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The llama

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Judge Jules said:
Lallana's ability has always been there, but I don't remember seeing him doing so much sheer running for Southampton. On the contrary, when we bought him some Southampton fans were quoted on here and in the media saying he was a 70-minute player, or words to that effect. If he's developing (or revealing) a good engine to go with his skill, we really have got ourselves a player here.
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JJ - I actually posted a riposte to those sentiments at the time. Basically Lallana's kms run per match stats last season virtually matched Henderson's ... and that it was insane for some to say he didn't have the legs (or the pace .. at the WC he was actually listed as one of the fastest measured in the group stages, though even he himself doesn't agree he is that pacey).
 
He reminds me of Suarez the way he controls and runs with the ball, he sometimes looks like he's tripping over the ball, but he's actually got it perfectly under control.
 
I think he's been very good, but only time will tell if he can keep this level of performance up. He has had a handful of headless chicken moments, but those are far outweighed by the positives.

There's a decent amount of hyperbole in this thread, but that's mostly due to us looking pretty horrid to start the season and emphasizing on the bright spots.
 
It's not very often a player's personal highlights come to 7 minutes - some level of involvement.

Reminds me a little of Yossi Benanoon in terms of his playing style.
 
Judge Jules said:
Lallana's ability has always been there, but I don't remember seeing him doing so much sheer running for Southampton. On the contrary, when we bought him some Southampton fans were quoted on here and in the media saying he was a 70-minute player, or words to that effect. If he's developing (or revealing) a good engine to go with his skill, we really have got ourselves a player here.
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Only Henderson covered more ground than Lallana last season according to the stats.
 
I really hoped having both Lallana and Coutinho on the pitch at the same time would create this immense hub of creativity (like having Xavi and Iniesta at the same time, or Silva and Nasri), but to my disappointment that hasn't happened yet. In fact, I fail to register any sign of chemistry between the two so far. It's probably mostly Coutinho's fault; I suspect that at this point, signing a strong competitor in his position made Coutinho go back into his shell more rather than spurring him to find a new level. He needs to change his attitude. On their talent alone, those two could rip defenses apart if they wanted.
 
rurikbird said:
I really hoped having both Lallana and Coutinho on the pitch at the same time would create this immense hub of creativity (like having Xavi and Iniesta at the same time, or Silva and Nasri), but to my disappointment that hasn't happened yet. In fact, I fail to register any sign of chemistry between the two so far. It's probably mostly Coutinho's fault, I suspect adding competition in his position made him go back into his shell more rather than spurring him to find a new level. He needs to change his attitude.
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The problem is the movement above them, It's clear as day. Coutinho doesn't produce numbers, he's more of an deep playmaker and Lallana isn't Messi either, so you can't really expect both of them to get goals by themselves.
 
Nir.Barak said:
The problem is the movement above them, It's clear as day. Coutinho doesn't produce numbers, he's more of an deep playmaker and Lallana isn't Messi either, so you can't really expect both of them to get goals by themselves.
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Xavi and Iniesta don't score much either, neither do Silva and Nasri. Actually last season Lallana already had already pretty good scoring numbers for a playmaker and Coutinho was not far behind. But where is the creativity? Where are all these elegant one-twos and one-touch passes between the two playmakers? They are both more than capable, but from my memory of our recent games, they hardly passed to each other.

To his credit, Lallana from his first appearance in the red shirt, even when he was woefully out of fitness, was trying to build connections with other players and bring them in the game. Now that he is stationed on the left, he's built a pretty good understanding with Moreno, for instance. Whereas Coutinho, who had such good chemistry with Sturridge and Suarez and Hendo last season, doesn't seem to want to pass to anybody these days. He should be having fun playing with a skillful partner like Lallana, not trying to prove he is better than everybody else.
 
Do people really need to see a few more games to know he's a good player?

Don't quality players just look, well, quality? I just watch him play and think oh well there's a fucking top footballer I don't need to worry about.
 
rurikbird said:
I really hoped having both Lallana and Coutinho on the pitch at the same time would create this immense hub of creativity (like having Xavi and Iniesta at the same time, or Silva and Nasri), but to my disappointment that hasn't happened yet. In fact, I fail to register any sign of chemistry between the two so far. It's probably mostly Coutinho's fault; I suspect that at this point, signing a strong competitor in his position made Coutinho go back into his shell more rather than spurring him to find a new level. He needs to change his attitude. On their talent alone, those two could rip defenses apart if they wanted.
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The problem, IMHO, isn't with Coutinho and/or Lallana, it's with the lack of runners through the channels. No-one is sitting on the defenders shoulders and so opposition defences are moving higher up the pitch.
 
