Jump to content

SAINTS 1 QPR 2 >> Reaction


Glasgow_Saint

Recommended Posts

Espanyol were bottom of the table and heading for relegation in November 2012 (just after sacking Pottechino). Now on a run of five wins and one defeat in six games they are romping up the table......

 

 

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/feb/18/espanyol-salvation-coach-watching-baseball

Javier Aguirre was sitting at home when they called, reading, studying, listening to classical music and indulging the love of his life: not football, although he was watching plenty of that too, but baseball. Mostly he was just getting in the way and his wife had had enough. It had been almost a year: he had been out of work since Real Zaragoza sacked him in December 2011. It was November 2012: time to get back to work. Espanyol were on the phone, they were desperate and they were in trouble. Bottom of the table and heading for relegation, with just nine points from 13 games, they'd picked up two measly wins in three months. Could you help?

 

 

Could I?! Looking at the table then was depressing; looking at the table now is different. In third place: FC Barcelona. In second: Real Madrid. And top of the table: RCD Espanyol. Now, that's not the actual table, of course, but it is the form guide and the actual table doesn't look bad either. Over the last six games, Espanyol have won five and drawn one: no one in Spain can match that record. Since Aguirre took over, they have lost just once in 11, winning six of their last eight, and on Sunday night they defeated Real Betis 1-0. It was their fifth consecutive victory at home and it took them, bottom when he arrived, 11 points clear of the relegation zone and six from Europe.

 

 

It is a familiar path: when Aguirre took over Zaragoza they were bottom, five points from safety, and they survived. At Osasuna he took them to their first ever Champions League place and he took Atlético Madrid there too. "Insatiable!" cheered the headline in Marca. Espanyol's website called them "unstoppable." Safety draws closer.

 

 

Javier Aguirre didn't want to be a footballer, you know. Nicknamed El vasco because his parents crossed the ocean from the Basque country in the 1950s, he was brought up in Mexico City. A fan of the Oakland Athletics, he told El País that he wanted to play baseball but he wasn't good enough. "I didn't [have the talent] for football, either," he added, "but I was better at conning them." As a player, he describes himself as "mediocre, a hacker ... I did the dirty work. I talked to the referee and threatened opponents", and jokes that there is no footage of him from Mexico's goals at the 1986 World Cup – although it was his touch that laid on that volley from Negrete - but that there is footage of him on the bench talking to the coach Bora Milutinovic.

 

 

It feels appropriate somehow; a manager from the start. A player close to his coach, a coach close to his players.

 

 

Sunday night's goal was scored by Sergio García. It was his fourth of the season; all of them have come since Aguirre arrived and put him back in the centre-forward position – a role Aguirre insisted was García's natural position but one he had not occupied since he was at Zaragoza – with Christian Stuani moved wider and Joan Verdú, as ever, at the heart of their creativity, behind the striker.

 

Joan Capdevila has been returned to the team. Kiko Casilla has kept his apparently temporary place in goal after Cristián Alvarez returned from injury. And last night Raúl Rodríguez was moved into midfield. That worked, too.

 

 

When Aguirre arrived, among the first things he told his players was that he wanted them to be brave but that he didn't want them to take any risks they didn't feel happy taking: if needs be, go long. They dropped a little deeper but sought to pressure to get the ball back quickly. Swift transitions were fundamental – and it is there that García's mobility has proven so vital.

 

They have not exactly dominated games – Aguirre noted that, with the exception of last week's 4-0 win at Bilbao, they have "suffered" every week – but they have become tough, aggressive and focused. And bit by bit, they're developing; playing more with each passing week. He demanded greater intensity from his team, repeating a discourse he has used before: for most players, 88 of the 90 minutes are spent without the ball but those minutes matter even more; that was where he really judged players. On the runs they made, the support they offered, the positions they occupied, the concentration they showed.

 

 

And that has been vital: the difference is as much about emotion as tactics. Aguirre called for communication and he has communicated. Some players felt that they had little voice under Mauricio Pochettino; Aguirre, by contrast, has invited them to speak and has listened. Especially to the older players: men who may not, at first glance, produce as much on the pitch but who can lead others. Simão Sabrosa, Capdevila and Diego Colotto have all been handed more important roles than under Pochettino. They feel like protagonists again.

 

 

Those that are played out of position, who make sacrifices are lauded – on Sunday night Aguirre singled out Raúl Rodríguez, a message aimed not just at him but the whole squad – and those that are not playing at all have the door left open to them. Aguirre knows that they must be kept on-side, too. "I'd like Fifa to change the rules and play with 18," he said. "All of my players concern me, all of them. I would like to put my arm around all of them, hug them, give them affection. Because they deserve it, because they work." There, in a nutshell, is his manifesto: there's something in Aguirre's playing style that is reflected in his managerial approach. Not just in the toughness, the intensity, the concentration, the hard work. Read those words again: "I conned them."

