derry

I've noticed with the Saints centrebacks, none of them are good in the air, so we rarely attack the one on one situations. Head the ball up in the air ok but don't dominate in the air. Lyanco is particularly poor, no idea at all. He lacks anticipation and gives too many fouls away. Adams needs to get some proper coaching because he has no idea how to take on a goalkeeper one on one. Tella on the other hand the other night showed the way and was under pressure from two defenders and the goalkeeper. His decision making was superb. How many times have we seen Adams one on one with the keeper coming in from the left in a straight line straight towards the advancing keeper and just hitting and no hoping. Tella on the other hand cut across the first defender and made for the penalty area D, that brought him closer to the other defender trying to get back and changed the whole angle for the keeper. The Goalkeeper coming out fast instead of shooting he took it closer to the keeper, feinted to shoot which squared up the keeper and while the keeper was off balance hit it into the corner. Tella by cutting in gave the goalkeeper a much more difficult option as he opened up the whole goal but Adams allows the goalkeeper to dictate by running straight. We were better yesterday without it being our best team. Bazunu had no chance with either goal and if the hopeless Lyanco hadn't been so stupid wouldn't have given away the penalty which he saved. For those talking about McCarthy, firstly I've never seen him save a penalty let alone go the right way, secondly he is abysmal on his near post. Not for me, I'm surprised he wasn't let go and Forster kept on a new contract.

If he's in the Burnley squad tomorrow I fear it won't happen.

If Tella isn't recalled tomorrow we are going to be clutching at straws at the end of the window as usual. All signings should be made by the CP cup game because if they aren't we are just sitting on our hands. Trying to get bargain basement prices will end in no value.

Adams is a problem, every time he is one on one with the keeper he loses it and hits it straight at the keeper who knew what he would do. No feint to shoot, No move it sideways, no taking it closer then dinking it over nothing but hit it at the keeper. The worst thing for me he is no better now than the day he arrived. He should be doing all those things as appropriate but never does. So much for coaching. I get the feeling there are no proper basic coaches who coach technique to the first team.

I think what we're getting is a parade of the yes men plus the few automatic picks thrown together in a favourite formation. What happened to assess your players then come up with a shape that makes the best of the best available. Almost looks like a run out of ideas, last throw of the dice, don't pick anybody that doesn't appear compliant. If this works I take my hat off to him. If it doesn't it's time for damage limitation before it's too late. Lyanco, Elynousey, AMN and Aribo he's off his trolley. Backs to the wall I wouldn't take any of those four. I'm wondering if we'll make it to the end with a full team.

The bench looks better than that selection. It's either Genius, Learned nothing, or another clusterfuck coming up.

I'm not proposing that as a solution, what I am proposing is to try and combat Fulham's form advantage by making us, an out of form team more solid. Aribo and the other four won't do that. BK isn't in as a holding midfielder he's a defender defending just in front of the two centrbacks.What would help to make us better defensively is stop Perrault and KWP making Kamikaze runs and presenting two bloody great areas that every team in the land are exploiting and the midfield not covering. Maybe play a defensive back four and don't expose the centrebacks. KWP was to some degree at fault in all three Brighton goals. Playing a compact five in midfield might also do it.. Three centre backs doesn't work with the present players so I'm ignoring it.

In my view if any of Elyonoussie, Djenepo, Lyanco or A Armstrong play we have little chance especially if S Armstrong and Lavia don't play. My preferred team from those that appear to be in full training. Bazuna, KWP,Caleta Car, Salisu, Perrault; Bella-Kotcha; JWP, Lavia; S Armstrong, Edozie, Adams. It's not 3 at the back but a quick mobile defender in front of the centre backs. 4,1,2,3. If KWP and Perrault play like they usually do our danger area is behind them so BK and Lavia could cover that and JWP help the front three. Only a thought but puts our current available best players on the field at the same time but pie in the sky. It isn't going to happen. I'm expecting another Brighton clusterfuck selection.

There is a recall clause and Kompany says that the contract is final and Burnley will honour their agreement if Saints recall Tella. Only played just over twenty minutes with Burnley 1-0 up and playing keep ball so little chance to attack.

For anyone interested Burnley v Stoke is being streamed by the EFL. Kompany is rotating his squad and Tella is on the bench. Smallbone is playing for Stoke.

Tella is better than Elyonoussie, Djenepo, A Armstrong who are totally underperforming. None of them look like they will ever get enough goals let alone any. He has already played in the Premier League but was snatching at chances and not particularly positionally aware. Kompany looks like he has made him more aware of all aspects and they both are benefiting. The boy is ours, he is on top form and looks well coached, not something that we seem to benefit from here at first team level. He is very quick and isn't going to cost much more than his wages. We need goals, nobody in the squad is consistently scoring. Anybody we bring in doesn't come with any guarantee they will settle let alone score the goals we need.

