"Midfield - I actually see myself as more of a deep-lying striker"
GULY DO PRADO will get a lot of games next year which will
pss off a relatively large percentage of the Saints fanbase who have adopted
him as a scapegoat. Why we needed a
scapegoat in a season where we got promoted is beyond me but it appears that we
have to have one. Admittedly, his form
since Christmas tailed off quite a lot and he has had some very poor games but
then so have Adam Lallana and Sir Rickie on occasions. The tactical flexibility he provides will be
needed in the Prem and his touch play and ability to play first time passes
will be invaluable. He scores his fair
share of goals, especially when pushed up front but even that’s not enough for
some. I remember one 2-0 win when he
scored both and hearing people around me saying ‘worst player on the pitch got
two goals’. He is not an out and out
striker though so he did look ropey when played as the main target man when Sir
Rickie was suspended.
RICHARD CHAPLOW started the season on the bench and didn’t
look like he was going to get much of a look in until Adam Lallana got injured
and he was put on the left wing. He
played with intelligence and knew when exactly to come off the wing and when to
stay there. Eventually switched to his
more natural right hand side and results in away games in particular, picked up
with him in the side. His injury over
Xmas coincided with our lack of form at that time. Chappers is a vital player for us, as without
him we can look a bit lethargic because he sets the tone with his energy. He also isn’t frightened of going all Bald
Psycho and sticking a foot in.
Occasionally has games when he traps the ball farther that I can kick it
and continually gives it away but more often than not, has been right on it
this year. Will play a lot next year as
his energy and tackling will be needed more.
STEVE DE RIDDER was brought in to play on the right of
midfield with the departure of Alex Chamberlain just before the season
started. The man affectionately known as
Steeeeeeve is responsible for more of my mood swings at football than any other
player. He does have the pace and
control to get himself into decent position but more often than not will pick
out a defender with metronomic accuracy.
Ipswich at home was a classic example of him at his best when he came on
and changed the game with his pace and picked out Sir Rickie with a cross and
we scored. I loved him for that and
also for the cracking goal he got against Reading to get us a point from 1-0
down. On the flip side… I wanted to
murder him against Blackpool at home when he totally butchered what would have
been the winning goal by buggering up the final pass. His pace and trickery will always give him
opportunities and we do need pace in the side but he needs a higher conversion
rate to have any chance of becoming a regular starter.
DEAN HAMMOND started the whole ball rolling with his goal
against Leeds on the opening day of the season.
A solid season from a player who many thought would be found wanting at
Championship level. I thought he
improved hugely this season and aside from the one mistake against Reading, cut
out his tendency to dally in possession.
He’s one of those players who you miss if he’s not there as he adds a
bit of physical presence which I always felt was necessary, especially in the
more feisty games. You also have to
admire him for sticking up for his mate Adam El-Abd after the Brighton away
game, even though his mate behaved like a total shitbag. I think he’ll get games next year and will
make a contribution as long as he himself believes that he’s good enough. He’s also the only player to say “fucking
brilliant” on TV so respect for that.
JACK CORK was Nigel’s number 1 target in pre-season and
showed why with a very consistent season in the centre of midfield. He was especially consistent in his
goalscoring in that he managed the same number of goals in every match he
played. There was the odd good effort
but in the main there wasn’t and it’s amusing seeing the rest of the players
retreating for the incoming goal kick every time Jack even thinks about
shooting. His primary job is of course
to win the ball and pass it and has an uncanny knack of putting himself between
the opposition player and the ball and winning it without tackling, just by
manoeuvring the opposition player off of the ball. Is also capable of hitting the killer through
ball along the ground and I reckon that if there was an award for having the
least number of poor games then Jack would be right up there. He’ll do well next year and will surely get
a chance to play at Stamford Bridge where he didn’t play when spending 14 years
at Chelsea in their totally pointless youth academy.
MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN finally had the season we always
suspected he was capable of with a string of classy performances and managing
to make a difference. He always used to
drive me nuts when he disappeared from games and didn’t use the obvious ability
that he had. Didn’t start the season in
the team but when he got in, he performed superbly. Shoved out on the right in some games to
cover Chappers injury which didn’t work but other than that he bossed games
causing Nigel to come out and praise him individually on more than one
occasion. Certainly has the ability to
be the star man in midfield next season as well. I wonder how he’ll get on against the
powerful midfielders like Tiote or Essien in the Prem but he’ll more than hold
his own against most.
JAMES WARD-PROWSE is obviously highly thought of at the club
and played a couple of cup games this season, managing to score against
Coventry in the FA Cup. Will need to
bulk up a bit but has time on his side and seems to have exactly the right
temperament to succeed. The fact that
he’s from Portsmouth and his family are all Pompey fans makes his rise with us
even more enjoyable.
ADAM LALLANA is different class and there are no limits for
him. Has loads of skill and uses that to
good effect and also works very hard to cover when we haven’t got the
ball. I thought he might get kicked off
the park this year but seems to have toughened up and can really take the pss
out of opposition full backs when he’s in the mood. It’s so good to have a player who came
through the ranks who is still at the club and has been there through the whole
journey as it’s an example for any of the Academy lads that you don’t have to
bgger off to Arsenal at the first opportunity to play in the Premier
League. The only criticism I have from
this year is that his finishing is inconsistent and the 13 goals he got is not
enough reward for his general play and the chances he gets on the end of or
creates for himself. He should have got
over 20 to be honest.
JASON PUNCHEON started the season on loan at QPR and made
two substitute appearances until January when he had a big Twitter rant at Don
Cortese which resulted in a summons for a disciplinary meeting at which I
expected him to be buried in the foundations of the new Staplewood training
centre development. Remarkably,he
apologised and was forgiven and won a recall to the first team squad. He had a couple of decent performances before
falling away again but made the squad once more and got on the pitch for the
last match of the season. A decent
player when his mind’s right and he has the opportunity in pre-season to really
press his case for inclusion in the squad next year. Could go either way to be honest.
IAGO FALQUE came in on loan from Spurs and went straight
into the team as a replacement for the injured Lallana in the home game v
Leicester. I’ve seen it written that he
wasn’t bad in this game but sorry – he was dreadful, looked like a lost little boy
and got hooked after an hour. To be fair
the whole team was shocking that day so it was a tough one to make a debut
in. Obviously has some ability and
showed it in development games but he’s been at several clubs now and has
hardly played for any of them. He’ll go
back to Spurs now and they’ll be added to the list of teams that he hasn’t
played for.
LEE HOLMES got a few games which is just about usual for him
over a season and looked decent when he came on, usually when we were 3 or 4
goals in front. He had a decent cameo
appearance at home to Watford and scored and then unsurprisingly got injured
again so didn’t capitalize on it. Could
never be relied upon to do anything when it was required and around January, it
was decided that he wouldn’t get a new contract at the end of the season so off
he went on loan to Oxford and then to Swindon where he did ok. I hope he gets to stay with them in League 1
but his four years with Saints have been a bit of a waste of time, averaging
about 5 games a season and never having an injury layoff of less than three
months.
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