Plan b

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

Could plan B possibly be, to drop RL. And play two fast front men, like Jrod and Mayuka. As the knock it up to RL was so infective against a quality CB like Samba. Your thoughts.

Edited 4 March, 2013 by SOTONS EAST SIDE

[tajjuk]

Samba isn't quality, he's just massive, so wins headers. We needed to get the ball moving away from him and in behind him.

[Pilchards]

Plan B IMHO should be to score more than the other team.

[VectisSaint]

Samba isn't quality, he's just massive, so wins headers. We needed to get the ball moving away from him and in behind him.

So Plan B went into action on Saturday, but it didn't work, more long balls which kept going astray and actually played to Samba's strengths.

[Saint Charlie]

We lost on Saturday because we didnt do well enough at Pochettino's Plan A.

 

Versus Norwich we will go with his Plan A and hopefully will play better, like against United, City, Wigan 2nd half.

 

A defeat doesnt mean you change the principles you instill into the players everyday.

[Turkish]

Samba isn't quality, he's just massive, so wins headers. We needed to get the ball moving away from him and in behind him.

 

One of the key attributes for a decent centre half, no?

[scotty]

I notice that twitchy's claiming some russian club wanted to buy Samba just a few weeks after qpr signed him, and at a higher fee than qpr paid.

 

Goes without saying that I certainly believe him.

[Andre]

Interchangeable play between Lallana, Rodriguez and Lambert on the left side, give the guys free roles to move about and pick the ball up wherever they may be. Lambert is a fantastic assistant as well as a natural goalscorer, and that's become more and more apparent in the Premier League.

[Baldbarbarian]

Samba isn't quality, he's just massive, so wins headers. We needed to get the ball moving away from him and in behind him.

 

totally agree

[Lallana's Left Peg]

We lost on Saturday because we didnt do well enough at Pochettino's Plan A.

 

Versus Norwich we will go with his Plan A and hopefully will play better, like against United, City, Wigan 2nd half.

 

A defeat doesnt mean you change the principles you instill into the players everyday.

 

Agreed - if a few players aren't 'on it' then it won't matter what systems or Plan B is.

 

Pochettino has inherited a squad that is very much confidence based - and it has been like that for a few years. When our tails are up we're decent, but when confidence is low there are problems as we can't manage games too well to 'find a way to win'. So when we have a tactic like this which is demanding and has no margin for error we will have times when we struggle due to the disposition of the squad. We'll just have to accept that and get on with it - and hopefully the teething problems won't cause us to be relegated.

[Sheaf Saint]

We lost on Saturday because we didnt do well enough at Pochettino's Plan A.

 

Versus Norwich we will go with his Plan A and hopefully will play better, like against United, City, Wigan 2nd half.

 

A defeat doesnt mean you change the principles you instill into the players everyday.

 

Hmm, I'd have to disagree slightly. Our 'plan A' is never going to work against a team that comes to defend in numbers and rely on the possibility of hitting us on the break. Time and time again over the last few years we have proven that we just don't have the capability to break through stubborn defences, and saturday highlighted this perfectly. It wasn't that we didn't do the job of the high pressing well enough, it's more a case that the tactics QPR adopted made it futile however well we did it.

 

The plan A of the high pressing only works against teams that are going to play all out attack against us in the first place. When we come up against teams that we know will not do that, we need to have an alternative tactic or we will come unstuck.

[Toomer]

IMO we should have played Jay Rod of of Samba's shoulder he might have had a little more joy than Lambert.

[Saint Charlie]

Hmm, I'd have to disagree slightly. Our 'plan A' is never going to work against a team that comes to defend in numbers and rely on the possibility of hitting us on the break. Time and time again over the last few years we have proven that we just don't have the capability to break through stubborn defences, and saturday highlighted this perfectly. It wasn't that we didn't do the job of the high pressing well enough, it's more a case that the tactics QPR adopted made it futile however well we did it.

 

The plan A of the high pressing only works against teams that are going to play all out attack against us in the first place. When we come up against teams that we know will not do that, we need to have an alternative tactic or we will come unstuck.

 

I don't buy this "Top Trumps" argument that high pressing only beats attacking teams, long ball beats high pressing, attacking teams beat long ball etc - its not true.

 

In any game you can play well, badly, ok - we werent good on Saturday and in the Prem that often means you lose as other teams have good individuals.

 

It doesn't suggest there are fundamental issues - especially when two games previously you play fantastically and beat a team like Man City.

 

Plus - time and time over the last few years when have we struggled to break down stubborn defences? Last season most teams came to SMS for a point and got beat...

[Wade Garrett]

Plan B 4-4-2. 2 banks of 4 and some width to stretch teams out. Up front, 2 forwards working the defence around.

