Saints 0 - 0 County Post Match Reaction

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Our 4-3-1-2 formation against Blackpool would give Guly a role in the hole behind Lambert and Barnard. The formation worked a treat, and whilst it countered Blackpool's 4-3-3 I can't see why we can't set out our on stall and let the opposition worry about us rather than the other way around. This squad ought to be good enough for that. It would upset the 'true believers' who thinks that 4-2-2 is the only "right" way to play football, but I would find it worth the effort. In my way of looking at it the 4-4-2 formation isn't very flexible, whilst from the basis of 4-3-3 you can move to 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-1-2 very easily. I would like us to re-think our entire footballing philosophy to one that made us much more flexible, and I can't see that grounded in 4-4-2.

 

Well, you can play with numbers and hyphens however you want. I could equally well say 4-4-2 can become 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. The root of it is who you play, and how adaptable are they, and how well versed are they in making tatical changes as the situation demands. Your assumption seems to be that if you play 4-4-2 you pick players who aren't adaptable enough to take up another formation when required. It also suggests that somehow the coach's mindset is that if he sets out to play 4-4-2, that's how the entire game is played, that flexibility isn't part of the thinking. I don't actually see why that needs to be the case, but you do have to have players with brains. You assume they have enough brains to play your flexible 4-5-1 etc. but imply somehow they become dimwits when 4-4-2 is an option.

[West End Saint]

You have to say fair play to Notts County they played well pressured us high up the pitch defended very well and deserved a point whilst we were not at our best going forward Notts County can take some credit for that & we really miss Lallana we did defend very well Fonte mom but the whole team had to dig in & defend.

 

Earlier in the season when it wasnt happening going forward we would have conceeded & the game would be lost I was pleased to see the steel & dertimination we defended really well & that is promising there will be days when it dosent happen going forward important for us to dig something out of a game

[OldNick]

They came and got a draw that they wanted/deserved.

What has to be instilled into the team is that we must be clinical with the chances early on at home. Golden opportunities dont come along very much against teams who defend like County did and so when you get one, you must put it away. If we had scored ,the game would have changed dramatically and their defensive mindset would have to change

Overall the ref was out to prove he was not a 'home' ref. To be fair i thought Richardson was fortunate to get away wth a yellow. How he missed the pen on Ox was scandalous.

Their cynical defending when Ox and Guly pushed the ball their defenders only to be brought down reminded me of the old Leeds tactics. it is good defending, bringing dowm the attacker before the move can build, and at most you only get a yellow.

I felt pre match that it would be hard. I missed the Davis save at the end, it would be sickening to have lost.

I have been a critic of MS, but felt he played well saturday.

[OldNick]

The distribution from Kelvin and the two full-backs today was woeful. Long balls overhit or simply hoofed up to Lambert who won nothing all day. I just wish we would play the ball to feet more. These injuries are a big worry.

Put yourself in KD's shoes, you have the ball, the opposition are pressing our fullbacks and so there is no outlet, so he has to kick long. His number 1 priority is to stop goals, not create goalscoring chances. if he throws or passes out and we lose possession and perhaps a goal who gets the blame?

The constant negativity to the keeper by one or two on here is ridiculous. It is down to the palyers to make themselves available for him to find not him taking risks.

[Whitey Grandad]

Put yourself in KD's shoes, you have the ball, the opposition are pressing our fullbacks and so there is no outlet, so he has to kick long. His number 1 priority is to stop goals, not create goalscoring chances. if he throws or passes out and we lose possession and perhaps a goal who gets the blame?

The constant negativity to the keeper by one or two on here is ridiculous. It is down to the palyers to make themselves available for him to find not him taking risks.

 

My criticism of Kelvin is that he took so long over releasing the ball that it took all the pace out of the game. Sometimes it seems to me that he is playing for time.

Edited 17 January, 2011 by Whitey Grandad
If you're going to crticise someone at least do them the courtesy of spelling their name right.

[doddisalegend]

My criticism of Kevin is that he took so long over releasing the ball that it took all the pace out of the game. Sometimes it seems to me that he is playing for time.

 

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[Whitey Grandad]

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Well spotted! I've not been well over the last few days and struggling down to the game on Saturday didn't help me to feel any better.

