Jan Being Interviewed - Some Lack Motivation

[Legod Third Coming]

Also don't underestimate the mental tiredness. They're not used to playing this many games. Their bodies might be able to cope, but maybe their minds can't. And that's where you need a Euell, a Svensson (well, maybe), even a Wotton (although I don't think he's good enough on any other criteria) on the pitch and keeping them going.

 

Fair point - it's easy to look at a player and believe he is not trying. Most of our lads have played more games this season already than all of last year. And, not that we should have symapthy, these back-to-back games will come as a real shock to a 19-21 yr old used to playing every other week and even then at half the pace and power of these games.

 

It is perhaps a reason JP should have mixed it up a bit tonight beforehand. Pearce looked off the pace, even Cork was not the same player from Charlton second half. Surman looked a bit lethargic too.

 

Hard to be too critical of them given the circs, but we must address basic mental fitness asap.

[Weston Super Saint]

Fair point - it's easy to look at a player and believe he is not trying. Most of our lads have played more games this season already than all of last year. And, not that we should have symapthy, these back-to-back games will come as a real shock to a 19-21 yr old used to playing every other week and even then at half the pace and power of these games.

 

So, you're saying the youth policy was doomed to fail before it began?

 

Someone should have told Rupert....

[geoffnut]

I will say it again just in case the manager does not understand, he must go because he is totally out of his depth. Even his post match comments make no sense to me. It is up to him to motivate the players, if he cant do that we are doomed!

[sunrise]

Why does JP continue to insist on playing this formation, we are lacking up front and I can't really blame Robertson because he didn't see too much of the ball. Is 442 finally worth a go?

 

If we do insist on continuing with this formation then move Cork to RB, drop McG and play James wide right. No, I haven't gone mad! I reckon James would be more effective in that position and get more balls in to the box.

[saintjay77]

I think some of it is down to the manager as in he should be giving a team talk before the match that gets them fired up. But FFS I used to play Skater hockey and before every match I was buzzing and couldnt wait to get out there and play. I didnt need someone else tellin me that i need to get motivated.

 

It seems that when the cameras go on too many of our players think of themselves and do to much or not enough. McGoldricks positioning is awful when the cameras are on because i think he thinks that if he stands around in the right places the ball will just fall at his feet and he will get the glory. The only times he has looked like playing well is when he plays the system and does quick pass and move with the players around him. Did he do that at all last night?

 

Robertson was just as bad too. Only time I saw him have a bit of skill was when he went on a mazey run past 2 or 3 players. Trouble is, he was heading for the corner flag and the pallace defence were happy to watch him go no-where fast and just stuck a foot in at the end when he turned to face the goal.

 

i am guessing that we play a million times better when the cameras are off.

[saintjay77]

Why does JP continue to insist on playing this formation, we are lacking up front and I can't really blame Robertson because he didn't see too much of the ball. Is 442 finally worth a go?

 

If we do insist on continuing with this formation then move Cork to RB, drop McG and play James wide right. No, I haven't gone mad! I reckon James would be more effective in that position and get more balls in to the box.

 

James doesnt get to the bi line though. he had chances last night to push on and cross the ball in but always played the early cross. BWP and McGoldrick are pretty quick and will do better off of crosses that get in behind the opo's defence.

 

Skacel didnt get to the bi line much last night either. he seems to draw lallana, drew, robertson or mcgoldrick out to the edge of the pitch and try to play pretty triangles there and cut inside himself. We need someone in the middle that can deal with crosses and maybe Skacel would deem it worth sticking one or two crosses in.

[John Smith]

I very rarely comment on the games, the players, or the coach, as I don;t go to games, but last night, from a 'watching on TV perspective, oh dear.

 

As said above, James is probably not the best RB in the league, BUT, he was the ONLY player that consistently tried to get passed his man. Generally he did it in the right area of the pitch, and got them turning, on another day, could've got a pen for the ankle tap when it was 2-0. On other TV performances, James has always looked like he's been caught in the headlights (IMO), but yesterday, he was our biggest threat, real shame about the mistake for the third, but that's football.

 

Surman, never got the rub of the green last night, good attitude, but couldn't penetrate into the dangerous area's. Rudi looked determined, even if there was no end product. I think that determination is becoming frustration and he wants out asap.

