Shane Long

[DeLorean]

It's one of those weird things that he seems to be lethal off the bench for Ireland but doesn't seem to really get in the game when he comes on for his club.

Two days later: Long comes off the bench to win a penalty against the Premier League Champions

Five days later: Long comes off the bench to score the winner at Anfield in League Cup semi final


Good man Charlie, just the kind of reverse psychology Longie needed to pull the finger out. :)


It was kind of interesting to hear the Sky Sports presenter (likeable guy, can't think of his name) put it to Le Tissier that as Long was running through you just never felt like he was going to miss. I'm not sure whether he was just living in the moment or that he doesn't know our Shane as well as we do. Carragher was talking about how difficult he used find it to mark Long as well, that along with the pace he's got a lot of strength. He also mentioned his low centre of gravity, he might be another who thinks that Long is smaller than he actually is.

He also said that when Long came on he looked at the names on Liverpool's bench, and felt that they had nobody who was likely to make as big an impact.

What did people here make of Long's 'handball'? I think he was lucky enough to get away with it. He definitely moved his arm towards the ball so I suppose it's just a matter of where it hit him exactly, but looked more arm than shoulder maybe? Football really is so fickle, so close to being a disaster of a night for him instead of this. (https://twitter.com/ShaneLong7/status/824404566485692417)

While I'm asking stuff, does anybody know if Rodriguez was injured or was the substitution tactical? Long must be pushing hard enough for his place now either way.

[DeLorean]

Winner at Anfield.... Bit like the Germany goal!

The pictures make it look even more like it than it was:


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ceG7EUOjDGg/0.jpghttp://www.irishexaminer.com/remote/media.central.ie/media/images/l/LiverpoolvSouthamptonJan17ShaneLongscores_large.jp g?width=648&s=ie-440899

[DannyInvincible]

It was kind of interesting to hear the Sky Sports presenter (likeable guy, can't think of his name) put it to Le Tissier that as Long was running through you just never felt like he was going to miss. I'm not sure whether he was just living in the moment or that he doesn't know our Shane as well as we do. Carragher was talking about how difficult he used find it to mark Long as well, that along with the pace he's got a lot of strength. He also mentioned his low centre of gravity, he might be another who thinks that Long is smaller than he actually is.

He also said that when Long came on he looked at the names on Liverpool's bench, and felt that they had nobody who was likely to make as big an impact.

Simon Thomas is the presenter.

There's a video of the segment you've detailed - Carragher praising Long - here: https://vid.me/riUk

I thought the very same when he mentioned Long's "low" centre of gravity, ha.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Long's finishing has really improved since he turned 30.

[OwlsFan]

and jeff kenna

Yes, excellent players - not sure how many caps he got but he was around at the time when we had a plethora or good full backs so I suspect not a huge amount.

[CraftyToePoke]

Gary Kelly, Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan, have I forgotten any ? We used to regard Jeff Kenna as some kind of willing donkey when one owned a fine horse already. Heady days, players breaking into top half Prem sides left right and center.

[jbyrne]

Yes, excellent players - not sure how many caps he got but he was around at the time when we had a plethora or good full backs so I suspect not a huge amount.

27 caps over a 4 year period.

and also from Wikipedia...
did you know that he was the joint first player to play at both the new Wembley and the old?!!!

[DeLorean]

and also from Wikipedia...
did you know that he was the joint first player to play at both the new Wembley and the old?!!!

Class! Never heard that before. The other guy is heavily connected to us now as well.

[DannyInvincible]

Class! Never heard that before. The other guy is heavily connected to us now as well.

Hmm, Steve Guppy?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Excellent run, touch and finish.

It would be interesting to compare Long and Rodriguez's goals per minutes ratio.

[DeLorean]

So do it?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Are you going to act like this on every thread?

[DeLorean]

I'm actually curious, but seeing as Long has only two goals this season I don't think it's likely he'll come out the right side of it, even allowing for his limited game time, presuming you're talking about this season? You're on the internet, it's easy enough to find that sort of data.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I would look it up now but I'm away on business and only have access to my phone.

It's too awkward if I don't have my laptop.

[Closed Account]

Excellent run, touch and finish.

It would be interesting to compare Long and Rodriguez's goals per minutes ratio.
This season only I assume.
edit to add in Austin and Redmond

Austin:
appearances= 19(13/6), minutes= 1136, goals= 9, goals per game= 0.47, goals per 90 minutes= 0.71

Rodriguez:
appearances= 23(13/10), minutes= 1002, goals= 5, goals per game= 0.21, goals per 90 minutes= 0.45

Long:
appearances= 29(14/15), minutes= 1407, goals= 3, goals per game= 0.1, goals per 90 minutes= 0.19

Redmond:
appearances= 32(26/6), minutes= 2380, goals= 4, goals per game= 0.12, goals per 90 minutes= 0.15

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_Southampton_F.C._season#Most_appea rances

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Cheers.

[DeLorean]

Long:
appearances=29 minutes= 1407, goals= 3

Forgot about Long's goal against Norwich. It's been a very decent seven days for him.

[Charlie Darwin]

Two days later: Long comes of the bench to win a penalty against the Premier League Champions

Five days later: Long comes off the bench to score the winner at Anfield in League Cup semi final


Good man Charlie, just the kind of reverse psychology Longie needed to pull the finger out. :)
I've always said he was due a good performance as an impact sub eventually.

