Shane Long

I think you're believing what you want to believe. Generally, comments on Long have been exceptionally negative, particularly over the past two years. No one believes he's an outstanding striker, he certainly has a number of outstanding attributes though. Recognising those outstanding attributes is not the same as calling him an outstanding footballer.

He said "I'd love to see an alternate timeline where Long is a clinical finisher". Nowhere was the word "world class" mentioned? He'd certainly be an excellent player if he were a better finisher, in terms of "raw materials" he's a well endowed as any striker in the league. He wouldn't be world class on an Aguero level just because he scored more goals, but he would be very, very good.

Saints web is a horrible site so wouldn't bother about this!Long has been very good since Hughes has come in. I'd be happy to keep him as e offers something different. I think in Austin and Gabbi we have two good strikers who will score goals...We just had the wrong man at the helm. Don't know if Hughes is the man long term but he deserves a shot next season

Searing pace, strength, stamina, he can jump higher than any other player I can think of in the league; add clinical finishing to that and you've got a top 6/8 striker. That is, I believe, the reasonable interpretation of what was being said. Of course he's not technically brilliant, and that would prevent him from being "world class"; but neither is he's technically awful, he can hold the ball up reasonably well and so on. 

Lukaku is a great example of how far physical attributes and good finishing can get you even if you lack technical brilliance. I'm not saying Long would be on that level, but he'd certainly be an extremely effective player.

You can guarantee that Southampton will not be relying on him for goals next season and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him shipped out in the summer.

 

Those goals that Monday night about 7 years ago sprung to mind earlier.

He hasn't looked that kind of player in many years though.

 

 

That is, in short, rubbish. If you actually watched him properly, you'd see his movement is quite good (he made a brilliant run against Swansea actually around the 80th minute, initiating the move and then slicing theough their defence). Unfortunately, his finishing means he doesn't capitalise on the chances he creates.

I think there's a lot of conflation going here, the fact he is not a great finisher doesn't mean he's useless overall; and the he's technically average doesn't mean he has no game intelligence, he very much does.