shurlock

Problem isnt the corners themselves but the lack of presence in the box. I think the delivery isnt all that bad - hence why pearce has got 2 in 3.

As many have pointed out, Jan has stated that the team freezes up at home - the implication being that if we reproduced our away form at home, we would be looking at the top six. Compare the points: home - 6 points (with doncaster fewest home points in the league) away - 10 points (with sheff u joint seventh most away points) our away points are nearly double our home tally. interestingly, if you look at our goal difference, however, it paints a different picture. It is actually worse away (-6) than home (-4) (indeed our away gd is joint twentieth worst in the league). this suggests our home games have been much tighter and more competitive, though we have so few points. certainly, having had the (mis)fortune of attending all league games this season, i would say the ten away points flatters us (derby apart). should this make us more worried? what other interpretations are there for this difference. glass half-full or empty? or is that this is just a s**t league that's so tightly, tightly packed, that its better to set up to go out and be positive, even if you happen to get stuffed in the process (for draws are little more use than a loss). further proof that we should be bolder at home?

if that was you at preston, i personally credit you for getting the away fans going (who up to that point had been pretty quiet) and the rest is history...

spotted crouch at coventry and sheff u as well.

The support definitely made a difference - some memorable highlights, including one supporter screaming 'shoot' everytime we got the ball in the first half (reaction to our inability/unwillingness to push players into the box after making positions out wide). Support was generally quiet until half-time but then it changed. A rousing call and response "oh when the saints" that must have lasted 15 mins definitely set the tone -and that happened before the goal but it definitely fed off the introduction of bwp and gobern who were up for it. Also remember a funny chant of 'southampton....youth' - and great humble pie for the preston boys who had been singing 'time to go...' ad nauseum after their second. At 2-2, on 89 mins, was really, reallty happy, though part of me was greedily thinking 'what if' we had converted one of our two guilt-edge chances. Then dmg steps up... Pulsating game, big, brave performances, fans and players on the same side.

Alot of the discussion on these pages claims that our results are in part down to JPs formation. I would like to know what are the relative advantages and disadvantages of 4-4-2 as opposed to the current 4-3-3/4-2-1-2-1? Why would 4-4-2 be any better? Do we any longer have enough strikers for 4-4-2 (Pekhart has yet to really prove himself)? How would it tighten us up at the back? Or are we just chasing ghosts with the "its the formation" line? Could see how Lowe supporters might peddle that line to deflect attention away from the fact that its players rather than the formation that make the results - and we've been letting a fair few good ones go...

Went to the match on Tues, and thought that Rudi had a decent first half - (a great couple of crosses), though he tired significantly in the 2nd. Still its hard to dispute the effect he had on the fans and the atmosphere. The place felt genuinely lifted. That said, I am puzzled with the idea -entertained by fans and GB/JP alike- that he's a left-back. Since Holmes got injured, his position has been crying out for somebody like Rudi (who, after all, has averaged a goal every four games over his carrer). Its hard to say how much the decision to play him out of position has contributed to problems at the club. But it surprises me how many saints fans argue for him to play but dont go and on and argue for him to play in his most effective position. What is the reasoning for having Mills play the more further foward of the two?

Doesnt the DMG discussion reveal a bigger problem - that we lack genuine pace? In DMG's case, his lack of pace (rather than his laziness or lack of talent) forces him inside which then disrupts our overall shape. But isnt this also true of the rest of the team? Our formation (1 upfront, 2 on the wings) places a premium on pace but Dyer is gone, Thompson looks quick but isnt in the squad, James is quick if terrible at fullback. That leaves somebody like Smith but he's unproven. Otherwise, cant think of many speed merchants. The result is that we can look very narrow going forward - only somebody like Holmes has genuinely wanted to take people on the outside. While our lack of pace at the back is more or less well-known, as was exposed by Mckenzie on saturday. Strange to say about youngsters....

