If you are an attacking player that doesn't require marking from defenders you not only shouldn't be on the pitch, you shouldn't even be on the team. Pelle is nowhere near that bad, but the standard should be much higher. Every team we play has at least one centerback whose primary task is to prevent the opposition striker from scoring. He is supposed to be able to score or create assists despite that.
Really though, most people are moaning that the guy hasn't had a break since the start of the season, not that he's rubbish and should be dropped. I never said that Mane could replace him, hence plan B, as in not plan A which is big bloke in the box holding up the ball. If we dont have a plan B then what will be do when Pelle cops an injury. It's likely. Depsite him being built like a tank.
A fair few of our goals recently have come from balls over the top (involving Pelle or not). It offers an alternative to the intricate passing, or using the wings, if neither is paying off. We all used to moan about a lack of plan B under Poch, and now with Koeman I often see plans A, B, and C operating simultaneously. I'm afraid if we drop Pelle our attacking play may become too predictable.
I can't think of a worse fixture to rest Pelle than against West Ham! We need his aerial presence to compete with the Hammers' defence, otherwise we will have no threat whatsoever from set pieces and any crosses above waist height! He will act as a foil for the wealth of attacking, pacey players we have and we will give their defenders problems that way.
Just to stick my oar in, I think Pelle could have been playing with an ongoing injury for some time. Sometimes it bothers him badly, but he can play through it, and sometimes it barely bothers him at all or goes away for a while. I know he had a knee injury prior to the QPR home game earlier in the season, but played through it. Against QPR at Loftus Road he was limping quite badly at times throughout the game. Didn't help either when Barton came crashing in on his other leg. Yes, he isn't playing quite as well as he was, but I think it's a physical reason rather than form. Reminds me of Beatts in his last season at Saints when people said he was rubbish and yet he played for half the season with a bad knee injury and was still effective. What we need is JayRod back. Sam Gallagher is too young for the responsibility, in my opinion.
West Ham have lack of cover at central defender at present, Pelle has the physique that could cause them trouble and with Mane feeding off him and using his pace, I think we could cause them more problems than Man Utd did at the weekend.
Doesnt prove anything but we fans aren't the only ones noticing his form. http://news.bwin.com/en/football-be...ove-southampton-hitman-needs-break,68405.html
Pelle is not the only one in need of a break it seems http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/02/11/koeman-explains-why-tadic-is-feeling-down-at-southampton/? Could we be pushing them all too hard?
Pushing them too hard....the lazy bastards have only got us third. If they made the slightest effort we'd have secured the title by now!!
Indeed there are some that think that they are are a bunch of weak kneed overpaid prima-donnas anyhow.
It is amazing how we carry on doing well despite losing players we viewed as essential. Perhaps we have a bit more depth than we think...although the bench often looks frighteningly weak. A compliment to the players, but also for the manager who seems to be able to readjust the team when he has to. Good to see Toby nearing full recovery and to hear how Tadic is eager to train harder.....may not be the right thing to do, but the lad is obviously not one of those who thinks he's perfect and looks to shift the blame elsewhere.
Against these guys I'm with Clem. I'd be looking to change it up earlier than the 80th minute and get pelle off if we get a couple of goal lead. Havent had one of those in quite a while though. Perhaps thats Koemans plan. You can come off when we have a 2 goal advantage Pelle!
This ffs put tadic only the left, he is far far better on the left. I can't understand why koeman can't see it
