Premier League 2013/14 Stuff it in here!

[Matt]

Your obsession with Arsenal is weird. You remind me of Forest fans always talking about how little they care about us, but obviously the other way round.

 

Sorry.

[The Year Of The Fox]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27062091

[Guest ttfn]

Have a day off will you.

Wondering what part of what I've written you disagree with and why.

Any remotely objective analysis of the two players shows them to be very much in the same bracket:

Goals: 9 v 6

Assists: 5 v 6

Tackles per game: 1.6 v 2.3

Interceptions: 1.1 v 0.5

Shots per game: 1.9 v 3

Key passes per game: 1.9 v 1.8

Passes completed: 84% v 80%

I've deliberately not specified which player is which to emphasise my point that there is a gnat's pube between them.

[Dan]

I'd give Cardiff the three points. It'll be another reason to laugh at them when they go down.

[Grandad.]

Wondering what part of what I've written you disagree with and why.

Any remotely objective analysis of the two players shows them to be very much in the same bracket:

Goals: 9 v 6

Assists: 5 v 6

Tackles per game: 1.6 v 2.3

Interceptions: 1.1 v 0.5

Shots per game: 1.9 v 3

Key passes per game: 1.9 v 1.8

Passes completed: 84% v 80%

I've deliberately not specified which player is which to emphasise my point that there is a gnat's pube between them.

 

Lallana is nearly 26, Coutinho is nearly 22. 

 

Coutinho and Lallana are very different footballers, one is a box to box midfielder who don't get me wrong is a fantastic player, can he progress to a new level? I doubt it. The other is a number 10, can split teams open in one pass, passing range is immense for a kid of his age, can this player improve and go to the next level? Yes. 

 

Coutinho has the potential to be a world class footballer, the potential to play for Real Madrid, be a World Cup star for Brazil and go onto many personal and team awards/trophies, I'll leave you with one question, can Lallana? 

[Matt]

I guess if the PL/FA reject it they'll go off crying to the Welsh FA.

[foxfanazer]

Lallana is nearly 26, Coutinho is nearly 22.

Coutinho and Lallana are very different footballers, one is a box to box midfielder who don't get me wrong is a fantastic player, can he progress to a new level? I doubt it. The other is a number 10, can split teams open in one pass, passing range is immense for a kid of his age, can this player improve and go to the next level? Yes.

Coutinho has the potential to be a world class footballer, the potential to play for Real Madrid, be a World Cup star for Brazil and go onto many personal and team awards/trophies, I'll leave you with one question, can Lallana?

Agree with most points there. Right now though I think I'd rather have Lallana

[Grandad.]

Agree with most points there. Right now though I think I'd rather have Lallana

 

That's fair enough, you're entitled to that. 

 

Here's something for you though, if Lallana was at Liverpool right now, I don't think he would be getting in the side. 

[foxfanazer]

That's fair enough, you're entitled to that.

Here's something for you though, if Lallana was at Liverpool right now, I don't think he would be getting in the side.

No I don't think he would either. Probably the England player I'm looking forward to seeing the most at tye world cup this summer

[Guest ttfn]

Lallana is nearly 26, Coutinho is nearly 22.

Coutinho and Lallana are very different footballers, one is a box to box midfielder who don't get me wrong is a fantastic player, can he progress to a new level? I doubt it. The other is a number 10, can split teams open in one pass, passing range is immense for a kid of his age, can this player improve and go to the next level? Yes.

Coutinho has the potential to be a world class footballer, the potential to play for Real Madrid, be a World Cup star for Brazil and go onto many personal and team awards/trophies, I'll leave you with one question, can Lallana?

So now it's not "absurd" to suggest that Lallana is better than Coutinho or at least comparable?

When we are discussing two sides in the present - Liverpool's title challenge and England's team at the World Cup, then potential has absolutely nothing to do with it. I obviously wasn't talking about potential.

Clearly Coutinho has time on his side to be a better player than Lallana is and is ever likely to be.

But right now they are very closely matched, and it's far from "absurd" to suggest that Lallana is the better player at the moment (which is not what I was saying anyway, I think they're about the same).

[Finnegan]

I guess if the PL/FA reject it they'll go off crying to the Welsh FA.

That doesn't even make sense, don't be such a pratt all your life.

[Guest ttfn]

Also Lallana a "box-to-box" midfielder?!!!!!

[Grandad.]

So now it's not "absurd" to suggest that Lallana is better than Coutinho or at least comparable?

When we are discussing two sides in the present - Liverpool's title challenge and England's team at the World Cup, then potential has absolutely nothing to do with it. I obviously wasn't talking about potential.

Clearly Coutinho has time on his side to be a better player than Lallana is and is ever likely to be.

But right now they are very closely matched, and it's far from "absurd" to suggest that Lallana is the better player at the moment (which is not what I was saying anyway, I think they're about the same).

 

Well like I've said, Lallana wouldn't be starting for Liverpool right now, so to suggest he is better than a player who is starting and playing very well in a team who is top of the league then that is absurd. 

[Grandad.]

Also Lallana a "box-to-box" midfielder?!!!!!

 

He could easily be a box to box midfielder, he is just deployed in a different position to that. Playing from the left, I personally think restricts Lallana.

[Guest ttfn]

Well like I've said, Lallana wouldn't be starting for Liverpool right now, so to suggest he is better than a player who is starting and playing very well in a team who is top of the league then that is absurd.

Hang on, a minute ago you were conceding that they were of similar ability at the moment but Coutinho was going to be better in the future?

All I've done is suggest and then demonstrate that the difference between them is marginal at best. The fact that you still stick to using the word "absurd" suggests at the very least hyperbole.