 

(I really must change this keyboard. Sometimes it turns out the most amazing drivel)

[saint1977]

Although I've posted that the ref was a bit of traffic warden on the other thread, we drew because our possession and distribution, particularly in offensive areas, was well below our recent standard. I agree with those that say we should have stuck that early chance away though, it would have opened the game up but you have to give County credit, they were far better organised than Hudds and some of the other sides we've played recently. Mind you, our own back 4 looked solid which will win us a lot of games as teams as this level are usually good for an error somewhere, it took a blatant offside from Westcarr for them to create a chance but the full backs both had a poor day distribution-wise. Without Chaplow and Lallana, we looked far worse so there and a back-up striker are must-strengthen areas in January. If Doncaster are keeping Mills on loan, why don't we ask for James Hayter as a return loan? He's not NPC standard possibly but he knows where the net is at this level and would have been a useful option for games like Saturday's.

[Clifford Nelson]

Adkins had evolved a system rotating the wide men and the two strikers and allowing them to interchange with Chaplow running from midfield providing chances and multiple scorers.. Yesterday that all went out of the window, eventually becoming narrow with two wrong footed wide men, Lambert out of it and only Guly a threat. Schneiderlin gave another cosmetic performance lacking any substance. He should have stepped up to the plate when Chaplow went off but just continued another one of his superficial performances. There was only one way to beat Notts County yesterday down the touchlines and from the byeline. If the rotating option wasn't working then Chamberlain and Puncheon should have hugged the touchlines on their natural sides and if Lambert wasn't performing take him off and put Barnard up front and Guly behind him. As soon as Barnard came on Lambert was getting in the way and Guly was rendered inneffective sitting behind with no width on the left. Once that happened we were never going to break them down.

 

With AOX not quite on song (it happens with youngsters) and Puncheon doing he usual ineffective stuff, we were fairly stuffed against a rather robust (that's politician speak for ruthless) defense. We always need to provide width with whatever formation we are playing, and managed admirably when AP was playing 4-5-1 for a brief period. Puncheon, apart from any other shortcoming I've been whingeing about, is not a proper winger and will go narrow regardless of formation. Papa Waigo did a much better job although I didn't think that wingplay was is strength. Guly is most effective offensively when he can create movement in the opposition's half.

[Chez]

My criticism of Kelvin is that he took so long over releasing the ball that it took all the pace out of the game. Sometimes it seems to me that he is playing for time.

 

he quite rightly looked for the short one to the fullbacks, he quite rightly decided against it and placed it down to go long. He then quite rightly had a good look as to where he should kick it and then kicked it exactly where it needed to go. Yes there was a minor delay, but if he'd missed the short one, played the fullback into trouble or kicked it to the wrong side you can bet you bottom dollar you'd be on here slating him for that as well.

[Whitey Grandad]

he quite rightly looked for the short one to the fullbacks, he quite rightly decided against it and placed it down to go long. He then quite rightly had a good look as to where he should kick it and then kicked it exactly where it needed to go. Yes there was a minor delay, but if he'd missed the short one, played the fullback into trouble or kicked it to the wrong side you can bet you bottom dollar you'd be on here slating him for that as well.

Maybe, but there's a time and place for the cautious approach. Towards the end of the game I felt that we needed to up the tempo somewhat and Kelvin didn't give me the impression of a man in a hurry.

[Chez]

Maybe, but there's a time and place for the cautious approach. Towards the end of the game I felt that we needed to up the tempo somewhat and Kelvin didn't give me the impression of a man in a hurry.

there is also a time and a place to look to play short, keep posession and forge out a proper chance, especially when going long as failed for the previous 80 minutes.

[Whitey Grandad]

there is also a time and a place to look to play short, keep posession and forge out a proper chance, especially when going long as failed for the previous 80 minutes.

 

But at no time in the game did he play the ball out quickly, before the opposition defence had time to get back into position and were still back-pedalling. Now it may be that this is the way that they have been coached, but I do feel that we sometimes need to up the pace of the game in order to put pressure on the other team. This is not the only game where I have noticed how slow we are to get the ball back into play. If the opposition keeper is slow then he gets criticised for time wasting, yet Kelvin takes just as long over his goal kicks.