 

I do like our plan A, but we were too narrow on Saturday and needed to make the pitch big with width.

 

I reckon our new gaffer has forgotten more about football than we know. He'll get it right.

[old_southy]

We need a faster back line to be able to press as a whole team. Until we have a fully fit best back line we need to change the team and so that we can counter but not be too vulnerable at the back.

[Sour Mash]

The OP is right though. Things weren't working on Saturday, the option of pace behind thier defence was needed and would have been interesting to see Mayuka on for Lambert for the last 10mins or so.

[Olallana]

We need our wingers to cut in more between their CB´s in games like this. When Punch has the ball on the right side you would like to see Adam or JRod cutting in, running along the offsideline and cut in between and behind the CB´s. And the same thing with Punch when ball is on our left side....

 

Optimal one of our CM would cut into it the same way to give the options and with Gaston tracking a bit back to utulise space in front of the CB´s.

[angelman]

The problem that I saw on Saturday was that they parked their bus relatively deep and we didn't have the speed to get in the limited space behind them. Their two lines of 4 or 4+5 couldn't be broken down. When JRod came on, I though that it offered us more, as did Luke Shaw's coming on.

 

So I can see what the OP is going on about.

[Andre]

What annoys me the most is how, yes we're playing a high-pressing game, but there's no reason why the defenders (or at least one CB) can't stay back and act as a final line of defence! Too often we see Fonte and Yoshida pressing high up with the rest of the team, not providing a whole lot and just leaving a massive gap for a quick player like Remy to run into and score.

 

I understand that it's good to press up high, but why not leave a gap between the midfield and a couple of defenders, instead of just the goalkeeper and the rest of the team? It's like they think that every single high-pressing attack they make will result in a goal, so we don't need to defend, but as a relegation-threatened club this just is not the case; we NEED that final line of defence, please!

[pangy]

We must have the slowest wingers in the league

[simo]

Cant stand the bloke crap actor crap singer

[Wade Garrett]

What annoys me the most is how, yes we're playing a high-pressing game, but there's no reason why the defenders (or at least one CB) can't stay back and act as a final line of defence! Too often we see Fonte and Yoshida pressing high up with the rest of the team, not providing a whole lot and just leaving a massive gap for a quick player like Remy to run into and score.

 

I understand that it's good to press up high, but why not leave a gap between the midfield and a couple of defenders, instead of just the goalkeeper and the rest of the team? It's like they think that every single high-pressing attack they make will result in a goal, so we don't need to defend, but as a relegation-threatened club this just is not the case; we NEED that final line of defence, please!

 

That would leave too much space for the midfield to cover.

[jimbojones10]

I think on saturday when jay rod came on he should of been up top against samba, with lambert dropping into the hole to be able to be more involved in the build up play

[110_Persaint]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This muppet of a manager is about as far away from a plan B as we are from being champions in the near future.

[Dalek2003]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This muppet of a manager is about as far away from a plan B as we are from being champions in the near future.

 

You seem to be getting angrier as the days go by. I feel a bit resigned to the inevitable....relegation.

[110_Persaint]

You seem to be getting angrier as the days go by. I feel a bit resigned to the inevitable....relegation.

One thing's for certain, if we do stay up it'll be due to there thankfully being worse teams than us, somehow. But due to our own merit? Never in a million years.

[CaneNero]

Plan A. Ensure Fox never plays another game for us again.

[Dalek2003]

One thing's for certain, if we do stay up it'll be due to there thankfully being worse teams than us, somehow. But due to our own merit? Never in a million years.

 

Well, I'll take that . Branfoot style if necessary.

[eelpie]

Plan B should be to strengthen the defence which means changing tactics. But Pochetino will be sacked like Adkins was if he tried that.

 

Adkins learned following successive defeats that continuous all-out up-field attacking left the team porous at the back, and so easy for the opposition to exploit. (I'll never forget that horrible away match at Arsenal.) Adkins reshaped tactics so that the back four were supported more by others and we climbed from the foot of the table. We don't have the quality defenders to play Cortese's way.

 

All teams know how to score against us again, and early season history is repeating itself.

[Dalek2003]

Plan B should be to strengthen the defence which means changing tactics. But Pochetino will be sacked like Adkins was if he tried that.

 

Adkins learned following successive defeats that continuous all-out up-field attacking left the team porous at the back, and so easy for the opposition to exploit. (I'll never forget that horrible away match at Arsenal.) Adkins reshaped tactics so that the back four were supported more by others and we climbed from the foot of the table. We don't have the quality defenders to play Cortese's way.

 

All teams know how to score against us again, and early season history is repeating itself.

 

You know what ?, you are spot on !

[Ziggy]

Plan B. sack the manager. That will work. Oh.