 

 

Often, it is about conviction. It's hard not to like Aguirre and in Cornella they have found it hard not to like him. He is direct and funny. He is close to his players. He says he sees no reason why he should not be their friend. Honesty plays a part and so does affection. "Aguirre looks you in the eyes," Simão says. "He's honest and loyal," says Juan Forlín. Those he does not want were told immediately – Ernesto Galán and Rui Fonte – and if he has to act, he will. Wakaso Mubarak has been left out of the squad and fined after returning late from the Africa Cup of Nations.

 

 

Aguirre has proven an expert in motivation: his greatest ability may be the ease with which he succeeds in getting under their skin, touching a nerve, bringing them together. His ability to convince. And that's not as easy as it may seem: footballers are often cynical and they see through weak coaches and vacuous speeches. Players call his team-talks the best they have heard, the kind of thing they wish they had on video. Speaking of videos, an example: this column has mentioned the video he produced with the players wives at Osasuna before. Since he has been at Espanyol he has succeeded in changing the atmosphere. "They're training with huge enthusiasm and that makes it easy for the coach," he said on Sunday night.

 

 

They're winning, too. Over the last six games, no one has won more. Europe is just six points away. Espanyol almost certainly won't get there – not least because next weekend they travel to the Calderón and there are four teams between them and the final European slot – but the real target is in sight. Four wins in 14 games and they're there. "The most important thing is that we're getting closer to those 42 points," Aguirre said. "But until we're mathematically safe we will keep on fighting."

 

 

And with that he excused himself; time to go home. "It's a pity there's no baseball on tonight," he smiled. "Luckily there's basketball at 3am and I want to watch that."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As soon as I heard Ramirez was starting I knew we'd struggle because of the lost bite in the middle of the pitch.

 

Sure he's talented but he's far too lightweight for a game like this - and probably for the Premier League. Whenever Ramirez plays we lose the marauding element of Schneiderlin's game because he has to err on the side of caution.

 

 

About 10 tackles today so he was obviously on double shift without Davis.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Nigel I trusted, I do not have the faith after today, that we have the fight to stay up.

 

A lot of teams at the bottom pull out the stops for teams at the top of the table, but we cannot and should not be losing at home to that lot we did today.

 

Wake up, smell the coffee, the dogfight is well and truly on!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Typical Southampton. Just when I think we're on the verge of going places, the rug gets pulled! But, still 10 games to go...still time to sort this out. Really should have done better today though against that rubbish! COYR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Include Pinicchios last 12 games at Espanyol and his recent record is

 

P18 W1 D4 L13

 

"Tactical genius" or just simply awful?

 

Nothing like padding the stats in your favour, yes his start here isnt too impressive we get that, you keep banging on about it in every FOOKIN thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still 10-games left 30-points to play for but we need a couple of wins for sure! This should have been 3 of those points, but we bottled it.

Losing Lallana obviously mucked things up, but we never had a chance did we? Look at what we created in the whole game - very little.

Too little too late - I think they believe all the hype - but we are good enough to go down!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very disappointed! In fact the last time I felt this low was when Wet Spam beat us this season. Just gutted & HR getting one over us. Last 2 games we should have one & although I think we will stay up, it will probably be down to other teams playing poorly rather than us playing well. A per a previous post, tomorrow its all going to be about super Harry this & that...bet they won't say QPR were lucky as they played a below par Saints side or is it only us that gets to win against below par sides. Yet again we are missing that killer instinct in the goal area. If this vision" of european football is actually true then provided we stay up (still think we will) then I think we must already be planning a mass sell off of players in the summer & we plan on spending big to put some oomph into the side. Cannot see NC being happy with this result in the slightest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm hoping this gives the team a kick up the bum after the praise they have been getting the last few weeks, but in reality only returning one win.

 

skintsaint has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder what Nicola make of this?

 

His prodigy has P6 W1 D2 L3 at the most critical stage of the season :(

 

Exactly. 5 points from 18 is a poor return and almost certain relegation form. It makes Mr Ego's decision to sack NA when he did all the more bizarre. Still NC can never be wrong, as this forum often tells us, and as ruthlessness always equals success I'm looking forward to the easy victories that will come in the next few games.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, just reading a previous post that mentioned swapping the results of Man Citeeh & QPR makes me feel a little better. What I really dislike though is the team getting us all moist with excitement after the citeh game & then delivering 2 straight losses. We know we are capable so what the hell is going wrong? Also surely Mayuka & Forren can't be that far of the pace surely?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got faith in Pochettino and his style but, for me, he's dropped two big selection clangers in successive games - not starting Puncheon at Newcastle and starting Ramirez today.