 

Pearce, oh dear. This is the trouble with playing youngsters against 'old men' (Kuqi), the little nudges in the back, happens all the time at all levels, but by this stage, the CB of a CCC team should be able to cope and have a way of dealing with this. But because of his lack of experience, he learnt this lesson last night. A good player, but highlighted the problem of 'learning on the job'.

 

McGoldrick, WTF! What was he doing? Where was he playing? What was his role? Now those questions may be answered by the manager, BUT, whatever the reasons for his nomadic role last night, it showed him up to be lazy and disinterested.

 

Lalana, closed out, not allowed to play, think the clubs are man marking him as he is our biggest threat.

 

In essence, some pretty football in the first two thirds BUT, no cutting edge in the final third. NOBODY seems to understand how to beat your man (exception being James - RB). This doesn;t have to be taking him on, but movement and timing. Many, many times when the ball was passed and the movement was forward, the player with the ball, turned away from the return pass and went sideways or backwards because this player was not marked. This happened all day, and this meant we didn;t take risks, didn;t take the game to them, never penetrated, never threatened. The only player wanting to get goalside was BWP, who looked bright and determined, never fell his way. God I wish he had the determination of his father though, some chances need to be made, the grit needs to be between your teeth, there needs to be aggression and a desire to score. But, he was still probably the most likely source of a goal.

 

JP, looked like a man on borrowed time last night. His whole world is collapsing and there's nothing he can do that he hasn't already tried.

 

These kids may go on to become good footballers some day, but yesterday, they were not clued up enough, not clever enough, not good enough. Where does that leave this club?

 

Not having a go at ANY of them, I just think that they are out of their depths. We will see performances like James' from many of them over the season, trouble is, we need that type of performance from all of them, every game. But they are kids, and that isn't going to happen.

 

Like I said at the beginning of the season, best we can hope for is inconsistency. I think there may be 3 worse temas than us in this league, not sure there's many more though.

[saint1977]

James doesnt get to the bi line though. he had chances last night to push on and cross the ball in but always played the early cross. BWP and McGoldrick are pretty quick and will do better off of crosses that get in behind the opo's defence.

 

Skacel didnt get to the bi line much last night either. he seems to draw lallana, drew, robertson or mcgoldrick out to the edge of the pitch and try to play pretty triangles there and cut inside himself. We need someone in the middle that can deal with crosses and maybe Skacel would deem it worth sticking one or two crosses in.

 

I'm reluctant to slate James at all, he'd be in my first XI as a midfielder, not a RB. We are going to ruin this player. The pity was Holmes getting injured, he was getting some very decent crosses in, just a shame we've loaned out all the players that can head a ball. Rasiak and John would have had 10 each at least from that kind of delivery. Those two had to go as high earners but to replace them with another raw kid in Robertson? FFS, we might as well use Paterson, at least he's our player and we're not Sheff Utd's academy. Not that I think Paterson is ready but I think people will understand my point.

 

I suspect JP had banked on Pekhart doing the business but he's been poor so we need to send Robertson, Pekhart and Smith back and use that money to bring in a better calibre striker.

[saintjay77]

I'm reluctant to slate James at all, he'd be in my first XI as a midfielder, not a RB. We are going to ruin this player. The pity was Holmes getting injured, he was getting some very decent crosses in, just a shame we've loaned out all the players that can head a ball. Rasiak and John would have had 10 each at least from that kind of delivery. Those two had to go as high earners but to replace them with another raw kid in Robertson? FFS, we might as well use Paterson, at least he's our player and we're not Sheff Utd's academy. Not that I think Paterson is ready but I think people will understand my point.

 

I suspect JP had banked on Pekhart doing the business but he's been poor so we need to send Robertson, Pekhart and Smith back and use that money to bring in a better calibre striker.

 

Sorry I wasnt trying to slate james. Was just trying to point out that he is as much a right back as he is a right winger. The type of strikers we are left with need crosses to come from the bi line and James doesnt provide that. If he is trying to think like a right back and not push too far forward then fair play to him as this position is not his bread and butter. How long did it take Jermaine Wright to start having some OK games in odd positions and he is an experienced profesional?

 

I agree with you on Pekhart and on paper he looks like the player we are missing up front but he hasnt made the step up from reserve team to 1st team and been injured too much to really try and do anything about it. Hasnt Smith been injured too?

 

i think the sky tatter said last night that we have 9 players unavailable due to injury. I was going to try and figure out which ones make up the 9 but never got round to it. But how many of the missing should be in the 1st team should they be fully fit and on form?

