Saints go marching on to Spurs

Player power as you say is just the way it is. I don't agree with it but it is not going to change. We have been victims of it so I cannot complain if and when we benefit from it.

 

If you look at Jay's record, I am sure you will discover that he is hardly the prolific forward some are, perhaps, billing him to be.

Don't get me wrong I think he is a decent player who enjoyed an OUTSTANDING season playing under a manager who's free-flowing, and interchangeable, system allowed him to flourish, but last term was very much a one-off in that regard.

I mean, lets face it, Southampton - like Jay - were a bit of a surprise package last term in terms of both ability, and consistency.

So while few tipped the Saints to be riding high throughout the course of the last campaign, I don't think ANYBODY predicted Rodriguez would produce the kind of goal return/performances he did - including the opposition.

Now JR's confidence was at such a level, last year, that he was able to capitalise on that extra yard, or two, of space he was afforded by the opposition, and make them pay. But next year he WON'T have that luxury.Next year he WON't be so underestimated. Next year, he will be identified by the opposition as a REAL threat, and as a result people will know what to expect!

I suppose what I'm saying is that I am NOT convinced that Jay has the skill-set to adapt, find alternatives, and up his game. I'm concerned, slightly, that the kid might of had best ever season already, and Spurs may be making the mistake of buying a player on the back of one good campaign.

Jay was EXCELLENT last term, I give him that. But I also look at the fact that:

• His confidence was sky high, playing in a team where nothing major was, ever ,really EXPECTED from him, as far as he own support was concerned.

• He was virtually guaranteed a spot in the starting 11, which significantly contributed to the confidence he had, due to the quality and depth of their squad. That would NOT be the case at Spurs, presumably. We don't know how he would respond to maybe spending a considerable amount of time on the bench.

• He has just recovered from a fairly serious injury. What shape will he be in? How will that confidence I keep mentioning be affected by the mental scars of the injury? Especially whilst trying to force his way into a new set-up.

To be honest, I could continue raising question marks about the potential signing of Jay, but I think you probably get the idea by now.

The truth is Rodriguez was superb playing under a manager who set-up his team in a certain way, and never dropped him. Fair enough, Jay, well done.

But when I look at the quality of player Spurs ALREADY have in the positions Jay plays in, I can't help but wonder what they could do playing in a similarly, free-flowing and interchangeable system, once they adapt completely to the managers demands.

I have always said, I don't believe we have seen the best of the likes of Lennon in a Spurs shirt despite the length of time he has been at the club. Well, I WANT to see what he can do operating in Pochettino's chosen style of play, as I believe he is perfect for it. The same goes for the likes of Chadli, Townsend, Eriksen, Holtby, Dembele (Cebellos also looks like he could be handy as a squad/young player) and Lamela.

Spurs are well-stocked in those forward positions. And unless someone leaves, I can't see any reason for buying bringing in another body in that, particular, area of the field.

Bar Lennon, all of the rest of those mentioned are under 25. They NEED games, support and the confidence from those around them, to continue to develop. They don't NEED more obstacles!

Whose to say that one, or two ,of those lads can't produce the kind of season Jay had last term and flourish under Poch's guidance? Because I certainly believe they can. And I also believe that ALL of them are more COMPLETE players than JR.

Now that's not to say that can't improve, but it does imply that I feel they have more quality/raw material to work with.

Whatever happens from here, I'm glad Pochettino is going to be able to have a CLOSE look at ALL of his players before we see any significant arrivals/departures. I truly believe that once Mauricio sees the depth of quality he has in those forward positions that he will refrain from signing a player in that position, unless it is an exceptional talent.

Now Jay is a lot of things, but an exceptional talent he's not.

Isco on the other hand...

 

I don't think he is a forward at all. Granted he will do a job there but he will targeted on the basis of filling the problem position of the wide left basis and a player who can add 10-15 goals a season. Its probably of no consequence as the deal looks dead anyway but it is a position I expect to be filled. Chadli shown while being a hard worker he's not good enough and lennon struggled from the left plus simply cannot finish. Townsend whilst has the potential still the jury is out and again not a great finisher. Can Jay Rod improve? Well we don't know unless we have crystal balls but one can only assume so as he has improved more and more each season since breaking into the Burnley squad and you can only sign on the basis of what we see. He's quick,good feet,times his runs well into the box and can finish. For me he's worth signing IMO but again like paulinho soldado and lamela there are no guarantees when buying players at this level.

 

One could argue that buying both of our best players over the last two seasons has brought silverware to RM. Had we been able to keep both of these players and continued to build the team around them, then we could have had just as good a chance at that same trophy. In truth RM has our identity within their team as both players were that important.