[doddisalegend]

But at no time in the game did he play the ball out quickly, before the opposition defence had time to get back into position and were still back-pedalling. Now it may be that this is the way that they have been coached, but I do feel that we sometimes need to up the pace of the game in order to put pressure on the other team. This is not the only game where I have noticed how slow we are to get the ball back into play. If the opposition keeper is slow then he gets criticised for time wasting, yet Kelvin takes just as long over his goal kicks.

 

There were a few times were to me it looked like Kelvin was looking to play it out quick but there was nothing on, after that he would take a bit of time to get his kick right.

 

TBH the goal keeper issue is similar to our poor throw ins in that our out field players don't seem to make themselves avaliable or try to run into space they just stand there like lemons.

[trousers]

Extended (10 mins) highlights: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20110117/magpies-draw-all-angles-covered_2264122_2269111/0,,10280~2269111~1,00.html

[Whitey Grandad]

TBH the goal keeper issue is similar to our poor throw ins in that our out field players don't seem to make themselves avaliable or try to run into space they just stand there like lemons.

That's true. There's precious little animation amongst our players, they must be a joy to mark. Perhaps they can learn something from watching Man U and the match won't be a complete waste of time?

[doddisalegend]

Extended (10 mins) highlights: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20110117/magpies-draw-all-angles-covered_2264122_2269111/0,,10280~2269111~1,00.html

 

10mins? blimey I'm not sure there was enough interesting bits to fill 10 minutes. I suppose five minutes could be taken up with all the kickings Oxo got from the County players though.

[K,Billy's supersound]

just watched the highlights and we wern't nearly as bad as it sounded on the radio and unlucky not to win imo. if only had guly squared the ball to chamberlin for a tap in or the defender not blocked the header on the line from the corner. we could have on another day even won a pen for the challange on chamberlin. one thing i did notice was puncheon put in some good crosses from corners i for one really hope he stays and is given alittle more support from the home fans.

[keithd]

Disappointing result, Wince must be delighted not have one of his teams turned over by us. As long as its a blip and we return to winning ways next time out, we cant win every game etc etc but we can avoid losing every game. if that makes sense! which it dont.

[Window Cleaner]

just watched the highlights and we wern't nearly as bad as it sounded on the radio and unlucky not to win imo. if only had guly squared the ball to chamberlin for a tap in or the defender not blocked the header on the line from the corner. we could have on another day even won a pen for the challange on chamberlin. one thing i did notice was puncheon put in some good crosses from corners i for one really hope he stays and is given alittle more support from the home fans.

 

Unless Guly pulls the ball back Oxo is offside.Oxo obviously realises this and checks his run somewhat but the Guly's angle isn't right to pull the ball back. At no time can he square the ball.

[Liquidshokk]

just watched the highlights and we wern't nearly as bad as it sounded on the radio and unlucky not to win imo. if only had guly squared the ball to chamberlin for a tap in or the defender not blocked the header on the line from the corner. we could have on another day even won a pen for the challange on chamberlin. one thing i did notice was puncheon put in some good crosses from corners i for one really hope he stays and is given alittle more support from the home fans.

 

I agree. So many chances to score.

 

I dont like what is going on up front with players not passing for the simple tap in. It seemed like pay back Saturday by Guly on Chambo as chambo has gone for the glory and missed so many times this season when someone could have slotted it home instead.

 

So wish Fontes screamer went in.... Also schneid should have got in in the empty net despite being so far out... Remember when he used to take long range shots? Where did that confidence from him go....

[Liquidshokk]

Unless Guly pulls the ball back Oxo is offside.Oxo obviously realises this and checks his run somewhat but the Guly's angle isn't right to pull the ball back. At no time can he square the ball.

 

Are you sure chambo would have been offside? Looked onside to me at the time and a perfect run.

[Window Cleaner]

Are you sure chambo would have been offside? Looked onside to me at the time and a perfect run.

 

If you have the possibility to look at the extended highlights there's a still aerial shot at 1min 37 which shows their exact positions, unless the ball comes back Ox is always offside, there are never 2 defenders(inc the keeper) in front of him.

[Liquidshokk]

If you have the possibility to look at the extended highlights there's a still aerial shot at 1min 37 which shows their exact positions, unless the ball comes back Ox is always offside, there are never 2 defenders(inc the keeper) in front of him.

 

Hmm well I wonder if Guly knew this or whether he was just being greedy ;-)