Probably Ralph spending the pre season training for it but ended up a clusterfuck and was immediately ditched.

We need one now. Read "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson. Explains the role. Read my previous comment about having a move on his mind or hopeless. On last nights performance he wouldn't help us improve on Boxing Day's debacle.

Especially Ings.

Moffi was hopeless last night, hardly touched the ball, trotted about, didn't challenge and wasn't any sort of threat. Elyonoussie mk2, No thanks.

I will say that if he got in a dominant English speaking centreback skipper/coach then he could possibly get it to work as it would supply on the field direction..

It's not the conflict that's the problem it's the three centrebacks dogma that the players know doesn't work with them for whatever reason. We know it doesn't work with them and we don't have time for this. He has to get the best out of the existing players and get in some reinforcement. Because his three at the back worked for him at Luton doesn't mean it can work here with these players. Conflict will relegate us therefore if there is conflict he has to go. We can't change the players.

Employing a manager that doesn't convince the players will end in relegation for us and the sack for Jones. The players will still be here.

I believe that we have to stop this NJ out rubbish and give the bloke a chance or we are just shooting ourselves in the foot. However if there is any truth in the rumour that the players are in conflict with Jones over how they set up he has to go. I say that because five at the back has been an absolute failure with the current squad and they are right to object. Secondly if Jones doesn't listen and imposes his system there isn't a hope in hell of winning matches. Neither will playing only those that agree with him as most of them are those that were so abysmal v Brighton. We aren't going to get in enough players to do it his way and the only way we are going to get results is if the players believe in the manager, Conversely the manager needs to convince the players. We know the three centrebacks has been a failure in the recent past, we are worse playing it. The players know that and because of that it won't work without the players being happy with it. To get a team better than the sum of the parts which we need desperately won't happen unless there is a coming together. If there is the slightest confliction he has to go because the players aren't going anywhere unless we are relegated. With 22 matches left we don't need dogma and egos we need a united effort from within the club to pull away from the threat of relegation.

Adams and Armstrong in the distant past may have scored goals but Armstrong isn't at all, worse still seems to be hiding and Adams has only four this season and misses most of his chances or doesn't get into the box enough. I've been watching Tella carefully at Burnley and he is scoring regularly now and some of his finishes are of a quality we've not seen from any Saints player. Add Elyonoussi etc playing regularly and lacking pace nowhere near scoring it would be crass to ignore him. He has a contract until June 2025 and It gives us another option we don't have at the moment.

I watched Lorient this afternoon, Although 7th in the table they looked awful and lost 0-2 at home to Montpellier who were about fifteen points behind them before the match. Moffi was hopeless, strolled around up front, gestured at closing down but never did, looked athletic but hardly touched the ball or got into a dangerous position in 95 minutes. there can be only two reasons for this in my view he isn't that good or he was staying out of it in case it spoilt his move away. Either way on what I saw, not for me.

Firstly give the guy a fair go. I didn't like either team he has selected to date. If he doesn't get what he is working with then he and we are in even deeper mire. I will say that there are many players that flatter to deceive in training but are hopeless in real games. Performances in games are the only measure of a players worth. With that in mind if he doesn't ditch the showboaters, lazy and mentally weak, and over impetuous and rash players by the time the cup games are over then it's going to be obvious to everybody he doesn't get it. Included in that are forwards despite plenty of opportunity, hiding, don't get into the goal area, spectate and miss chance after chance. Until then give the bloke a fair go because it won't take long to see the players favoured and the blend or lack of it and effort. If the players don't bust a gut now they never will. A manager stays or goes on his results. If it isn't turned around quickly it will be obvious.

A wish list is all well and good but we need two goalscorers and a powerful captain at the back. How we are going to do that I haven't a clue except any player brought in will probably be at an inflated price to get what we need. However we have to in the meantime carry out drastic surgery on the existing team. We need to stop playing as starters, Elyonoussie, Diallo, Djenepo, Lyanco, A.Armstrong for a start. Bring back Tella, Bednarek, Stephens and Smallbone to thicken the squad again. Play Bazunu, KWP, ABK, Salisu, Perrault ( Liveramento when fit ) Lavia, S.Armstrong and JWP, Edozie, Adams and Tella in a 433. That leaves Mara,CC, Walcott,, Aribo, McCarthy and Caballero plus the non starter list and the loanees to cover injuries. The squad is wafer thin because there are too many non performers. We need to play in packs closing down the ball as a team not just.single players standing off and being picked off. Play on the break quickly from back to front. Cut out Kamikaze full back attacking and play a tight defensive back four plus Lavia and JWP and get some clean sheets and goals on the break. This is the quickest team apart from JWP in the club.

Rangers press saying up to now no interest from Saints. Saying he's too erratic for the Premier. We'll see.