Puel should go immediately, and half of yesterdays team should go at end of season.
Puel could not have one a worse job if he had tried.
Dont dislike him as a person, but as a manager for our club he has been (just as southampton fans predicted)
dreadfull.
Actually we played with 2 defensive midfielders - Choudhury and James.
Albrighton made a bad mistake but he’s not a right back is he? Shouldn’t have even been in that position.
We know the squad depth isn’t good enough, been saying it for months but Claude did himself no favours yesterday and has put pressure back on himself
Are you saying Puel didn't play our best striker costing us potential progress to the next round to "send a message"?
Just re-read this and the bias towards Puel is laughable, why would he think playing Matty James and bringing on Andy King would be a good idea?
Question: What did Puel do yesterday that any other manager wouldn't have done? Pretty much every team in the Premier League sticks out their reserves for this kind of fixture. Disregard for a moment whether they should - they do. The only real "mistake" Puel made yesterday was to play Matty James, who didn't look fit, didn't influence the game at all and left Choudhury with a whole midfield to marshal on his own.
There was enough alleged talent on the pitch yesterday to win that match. Yet at the beginning I was wondering who was going to put the ball in the net, then we saw chance after gilt-edged chance squandered. Ghezzal, Okazaki (twice), Maddison, all should have put the ball in the net. Iheanacho didn't receive a great chance himself but looked utterly gormless throughout. Morgan looked half asleep, as did Simpson. Barely anyone knew how to control or pass a ball. It took us over 80 minutes to break down a League 2 side with a dodgy defence, and they looked the more likely to double their lead for much of it.
This was an occasion where, for me, the players take the blame. Their basic footballing ability was decidedly poor and many of them embarrassed themselves. If I was the owner, the list I'd be making this morning wouldn't be new managerial candidates, it'd be a list of half a dozen players who need replacing.
What did puel do yesterday that any other manager wouldn’t have done?
Probably set up with two defensive midfielders against Newport County for a start
Secondly he made an aberration of a substitution when we were 1-0 down and chasing the game - he decides to bring Andy King on?!!
Thirdly - he started Matty James
There’s 3 things I can think of straight off the bat. He’s ultimately responsible for results - don’t forget that
Also Man City and Spurs fielded strong teams against lower league opposition, and they have more to play for.
I'm not buying that Puel wasn't at fault.
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
Nev,
There are mitigating factors, but that game did nothing to help my PTAD and come over to your side of the fence. We could, and should, have won – even with that team – and, but for Albrighton’s aberration, we would have got the draw.
But Puel will have to take a fair amount of criticism today. I always think with reserve teams that the most important thing is the balance of the team – and that team lacked the guile and creativity required in the final third. I’m not sure what Hamza and James are if they’re not defensive midfielders. Simpson and Fuchs are also much more defensive than Chilwell and Pereira. Even Morgan and Evans are more defensive than Maguire and Soyuncu. So there are bound to be questions asked about the approach when we lose.
However, I still have some sympathy for Puel where overs don’t. If we have quality in depth then why are Ian and Okazaki still starting matches for us? Ian needs to be shipped out on loan and Okazaki let go with a massive thank you for providing the industry and platform that allowed better players to perform in 2015/16.
Albrighton is still our best winger (if we count Pereira as a RB). Reliable, consistent, but lacks the quality in the final third to ever be great. Gray is another who probably needs to go out and get regular football at a lower level. We then start to look at players like Ghezzal and, wherever he’s gone, Diabate. Really? It’s this lack of quality that make us all desperate for Harvey Barnes to prove he’s the real deal.
Then you look at midfield. We’ve needed better than James and King for god knows how long. If Iborra and Silva aren’t the answer then we need something else. N’didi is still a youngster and has lapsed this season – probably under the weight of carrying the team for the previous two seasons. Similar to Barnes we’re now looking at Choudhury as being the great hope for the future – big pressure on a kid that’s just broken in to the first team.
Maddison is a great signing for the future and Vardy is still carrying us from a striker’s perspective and we have good, solid, premier league players across the team. But I still think we lack that guile and quality that we need - even before Puel’s tactics squeeze the remaining creativity out of the side. For those who disagree then please respond on where they think our creativity is coming from in the midfield and wide positions and, most importantly, up front beyond Vardy. Chilwell and Pereira as rampaging full backs is one possible answer (although I still think the former needs to work on his distribution in the final third).
We’ve spent money, no doubt, but I still don’t see that the squad (squad, not team) has evolved to where it needs to be.
