Saints At West Ham Player Assessments
Sunday, 31st Aug 2014 21:47

Our look at how each player performed during Saturday's great win at Upton Park as we hammered the Hammers.

Fraser Forster
Another good solid performance from the keeper who made a decent save with the score at 0-0, the goal took a wicked deflection that made it dip just before it reached him, other than that though commanded his area well and his defence seem to have confidence in him. 8/10

Nathaniel Clyne
Defended well and as Saints got to grips with the game in the second half linked well with the midfield to mauraud dwon the flank as was shown by his cross that led to the third goal. 8/10

Yoshida
A solid display from Japanese central defender, under Pochettino perhaps he had little motivation, but under Koeman he seems to be playing for his place knowing that if he plays well he stays in the team, competition breeds competiveness not complacency. 8/10

Jose Fonte
The captaincy seems to suit him and he put in another good performance dealing with all that was thrown at him, again the fact that now there seems to be no one with a guaranteed place is spurring him on 8/10

Plastic Bertrand
Like Clyne a good display used his pace both defensively and going forward, looks comfortable in the side 8/10

Dusan Tadic
Another great display and another assist putting in a great cross that found Morgan Schneiderlin for the equaliser and on the second was switched on to take a quick corner, he seems to get better with each game 9/10

Morgan Schneiderlin
Superb game capped by two well taken goals, one thing is for sure Morgan is a professional and a vital member of the side 9/10

James Ward Prowse
hard to believe how young he is and now seems to be relishing the chance to be a first choice in the side, his quick thinking to get the ball off of Tadic and then cross for Schneiderlin set up the second goal. 8/10

Steven Davis
Did what he does week in week out, works hard and keeps things moving in midfield, a player that doesnt get the credit he deserves but like Saturday he rarely has a bad game 8/10

Shane Long
Asked to play a different role in that he drops deeper and wider than he has perhaps been used to, but he worked hard and for that reason didnt have a bad game, his best is yet to come but he is a good option in the squad 8/10

Graziano Pelle
What a difference a week makes, he looked a different player up at Upton Park after breaking his duck on Tuesday, when Saints use him properly ie keep the ball into him and not above him he can bring people into play, also worked hard in our area when West Ham used their aerial balls from set pieces and throw ins, scored a goal that should have been allowed and took his chance when it came. 9/10

Subs

Gaston Ramirez
Perhaps Gaston can finally be the player we know he is, he had a bounce about him when he came on that he idnt have at all last season, Koeman's style of play suits him far more than Pochettino's ever did 8/10

Jack Cork
Again another good performance when he came on and moved the ball quickly around as shown in the build up to the third goal 8/10

Ronald Koeman
Showed that he is not afraid to make big decisions dropping Wanyama who has been outstanding in the opening games, perhaps Ron thought that the battle would not be about winning the ball in the centre with West ham bypassing that area, so he left Wanyama out and changed our tactics.

This was a game won by the fact that our manager has more than one plan and can change it in a game, this was the first time we have come from behind to win a game in nearly two years and there is a reason for the reason we didnt under Pochettino and a reason why we have now under Koeman 9/10

The Match
An enjoyable game for Saints fans as it showed that Saints can compete, in fact more than compete, the stats were like those of last season but the difference is the style and tempo has changed, this is more controlled football than last season's pressing game and in truth is more entertaining when we play like we did on Saturday.

We are still a work in progress but this game showed we are making giant strides

Photo: Action Images

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