[eelpie]

Plan B. sack the manager. That will work. Oh.

 

Nooh. The manager needs to follow his own instincts and not let Cortese dictate his game plan.

[Sour Mash]

Should have brought Mayuka on with 10mins to go on Sat, with Lambert dropping in behind him. Would have pulled their centre backs out of place, Mayuka could have run onto Lambert's flicks or threaded through balls. Would at least have been a different test for the QPR defence.

[wild-saint]

The OP is right though. Things weren't working on Saturday, the option of pace behind thier defence was needed and would have been interesting to see Mayuka on for Lambert for the last 10mins or so.

 

pace in behind thier back four? where was this space exactly? im not sue if you noticed but qpr played 10 men behind the ball dropping really deep and where very organised defensively. its tough to break down teams that play with such a defensive set up.

Saints really benefit from playing the ball quickly with the likes of lallana, lambert puncheon and ramirez able to ping the ball around to make the defence turn. when you park the bus in front of the goal its a tough ask to break them down.

 

to be fair once saints equalised it forced qpr to be slightly more adventurous leading to a better period of play for saints up to the second **** up when things returned to backs to the wall defending in numbers.

 

personally i dont think we will see a performance like that again this season from any team we play so will lead to a more open game and suit saints strengths.

 

for the record i have heard the government will cease testing for horse dna in our meat and as of the close season are likely be looking for fox dna after that defensive performance.

[Charlie Wayman]

'Plan B' is a euphemism, there is no such thing as a 'plan B'. When all else fails with an adopted approach people call for something different to be done without in most cases having any idea what that might be. Just like the economy, the policy of this government does not seem to be working very well at all so people panic and call for a 'plan B' - but of course there is no 'plan B' or other course of action open that can guarantee a different result in the same period of time. It is all wishful thinking based on an almost divine belief that there exists a perfect solution to all problems that we have yet to discover.

 

Tinkering with our starting line-up and formation isn't really going to change anything now. The league position doesn't lie and all that will work now is discipline and concentration.

[eelpie]

'Plan B' is a euphemism, there is no such thing as a 'plan B'. When all else fails with an adopted approach people call for something different to be done without in most cases having any idea what that might be. Just like the economy, the policy of this government does not seem to be working very well at all so people panic and call for a 'plan B' - but of course there is no 'plan B' or other course of action open that can guarantee a different result in the same period of time. It is all wishful thinking based on an almost divine belief that there exists a perfect solution to all problems that we have yet to discover.

 

Tinkering with our starting line-up and formation isn't really going to change anything now. The league position doesn't lie and all that will work now is discipline and concentration.

 

So are you suggesting that nothing needs to be done (or can be done) to improve the porosity of our defence? Certainly Adkins managed eventually to improve matters there.

 

The problem with MP's game plan, exciting to watch as it is, is that we are not seeing alternative strategies which we need to switch to when other teams are becoming increasingly adept in dealing with our tactics.

[wild-saint]

So are you suggesting that nothing needs to be done (or can be done) to improve the porosity of our defence? Certainly Adkins managed eventually to improve matters there.

 

The problem with MP's game plan, exciting to watch as it is, is that we are not seeing alternative strategies which we need to switch to when other teams are becoming increasingly adept in dealing with our tactics.

 

although when fox was in adkins team we conceded for fun. now fox is back in the team it seems we are once again we are conceding for fun.

 

seems to me that there is a common theme here. drop fox and things will improve no doubt and then the bed wetters can co concentrate on chaging thier urine soaked pyjamas

[Wade Garrett]

'Plan B' is a euphemism, there is no such thing as a 'plan B'. When all else fails with an adopted approach people call for something different to be done without in most cases having any idea what that might be. Just like the economy, the policy of this government does not seem to be working very well at all so people panic and call for a 'plan B' - but of course there is no 'plan B' or other course of action open that can guarantee a different result in the same period of time. It is all wishful thinking based on an almost divine belief that there exists a perfect solution to all problems that we have yet to discover.

 

Tinkering with our starting line-up and formation isn't really going to change anything now. The league position doesn't lie and all that will work now is discipline and concentration.

 

Teams change tactics through games all the time. Play the wrong tactics against a decent side and you'll get turned over no matter how much you concentrate, or how disciplined you are.

[Wade Garrett]

although when fox was in adkins team we conceded for fun. now fox is back in the team it seems we are once again we are conceding for fun.

 

seems to me that there is a common theme here. drop fox and things will improve no doubt and then the bed wetters can co concentrate on chaging thier urine soaked pyjamas

 

Good point, but who do you replace him with if Shaw is injured. The only other option I can see is Clyne, with Richardson or Cork going right-back. We would be more solid with either option.