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No pace.


Saint Garrett
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Awful awful awful.

 

We went out to keep the ball. We didn't. Chambers and Fox were stationary in defence, Fonte wandered, Lovren I thought had a decent game.

 

Either shaw or Clyne have to start, far too stationary for me without them. We really missed Rodriguez and Cork.

 

Why the hell is cork not involved. Absolute embarrassment for me. Was one of our best players last season, and better that Wanyama with Morgan. We shouldn't be playing with out formation either.

 

Either play Rickie or play Osvaldo. They ain't gunna play together. Norwich were poor but we were absolutely pathetic....

 

 

KNEE JERK REACTION THREAD.

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I'm still waiting for a decent argument on why Fonte was worse than Lovren. That was not a penalty, it was a great piece of defending and also a sign that he's not a lightweight (another myth created by the Mr. Nice Hooiveld brigade).

 

This forum really lacks assertiveness and opinions are excessively based on 5 minute perceptions.

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True there is not pace.

No wingers.

We have no quick replacement full backs.

I'm sure the bellendery of the "we don't play with wingers" brigade will be along shortly.

 

Despite the fact that we probably should do. Especially when our reserve full backs have little attacking ability of their own.

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I'm still waiting for a decent argument on why Fonte was worse than Lovren.

 

This forum really lacks assertiveness and opinions are excessively based on 5 minute perceptions.

 

Fonte's passing was awful thats why.

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Fonte's passing was awful thats why.

 

Wanyama's passing was awful, Fonte's wasn't. Nor Lovren's for that matter as I've seen mentioned around here. In fact the reason why their distribution wasn't great is because the midfield and even our FBs weren't there to build a decent move and we were forced to hoof.

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You need pace and proper wide men if you're essentially playing four four two with two big men up top ... Norwich knew this yet we didn't.

 

We were not terrible and im not hitting panic stations but do hope we have one more transfer up our sleeves otherwise JP could be a big miss imo!

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Pace isn't the issue, it's the speed of our play. I didn't see today's game but a lot of the time against Sunderland we just looked laboured, lethargic and predictable. The killer ball is always too late and too easily defended. Poch has work to do.

 

Yep I agree with this. Laboured is the word I used when watching the last 20 mins.

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We are too predictable, we got out of jail last season by pressing teams and stifling. This season teams are doing the exact same thing to us and we end up losing the ball or kicking long punts upfield and we end up losing it as well.

 

I really think we lack raw pace in our team, pace scares defenders and creates space for other players. It just all looks so tight at the moment when we are in the final third.

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Just before we all jump over the new guy wanyama was I think agreed a beast the last 2 games so I can allow him a off game but where were our regulars stepping up. Morgan had a poor game, rickie as well who have been in the team for ages so no excuse. Not going to give any 18yr olds grief or new guys but maybe our existing players skill set do not suit the current system. 3 games 0 goals from open play.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

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I know we want to play football and keep the ball for more which arguably you don't need out and out pace in the team. However, when teams don't let us play we need a plan B which should be some pacey wingers to get in and behind defences. Puncheon would did this last season and to let him go and not to replace him is a bit silly I think. Hopefully we can get a pacey right winger in.

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It's only three games, so it's far too early to make massive judgements, but in the games so far I would say that as good a player Wanyama has looked, he does play very deep and therefore doesn't offer much offensively. Cork might not be quite as strong or neat and tidy, but his off the ball runs stretches opponents and creates space for others. Cork was my player of the season last time out yet doesn't make the starting eleven. There is a subtle change in the Cm balance.

 

This isn't the only reason for our lack of goals but it does form a small part of it.

 

The change in shape is another reason. We were very effective when Puncheon and Clyne linked up down the right, overlapping and creating problems. We played through the middle a lot last season too, but this wide play provided great variety. That is missing now.

 

It pains me to say it, but without Shaw in the side we struggled last season a fair bit to unlock teams, and despite the money spent that still remains. With a side playing narrow, it's down to full backs to cause problems down the flanks. I don't see Fox and Chambers doing that so far. I don't see JWP with the guile to unlock teams either.

 

It's a long season. Teams go through patches of struggling for goals. Give it a few weeks and we'll adjust the balance a little bit and suddenly we'll be taking about how to stop conceding.

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Sorry, I haven't read every post on saintsweb - and I know some people expect you to do that before posting anything :mcinnes:...... but do we know why Clyne and Shaw are sitting on the bench when they are clearly our best FBs?

No need to read every post to ask that question; it is most valid and without a reasonable answer so far.

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Was at the game, thought Norwich sused us and were one step ahead of us tactically, they applied pressure on our back 4 so it was difficult to play from the back. We need a plan B as other teams will have seen the effect Norwich had. Thought it was a great game, Fox was ok to all those haters. JRod made a good impact. We deserved no more than a draw.

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Was at the game, thought Norwich sused us and were one step ahead of us tactically, they applied pressure on our back 4 so it was difficult to play from the back. We need a plan B as other teams will have seen the effect Norwich had. Thought it was a great game, Fox was ok to all those haters. JRod made a good impact. We deserved no more than a draw.

