Analysis of the goal conceded against Southampton (28/10)

I thought Gallas and Caulker generally did well too (although Gallas frustrates me with his indecisiveness in possession), but Gallas' switching off for the goal was hugely disappointing.

Agree that the midfield were poor in the second half, but I think it was largely due to the lack of movement and ball retention ahead of them from Defoe and Dempsey.

I thought that too - didn't see a replay though.

When we concede goals, it is at a time when we are under the cosh. To blame the goalie when the other 10 guys are not doing their job is just simply scapegoating. I have seen nothing from Lloris thus far to suggest that he would be any better than Friedel. The problem is elsewhere.

You are kind'a right..

But a big reason we struggled to keep the ball was when we kept it, sometimes going back to Friedel for safety, he would just punt it upfield towards Defoe, who will never win it and Southampton would surge back at us. We were noticably better keeping the ball from the keeper kicking it out with Lloris midweek. Friedel also missed the cross completely when they won the corner, from which they scored (very lucky indeed they didn't score from him missing the cross, although it was a strikers header and therefore not a corner).

I?m not one for giving the players stick. I just think we will be better with Lloris. In a few weeks once he's completely settled here, I would expect him to start and for us to be better for it.

When I was a kid I played lacrosse and we had a great goalie and won an under 15 national tournament. Then the good goalie quit. Her replacement very occasionally stopped a shot and all her mates would go mad congratulating her. But most of the time the ball went straight in the net. We were a crap first team that year. My point is that it's the goalie's job to save things. It shouldn't be a surprise when he does. It's a very tough job and one horribly open to criticism/exposure. BUT Friedel's weaknesses in coming for the ball and his decreasing mobility in getting down low affects the whole team's performance. As does his poor distribution, I agree totally with the previous poster on that. Lloris looks like he has good command of his penalty area and while he too will (of course) make mistakes I stick to what I say, he should be playing. Of course no goalie can save a poor team but a good goalie makes a huge difference to the defensive set up of a team and confidence levels. A goalie who rarely comes out may make less obvious mistakes but causes more problems for his defence by not helping out.

I DID notice times where Friedel cleared the ball rather than pass. A good goalkeeper makes a difference to a team that is PERFORMING. If they are not performing, then he is helpless - like Friedel yesterday. I do agree that going forward, Lloris should take over. But you simply cannot blame him for nearly throwing the game away. Too many people give Sandro high marks when he is failing to control midfield. He gives the ball away too much, and countless times we see midfield runners go past him. Huddlestone played more solidly, and our midfield played better with him in. Why did AVB such an early change? Sometimes I get the feeling that AVB is making subs just for the sake of it....

Got to get Lloris in ASAP.

I honestly think Adebayor starting will get the best out of Dempsey and Sigurdsson - two players who thrive around the edge of the box. With Adebayor, we will see a lot more of the ball in this area, and they will be far more involved in games as a result.

Totally agree with your final comment.

Definitely onside, sadly.