go to Liverpool in the transfer window. Or 1/3 to stay where he is.

[Nugget]

Has the Spurs rumour died? That one actually made more sense to me with their lack of cover for Kane.

[tetsujin1979]

it'll take 12m for Liverpool to sign him, according to the sun today.
As with all transfer rumours, and especially where the sun print anything connected to Liverpool, take it with a pinch of salt

[Olé Olé]

http://www.football365.com/news/liverpool-and-spurs-why-the-long-chase

[Closed Account]

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-transfer-rumours-Potters-join-race/story-28568185-detail/story.html


STOKE City and Everton have joined the race to sign Republic of Ireland international Shane Long, according to reports.
The Times reports that the pair have joined Liverpool in wanting to sign Long from Southampton and are weighing up a potential for the forward.
The Mirror reported last week that Liverpool had seen an £8million bid for the 28-year-old rejected, with Southampton said to be keen on keeping hold of the striker.
Long's future has come in to question after Southampton signed QPR striker Charlie Austin in a deal worth around £4million.
Austin joined Jay Rodriguez, Juanmi, Graziano Pelle and Long as striking options at St Mary's, and the Irishman is said to be keen on first-team football so to secure a starting place for the Republic of Ireland ahead of Euro 2016.
Long, who cost Southampton £12million last summer and commanded over £26million in transfer fees during his career, has 10 goals in 25 appearances for club and country this season.
He managed eight goals last season for the Saints, but has almost made as many substitute appearances as he has starts in his time at the club.
Stoke - who include a raft of Republic of Ireland stars in their squad - are said to be in to be in the market for a striker, while Everton are keen to add competition to top scorer Romelu Lukaku, and do have cash to spend after selling Steven Naismith to Norwich yesterday.

Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-transfer-rumours-Potters-join-race/story-28568185-detail/story.html#ixzz3xmLVVwiv
Follow us: @SentinelStaffs on Twitter (http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=ackgZUh6mr47PWacwqm_6r&u=SentinelStaffs) | sentinelstaffs on Facebook (http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=ackgZUh6mr47PWacwqm_6r&u=sentinelstaffs)

[Olé Olé]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/20/liverpool-shane-long-southampton-transfer-window

The Guardian have allowed an Irish journo to weigh in. The sentiment isn't too removed from that in F365.

This piece is actually fairly on the money and is quite convincing in rationalizing why O'Neill and Koeman are not always marking him down in their first 11.

[DeLorean]

It got better as it went on I think, the hurling stuff was a bit silly. I laughed at this though ;)


sometimes when he runs with the ball he evokes a man chasing a pram down a hill

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/20/liverpool-shane-long-southampton-transfer-window

The Guardian have allowed an Irish journo to weigh in. The sentiment isn't too removed from that in F365.

This piece is actually fairly on the money and is quite convincing in rationalizing why O'Neill and Koeman are not always marking him down in their first 11.

I agree, I thought it was a great piece. “You can see why Liverpool might want to buy him, but also why Southampton might want to sell him”

How many times has Long been sold during the winter transfer window rather than between seasons?

[DeLorean]

“You can see why Liverpool might want to buy him, but also why Southampton might want to sell him”

I actually can't see why Southampton might want to sell him.


How many times has Long been sold during the winter transfer window rather than between seasons?

Just once.


Signed for:

Reading on 7th June 2005
West Brom on 9th August 2011
Hull on 17th January 2014
Southampton on 14th August 2014

[tetsujin1979]

Southampton player of the month for December
fZ8HeFsOrq8

[geysir]

http://www.football365.com/news/liverpool-and-spurs-why-the-long-chase

Since Klopp has arrived to the epl, one (run around a lot) criteria to determine the quality of a striker has jumped to the fore with a bullet.


