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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.
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.
However, Hernandez is only on a 3 year contract, swings and roundabouts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Off the bench today, and then substituted with an arm injury.
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.
Suspected broken rib.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
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?
Next game 9 weeks away. What's a broken rib, 6 weeks?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Clark has been fantastic the past couple of months from what I've heard. Lambert very impressed.
Long back in training today: https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/st...87573895831554
Great news. Dare I say we're getting everybody fit at just the right time? Too soon maybe.
Le Tissier on Long: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ot-313803.html
Starts on the bench vs Liverpool today
Remained on the bench and Southampton lost 2-0
Good article on Long's immediate impact after a sooner than expected return from injury.
http://www.givemesport.com/551869-sh...ampton-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.
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?
starts up front for Southampton against Chelsea, kicks off on sky at 1:30
I feel like a father to be waiting for his wife to give birth.
get your excuses in early.... If you were a person who knocked.... Best of luck Shane.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
He and Southampton are doing pretty well.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Wonder if he will be aborted next match?
Gets a goal against Burnley. Quickest to react to a rebound and stabs the ball home.
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..
When do you hate more TOWK... Graziano Pelle or Richard Keogh?
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
He only scores against the bottom teams,,,,,,, oooppps, is this not the Robbie Keane thread?Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
2013-2014 Chelsea, Tottenham
2012-2013 Everton (h), Man City, Chelsea, Everton (a)
2011-2012 Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal
Granted they aren't at quite the same level as Gibraltar, but I still think that's a decent record against big teams.
José Mourinho must hate him.
First two were AVB and Di Matteo, afaik.
Still Chelsea tho ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
So basically you have gone back to previous seasons to show that Long has scored some goals against big teams. A man could run riot if he did that with Robbie Keane, but instead you chose to focus on the most recent of his 65 international goals. To be fair, and obviously yourself and Geysir were only having a little fun, Long is well capable against the top teams. In fact, it could be argued that he is as likely to produce in those games as the run of the mill fixtures, where most top strikers get their stats up.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
All that talk reminds me of when I met Long on a night out in my hometown last summer. Standing on the street, attacking a burger and minding my own business at 2.30. I turn around to see Shane Long walking up the lane behind me like an apparition. He was met with a barrage of insights on his career (that he was already aware of) which included the goals he got against Man United and Chelsea early in his WBA career which led to Roy Hodgson (England manager at the moment, I reminded Shane duly) stating after another game that the bargain they got for Long was brilliant due to the problems he caused for defenders across the PL.
The simple fact is that Shane Long's hard-running style through the channels is always going to prove tough for any defender, be they John Terry or Robert Huth, because they must play with their backs to goal and be mindful of the offside rule, among other variables. The top defenders in the PL have always seemed to be those that can read the play well, such as Terry, Ferdinand, Kompany etc. Thing with Long is that he'll drag them every which way before they can read the play and make the clearance/find a teammate as a result of an interception or block.
Lovely finish by Long and I think that the ball was coming into his path before Shackell scored an own goal.
Two nil was a good and solid win for Southampton against a Burnley side who beat City last weekend. Wanyama, in terms of the Southampton teamsheet over the course of the season, was sacrificed for Long in the transition from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 (if you take into account that since January Sadio Mane has tended to play instead of Long, flanking Pelle). But it'll be pretty cr*p timing on Long's part if the Poland game finds him on the bench. I really can't read into what O'Neill will select but with Walters out, I definitely think Long should start (not that I prefer Walters to Long).
EDIT: Interesting point at which to remember that Long and Doyle were a joint deal for Reading from Cork City. Long has clocked up moves to WBA and Hull which have gone well and his Southampton move was for a big fee and looks like it's on the right track. Doyle, on the other hand, went to Wolves and, after a while, slid down the divisions while Long remained a genuine PL striker. 3 years older than Long, Doyle is now moving to the MLS to, likely, see out his career after three years of loans, benches and lower divisions. On the other hand, the 3 years between 28 and 31 could well be some of the most exciting of Long's career.
Jon Walters came on in the 78th minute yesterday so he will start against Poland just like he starts every competitive game he's available for, at the expense of better players.
As I said, I get it for certain games, like Germany (a); but I don't think we play our best football with him in the team - like the football we played against Italy in London that time.
I honestly think we have a better chance of taking something tangible from this game if he doesn't start. If he does, it's a statement of intent to Poland.
For all the talk about his work rate, he has started visibly tiring at the 60-70 minute mark in every match he plays.
He should be coming on to help us defend a lead after 60-70 minutes. Not starting with a view to helping us stifle the opposition.
That should be the aim.
Pilkington is far better technically but there would be question marks over his tracking back and positioning. There are no questions over McGeady, McClean, Long or Brady when it comes to this.
Didn't realise this. Good news. COYBIG.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
I actually think it's bad news.
In an ideal world, he would be a useful option on the bench but instead he is going to be keeping out better technical players.
But I don't have any faith in Hoolahan starting either and I don't have any faith in us trying to play the game the right way, so at least I won't get my hopes up again.