Man City and Spurs /have/ strong teams by definition. Spurs' reserve striker bagged a hattrick.
The last substitution was one that probably should have happened after 30 minutes when James was blowing out of his backside, let alone 75. And the alternative was Mendy, who is certainly not more attacking than King. The player we needed yesterday was Iborra, but he's leaving.
I'm not saying Puel wasn't at fault at all - he picks the side, he's responsible for the coaching, he is judged by results. But I still don't see really what he did yesterday that other managers wouldn't have done - even as far as picking a "favourite" in Matty James that he shouldn't have done.
As for picking two defensive midfielders, the way Newport were cutting us open in the first half more suggested that he needed another rather than fewer.
Spurtle - He was probably mentally exhausted from having to do the thinking, running and passing for the entire team while the rest looked on like confused Iheanachos.
comment by The Artist formerly known as Black Starr (U12353)
posted 44 minutes ago
Albrighton made a bad mistake but he’s not a right back is he? Shouldn’t have even been in that position.
^
This
Secondly he made an aberration of a substitution when we were 1-0 down and chasing the game - he decides to bring Andy King on?!!
^
and this (sorry Dunge)
Thirdly - he started Matty James
^
and this
The options on the bench could have been better, no Vardy, or Silva?
Silva's going; Vardy's nursing an injury and they wanted him rested. People are having a go at the King substitution like there was some magical solution on the bench that Puel was ignoring. Like he told Vardy "Don't bother warming up, King's got this."
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 23 seconds ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That response made me chuckle
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was trying to signal to Puel that he’s a right winger and the ball must have hit him
Ricardo is a better option than Andy King, never mind an Andy King that hasn't played in about 8 months.
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
Silva's going; Vardy's nursing an injury and they wanted him rested. People are having a go at the King substitution like there was some magical solution on the bench that Puel was ignoring. Like he told Vardy "Don't bother warming up, King's got this."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silva is still a Leicester player and there is no transfer in place, he may not leave at all. That would have been a far better option to have on the bench than Andy King. I mean why even make that substitution?
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
BS - My interpretation of the Silva situation (and Iborra come to that) is that Puel wouldn't be convinced that they'd give 100%. They're professionals, sure; but that doesn't mean that their heads are in the right place for that match. I can completely understand them not being in the squad.
As for why make the substitution, James should have been subbed a long time previously anyway; at least King had fresher legs and a much better scoring record. The alternative was Mendy, but he's not going to score either.
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 44 seconds ago
BS - My interpretation of the Silva situation (and Iborra come to that) is that Puel wouldn't be convinced that they'd give 100%. They're professionals, sure; but that doesn't mean that their heads are in the right place for that match. I can completely understand them not being in the squad.
As for why make the substitution, James should have been subbed a long time previously anyway; at least King had fresher legs and a much better scoring record. The alternative was Mendy, but he's not going to score either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the alternative was to have a stronger bench.
Silva and Iborra situations are pretty different. Iborra is in Spain arranging a transfer. Silva right now has no transfer option on the table and is a Leicester player who is playing in the reserves. He probably wants competitive football I would have thought.
You have to use your squad, even if players are likely to leave.
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Puel could have brought himself on and he would have been more effective than Matty James.
I agree with you Dunge. It’s not necessarily the substitution that’s questionable, but the decision to start James in the first place.
My take on it is that he’s already told King that he’s surplus to requirements so there was some logic in starting a player who still has a future here rather than one that hasn’t.
My bigger concern is: how the Hell are we in this position again when we’re talking about who’s best out of James and King. If that’s not evidence of failed recruitment then I don’t know what is!!!!!!
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 5 minutes ago
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ricardo can be utilised on the right wing - I wouldn’t have thought YH would be thinking of bringing on a right back when we are chasing a game
BS - In that case, he would have taken off Ghezzal, who scored the goal. Or Albrighton, who had been easily our best and most enthusiastic player up to that point. And we'd still have Matty James on the pitch with as much energy as... well, me to be frank.
As for Silva, I still maintain that if his head isn't in the right place (and it probably isn't) then the manager's right not to include him regardless of whether he's actually getting a transfer or not. One thing you can guarantee from King is that he'll try for you.
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That was fun not.
Page 1 of 3
posted on 7/1/19
Puel should go immediately, and half of yesterdays team should go at end of season.
Puel could not have one a worse job if he had tried.
Dont dislike him as a person, but as a manager for our club he has been (just as southampton fans predicted)
dreadfull.
posted on 7/1/19
Actually we played with 2 defensive midfielders - Choudhury and James.
