Match Day Thread Southampton vs Arsenal 10/05/2017 KO 7:45PM

Do that and he'd roll around like you'd broken his leg.

 

Haha, it does seem to be getting worse!

 

Any particular reason?

Whilst I often find him frustrating, he is without doubt our most creative, mercurial player. You have mentioned more than once on the Liverpool thread, that you find our style of play boring. Yet you want to drop our second most exciting player?

 

He hasn't been creative or mercurial of late in my opinion. He is the most frustrating player in our squad, mainly because he can be so good but unfortunately he is extremely inconsistent. The Tadic we saw at the start of the season is the type of player that can spin a game on its head with one clever pass or turn. Recently we have seen a player that has slowed play down and been hesitant with the ball at his feet.

I think Redmond and JWP have been better this season and whilst I don't think Boufal has shown more than Tadic, I think he needs a chance and that the end of the season is a good time to give him one.

 

That's exactly why I wouldn't drop him, because he can do that. Even though he you don't know when he'll do that and when he'll slow down play. He had a couple of sublime moments against Chelsea, and came closest to creating something yesterday.

I agree that Boufal needs game time.

 

I think perhaps dropping him may kick him into gear. He clearly feels as if he is one of the best players at the club, as he went to the press about getting subbed off, so it's time he played like one on a consistent basis. If we dropped him for a couple of games he might realise he needs to perform at his best consistently.

 

DTLW's coming home!

 

Make sure you wash off the Gooner taint first DTLW

 

We need to give Boufal more game time because he'll be replacing Bertrand next season!

 

No new injuries. Maybe some tiredness. Will see if Targett and Austin fit enough to take part before end of season.

 

VVD starting to get fit for for next season with Saints. "He's our captain and he is important for us". Journalist checked he would be getting fit for Saints not someone else - twice. Confirmed by Claude - twice.

Here we go again.

 

Good to see Austin and Targett back....bit dodgy when Charlie was tackled.

 

We always seem fated with record signings who either get injured or fail to live up to the hype. Boufal is frustrating as it is clear that he has skill in abundance but doesn't seem to be able to understand how to function within the squad. He has been a disappointment but he won't improve if left out of the squad. I can understand the logic of selecting him with little to really play for this season and , if I was Puel, I would want him to go out and express himself including demonstrating that he is a team player. Tadic has been inconsistent this season and turned in some poor performances after appearing to be revitalised by the new management team at the beginning of the season.

Not sure where the logic of him replacing Bertrand comes in to this argument.

 

Twas a quip, cos he's been defending a lot (and quite well) in the last 2 games!

 

Ignoring the second half of your sentence as I'm sure you didn't mean it, I agree that Boufal needs more game time. He came to Saints injured and although he came out of the blocks with two wonder goals, I think he has found it troublesome getting the pace and rhythm of the PL, plus he's been injured during the season too. Now that Saints are safe I would play Boufal as long as I could, without damaging the team performance overall. Eventually, I believe it will pay dividends. He's capable of fantastic skill and entertainment so I'm more than happy to give him every chance to let it shine. Just recalling that Cruyff turn and flick of the ball he did on the run, which bamboozled three Arsenal defenders just makes me want more.

 

exactly

 

Yeah yeah! Everyone seems to know the score, they've heard it all before....

 

Time to go old school, 442 with Long helping Gabbi, Redmond and JWP out wide and Pierre with Romeu.