ESPN: 'The Problem With Southampton'

[Saint-Armstrong]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/210?cc=5739

[Window Cleaner]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/210?cc=5739

 

nice article but it just says basically that we're a good side with a shît defence and that our wingers don't track back well enough.

[pingwing]

Quite interesting, sort of gets across the point that a few of our players aren't sticking to the game plan properly.

 

Do like the stat that we have played the least amount of long ball in the league

[John B]

nice article but it just says basically that we're a good side with a shît defence and that our wingers don't track back well enough.

 

Which one can not disagree with I would have thought

 

But does it not say that the Midfield apart from Morgan is populated with Fairies

[Bearsy]

I see that article is by Michael Cox of zonalmarking.net, i read on that site a fair bit cos it's pretty interesting and has pictures.

 

He's usually a shrewd judge of tactics and stuff. Just a shame in that article tho he's obviously been afflicted by media bias. Probably he's good mates with Lawrenson.

[VectisSaint]

nice article but it just says basically that we're a good side with a shît defence and that our wingers don't track back well enough.

 

So actually a rather crap article, given that we don't actually play with wingers.

[hasper57saint]

It's only saying what we already know.

[Window Cleaner]

Which one can not disagree with I would have thought

 

But does it not say that the Midfield apart from Morgan is populated with Fairies

 

 

And there they are not wrong, I am not enamoured of JWP as many seem to be,nor Davis S for that matter. Too me one is too lightweight(as yet) and the other is neither tough in the tackle or quick enough. I look forward to the day where our MF is Morgan,Corky,Ramirez and one of JWP/SD

Edited 20 September, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[buctootim]

I look forward to the day where our MF is Morgan,Corky,Ramirez and one of JWP/SD

 

No Lallana?

[Chin Strain]

Gary Neville seemed to think we set ourselves up pretty well at Arsenal though, and compared us with Reading who he said were a total shambles. He seems to know a bit about defensive formations

Edited 20 September, 2012 by Chin Strain

[Window Cleaner]

behind Rickie in a sort of kaleidoscopic 4-4-1-1 formation.

[John B]

And there they are not wrong, I am not enamoured of JWP as many seem to be,nor Davis S for that matter. Too me one is too lightweight(as yet) and the other is neither tough in the tackle or quick enough. I look forward to the day where our MF is Morgan,Corky,Ramirez and one of JWP/SD

 

You seem to be a similar vintage to me so I would like us to be the Alehouse team whilst we consolidate in the PL but that wont happen

[Sour Mash]

Anyone think we possibly had the deliberate tactic of allowing oppossing teams room out wide? Fear of intricate balls/pace through the middle and a belief in our two CBs ability in the air? Just a guess.

 

Agree re the above on JWP and S Davis being too similar. Still lack balance in midfield.

[Dangermouth]

Hmm. So the article says that Saints try to play footy the right way: cleverly (get possession back quickly high up the pitch to turn defence into attack quickly and pressure the opposition just like a certain Spanish lot do while not conceding fouls), but that they lack the personnel in certain areas to do so.

 

I would discount comparisons with Blackpool: they were gung-ho and didn't have a clue, plainly from several sources now there are indications that SFC do but they just can't do it. Which doesn't help anyone, but at least suggests that if the players can get their act together they will make their mark. It also suggests that they are a different kind of team from many that have come up in that they are set up to compete at a high level.

 

Now all we need is 4 excellent players to join up with Clyne (and I like Fonte, he has potential to do it at this level and possibly to a lesser extent does Hooiveld - which is the opposite of what I thought last season - just to prevent those who want to get on their high horses about player bashing from going off at a tangent) and more from the wide midfielders and it's CL here we come.

 

HTH.

[The9]

The article also says this : "Southampton has been much more anarchic: in addition to lacking physical power, its defensive shape is poor, a combination that has played into its opponents' hands. They play too high up the pitch and the defense receives little protection from the midfield."

 

Which is tangible bolllocks.

[stevegrant]

The article also says this : "Southampton has been much more anarchic: in addition to lacking physical power, its defensive shape is poor, a combination that has played into its opponents' hands. They play too high up the pitch and the defense receives little protection from the midfield."

 

Which is tangible bolllocks.

Cox is usually pretty astute but I think he's wide of the mark here, especially considering the bits in bold were highlighted by Gary Neville on Monday night as the complete opposite, i.e. the shape is excellent and there's plenty of protection. What's cost us is a combination of excellent opponents and momentarily brain-farts from our defence. Hooiveld diving in to give away two penalties, Clyne having his weight the wrong way giving Gibbs an extra split-second, Fox's header at City, Fonte not keeping the gap between him and his CB partner at the right distance, failing to mark van Persie at a corner, etc.

[Graffito]

Cox is usually pretty astute but I think he's wide of the mark here, especially considering the bits in bold were highlighted by Gary Neville on Monday night as the complete opposite, i.e. the shape is excellent and there's plenty of protection. What's cost us is a combination of excellent opponents and momentarily brain-farts from our defence. Hooiveld diving in to give away two penalties, Clyne having his weight the wrong way giving Gibbs an extra split-second, Fox's header at City, Fonte not keeping the gap between him and his CB partner at the right distance, failing to mark van Persie at a corner, etc.

 

Don't have Sky so haven't seen Neville's analysis but I'm surprised if he said that the defensive shape is excellent and that there is plenty of protection for defenders. Seemed to me the fullbacks were exposed by Arsenal and space between and behind the defence easily exploited. This was my perspective from row 2 i.e. about 3ft above pitch level which admittedly isn't the best.

[stevegrant]

Don't have Sky so haven't seen Neville's analysis but I'm surprised if he said that the defensive shape is excellent and that there is plenty of protection for defenders.

He didn't just say it, he demonstrated it with various freeze-frames at the start of each of the moves for the open play goals in the first half at Arsenal. In each of them, the back 4 were in good positions and the midfield 5 lined up in front of them, which Neville said was exactly what he'd be looking for. It was only as the moves developed that things went wrong for us, which was a combination of good play by Arsenal and bad decision-making on our part.

 

For the first and fourth goals, Clyne's body position had him facing inside rather than outside, which meant that he couldn't keep an eye on Gibbs overlapping. By the time he'd turned, Gibbs was gone and there was no way he'd be able to get back to block his shot/cross.

 

For the third, as the play moved over to our left wing, Fox was near the touchline and Yoshida just inside him, covering the areas you'd expect them to be covering in that sort of situation, but Fonte didn't move over as well, which left a 30-yard space between him and Yoshida, which Gervinho ran into to score.

[corky morris]

Some of us were saying last year we needed a whole new back 5. It was obvious. They lacked mobility & pace? Clyne has helped, but even a players like Titus Bramble, James Collins & Chris Baird would improve us & they ain't very good!