For 20m, Modo thinks we could do better than Lalana. That is what i got from his posting. So fairdos until Lalana proved himself by Dec. That will answer his question. I hope Lalana will do well. Our games are getting better with his fitness improving.
 
If we had Suarez in this team ...we would likely win the league.

We have made some good additions like Lallana, Moreno and Can (yes he hasnt played much but i have decided he is boss). In Balo we have that striker who can bring something completely (well at least in theory).

Its just that Suarez is such a massive loss, we need to improve elsewhere significantly. Hopefully Valdes can be that improvement we seek...
 
He's been good but his defensive positioning is quite poor and sometimes he's a headless chicken a'la Berger when trying to press.
 
keniget said:
I was going to say that too but felt a bit unkind as it's early days still for Lallana and I think Yossi got a bad deal on here at times. Overall he was a good signing (even though I was against it beforehand) and put up some decent numbers.
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I loved Yossi. I've said it a thousand times but I loved his ability to carry the ball into advanced positions for us. I have no idea why we left him go. I think he agreed to join Chelsea during the last few months of Rafa reign and kept his word to them. Odd career choices for him. He moved to Chelsea (didn't feature), loaned to Arsenal (didn't feature) and I'm not even sure where he's playing now.
 
ILD said:
I loved Yossi. I've said it a thousand times but I loved his ability to carry the ball into advanced positions for us. I have no idea why we left him go. I think he agreed to join Chelsea during the last few months of Rafa reign and kept his word to them. Odd career choices for him. He moved to Chelsea (didn't feature), loaned to Arsenal (didn't feature) and I'm not even sure where he's playing now.
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He was inconsistent.
He did nothing without the ball.
He was a liability defensively.
He didn't score enough goals.
He was redundant at attacking and defending set pieces.
He was a nice-to-have at best.
We had far better players ahead of him.
He was getting progressively worse.
He didn't really do it enough against the top sides.
 
I said I loved his ability to carry the ball. I didn't imply he was Eden Hazard or someone of that ilk. He cost 5 million and we definitely got our money's worth. I don't think many of us wanted him to leave in the end. Rafa told him he could find a new club and he did.

I really did like him as a player but I do agree he was too inconsistent at times on the left wing for us. That late Fulham goal always sticks out in my mind though. Also, his brace against Arsenal in the 4-4 draw and his Madrid winning header.
 
Finding his feet. Good technique, good footballing brain, will to win, works hard. Once he's fully on the same wavelength he'll really shine. Looking forward to seeing him with Sturridge.
 
One small criticism of Lallana so far is that he didn't demonstrate an ability to pick a killer defense-splitting through ball yet, like the ones Coutinho likes to do. There were a few times this season I saw him settle for a "good" pass forward when there was also a "great" pass available. Too early to judge and we might still see this dimension from him.
 
ILD said:
I loved Yossi. I've said it a thousand times but I loved his ability to carry the ball into advanced positions for us. I have no idea why we left him go. I think he agreed to join Chelsea during the last few months of Rafa reign and kept his word to them. Odd career choices for him. He moved to Chelsea (didn't feature), loaned to Arsenal (didn't feature) and I'm not even sure where he's playing now.
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He's playing now for Maccabi Haifa - probably his penultimate, or last, season ... I may go watch them (they have a lovely new stadium) just to see him play one more time
 
Ryan said:
He was inconsistent.
He did nothing without the ball.
He was a liability defensively.
He didn't score enough goals.
He was redundant at attacking and defending set pieces.
He was a nice-to-have at best.
We had far better players ahead of him.
He was getting progressively worse.
He didn't really do it enough against the top sides.
Click to expand...

But boy oh boy does that one header off Aurelio's FK at the Bernebau still stick out fondly ...
 
rurikbird said:
One small criticism of Lallana so far is that he didn't demonstrate an ability to pick a killer defense-splitting through ball yet, like the ones Coutinho likes to do. There were a few times this season I saw him settle for a "good" pass forward when there was also a "great" pass available. Too early to judge and we might still see this dimension from him.
Click to expand...

There hasnt been much movement infront of him though. When Studge is back this will all change imho.
 
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