Shane Long

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/01/2015, 1:27 AM

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** · 19/01/2015, 8:20 AM

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** · 19/01/2015, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

However, Hernandez is only on a 3 year contract, swings and roundabouts.

**tetsujin1979** · 24/01/2015, 3:51 PM

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

**Charlie Darwin** · 24/01/2015, 4:01 PM

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** · 24/01/2015, 4:44 PM

Suspected broken rib.

**tricky_colour** · 24/01/2015, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 24/01/2015, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Suspected broken rib.

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

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 25/01/2015, 4:05 PM

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** · 25/01/2015, 7:23 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 26/01/2015, 6:07 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

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** · 26/01/2015, 11:19 AM

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

**tetsujin1979** · 16/02/2015, 5:51 PM

Long back in training today: https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFC/st...87573895831554

**DeLorean** · 16/02/2015, 8:12 PM

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

**Charlie Darwin** · 21/02/2015, 11:46 AM

Le Tissier on Long: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ot-313803.html

**tetsujin1979** · 22/02/2015, 3:05 PM

Starts on the bench vs Liverpool today

**tricky_colour** · 23/02/2015, 1:31 AM

Remained on the bench and Southampton lost 2-0

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 05/03/2015, 5:26 PM

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.