[CraftyToePoke]

I would look it up now but I'm away on business and only have access to my phone.

It's too awkward if I don't have my laptop.

What manner of business trip in the year of our Lord 2017 doesn't involve a laptop and the www ? Are you under the sea somehow TOWK ? Or in a bush outside the White House waiting for a clear shot at Donald ?

[SkStu]

Im actually surprised that Long has played 400 more minutes (3.5 games) more than Rodriguez this season. I had the impression he was way behind him.

[tricky_colour]

The irony is about Long is that he is not actually as long (tall) as people think he is. I guess his name conjures up images of a tall man, the reality is he only 5'11.

[DeLorean]

Im actually surprised that Long has played 400 more minutes (3.5 games) more than Rodriguez this season. I had the impression he was way behind him.

Yep... I think we all got that one very wrong (me, you & TOWK at least). Was just looking there and Rodriguez was only in and out of the squads, let alone the starting XI until November and saw very little game time, presumably injury related. It wasn't until Austin got injured a week into December that he started matches with any semblance of regularity.

Long has been close to ever present in terms of availability, bar his two-three week lay-off in October when he also missed the Austria game. He's only started six league games (including three of the last seven) but has featured in the majority of them, unlike Rodriguez. Long has also started eight of their twelve cup games.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I thin Warsaw, Slovakia and Moldova present recent proof that Long is a better option as a starter for us.

The Polish and Slovakian defenders couldn't cope with him at all and he looked like our best threat against Moldova.

Murphy did outshine him in France though.

[DeLorean]

Starts against Arsenal.

[tricky_colour]

Lost 5-0 was not on for the last 2 though.

[DeLorean]

He's was captain for the evening too.

[tetsujin1979]

Probably one of the only Southampton players to come out of that game with any credit. Had a snap shot from a long pass that the keeper did well to save.

[tricky_colour]

I think Long's finishing has really improved since he turned 30.

He will be world class by the time he is 50.

[DeLorean]

Apparently Southampton are close to signing Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini for £17m.

[SwanVsDalton]

Apparently Southampton are close to signing Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini for £17m.

Anything to Marco?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Carragher thinks Liverpool should have signed him.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0125/847760-shane-long-southampton-liverpool-carragher-ireland/

Apparently Liverpool did make a bid for him a year ago - according to one of the links I read, not sure if it's that one.

[DeLorean]

Anything to Marco?

Haha totally forgot about him.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Southampton bringing in the exotically priced Manolo Gabbiadini, who has 2 goals from open play in 18 games this season.

Hopefully he'll go the way of Grabbi, Aquilani, Santon, Darmian and Borini before him.

[DeLorean]

Southampton bringing in the exotically priced Manolo Gabbiadini, who has 2 goals from open play in 18 games this season.

Like Long, a fair percentage of those were from the bench.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

My point being they're ostensibly signing a player with an even worse goalscoring record to replace him.

[DeLorean]

It's not worse... and we don't know it's to replace him. Apparently he's pretty versatile, can play on the wing or behind the central striker as well as up front himself. Presumably Southampton have done more research on him than us though and feel he can add something. Time will tell. As the the 'exotic' price, it's not as if Long came cheap himself. Gabbiadini is also five years younger.

[Closed Account]

My point being they're ostensibly signing a player with an even worse goalscoring record to replace him.Your point wasn't missed, I think Del was just wondering why you wouldn't afford him the same merit of judgement as you do our Shane?

Gabbiadini:
appearances= 19(10/9), minutes=770, goals=5 (2 pens), goals per game=0.26, goals per 90 minutes=0.58

Doesn't look a bad record but no world beater. Rumours of Jay Rodriquez on the move anyway.

[DeLorean]

Scores Southampton's equaliser at Swansea. 1-1.

[tricky_colour]

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

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Great forward play.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Scores and dropped for the next game, just like last time.

[Charlie Darwin]

Scores and dropped for the next game, just like last time.
Puel strikes me as the type who makes changes for the sake of it.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Great goal by Long.

And that's two more goals conceded by Sunderland after Gibbo makes way.

[DeLorean]

How's the new fellas goal ratio looking? :)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

5 in 12 for Long now.

Was unlucky not to score directly after coming on when Mannone tipped a strong header over the bar.

Good to see him flying with Wales on the horizon.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Interesting article to share: http://www.the42.ie/longs-plight-another-stark-reminder-of-issues-for-irish-players-at-elite-level-3261617-Feb2017/.

[SkStu]

He had a stinker today after replacing an injured Gabbiadini. He must have been caught offside 8 or 9 times and was clearly frustrated.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well hopefully that puts paid to the theory that it is better to play him off the bench.

Start against Wales it is!

[Olé Olé]

He had a stinker today after replacing an injured Gabbiadini. He must have been caught offside 8 or 9 times and was clearly frustrated.

He wasn't great but he was up against a great defence and was quite isolated. Matters weren't helped when Boufal came in and refused to provide him with any bit of early ball that he so craved and needed.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Jay Rodriguez preferred to Shane Long in Manolo Gabbiadini's absence.