OPINION
Southampton cannot expect to get anywhere far when they are still starting Shane Long up front. The 32-year-old is not a goalscorer and never has been, which is why he has only managed 28 goals in 172 appearances since joining the Saints in August 2014. Not many clubs give strikers that amount of time to make an impression and while Long does contribute to all-round play, he doesn’t do the most important thing that is required of centre-forwards. In the 2-1 draw defeat to Cardiff at St Mary’s on Saturday, Long was at his worst. He couldn’t even contribute to the Saints attack with the Bluesbirds having his number every time the home side got the ball forward. Some Southampton fans have torn the Irish forward to shreds for his display, and you cannot blame them one bit. Long is a great example of why this club has gone backwards in the last few years. Major investment is needed in the summer.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
shane long having another shocker. we always go on about his poor finishing ability, but he doesnt have a football brain either. absolutely clueless
— Karl (@ObscureThing77) February 9, 2019
Shane Long was pretty much useless during that first half. Meanwhile… #SaintsFC https://t.co/NiaRdukFlG
— Dan ????????????? (@DanJean09) February 9, 2019
Against a team that sits in for a point, Shane Long is even more ineffective than normal, change him at half time please Ralph ??
— Ben Harding (@northamsoul7) February 9, 2019
With Shane Long up front we offer absolutely no goal threat. Very average performance so far #SaintsFC
— Tom (@BlokeTom) February 9, 2019
Long seems to have lost a yard or two of pace. Without that he is virtually useless #saintsfc
— Issey Prada (@isseyprada) February 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/59saints/status/1094260027538448384
Is long playing ? #Saintsfc
— Paul.N (@pnearn) February 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/Bartjblett/status/1094272754797498368