 

I hope we quickly get back to what we were doing three weeks ago.

 

Davis is not much more than a journeyman midfielder but he fits very well into the high press.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have all been fans a long time, was it such a while ago that we celebrated a rare win in the premier league and were happy we weren't bottom.

 

We have had a run of games v Everton (H), Man U(A) Wigan (A), Man C (H), Newcastle (A) and QPR (H).

 

Out of all of that I would of said QPR must win, the others any points would be good, but in reality we have picked up 5 pts but I would of said at the beginning of the season only Wigan/QPR wouldn't be top 6.

 

Today was disappointing but more so because we expected to win but the Man C win has shown the games we are worried about coming up should also offer a glimmer of hope.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gutted, could have killed QPR off but we ballsed it up. The last 2 games have really hurt us.

 

We're in a real dogfight now and anyone who puts a run together will get out.

 

At the moment it looks like 3 from 5 (including us) and it's anyones' guess who is going to go down.

 

Strap in, it's going to be a brown trouser ride all the way till the end.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Right now I will take staying up on the last day on goal difference with a 95th minute goal. We were woeful today, just seemed to be something missing, or thought we could just turn up. Next 3 games aren't great but could see us winning at Norwich for some reason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Embarassing result in the context of our season,we were made to look ordinary by the worst team in the league. Questions really need to be asked of MP, we've got one win, against a poor Man City, since he took over. The happy clappers can stick their "players are happy double training under MP" and Fergie claiming we're the best team to go to OT this season b.s right up their arses. His pressing tactics have cost us a goal again, shocking long ball over the top. It might have worked in La Liga which is a more relaxed style of football, but we've been punished today and against Newcastle last week for it.

 

I'm convinced theres no way we'd have lost today under Adkins. Everyone connected to the club, fans included, need to stop this crap about us pushing for a European place and accept we are in a relegation battle, and we're no where near as good as some of our fans seem to think we are. The table doesn't lie, we're down the bottom for a reason. Shocking atmosphere again today btw, shame more our fans couldnt have concentrated more on getting behind the team rather than worrying about Harry ****ing Redknapp.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Include Pinicchios last 12 games at Espanyol and his recent record is

 

P18 W1 D4 L13

 

"Tactical genius" or just simply awful?

I wondered when you would resort the ever so rude habit of referring to MP as Pinocchio again. I've been watching and supporting Saints for 50 years this year. I was only just in school when I first went. Disappointingly we lost to Leeds. (the Revie team on the up) Since then they've let me down so many times I've become immune. A few QPR will give me grief in school on Monday but they'll still go down and we will probably stay up. I am glad I didn't blow good money on that and I take your point about Pochettino's (note not Pinocchio) recent managerial record. We are where we are. When 38 games are completed we will know if we've been good enough not 28. I don't mean to patronise anyone but this season was never going to be easy. Our manager and Executive Chairman will be judged on their performance from here on in. Only my opinion, but I can't see the point of all this angst. It is disappointing but is only one in a long line of such events in the past and one amongst many that will no doubt happen in the future, such is the uncertainty of being a Saint's supporter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All comes down to the fact that the manager and chairman thought in their wisdom that the side did not need strengthening in the transfer window. QPR and Newcastle realised it and we overlooked it.

 

A very stupid error by a chairman who states that saints will not be relegated on his watch.

 

It is starting to appear that the Man C result was a one off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Embarassing result in the context of our season,we were made to look ordinary by the worst team in the league. Questions really need to be asked of MP, we've got one win, against a poor Man City, since he took over. The happy clappers can stick their "players are happy double training under MP" and Fergie claiming we're the best team to go to OT this season b.s right up their arses. His pressing tactics have cost us a goal again, shocking long ball over the top. It might have worked in La Liga which is a more relaxed style of football, but we've been punished today and against Newcastle last week for it.

 

I'm convinced theres no way we'd have lost today under Adkins. Everyone connected to the club, fans included, need to stop this crap about us pushing for a European place and accept we are in a relegation battle, and we're no where near as good as some of our fans seem to think we are. The table doesn't lie, we're down the bottom for a reason. Shocking atmosphere again today btw, shame more our fans couldnt have concentrated more on getting behind the team rather than worrying about Harry ****ing Redknapp.

 

His tactics didnt work in Spain either....... They were rock/solid bottom when he was sacked.

 

Interestingly Espanyol have really picked up since his bullet!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was a complete disaster, from word go. It was as ineffective and rusty as we've been all season. Players didn't seem to know what to do anywhere on the pitch.

 

We've come from being quite a solid, disciplined unit to once again being wide open down the flanks, allowing too much space in behind, making basic errors and giving away goals which wouldn't look out of place in the lower leagues.