'The Irishman’s strengths are obvious. Long has completed 99.35km over 14 games so far this season, at an average of 9.62km per 90 minutes. In five more appearances and three more starts, Benteke has run 116.09km for an average of 8.9km per 90 minutes. The most distance run by Long in a single Premier League game this season was 11.18km against Stoke in November. For Benteke, it was 9.73km against Sunderland in December. Long has completed 123 more sprints than his counterpart despite playing 245 fewer minutes. Benteke hardly scores an emphatic victory on the goalscoring front, with six to Long’s five.'

Fascinating stuff, all we need now is a striker's goalage calculation, i.e. goals/km.

[Yard of Pace]

the hurling stuff was a bit silly.

I disagree. I've been saying (mostly to myself) for years that he still plays like a corner forward.

I wouldn't pollute the boards with the names of current Tipp hurlers (or my brain by thinking about them) but he's reminiscent of Graeme Mulcahy or Seánie Tobin of Limerick.

[DeLorean]

Yeah he's fast and most corner forwards are fast. Although I'd associate strength, timing and aerial ability more with a hurling centre forward. Obviously Long possesses attributes which enabled him to excel at both codes, that's undeniable.

I wasn't really referring to that though. I just thought the 'hurler with boots' and 'putting the ball over the bar' bits were a bit silly.

[tricky_colour]

.



Position

Apps
Goals
Assists
Rating



FW (Forward - Centre)
7
4
0
7.3


Sub (Substitute)
5
1
0
6.41


AML (Attacking Midfielder - Left)
1
0
0
6.36


AMR (Attacking Midfielder - Right)
1
0
0
6.04




Though I would post his stats on a positional basis,
unfortunately 'sub' does not give the position, but probably means centre forward.

4 in 7 games as a centre forward is pretty decent.

in fact it is teetering on the edge of quite good.

[SkStu]

I think Everton would be a great move for him. For all that some of you criticize our ShLong he's a lot better than Arouna Kone someone whose role he would likely assume. Everton is a forgiving club, lots of Irish there and I think his strengths would see him do very well there. Plus I'm an Everton fan and I think my man crush on Shane is well documented here at this stage... :)

[Charlie Darwin]

Would he assume Koné's role? I don't think they're similar in terms of approach, really. Long's strengths - speed, running the channels, linking up play, punching about his weight strengthwise - are all traits you'd more associate with Lukaku. Martinez has been trying to shoehorn Koné in there but what he really wants is somebody who can do what Naismith did and what Koné does, but you sort of only get one.

[DeLorean]

There's some serious competition at Everton, I like them myself but I don't think it's the best place for him. I'd say Koné's run of starts is starting to fizzle out, not sure how he was keeping the likes of Mirallas out anyway to be honest. He's an okay replacement for Lukaku when he's injured or rested, as it allows Everton to play the same way with a powerful guy up front who can hold the ball up, but I don't think he offers an awful lot in support of Lukaku, despite starting the season pretty well. Naismith couldn't even nail down a place after scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea, McGeady can't even make the squad, Lennon is only used intermittently and they've only recently signed that young, highly rated striker from Grasshoppers who'll join up with them in the summer. All in all, it's probably the riskiest place Long could go.

[paul_oshea]

Martinez failings as pointed out before years ago, is his defensive frailties. They have some great players in midfield and attack, and well capable of scoring goals, unfortunately well capable of conceding also. 2 98th minute equalisers.

[tetsujin1979]

Saints won’t sell as Austin surprises Koeman: http://www.football365.com/news/sainst-wont-sell-as-austin-surprises-koeman


Koeman also reiterated his stance that Austin’s arrival does not signal the departure of one of Pelle, Shane Long or Sadio Mane, who have been linked with moves away this month.
“We brought one player in but nobody will go out,” he said. “I’ll keep saying that until January 31.”

[kennedmc]

Hopefully Long will get enough game time between now and euros.

[DeLorean]

Gives Southampton the lead at Swansea.

[SkStu]

Nice header across the goal from a good distance out and I think the keeper should have done a lot better.

[tricky_colour]

The defence and keeping left a lot to be desired, but it a good header testing the keeper, who didn't pass the test!!