Possession

[Dig Dig]

Noticed how yet again we dominated the ball with 60% possession against Norwich.

 

I don't recall a game under Pochettino where we have come off worse possession wise, home and away. This is difficult to do at this level, especially away from home and not something to be over looked amongst the negativity which some posters seem to be enjoying at the moment.

 

Pochettino is right in what he said yesterday, we are not clinical enough in front of goal. I'm sure it's as frustrating for him as it is for us but largely out of his control if players like Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez are all spurning their chances as they are at the moment.

 

I don't think we are far away from being a solid side, our finishing is letting us down and I hope we don't pay the ultimate price for this because we could have a very good season next year if we can continue to dominate he ball and maybe bring in a more clinical striker at this level.

[Saint Garrett]

Thing is with dominating possession is that it's hard to break down a team as there is little space. When hitting someone on the break there is loads of space so it's probably easier to score.

[Dig Dig]

Thing is with dominating possession is that it's hard to break down a team as there is little space. When hitting someone on the break there is loads of space so it's probably easier to score.

 

Is it easier to score? It's not as if we are not creating chances.

 

If what you are saying were true, teams simply wouldn't aspire to keep the ball. In addition, if you looked at say 10 games where team A had 65% possession and team B had 35% possession, presumably you'd conclude that team B would have more wins than team A?

[Saint Garrett]

Is it easier to score? It's not as if we are not creating chances.

 

If what you are saying were true, teams simply wouldn't aspire to keep the ball. In addition, if you looked at say 10 games where team A had 65% possession and team B had 35% possession, presumably you'd conclude that team B would have more wins than team A?

 

No I just think we're struggling to break teams down at the moment and becoming a bit predictable. Certainly think we missed Puncheon yesterday.

[Dig Dig]

No I just think we're struggling to break teams down at the moment and becoming a bit predictable. Certainly think we missed Puncheon yesterday.

 

Hmm, not too sure. We certainly created enough yesterday to win the game. I wouldn't say being predictable was the problem, more that our strikers aren't taking chances which they simply should be taking.

[pangy]

We are like a **** version of Arsenal,try to walk it in the net at times,nobody wants to have a pop at times and when they do they have there banana boots on.

Possession counts for sweet FA when you don't score or win

[Miltonroader07]

Noticed how yet again we dominated the ball with 60% possession against Norwich.

 

I don't recall a game under Pochettino where we have come off worse possession wise, home and away. This is difficult to do at this level, especially away from home and not something to be over looked amongst the negativity which some posters seem to be enjoying at the moment.

 

Pochettino is right in what he said yesterday, we are not clinical enough in front of goal. I'm sure it's as frustrating for him as it is for us but largely out of his control if players like Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez are all spurning their chances as they are at the moment.

 

I don't think we are far away from being a solid side, our finishing is letting us down and I hope we don't pay the ultimate price for this because we could have a very good season next year if we can continue to dominate he ball and maybe bring in a more clinical striker at this level.

 

We need to be more clinical in front of goal, if we had had Billy Sharp we would be top ten now FFS

[old_southy]

I don't think you can blame MP for Lallana missing that sitter yesterday. Players need to take more responsibility. I thought Gaston would pick up under MP but that's yet to be the case.

 

That said, I think we can get something from Liverpool, we just need to work hard and not be surprised about our position in the table.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Don't get me wrong, I am into controlling the game and passing football but a lot of out possession is with the back 5 or 6 if you include Morgan. Teams have set out to let us play in certain areas and we have let them reorganise by passing it around the back. There are a fair few times we do 7 or 8 passes around the back and then an almost big Sam esq hoof down the channel, just for the ball to run out of play. We need someone to control the game from the centre to ensure once we do go forward it is meaningful.

[VectisSaint]

We need to be more clinical in front of goal, if we had had Billy Sharp we would be top ten now FFS

We should have kept David Connolly

[S-Clarke]

We should have kept David Connolly

 

On another note, I felt a little queezy to see him running to the Skate fans celebrating yesterday.

[Saint Charlie]

Agree with the OP.

[studentsaint]

Thing is with dominating possession is that it's hard to break down a team as there is little space. When hitting someone on the break there is loads of space so it's probably easier to score.

