Shane Long

**geysir** · 12/04/2016, 4:56 PM

When MO'N wants to start Murphy, he uses the 2 headed coin, because if chance was left to it's own devices, tails would always turn up.

**tricky_colour** · 13/04/2016, 1:12 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The Times (subscription only) had an interesting piece on Koeman this morning. He was saying how social media, headphones etc. have led to a decline in communication skills since his day, when players used to chat and play cards on long away trips. As a consequence he has drills and techniques such as passing a ball with feet while juggling a ball with hands and talking at the same time. It might be Clive Woodward-style hocus pocus but I like what I know of Koeman as a manager. I'd love him to replace Wenger.

As for Long being considered main striker? I agree that the evidence doesn't support it. Not being fit for Bosnia away and not being fully match-fit for the home leg don�t help, nor does Walters being suspended for the first game.

But I think he has done enough to put down a strong marker and is quite a bit higher up in MON's thoughts than last September or October.

Maybe the player could text each other during the match!

Walters got 5 goal in his last 8 appearance that is 0.65 goals per game.

If that does not make him our main striker I don't know who is, that is a pretty good ratio by anyone's standards.

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/04/2016, 1:25 AM

Walters is definitely one of the first names on the team sheet but Martin O Neil doesn't use him as a striker, rather as the player who moves between midfield and attack whether it's Robbie or Murphy or whoever alongside him. Long seems to have been designated the central striker role now.

**SkStu** · 16/04/2016, 2:48 PM

From a corner, Long hits the post with a near post flicked header to the far post. Lovely technique and very close to scoring.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 23/04/2016, 2:18 PM

Has broken his own record for most Premier League goals scored in a season; has a fantastic record against Villa.

**thischarmingman** · 23/04/2016, 2:55 PM

https://streamable.com/zpsu

**SkStu** · 23/04/2016, 3:06 PM

Assisted the second. Woejus back pass that he latched on to, keeper kind of pushed him a little wide and got a touch but Long turned and squared to Tadic who was left with pretty much an open goal.

**tricky_colour** · 23/04/2016, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

https://streamable.com/zpsu

Wow he makes up so much ground there, the difference in pace is unbelievable, reminds me of that Real Madrid goal the
welsh guy got name escapes me!!

Wow he is even slower than ...................... (insert name of Irish footballer you love to slag off

)

**tricky_colour** · 23/04/2016, 10:31 PM

Long had a few more chances too, hit the bar, might have had another goal but you can't put them all away.

**SkStu** · 24/04/2016, 1:01 AM

He was the BBC man of the match.

The Republic of Ireland forward scored one goal and set up two others, and also took on opposition players 20 times - more than anyone else on the pitch

He should have had three today though - that chance in the first couple minutes was glorious.

**tricky_colour** · 24/04/2016, 2:38 AM

Ruud Gullit was singing his praised on MOTD, he kept saying "I like this player I like this player!".

Shame he could not remember his name though

He spotted his goal was offside though, which is what I thought when I saw it!

Also
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/artic...n-3077406.aspx
Shane is doing a great job for the team, says Koeman

**seanfhear** · 24/04/2016, 7:18 AM

Well done Shane, he will be needed by Ireland in the summer.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/04/2016, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

He was the BBC man of the match.

He should have had three today though - that chance in the first couple minutes was glorious.

l thought he was a bit unlucky to hit the bar, side footing a volley is always hard to keep down. I'd like to have seen him score when he tried to round the keeper. Super asset though.

**Closed Account** · 24/04/2016, 4:43 PM

Strange that nobody on foot.ie ever suggested starting Shane ahead of Robbie? We are an eclectic group though.

**samhaydenjr** · 24/04/2016, 7:19 PM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Strange that nobody on foot.ie ever suggested starting Shane ahead of Robbie? We are an eclectic group though.

TOWK has been saying that for years now and I've had to defend Robbie's record against his claims that he only scores against minnows while pointing out that Long, for all his hard work and harrying of defenders, has rarely been prolific for club or country (with the exception of one season at Reading), which is what you actually want from a striker. And then there's the chicken and egg debate about him being played out of position (is his scoring rate low because he's not the main striker or is he not the main striker because his scoring rate is low?) . But now with Long averaging more than one goal in three games in the Premier League this season, I agree that TOWK is justified in saying that he is probably now our main man up front and will almost definitely be for the next campaign or two. Although, somewhat ironically, his most important goal for us came when Daryl Murphy was started ahead of him when he got to run with fresh legs at a slightly tired German defence.

**Closed Account** · 24/04/2016, 11:59 PM

My tongue was firmly in cheek.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/04/2016, 7:35 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

TOWK has been saying that for years now and I've had to defend Robbie's record against his claims that he only scores against minnows while pointing out that Long, for all his hard work and harrying of defenders, has rarely been prolific for club or country (with the exception of one season at Reading), which is what you actually want from a striker. And then there's the chicken and egg debate about him being played out of position (is his scoring rate low because he's not the main striker or is he not the main striker because his scoring rate is low?) . But now with Long averaging more than one goal in three games in the Premier League this season, I agree that TOWK is justified in saying that he is probably now our main man up front and will almost definitely be for the next campaign or two. Although, somewhat ironically, his most important goal for us came when Daryl Murphy was started ahead of him when he got to run with fresh legs at a slightly tired German defence.

Now now

**DannyInvincible** · 01/05/2016, 3:57 PM

Long scores his 13th goal of the season and his 100th in club football in putting Southampton 1-0 at home to Manchester City. He's in very good form. Great to see in the run-up to Euros.