Albrighton made a bad mistake but he’s not a right back is he? Shouldn’t have even been in that position.
We know the squad depth isn’t good enough, been saying it for months but Claude did himself no favours yesterday and has put pressure back on himself
posted on 7/1/19
Are you saying Puel didn't play our best striker costing us potential progress to the next round to "send a message"?
posted on 7/1/19
Just re-read this and the bias towards Puel is laughable, why would he think playing Matty James and bringing on Andy King would be a good idea?
posted on 7/1/19
Question: What did Puel do yesterday that any other manager wouldn't have done? Pretty much every team in the Premier League sticks out their reserves for this kind of fixture. Disregard for a moment whether they should - they do. The only real "mistake" Puel made yesterday was to play Matty James, who didn't look fit, didn't influence the game at all and left Choudhury with a whole midfield to marshal on his own.
There was enough alleged talent on the pitch yesterday to win that match. Yet at the beginning I was wondering who was going to put the ball in the net, then we saw chance after gilt-edged chance squandered. Ghezzal, Okazaki (twice), Maddison, all should have put the ball in the net. Iheanacho didn't receive a great chance himself but looked utterly gormless throughout. Morgan looked half asleep, as did Simpson. Barely anyone knew how to control or pass a ball. It took us over 80 minutes to break down a League 2 side with a dodgy defence, and they looked the more likely to double their lead for much of it.
This was an occasion where, for me, the players take the blame. Their basic footballing ability was decidedly poor and many of them embarrassed themselves. If I was the owner, the list I'd be making this morning wouldn't be new managerial candidates, it'd be a list of half a dozen players who need replacing.
posted on 7/1/19
What did puel do yesterday that any other manager wouldn’t have done?
Probably set up with two defensive midfielders against Newport County for a start
Secondly he made an aberration of a substitution when we were 1-0 down and chasing the game - he decides to bring Andy King on?!!
Thirdly - he started Matty James
There’s 3 things I can think of straight off the bat. He’s ultimately responsible for results - don’t forget that
posted on 7/1/19
Also Man City and Spurs fielded strong teams against lower league opposition, and they have more to play for.
I'm not buying that Puel wasn't at fault.
posted on 7/1/19
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
posted on 7/1/19
Nev,
There are mitigating factors, but that game did nothing to help my PTAD and come over to your side of the fence. We could, and should, have won – even with that team – and, but for Albrighton’s aberration, we would have got the draw.
But Puel will have to take a fair amount of criticism today. I always think with reserve teams that the most important thing is the balance of the team – and that team lacked the guile and creativity required in the final third. I’m not sure what Hamza and James are if they’re not defensive midfielders. Simpson and Fuchs are also much more defensive than Chilwell and Pereira. Even Morgan and Evans are more defensive than Maguire and Soyuncu. So there are bound to be questions asked about the approach when we lose.
However, I still have some sympathy for Puel where overs don’t. If we have quality in depth then why are Ian and Okazaki still starting matches for us? Ian needs to be shipped out on loan and Okazaki let go with a massive thank you for providing the industry and platform that allowed better players to perform in 2015/16.
Albrighton is still our best winger (if we count Pereira as a RB). Reliable, consistent, but lacks the quality in the final third to ever be great. Gray is another who probably needs to go out and get regular football at a lower level. We then start to look at players like Ghezzal and, wherever he’s gone, Diabate. Really? It’s this lack of quality that make us all desperate for Harvey Barnes to prove he’s the real deal.
Then you look at midfield. We’ve needed better than James and King for god knows how long. If Iborra and Silva aren’t the answer then we need something else. N’didi is still a youngster and has lapsed this season – probably under the weight of carrying the team for the previous two seasons. Similar to Barnes we’re now looking at Choudhury as being the great hope for the future – big pressure on a kid that’s just broken in to the first team.
Maddison is a great signing for the future and Vardy is still carrying us from a striker’s perspective and we have good, solid, premier league players across the team. But I still think we lack that guile and quality that we need - even before Puel’s tactics squeeze the remaining creativity out of the side. For those who disagree then please respond on where they think our creativity is coming from in the midfield and wide positions and, most importantly, up front beyond Vardy. Chilwell and Pereira as rampaging full backs is one possible answer (although I still think the former needs to work on his distribution in the final third).
We’ve spent money, no doubt, but I still don’t see that the squad (squad, not team) has evolved to where it needs to be.
posted on 7/1/19
Man City and Spurs /have/ strong teams by definition. Spurs' reserve striker bagged a hattrick.