 

Completely agree. Although stays say we had 14 odd shots, the only time he had a chance that we SHOULD have scored was Lallana skying it after Ramirez missing the near post cross. Otherwise, as you say the chances we ones that bunn did well to save but would be expected to save. A counter attack when we nick the ball in midfield is definitely when we look more dangerous.

[Sour Mash]

Don't get me wrong, I am into controlling the game and passing football but a lot of out possession is with the back 5 or 6 if you include Morgan. Teams have set out to let us play in certain areas and we have let them reorganise by passing it around the back. There are a fair few times we do 7 or 8 passes around the back and then an almost big Sam esq hoof down the channel, just for the ball to run out of play. We need someone to control the game from the centre to ensure once we do go forward it is meaningful.

Exactly, a lot of possession for possesion's sake, we don't move the ball quick enough or break with pace often enough for me. We play a lot of our football infront of the opposition and they're often happy just to let us do that.

[Saint Garrett]

Yep, and we only have to players who look to get in behind and that is Gaston running through past Lambert, and J-Rod doing good work in the wide areas. Lallana and Puncheon as talented as they are, are quite predictable as they are never really looking to get in behind. MP needs to come up with a plan B, and we have been crying out for a pace option off the bench. One of the reasons why it's so baffling that Mayuka isn't even on the bench.

[Chewy]

Exactly, a lot of possession for possesion's sake, we don't move the ball quick enough or break with pace often enough for me. We play a lot of our football infront of the opposition and they're often happy just to let us do that.

 

The word pace is the key. If we can't go through teams we need to get round them, and both our regular wingers (punch and lallana) are slow and also want to come inside onto their stronger foot all the time. The first choice fullbacks can overlap but the replacements aren't good enough so we suffer when either is absent - plus it leaves us susceptible to the break. The summer transfer activity (assuming we stay up) needs to see focus on the flanks.

[maysie]

Completely agree. Although stays say we had 14 odd shots, the only time he had a chance that we SHOULD have scored was Lallana skying it after Ramirez missing the near post cross. Otherwise, as you say the chances we ones that bunn did well to save but would be expected to save. A counter attack when we nick the ball in midfield is definitely when we look more dangerous.

 

Agree we can become a bit predictable. Problem is we're not good enough defensively to soak up pressure and hit on the break. If we played this way I think it could turn out a nightmare. Due to our defensive frailties possession is the best kind of defense, we just need to pass a bit more quickly and need the option of the ball over the top on to pace if Plan A is up **** creek - which is what Mayuka was supposedly bought for

[mcjwills]

We need to be more clinical in front of goal, if we had had Billy Sharp we would be top ten now FFS

 

Would that be the same Billy Sharp that can not get into the Forest team.

[110_Persaint]

Noticed how yet again we dominated the ball with 60% possession against Norwich.

 

I don't recall a game under Pochettino where we have come off worse possession wise, home and away. This is difficult to do at this level, especially away from home and not something to be over looked amongst the negativity which some posters seem to be enjoying at the moment.

 

Pochettino is right in what he said yesterday, we are not clinical enough in front of goal. I'm sure it's as frustrating for him as it is for us but largely out of his control if players like Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez are all spurning their chances as they are at the moment.

 

I don't think we are far away from being a solid side, our finishing is letting us down and I hope we don't pay the ultimate price for this because we could have a very good season next year if we can continue to dominate he ball and maybe bring in a more clinical striker at this level.

Let's not make the manager blameless here mate. That's like saying Wenger is blameless that the wealth of talent at his disposal have been unable to score enough goals to win a trophy for eight years. It is almost totally down to the manager that we play the way we do, and get in the positions we get into. Compare our style now to the home games against Villa and Newcastle, chance after chance would come our way because we ATTACKED right from the get go. Second half Villa, all game Newcastle we never gave their defences time to breathe never mind sit back and enjoy watching us tiki-taka in and around the half-way line. That's all we do under MP, so much so that when a 'chance' arrives it's under immense pressure from opposition defenders since they've been camped in their own half all game.

 

This is all down to MP's horrendous tactics of 1) keep ball first, 2) score goal second. It's absolutely painful to watch entertainment wise like yesterday and extremely frustrating for a Saints supporter. It's been the case ever since he came here and IMO this muppet has to go.