 

Quite agree. ! Lose Shaw and Clyne and Rodriguez and we're so predictable. Pass it alot in front of them, noone getting in behind!!!

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So the explanation that he wanted to be nearer his girlfriend and child ... that was not the real reason?

 

It may have been important, but let's be honest - it's not like Croydon and Southampton are that far apart.

 

He was improving by the month with us and had a good season. Shame we probably won't benefit from his finest hour in the PL.

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First of all people, lets get a bit of perspective, we were not THAT bad and all in all this performance was not way out from the way we have been performing for a good 6 months now, Norwich set up well, are at home and are a decent side FWIW. There are a few points I noticed though.

 

Wanyama, has actually been a decent player so far, very destructive, and IMO a better athlete than Cork, has had 2/3 good games but today he wasnt on it, he should have been swapped yes, but Cork is not infinately better, everyone is entitled to bad games.

 

Full backs...... Kraken, I am one of the no wingers brigade, so are you I suspect seeing as I think you can actually see the wood for the trees. I entirely agree though, today our width was dire. MoPos system relys entirely on width from the full backs as we dont have any conventional wide men, today we had neither which restricted our attacking options. We played RL and PDO for one reason today, and thats the long ball as in reality without clyne or shaw we didnt have the options we usually have.

 

Fluidity - didnt work today, we now see how Lambert does not work in this system, fan favourite I know, I love the bloke but lets be honest, he doesnt suit a high pressing dynamic line. Slso as much as people slag off J Rod it was obvious how much we missed his pace/industry today. He offers an out ball and a lot of pressure on the full backs.

 

Overall - MoPo got it all wrong, norwich played well and we had an off day but still restricted them to scoring a speculative effort and a tight game. And I think this will be our season. Boruc is in my dream team for a reason, we wont let many in, but if we keep playing Rickie we wont score many. I understand Ill get slated for that, but you need to br brave at this level, and the way we play you need fluidity up front and attacking FBs

 

So basically, dont panic yet, we will be ok.

Edited by Smirking_Saint
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First of all people, lets get a bit of perspective, we were not THAT bad and all in all this performance was not way out from the way we have been performing for a good 6 months now, Norwich set up well, are at home and are a decent side FWIW. There are a few points I noticed though.

 

Wanyama, has actually been a decent player so far, very destructive, and IMO a better athlete than Cork, has had 2/3 good games but today he wasnt on it, he should have been swapped yes, but Cork is not infinately better, everyone is entitled to bad games.

 

Full backs...... Kraken, I am one of the no wingers brigade, so are you I suspect seeing as I think you can actually see the wood for the trees. I entirely agree though, today our width was dire. MoPos system relys entirely on width from the full backs as we dont have any conventional wide men, today we had neither which restricted our attacking options. We played RL and PDO for one reason today, and thats the long ball as in reality without clyne or shaw we didnt have the options we usually have.

 

Fluidity - didnt work today, we now see how Lambert does not work in this system, fan favourite I know, I love the bloke but lets be honest, he doesnt suit a high pressing dynamic line. Slso as much as people slag off J Rod it was obvious how much we missed his pace/industry today. He offers an out ball and a lot of pressure on the full backs.

 

Overall - MoPo got it all wrong, norwich played well and we had an off day but still restricted them to scoring a speculative effort and a tight game. And I think this will be our season. Boruc is in my dream team for a reason, we wont let many in, but if we keep playing Rickie we wont score many. I understand Ill get slated for that, but you need to br brave at this level, and the way we play you need fluidity up front and attacking FBs

 

So basically, dont panic yet, we will be ok.

 

I'm agreeing with u. If I may add, I thought the players look a lot more comfortable when Gaston, Davies and JRod came on. Goes to show we need time to play Osvaldo into the system. We were not as fluid as we could be.

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I am sorry but we are severely lacking in a few areas.1. Width, playing through the middle is fine when you have the likes of messers Messi, Ronaldo et al. We don't have players of that ability we need to spread the play wide, Punch was ok at this but is not to the standard if we want to push on to top 6. So a quality winger is needed ASAP before the decent ones go.

2. Pace. Our team has no real pace anywhere using SRL up front just makes the lack of pace even more evident.

3. Set pieces. At the moment it appears that SRL is our go to free kick taker this needs to change as he is not up to it JWP has got bucket loads of ability and should be taking all free kicks at least he won't keep kicking it straight into the wall.

4. SRL. Is he becoming to predictable for teams? Can he & Ossie play together? I believe with him in the team means one of our more creative players has to step aside. I believe we should play as follows.

--------BORUC ------

Shaw--- Fonte--Lovren---Clyne

-----Big Vic---Spider

Lallana--JWP---Gaston

------ Ossie-----

 

Playing like this will still leave us without much width but at least we will have more chance of getting past players & scoring goals. We should be beating teams like Sunderland & Norwich & if we are to stand a chance of getting a high as possible finish then some more additions are a must

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Either play Rickie or play Osvaldo. They ain't gunna play together.

 

I think this is key, we're having to change formation to crow-bar in a second centre forward.

 

Personally i would have spent £15mill on a replacement for Puncheon and brought a young centre forward who was happy to be understudy to Lambert for a couple of seasons.

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