The last substitution was one that probably should have happened after 30 minutes when James was blowing out of his backside, let alone 75. And the alternative was Mendy, who is certainly not more attacking than King. The player we needed yesterday was Iborra, but he's leaving.
I'm not saying Puel wasn't at fault at all - he picks the side, he's responsible for the coaching, he is judged by results. But I still don't see really what he did yesterday that other managers wouldn't have done - even as far as picking a "favourite" in Matty James that he shouldn't have done.
As for picking two defensive midfielders, the way Newport were cutting us open in the first half more suggested that he needed another rather than fewer.
posted on 7/1/19
Spurtle - He was probably mentally exhausted from having to do the thinking, running and passing for the entire team while the rest looked on like confused Iheanachos.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by The Artist formerly known as Black Starr (U12353)
posted 44 minutes ago
Albrighton made a bad mistake but he’s not a right back is he? Shouldn’t have even been in that position.
^
This
Secondly he made an aberration of a substitution when we were 1-0 down and chasing the game - he decides to bring Andy King on?!!
^
and this (sorry Dunge)
Thirdly - he started Matty James
^
and this
posted on 7/1/19
The options on the bench could have been better, no Vardy, or Silva?
posted on 7/1/19
Silva's going; Vardy's nursing an injury and they wanted him rested. People are having a go at the King substitution like there was some magical solution on the bench that Puel was ignoring. Like he told Vardy "Don't bother warming up, King's got this."
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 23 seconds ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That response made me chuckle
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
Seems to me Albrighton was most at blame. What was he thinking?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably wondering why he was playing at right back?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was trying to signal to Puel that he’s a right winger and the ball must have hit him
posted on 7/1/19
Ricardo is a better option than Andy King, never mind an Andy King that hasn't played in about 8 months.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
Silva's going; Vardy's nursing an injury and they wanted him rested. People are having a go at the King substitution like there was some magical solution on the bench that Puel was ignoring. Like he told Vardy "Don't bother warming up, King's got this."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silva is still a Leicester player and there is no transfer in place, he may not leave at all. That would have been a far better option to have on the bench than Andy King. I mean why even make that substitution?
posted on 7/1/19
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
posted on 7/1/19
BS - My interpretation of the Silva situation (and Iborra come to that) is that Puel wouldn't be convinced that they'd give 100%. They're professionals, sure; but that doesn't mean that their heads are in the right place for that match. I can completely understand them not being in the squad.
As for why make the substitution, James should have been subbed a long time previously anyway; at least King had fresher legs and a much better scoring record. The alternative was Mendy, but he's not going to score either.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 44 seconds ago
BS - My interpretation of the Silva situation (and Iborra come to that) is that Puel wouldn't be convinced that they'd give 100%. They're professionals, sure; but that doesn't mean that their heads are in the right place for that match. I can completely understand them not being in the squad.
As for why make the substitution, James should have been subbed a long time previously anyway; at least King had fresher legs and a much better scoring record. The alternative was Mendy, but he's not going to score either.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the alternative was to have a stronger bench.
Silva and Iborra situations are pretty different. Iborra is in Spain arranging a transfer. Silva right now has no transfer option on the table and is a Leicester player who is playing in the reserves. He probably wants competitive football I would have thought.
You have to use your squad, even if players are likely to leave.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Puel could have brought himself on and he would have been more effective than Matty James.
I agree with you Dunge. It’s not necessarily the substitution that’s questionable, but the decision to start James in the first place.
My take on it is that he’s already told King that he’s surplus to requirements so there was some logic in starting a player who still has a future here rather than one that hasn’t.
My bigger concern is: how the Hell are we in this position again when we’re talking about who’s best out of James and King. If that’s not evidence of failed recruitment then I don’t know what is!!!!!!
posted on 7/1/19
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 5 minutes ago
YH - You're essentially saying there that your solution is to take off Matty James and bring on a right back. What's the formation then? Because that then looks like a confused mess to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ricardo can be utilised on the right wing - I wouldn’t have thought YH would be thinking of bringing on a right back when we are chasing a game
posted on 7/1/19
BS - In that case, he would have taken off Ghezzal, who scored the goal. Or Albrighton, who had been easily our best and most enthusiastic player up to that point. And we'd still have Matty James on the pitch with as much energy as... well, me to be frank.
As for Silva, I still maintain that if his head isn't in the right place (and it probably isn't) then the manager's right not to include him regardless of whether he's actually getting a transfer or not. One thing you can guarantee from King is that he'll try for you.
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