To be honest, if you think Lallana:

A) Normally plays from the left and;

B) is best off as a box-to-box midfielder then you've completely lost the plot.

[Grandad.]

Hang on, a minute ago you were conceding that they were of similar ability at the moment but Coutinho was going to be better in the future?

All I've done is suggest and then demonstrate that the difference between them is marginal at best. The fact that you still stick to using the word "absurd" suggests at the very least hyperbole.

To be honest, if you think Lallana:

A) Normally plays from the left and;

B) is best off as a box-to-box midfielder then you've completely lost the plot.

 

I never once said he would be better off being a box to box midfielder, I said he could quite comfortably play that role with the attributes he does have. Pace, fitness, good tackler, passes the ball well and can get on the ball. 

 

Southampton do deploy him from the left in an attacking three, with two holding midfielders and then a striker infront of them, I think it is you who has lost the plot if you don't realise that is where Lallana plays. 

 

All I am saying is, that Lallana I think would benefit and would progress if he was playing more centrally, I think he could have a better influence on the game, a bit how Coutinho is. 

[Corky]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27062091

 

It is claimed Solskjaer said to Pulis: "I am disgusted that your head of recruitment [Moody] is texting one of my players to get our team."

Pulis allegedly responded: "Oooh I know. I didn't ask for it".

 

Tony Pulis doing his Kenneth Williams impression

[Guest ttfn]

"One is a box to box midfielder". Is that Coutinho you were talking about then? You've gone out of your way to describe him as a box-to-box midfielder when he's never played there!

Lallana plays from the left in about 1/3 of Southampton's games according to whoscored.com. They do things like map players' positions and fancy stuff like that, rather than, you know, just make stuff up.

I agree that Lallana is not clearly better and believe them to be closely matched. The stats support that viewpoint. I disagree that it is "absurd" to suggest that he's better than Coutinho, which is not what I said in the first place in any event.

[Soar Fox]

Tony Pulis has got previous for trying to find out who will be playing for the opposition.

I stayed at the Hilton Hotel near Fosse Park a few years back on a Friday night. In the bar area was Tony Pulis who was managing Plymouth at the time. We started chatting and I told him I was a Leicester fan, he then got out a little notepad and asked me who I thought would be playing for us the next day.

True story that is.

[Grandad.]

"One is a box to box midfielder". Is that Coutinho you were talking about then? You've gone out of your way to describe him as a box-to-box midfielder when he's never played there!

Lallana plays from the left in about 1/3 of Southampton's games according to whoscored.com. They do things like map players' positions and fancy stuff like that, rather than, you know, just make stuff up.

I agree that Lallana is not clearly better and believe them to be closely matched. The stats support that viewpoint. I disagree that it is "absurd" to suggest that he's better than Coutinho, which is not what I said in the first place in any event.

 

You're going on one website to determine a players position? Ok, well Sky Sports say he is a left midfielder? That's how ridiculous this argument can get, face it, he plays from the left, I think even the majority will tell you that. Where did Lallana play when he came on for England recently v Denmark? It wasn't from the left was it? 

 

Player maps are going to suggest he plays more in field because he will come inside to allow Luke Shaw to bomb on, have you actually seen Southampton play this season? How Southampton start a game is with Lallana on the left, he will drift in and out, but his position is on the left of an attacking three supporting the striker. 

 

I referred to him as a box to box player because that is what I believe he can be, like I have said in a few posts. I do think in the position where he is played right now for Southampton isn't getting the best out of him. I think centrally he would be better, so he can influence games even more, dictate play and contribute more. That's how he can progress, being a glorified winger for Southampton isn't going to help him progress. 

 

I wouldn't mind him coming to Liverpool, under Rodgers he could excel. Playing him in the role that Henderson has made his own this season, Lallana would be more than capable of playing that 'box to box' role and add more quality, he would need guiding and adjusting to that role first. 

[Guest MattP]

Tony Pulis has got previous for trying to find out who will be playing for the opposition.

I stayed at the Hilton Hotel near Fosse Park a few years back on a Friday night. In the bar area was Tony Pulis who was managing Plymouth at the time. We started chatting and I told him I was a Leicester fan, he then got out a little notepad and asked me who I thought would be playing for us the next day.

True story that is.

 

 

Great stuff, I actually like that. I'd rather have them behaving like that that whinging, moaning and not engaging the general public.

[Grandad.]

 

Great stuff, I actually like that. I'd rather have them behaving like that that whinging, moaning and not engaging the general public.

 

Yeah but what we all want to know really is Matt, did Walshy inform him on anything and did Pulis buy you a drink?!

 

AND!!

 

Why were you in there on a Friday night, shagging?

[Manwell Pablo]

Tony Pulis has got previous for trying to find out who will be playing for the opposition.

I stayed at the Hilton Hotel near Fosse Park a few years back on a Friday night. In the bar area was Tony Pulis who was managing Plymouth at the time. We started chatting and I told him I was a Leicester fan, he then got out a little notepad and asked me who I thought would be playing for us the next day.

True story that is.

 

 

[Soar Fox]

Yeah but what we all want to know really is Matt, did Walshy inform him on anything and did Pulis buy you a drink?!

AND!!

Why were you in there on a Friday night, shagging?

We had that much dross playing for us at the time he didn't need informing about anything. No he didn't buy me a drink, but Lillian Nalis offered me one. I think he appreciated me telling him his goal against Leeds was the best I'd seen at the walkers.

Yes I was shagging, unfortunately at the time it was only the girl I was seeing.

[One Legged Beaver]

I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure Southampton set up with Rodriguez on the left, Davis/Ramirez on the right and Lallana in more of a free role? Although I do also believe he has now been pushed out to more of the coming in off the left role as mentioned post-Rodriguez's injury.