david in sweden Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 No-one, not even his worst critic (whoever that is ?) can deny that Nigel's record-breaking start to the season has left many fans both surprised but delighted at the sight of the fast-flowing football that NA & staff have produced from the team so far and the great run of results. The big question is going to be.. what sort of game plan does he have for the winter, when piches get torn-up and players are ankle deep in mud by February. Of course, SMS had a perfect playing surface and some might say it's as good as the track at the Rose Bowl, but many other grounds, especially some " up North " won't look as inviting as St.Mary's come New Year and the " Southampton style " might not be so easy to replicate. What sort of ** alternative style-of-play.. should be considered, given that the beautiful sight of one-touch football and sublime passing is likely to get stuck in the winter mud? Suggestions? ** assuming of course that we have the same squad available... come January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Jonny Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I think the problem of dodgey winter pitches will be far less of a problem now that we are in a higher division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 There won't be any problem with pitches. At any rate, we didn't exactly struggle away on dodgy pitches last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchards Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I suppose he will approach it the same way as we did last season which was not a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Ankle deep in mud? What planet are you on?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 There won't be muddy pitches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I thought crying about the state of the pitches was a Pardew-era excuse, tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Under Weststand Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Just looking through the league I can't see where these mud heap pitches are going to come from. There are several new stadiums & the likes of Birmingham,West Ham, Leeds & Forest where the pitch will be equally as good as ours. Pitches = No problems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Pitches at this level won't be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I'd be more concerned about injuries to key players than the state of pitches esp Rickie who we don't really have a direct replacement for. Still, I guess the same applies to all our rivals too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceandfriendly Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Thread scores 10/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaststander Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Pithces have moved on since the 1970's. The issue we suffered last year was that we couldn't break teams down that came and "parked the bus" with a line of 9 defenders. I would argue that we haven't seen that this season so far. But the real test will come when it does happen, and it will. What is the plan B then? This will be the real test of NA and the coaching team. Impact players, squad roatation and picking teams for mathces will be the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I would imagine that a bit of dampness on the surface would be right up our street, allowing the ball to zip about even more. This in turn will mean opposition will have to work even harder to stop our possession, which I have noticed has been the been the primary objective at the start of the second half in the last 2 games at St Marys, so the last 20 minutes of games should be quite entertaining for us as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooney Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 Some of the groounds who share with Rugby Teams are not too clever but nothing like they used to be in winter. at the Dell circa 1959. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I'd be more concerned about injuries to key players than the state of pitches esp Rickie who we don't really have a direct replacement for. Still, I guess the same applies to all our rivals too. We should have got some players in during June and July, still on course to finish about 17th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danbert Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 We should have got some players in during June and July, still on course to finish about 17th. I know you said that pre-season, and fair enough no-one knew what was going to happen and where we'd finish - you might've been right. You don't really still believe we're going to finish 17th though do you? You're just clinging on out of misguided stubbornness - let go, feel the force Dalek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 We should have got some players in during June and July, still on course to finish about 17th. Interesting. Who should we have bought, why, how much should we have spent on them? I ask since you're such an expert. Whilst I'm there, what numbers should I choose for the lottery this weekend? Your prediction of 17th is one you've had for a while, and it's quite precise, so I'm guessing you can see into the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I know you said that pre-season, and fair enough no-one knew what was going to happen and where we'd finish - you might've been right. You don't really still believe we're going to finish 17th though do you? You're just clinging on out of misguided stubbornness - let go, feel the force Dalek. He can't as he's a troll. Even when we were on the cusp on promotion last season he kept wittering on about losing in the play offs. To summarise, he's a trolling c**t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 I think we'll need a plan 'b', just in case: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 This thread hasn't gone great has it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 26 September, 2011 Share Posted 26 September, 2011 This thread hasn't gone great has it? Let's just say that it's not gonna be a contender for the 'golden thread' forum....!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 27 September, 2011 Author Share Posted 27 September, 2011 Let's just say that it's not gonna be a contender for the 'golden thread' forum....!!! and in a way I'm quite pleased..if you're all convinced it OK to stay the same style of play. . Let's carry on playing the same football...come rain or shine...gale force winds at Middlesbrough and mud puddles at Bristol. It's just that I've always lived in an organisational world, where a Plan B is just about as important as Plan A. BUT...If you're all confident and happy...so am I . The MODS can close down the thread as resolved ...whenever they want. It's just that I want a plan B, Nigel...or maybe you've got one already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted 27 September, 2011 Share Posted 27 September, 2011 and in a way I'm quite pleased..if you're all convinced it OK to stay the same style of play. . Let's carry on playing the same football...come rain or shine...gale force winds at Middlesbrough and mud puddles at Bristol. It's just that I've always lived in an organisational world, where a Plan B is just about as important as Plan A. BUT...If you're all confident and happy...so am I . The MODS can close down the thread as resolved ...whenever they want. It's just that I want a plan B, Nigel...or maybe you've got one already? I think the point is that Nigel proved last season that his team can get results through the winter. In the twelve games we played last December, January and February we won seven, drew four and lost twice. Two points a game isn't struggling. This year we're against bigger clubs with better pitches. If we struggle over the winter it ain't going to be because of the weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 I think the point is that Nigel proved last season that his team can get results through the winter. In the twelve games we played last December, January and February we won seven, drew four and lost twice. Two points a game isn't struggling. This year we're against bigger clubs with better pitches. If we struggle over the winter it ain't going to be because of the weather. Maybe, but I think Nigel's least-productive spell was the 8-game run after Oldham away in January up to Walsall at the begining of March. I think we "only" picked up 12 points from 8 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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