RobM

I don't think you're speaking on behalf of most Saints fans. Many appreciate what NA did and why he left Lambert out, as it seemed to work well. We didn't lose the game because of it, in fact for large parts of it we looked very good in attack and JRod played well (who was Lamberts replacement). It was shocking individual defensive errors that lost us the game and even bringing Lambert on couldn't change that - we just went longer, higher and more direct, which didn't work.

Which includes Adkins, so yes, he did. Adkins has said very publicly that he identifies targets and then it's up to NC to go and get them, I believe he referenced that fact again in yesterdays post-match conference.

If we're going to use him out of position, let's make a DM out of him when Fox is back. Pushing our defensive line forward a bit would do wonders for our defense and having him and Morgan in the middle gives us two players who are very confident on the ball. It's the role I want to see Cork playing, but that's not an option at the moment. Would rather Yoshida as CB, but needs must...

As is Shaw, no doubt. Plus, you can't attract the best young players unless you're well respected in youth development, so these players would simply go elsewhere if we didn't invest in the academy. And the money spent on the academy over the years will be less than buying somebody like those you've mentioned when we need, so it's win-win.

This point is what baffles me the most. One of two things seems likely - NA was a part of the club decision to adopt a standard 4-3-3, which seems likely given he is first team manager. Or, he had little to do with it and it's being enforced on him and he had just pre-season to make it work. Either way, it seems odd that we have then gone on to sign players who simply aren't suited to it. One way or another, he knew how we would be playing, yet has signed out-and-out center forwards like Mayuka and JRod.

By why contribute to discussion, when you can scream 'look at me' instead, while repeating the same thing everyone else is saying already? This weekend this forum has consisted of some pretty good opinion (covering all sides), ruined by in-fighting, pointless repetitive threads and absolutely no moderation at all (funny, since we just appointed new Mods).

That can't be explained with any more certainty than you can explain who is making the decisions, who is forcing 4-3-3, who decided on the new club policy and who is accepting responsibility for it behind the scenes (if anyone is). We know nothing other than radio soundbites, all we can do is try and join the dots and form a picture.

We are Southampton, we must have at least one player who suffers this regardless of what actually happens.

Given Fox's weakness is defending, are you sure you'd want him playing CB ahead of Yoshida, Jos, Fonte and even ahead of recalling Aaron Martin? Those four are recognised CB's who can at least defend, whereas Fox is an attacking LB who can't defend very well, especially in one-on-one situations. He's a good Championship defender, so at that level it might be worth a risk if absolutely necessary. But in the Prem, it's an unnecessary risk too far.

A bit of both, probably. I think NA is well and truly part of the decision making at this club, but he won't be alone if it is a club decision. He may well have been instrumental in choosing this style and formation, which in itself isn't the problem. The problem is the wrong people for this formation, choosing the formation before working out how we play best and not being able to move away from it now the decision has been made.

A LB is the key. We need a good LB who can defend, then we need to stick with a starting back-four and GK combination and let them learn each others game. The best defensive partnerships we've ever had have been born out of consistency, which IMO is just as important as the players you choose.

But we now know for a fact that won't happen, so we're back to finding ways of defending in a 4-3-3 formation (and it's numerous in-game variations).

Oh good, another Nigel Adkins debate. We needed another one, the others just didn't cut it.

I wonder how NC would react if Adkins led us to a few game winning streak, but ignored this system to get the results.

Will another thread debating the merits of a new manager make any difference?

No, let's not. If he is available, let's use him in the middle, to give us some defensive qualities ahead of our defenders. Defending doesn't start with your back four.

Funny how injuries seem more common when things aren't going well at a club. Funny also how injuries never seem a huge problem when you're flying.

I agree, but we seem to be doing it backwards. In my mind it would be sensible to find the style that works best for us, build and strengthen the first team around it, prove it, then develop the ethos around it. We seem to have a dream of what would be nice, a brand name (The Southampton Way) and are now trying to make it work at all levels at the same time.

Isn't that just a variation of 4-3-3, given 4-3-3 takes on many different forms during the game, depending on whether we are attacking or defending. We can be 4-3-3 one minute, then 4-5-1, then 4-2-3-1, then something else. It's all very fluid and peoples roles and therefore position change fluidly.

A cliche I know, but look at Fergie at Man Utd. He regularly makes it clear that nobody at that club is, can be, or should be more important than him.

Sell nobody, we need cover. Yoshida is a very good CB, Clyne is a very good RB. Fonte and Jos have performed very well in games this season, they've also performed terribly in others and have lost us games with their individual mistakes. Both are ideal backups to a regular CB pair. Fox isn't Prem quality, he is a top-end Championship defender. OK cover, at best. Richardson isn't bad RB cover, keep him around if possible. Shaw is one for the future. So shopping list is: RB to challenge Clyne and provide cover. New starting CB with Prem experience. An older and wiser head would be nice. New starting LB.

Keep him, for now. IF it is the case that the formation we play is a club decision that Adkins cannot change, then he cannot be blamed entirely for the way we play. We don't have the players for the way we play, so it will take time for them to get used to this new formation and style. No other manager will change this, nor can they change the players who are letting us down so badly. Adkins has been far from perfect and IMO needs to stop dicking around with the team selection and find some consistency. His post-match interview today all but confirmed he knows we need to strengthen defensively, so let's give him the chance to do so in Jan and hope NC backs him. If NC doesn't, that again is something that the manager cannot be blamed for and a new manager won't change.

Not in context of the formation, no. That was the end of the interview, after the 'live and die' comments. (edit - sorry, seen this is well answered after posting my reply to you)

So many independent views are saying the same thing - 4-3-3 is the only way we're allowed to play. So if the formation is set, the players are set until Jan, what good can come from changing manager? A new manager would normally bring a fresh approach to the way we play, new ideas, new tactics... but those aren't relevant if the formation is fixed and cannot / will not be changed.

Adam Blackmore.