Its not that DMG is lazy or uninterested - I've seen him tracking back many a time (I recall a great tackle around our box against Blackpool). Nor is he untalented - he's got a pretty decent touch and is very good in the air (has seemed to win more than Peckhart). The problem is that hes not particularly pacy (its unfortunate that he tends to waddle when he runs, giving the impression that he couldnt give a s**t). His lack of pace forces him inside which then disrupts our overall shape. Indeed, it appears we lack pace more generally -surprising given our youth. Thompson looks quick but isnt in the squad; James is quick if terrible at fullback (why was he playing in the middle yesterday). That leaves somebody like Smith but he's unproven. Otherwise, cant think of many speed merchants...

I agree. I dont think its just a keeper thing. You can see the knives are out and being sharpened for the likes of McG, even though he's our top scorer. It is probably endemic, though some clubs/supporters (i.e. liverpool) still pride themselves on their patience.

The QPR connection was this season but you're right about QPR two years ago - he did something similar against Preston (home), though had an under-rated season on the whole.

Tuesday's result again showed how important Kelvin Davis to the side (2 magnificent saves at the start of the 2nd half); and for once Saints fans picked up on it (it might also have something to do with the fact that we have no chants for the rest of the team). That followed a great performance on Saturday where he kept us in it first half. But I wonder how long it will last - Saints fans are incredibly fickle and rarely give him the benefit of the doubt - many will remember how some of our lot turned against him last season at prompting an angry if heartfelt reaction)- this despite the fact that our entire defense was a mess. And again on Tuesday, some were grumbling that, while Kel was having a good game, he had let us down this season, citing QPR. QPR? At 4-1, he made the score look respectable! A more disingenuous response is the old 'he's-a-great-shot-stopper-but-doesnt-command-his-line'. There may be a slither of truth in that but its still arguably got more to do with the inability to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, subconsciously, we cant forgive him for the matty taylor goal in a previous life. Or perhaps its evidence that our fans are genetically fickle, something that sadly spreads to other parts of the club i.e. poor attendances etc

------------Davis------------ Thomas-Svensson-Perry-Surman ------------Cork---Gillett---------- Lallana--Skacel/Schneiderlin--Holmes -------------McG/Pekhart----------- My main suggestion is that I would like to see Cork moved into midfield, though that admittedly still leaves is stretched at fullback. He's looked excellent so far and a midfield role (which he filled at S****horpe) would give him more opportunity to influence a game. I also think he would give us more defensive cover - at times, our midfield has become too separated from defence, giving it too much work to do. Unsure if Schneiderlin is cut out for defensive duties; is much better going forward (it is no coincidence that JP has sometimes moved him into the hole). Skacel, if he's still around, might be another candidate - might bring a bit of experience and a decent shot when we start trying to overelaborate. Gillett has to start - his poor performance on sat was only a reflection of the fact that he needs a rest. Has been one of, if not out best player this season (see Cardiff/Derby) by breaking things up and providing support going forward. Surman, by contrast, is regressing everyday at left back (who else could play there??) and, more generally, we look weak whenever we come up against pace - bothroyd at cardiff; jerome against birmingham (thus Cork in midfield might give a bit more protection). Finally, some people have been quick to criticise McG for not being in the box but remember, he's been asked to play as a lone striker while also being asked to drop deep to link up (and occasionally make tackles in his own box). Its not surprising that we when we break, there isnt always the support. John simply wont give you that movement to begin with. We'll see what pekhart does...

Before pointing out that the game was televised, in the morning etc, bear in mind we got just under 19,000 for our opening home game of the season, a day that historically attracts large numbers (not to mention that this is a new regime and B'ham are a big side). Consider that last year we got over 25,000 for the first game against Palace and that numbers consistently fell off after that (often by 7000 to 8000). As such, we have to hope results attract people back; otherwise, attendances around 15,000 could be the norm and not the exception. Moreover, with the new seating arrangments, I find we get far less bang for our buck in terms of atmosphere. The Itchen end is a pale, pale shadow of what it used to be. I knew it would be hurt but not as badly as it has been...