I think that game goes to show how important the 'workmanlike' players are (a lot of the time I believe they're referred to on here as 'championship') - but the Southampton squad is actual Championship level. You build on a solid base, and that allows your show ponies to look flash and impressive. Pellegrini fell apart with this at WH; the obsession with Ozil and Aubemayang will do the same for Arteta at Arse; City are dropping points without their consistent players; 'Pool are playing worse but winning more games?
We will be better when the likes of Davies is back in, and this also evidences the importance of Sissoko and Son. Son is no flash player, just gives 100% all the time which, in his position, makes it look good because 100% intensity and goals from a WF.
Consistent performance means you know what you're getting and can plan tactically. It also explains why Lloris is better than Gazza - makes less mistakes; Trippier was better than Aurier; Aurier better than Foyth etcetera.
We could probably also reflect on how poor most of the rest of the Prem is. The weaker teams have got better (ie, better coached, better defensively, and the TV money means they're able to buy a better standard of mid-table player) - it's the other end, the top end - where we are - that players are hard to find.
That was a hard watch, though and I'm not sure we have enough solid 7/10s day-in-day-out to perform for Jose at the moment. Kane / Alli are our star-turns - do we see consistency elsewhere (of a reasonable standard)?
We will be better when the likes of Davies is back in, and this also evidences the importance of Sissoko and Son. Son is no flash player, just gives 100% all the time which, in his position, makes it look good because 100% intensity and goals from a WF.
Consistent performance means you know what you're getting and can plan tactically. It also explains why Lloris is better than Gazza - makes less mistakes; Trippier was better than Aurier; Aurier better than Foyth etcetera.
We could probably also reflect on how poor most of the rest of the Prem is. The weaker teams have got better (ie, better coached, better defensively, and the TV money means they're able to buy a better standard of mid-table player) - it's the other end, the top end - where we are - that players are hard to find.
That was a hard watch, though and I'm not sure we have enough solid 7/10s day-in-day-out to perform for Jose at the moment. Kane / Alli are our star-turns - do we see consistency elsewhere (of a reasonable standard)?