[Saint Garrett]

Let's not make the manager blameless here mate. That's like saying Wenger is blameless that the wealth of talent at his disposal have been unable to score enough goals to win a trophy for eight years. It is almost totally down to the manager that we play the way we do, and get in the positions we get into. Compare our style now to the home games against Villa and Newcastle, chance after chance would come our way because we ATTACKED right from the get go. Second half Villa, all game Newcastle we never gave their defences time to breathe never mind sit back and enjoy watching us tiki-taka in and around the half-way line. That's all we do under MP, so much so that when a 'chance' arrives it's under immense pressure from opposition defenders since they've been camped in their own half all game.

 

This is all down to MP's horrendous tactics of 1) keep ball first, 2) score goal second. It's absolutely painful to watch entertainment wise like yesterday and extremely frustrating for a Saints supporter. It's been the case ever since he came here and IMO this muppet has to go.

 

 

Talk about picking out examples to fit an arguement !!!! What about Swansea, Wigan, Norwich, Sunderland home games ?!

[110_Persaint]

Talk about picking out examples to fit an arguement !!!! What about Swansea, Wigan, Norwich, Sunderland home games ?!

The two in bold we all know the one-man show that cost us.

 

Wigan was far too early in the season, still adjusting to a new league.

 

Sunderland was at least a better performance than QPR, and against much stronger opposition.

 

I'd go so far as to say our performance at home to Man Utd was as good if not better than Man City. I'm sorry but there is absolutely nothing MP has done that Nigel hasn't equaled or bettered.

[Saint Garrett]

The two in bold we all know the one-man show that cost us.

 

Wigan was far too early in the season, still adjusting to a new league.

 

Sunderland was at least a better performance than QPR, and against much stronger opposition.

 

I'd go so far as to say our performance at home to Man Utd was as good if not better than Man City. I'm sorry but there is absolutely nothing MP has done that Nigel hasn't equaled or bettered.

 

Beaten the champions, outplayed Man Utd at OT, dominated against Everton, should have beaten Wigan and Norwich away....And you can't really say that when Adkins have 2/3s of a season and Poche has had 6 odd games.

[110_Persaint]

Beaten the champions, outplayed Man Utd at OT, dominated against Everton, should have beaten Wigan and Norwich away....And you can't really say that when Adkins have 2/3s of a season and Poche has had 6 odd games.

I'm willing to give the bloke time, but game after game he's proving to be more and more of a muppet. If he can engineer a victory against Liverpool, fair play to the man and I'll start backing him again... some strange feeling tells me we're going to lose that game though, same one that informed me of the QPR result.

[Saint Garrett]

I'm willing to give the bloke time, but game after game he's proving to be more and more of a muppet. If he can engineer a victory against Liverpool, fair play to the man and I'll start backing him again... some strange feeling tells me we're going to lose that game though, same one that informed me of the QPR result.

 

So you're admitting you base your opinions on knee jerk reactions then !?

[110_Persaint]

So you're admitting you base your opinions on knee jerk reactions then !?

What else can I judge the bloke by?! Wait til the next game, see what transpires, react, wait til next game, see what transpires, react, wait til next game...

[Dig Dig]

Let's not make the manager blameless here mate. That's like saying Wenger is blameless that the wealth of talent at his disposal have been unable to score enough goals to win a trophy for eight years. It is almost totally down to the manager that we play the way we do, and get in the positions we get into. Compare our style now to the home games against Villa and Newcastle, chance after chance would come our way because we ATTACKED right from the get go. Second half Villa, all game Newcastle we never gave their defences time to breathe never mind sit back and enjoy watching us tiki-taka in and around the half-way line. That's all we do under MP, so much so that when a 'chance' arrives it's under immense pressure from opposition defenders since they've been camped in their own half all game.

 

This is all down to MP's horrendous tactics of 1) keep ball first, 2) score goal second. It's absolutely painful to watch entertainment wise like yesterday and extremely frustrating for a Saints supporter. It's been the case ever since he came here and IMO this muppet has to go.

 

What can Pochettino do about Rodriguez hitting most of his shots straight at the keeper or snatching at efforts? Or Lallan blasting over when in enough space to take a touch and show a bit of composure? Even Lambert has been guilty of this recently.

 

Take chances like this and we would be walking away with 3 points to go with some impressive possession stats more often.

