I went to that game! and saw tadanari! what a strike that was. Then had dinner with him and his translator...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/29/burnley-southampton-jay-rodriguez More competition for Lee next season
All of them will stay Lambert was their top scorer last season. He'll definitely stay. Sharp was just bought last winter. He'll stay too.
The problem is that he may end up being benched and could be wont get enough chance to play to show his talents and advance as a player. I really hope that I am wrong but it does not look good.
That's quite some competition for positions up front. But you never know I guess, EPL squads take a hammering in terms of injuries/fatigue plus they don't have the winter break, he just needs to seize his chances that come his way.
Such enthusiasm and confidence. Let's just look at the situation objectively. 1. Rodriguez has yet to sign. 2. If he does the team will then have four strikers. Tough competition? What do you think is the average number of strikers for clubs in the EPL? 3. Of Lee's three rivals (sorry - teammates!), none have EPL experience, nor have they played for clubs of Southampton's standing before. Rodriguez is 23 this summer, and has had just a couple of good seasons with Burnley. Lambert will be 31 next season. Sharp is a very different kind of player to Lee. Seriously, if Lee can't force himself into the starting line-up here then he isn't going to do it anywhere in the EPL.
Lee will get his chances, just like his competition will. He needs to do his part in making those chances count. Knowing what kind of player Lee is, he should be able to beat out his teammates for a starting position, but hes the new guy and still an unknown commodity to his club and the fans and maybe to even his own fans after his injury. Lee should be alright in the EPL, hes a big enough and strong player, with good skill, and uses his head too. Hes the most complete striking option Japan has when healthy. The only thing holding him back is his Asian-ness and his injury, but once he gets back the cream will rise to the top and Lee will be the starting striker more times than not.
Lee's main problem is that he doesn't score enough. If Sharp gets on track again, it's not gonna be easy to be a starter, at least. Lambert out is out of question
Ah, a fresh breath of realism! I think Sharp is probably the striker with the most to prove, though, and the question is not whether he can score more goals than Lee, but whether Southampton win more games with a Lambert/Lee combi or Lambert/Sharp. I know which one I'd prefer.
Well, to say that he has to prove more than Lee which played 7 matches with one goal in the last season... that I don't know. I really hope to see Lee often but right now its clear that Sharp with his goals was fundamental in the end of the season, I'm being honest. Lee though often played really well though, so let's see, I really hope that he plays well his chances.
I would imagine that Lee has the potential to feature on the flank next season and not just as striker? Also, he may have a fellow countryman to keep him company at the club next season... http://www.clicklancashire.com/spor...-wanderers-for-arsenal-starlet-miyaichi.html?
Lee possibly could, just because most Japanese are more technically gifted than your average player. To play him over a natural MF though would be pretty unlikely. Lets hope for his sake hes played as a striker, don't see him as the Okazaki type to switch between winger and striker. To me hes a striker only, but if there's a way he can find his way onto the pitch as a winger than more power to em.