 

The decision to get rid of Adkins is looking more stupid by the minute. If anything, we'd be no worse off at this moment in time. MP had an okish start to life here, but is being shown up quite emphatically at this moment in time. He just doesn't seem to have any idea if the ''high press'' doesn't work, absolutely no idea.

 

Still a long way to go of course, but from being in a position to move clear we are now back in the mire and amongst the worst in the league in terms of form.

 

Alarm bells are ringing very, very loudly for me at this moment in time. Going down this season just can't happen for us, I dread to think of the fallout. We'd be nowhere near promotion the following season though, that's for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wondered when you would resort the ever so rude habit of referring to MP as Pinocchio again. I've been watching and supporting Saints for 50 years this year. I was only just in school when I first went. Disappointingly we lost to Leeds. (the Revie team on the up) Since then they've let me down so many times I've become immune. A few QPR will give me grief in school on Monday but they'll still go down and we will probably stay up. I am glad I didn't blow good money on that and I take your point about Pochettino's (note not Pinocchio) recent managerial record. We are where we are. When 38 games are completed we will know if we've been good enough not 28. I don't mean to patronise anyone but this season was never going to be easy. Our manager and Executive Chairman will be judged on their performance from here on in. Only my opinion, but I can't see the point of all this angst. It is disappointing but is only one in a long line of such events in the past and one amongst many that will no doubt happen in the future, such is the uncertainty of being a Saint's supporter.

 

Please get off this forum, your rational and balanced point has no place here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wondered when you would resort the ever so rude habit of referring to MP as Pinocchio again. I've been watching and supporting Saints for 50 years this year. I was only just in school when I first went. Disappointingly we lost to Leeds. (the Revie team on the up) Since then they've let me down so many times I've become immune. A few QPR will give me grief in school on Monday but they'll still go down and we will probably stay up. I am glad I didn't blow good money on that and I take your point about Pochettino's (note not Pinocchio) recent managerial record. We are where we are. When 38 games are completed we will know if we've been good enough not 28. I don't mean to patronise anyone but this season was never going to be easy. Our manager and Executive Chairman will be judged on their performance from here on in. Only my opinion, but I can't see the point of all this angst. It is disappointing but is only one in a long line of such events in the past and one amongst many that will no doubt happen in the future, such is the uncertainty of being a Saint's supporter.

 

Pinocchio was the name given by the Espanyol fans......... Its not an insult, just his nickname in Spain

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Embarassing result in the context of our season,we were made to look ordinary by the worst team in the league. Questions really need to be asked of MP, we've got one win, against a poor Man City, since he took over. The happy clappers can stick their "players are happy double training under MP" and Fergie claiming we're the best team to go to OT this season b.s right up their arses. His pressing tactics have cost us a goal again, shocking long ball over the top. It might have worked in La Liga which is a more relaxed style of football, but we've been punished today and against Newcastle last week for it.

 

I'm convinced theres no way we'd have lost today under Adkins. Everyone connected to the club, fans included, need to stop this crap about us pushing for a European place and accept we are in a relegation battle, and we're no where near as good as some of our fans seem to think we are. The table doesn't lie, we're down the bottom for a reason. Shocking atmosphere again today btw, shame more our fans couldnt have concentrated more on getting behind the team rather than worrying about Harry ****ing Redknapp.

 

Sums it up for me. Like I said I will take staying up on the last day right now. Because we carry on playing like we did today we are in huge trouble

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Predicted this to my daughter this morning. Inept performance devoid of ideas. Too slow in the build up. Only positives were Fonte and Jrod. Morgan poor and SRL had one of his worst games in a Saints shirt. Beaten by a team of bruisers who had two shots on goal. We'll need more than just a pressing game to stay up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

don't think I'll bother with a reaction then, I obviously wasn't watching the right game. Thought we looked not too bad but had very little in attack. Poor game from Lambert needs to do more .

 

Agree today but he's hardly problem. Lallana awful and defence shocking

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got faith in Pochettino and his style but, for me, he's dropped two big selection clangers in successive games - not starting Puncheon at Newcastle and starting Ramirez today.

 

I hope we quickly get back to what we were doing three weeks ago.

 

Davis is not much more than a journeyman midfielder but he fits very well into the high press.

 

A good point but also picking Fox is a straight rank poor decision in any game.

 

However it was tactics today. We look like West Ham these days. I have never seen so many hopeful long balls which just immediately lose possession.

The instruction to the players today was long ball which is not going to take us anywhere.

Ward Prowse ??? Couldn't understand this substitution - odd!! Davis maybe, he has played well recently and seems to fit our system. JWP is short of match practice and was the last player to come on in place of Rimerez......Potty is not learning about what does work and what doesn't.

Today was terrible football - we were totally clueless, poor tactics, poor team selection, poor substitution, and no plan B, this comes from the manager....Simple

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...