[Saint Garrett]

It's called patience......? Ever heard of it? Probably not as you've written off Gaston already, all our plays are ****, the manager is ****. I'd hate to live my life like you, everything is ****...

 

I judge things on much more than one game and one result. The performance, how we play, how opposition fans review the game, the chances, the problems we cause them, how many problems the opposition caused us...and also how the team/manager reacts to bad results.

[110_Persaint]

What can Pochettino do about Rodriguez hitting most of his shots straight at the keeper or snatching at efforts? Or Lallan blasting over when in enough space to take a touch and show a bit of composure? Even Lambert has been guilty of this recently.

 

Take chances like this and we would be walking away with 3 points to go with some impressive possession stats more often.

Recall his 'goal' against Newcastle? THAT is the sort of chance he'd never miss and the sort he'd never get under the current style of play and tactics. All his 'chances' have been specualtive to say the least. Can't blame him.

 

Why didn't Lallana miss his open goal against Newcastle? Had there not been defenders surrounding him in the box he'd of calmly placed it in the net yesterday. Why was the Norwich defence all around him? That's right -MP's tactics.

 

Even Lambert has found finding space to have a crack at goal hard to come by. Defenders always all around him. Under Nigel everybody would make space for everyone else and chances were very clear-cut and almost impossible to miss. This muppet of a manager keeps defences around their penalty area to quickly snuff out any sort of 'chance' we may get.

[Saint Garrett]

AHAHAHAHAHAAAAA..........So it is now MP's fault that Lambert is getting marked !? Christ

[Dig Dig]

Thats the type of chance we don't make too often but the same was true under Adkins.

 

We don't have the squad to do much else but to keep the ball and and rely on percentages to create the chances. You talk about drastic changes above but we don't have a good enough back 4 or enough pace in attack to really change our system in way which would benefit us more.

[Chewy]

Recall his 'goal' against Newcastle? THAT is the sort of chance he'd never miss and the sort he'd never get under the current style of play and tactics. All his 'chances' have been specualtive to say the least. Can't blame him.

 

Why didn't Lallana miss his open goal against Newcastle? Had there not been defenders surrounding him in the box he'd of calmly placed it in the net yesterday. Why was the Norwich defence all around him? That's right -MP's tactics.

 

Even Lambert has found finding space to have a crack at goal hard to come by. Defenders always all around him. Under Nigel everybody would make space for everyone else and chances were very clear-cut and almost impossible to miss. This muppet of a manager keeps defences around their penalty area to quickly snuff out any sort of 'chance' we may get.

 

Yes, that's right - I lost count of the times we won games by creating unmissable chances, and lallanas miss was due to being crowded out ...

 

You are so incorrect it's almost funny. Almost, but unfortunately just amazingly tedious.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Noticed how yet again we dominated the ball with 60% possession against Norwich.

 

I don't recall a game under Pochettino where we have come off worse possession wise, home and away. This is difficult to do at this level, especially away from home and not something to be over looked amongst the negativity which some posters seem to be enjoying at the moment.

 

Pochettino is right in what he said yesterday, we are not clinical enough in front of goal. I'm sure it's as frustrating for him as it is for us but largely out of his control if players like Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez are all spurning their chances as they are at the moment.

 

I don't think we are far away from being a solid side, our finishing is letting us down and I hope we don't pay the ultimate price for this because we could have a very good season next year if we can continue to dominate he ball and maybe bring in a more clinical striker at this level.

 

Excellent post, 100% agree. That's a new one for us Dig Dig

[110_Persaint]

Yes, that's right - I lost count of the times we won games by creating unmissable chances, and lallanas miss was due to being crowded out ...

 

You are so incorrect it's almost funny. Almost, but unfortunately just amazingly tedious.

For folks like you who can't seem to understand words, here's my point as to why we're failing under MP to score goals as opposed to Nigel:

 

Pochettino:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTYBm2tk3a4&gl=GB&hl=en-GB

 

Adkins:

 

[Saint Garrett]

Thats a superb bit of play from Arsenal.

[Dig Dig]

Excellent post, 100% agree. That's a new one for us Dig Dig

 

Thanks DPS. You agree with me more than you like to admit ; )

[Chewy]

Thats a superb bit of play from Arsenal.

 

I could watch that all day long.

 

I know Adkins was a keeper, but doesn't he understand most players can't use their hands? And I didn't see many goals scored. I think I understand words rather better ...

[Doctoroncall]

I'm willing to give the bloke time, but game after game he's proving to be more and more of a muppet. If he can engineer a victory against Liverpool, fair play to the man and I'll start backing him again... some strange feeling tells me we're going to lose that game though, same one that informed me of the QPR result.

 

Lol. Great post.

[Micky]

You don't get points for it, and that's the problem.

[Dig Dig]

You don't get points for it, and that's the problem.

 

You don't get points for having less possession either and that's the problem.

[modern matron]

Let's not make the manager blameless here mate. That's like saying Wenger is blameless that the wealth of talent at his disposal have been unable to score enough goals to win a trophy for eight years. It is almost totally down to the manager that we play the way we do, and get in the positions we get into. Compare our style now to the home games against Villa and Newcastle, chance after chance would come our way because we ATTACKED right from the get go. Second half Villa, all game Newcastle we never gave their defences time to breathe never mind sit back and enjoy watching us tiki-taka in and around the half-way line. That's all we do under MP, so much so that when a 'chance' arrives it's under immense pressure from opposition defenders since they've been camped in their own half all game.

 

This is all down to MP's horrendous tactics of 1) keep ball first, 2) score goal second. It's absolutely painful to watch entertainment wise like yesterday and extremely frustrating for a Saints supporter. It's been the case ever since he came here and IMO this muppet has to go.

 

You are 110% a cock and totally clueless about footie! I cannot be bothered to argue with you!

[egg]

Possession counts for nothing. Look at Man Utd against Real. They were battered on possession over both ties but looked comfortable until the sending off.

 

We're like a darts player who hits the trebles but misses the doubles. Trebles are for show, doubles are for dough is apt.

[Saint Fan CaM]

We are like a **** virsenal,try to walk it in the net at times,nobody wants to have a pop at times and when they do they have there banana boots on.

Possession counts for sweet FA when you don't score or win

 

Agree with this. The possession football is great if it leads to something. We're too pedestrian. I'm getting fed up with number of times Lambert is getting caught with his back to goal.

[Saint_Donovan]

Agree with this. The possession football is great if it leads to something. We're too pedestrian. I'm getting fed up with number of times Lambert is getting caught with his back to goal.

 

Rickie getting "Caught" with his back to goal???? What a ridiculous statement!!

 

He is a big CF whose role when he plays up top on his own is to hold up the ball and bring others into play, almost all of which is done with his back to goal.

 

If you are expecting him to sit on the last man and latch on to through balls you have clearly never seen Rickie play!

[Dig Dig]

Possession counts for nothing. Look at Man Utd against Real. They were battered on possession over both ties but looked comfortable until the sending off.

 

We're like a darts player who hits the trebles but misses the doubles. Trebles are for show, doubles are for dough is apt.

 

Lol, possession counts for nothing! Maybe we should run away from the ball instead and always make sure we get no more than 30% of the ball.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Lol, possession counts for nothing! Maybe we should run away from the ball instead and always make sure we get no more than 30% of the ball.

 

Even better that he used an example where that team lost!

[egg]

Even better that he used an example where that team lost!

 

The team that lost were comfortable until they had a man sent off. The point is that possession alone does not win football matches, it's what you do in possession is the issue.

[egg]

Lol, possession counts for nothing! Maybe we should run away from the ball instead and always make sure we get no more than 30% of the ball.

 

No, we should be more effective when we have the ball. Possession without penetration, and an end product, will never win a football match.

[BARCELONASAINT]

I hope to god the Saints forum is a fair reflection of most football club forums and every forum has its village idiot!.....still trying to work out if 110-persiant is a wind up Pompey fan or just a clueless idiot that knows nothing about football

[Olallana]

I hope to god the Saints forum is a fair reflection of most football club forums and every forum has its village idiot!.....still trying to work out if 110-persiant is a wind up Pompey fan or just a clueless idiot that knows nothing about football

 

Or???

[Dig Dig]

No, we should be more effective when we have the ball. Possession without penetration, and an end product, will never win a football match.

 

The point I made in the OP is that we do create chances but we've been guilty of not taking them. We're not as impotent as people are making out. In addition, for the 60% + of the time we have the ball in a game, the oppo can't score.

 

Possession counts for a hell of a lot which is why ball retention is a valued part of the game.