 

Svennson and Holmes are the only 2 that I can think of that have the ability i think?

[Junior Mullet]

I've not had the pleasure of seeing James play in his preferred position but listening to the likes of Navy Red then it's clear he has some talent and of course he wouldn't have made it this far it he hadn't. However! at right back he is very poor, week in week out. I think Cork is wasted at RB but we must have some other options and surely Jan can see the weakness - other managers certainly can.

 

 

James was my Saints MOTM last night until the mistake. I thought that it was his best game in a saints shirt up to that point - good attacking runs and looked our main threat IMO.

[saint1977]

Sorry I wasnt trying to slate james. Was just trying to point out that he is as much a right back as he is a right winger. The type of strikers we are left with need crosses to come from the bi line and James doesnt provide that. If he is trying to think like a right back and not push too far forward then fair play to him as this position is not his bread and butter. How long did it take Jermaine Wright to start having some OK games in odd positions and he is an experienced profesional?

 

I agree with you on Pekhart and on paper he looks like the player we are missing up front but he hasnt made the step up from reserve team to 1st team and been injured too much to really try and do anything about it. Hasnt Smith been injured too?

 

i think the sky tatter said last night that we have 9 players unavailable due to injury. I was going to try and figure out which ones make up the 9 but never got round to it. But how many of the missing should be in the 1st team should they be fully fit and on form?

 

Svennson and Holmes are the only 2 that I can think of that have the ability i think?

 

Don't worry mate, know you aren't having a pop at Lloyd. He might fare better as a wing back in a 5-3-2 but Hoddle and Redknapp tried that system with dire results and soon dropped it. I just feel sorry for the lad and feel he's getting a poor deal from the club. I do agree that we need crosses in but trouble is, McGoldrick is very limited in the air and Robertson looks like he's playing at least one league too high. Sadly our best headers of the ball are the higher earners and as with anything in life, you get what you pay for and we are totally skint and verging on insolvent (actually if we weren't a football club we'd already be in a CVA, HMRC wouldn't have allowed Wilde or Lowe to come back in any other sector).

 

Smith has been injured but hasn't exactly been missed by Millwall given their 2nd place in the table!

[saintjay77]

Don't worry mate, know you aren't having a pop at Lloyd. He might fare better as a wing back in a 5-3-2 but Hoddle and Redknapp tried that system with dire results and soon dropped it. I just feel sorry for the lad and feel he's getting a poor deal from the club. I do agree that we need crosses in but trouble is, McGoldrick is very limited in the air and Robertson looks like he's playing at least one league too high. Sadly our best headers of the ball are the higher earners and as with anything in life, you get what you pay for and we are totally skint and verging on insolvent (actually if we weren't a football club we'd already be in a CVA, HMRC wouldn't have allowed Wilde or Lowe to come back in any other sector).

 

Smith has been injured but hasn't exactly been missed by Millwall given their 2nd place in the table!

 

Not sure that he isnt getting a fair deal as like others have said he was probably one of our best players last night. And despite 1 mistake he is generally supported by the comments of JP and us lot. My point about crosses is more about the type of crosses they get. early crosses from half way up the pitch and they are dire. How many of us thought that BWP had a chance when he got his head to a James cross at the back post? All our strikers are 2nd fav when it comes to high crosses into the box. but driven crosses in behind the defence I think they will all feed off. BWP and McGoldrick do have the speed to beat defenders but dont have much option to use it. our midfielders are quick enough to get into the box and feed off driven crosses or re-bounds but again they dont have the chance to make it count. High balls come in from early crosses and 9 times out of 10 the defence mop them up and break into the spaces left by our kids that broke there neck to get into the box. The idea is there but the delivery is not there often enough.

 

I do still think that the delivery and the finishing will be there enough to see us avoid relegation this season and being honest this is probably the main aim in the club from top to bottom. Doesnt feel to good knowing we are aiming to survive in the CCC when we all want to be and probably think we should be challenging in the Prem.

[the saint in winchester]

I agree with those who think anticpate JP is heading out.

 

I feel desperately sorry for the bloke who always comes across as decent and honest.But of course he is handicapped by having f^ck all resources,and Rupert hovering in the background.

 

If he does go,it will probably be by "mutual consent" and we can expect the customary Rupertspeak about how he didn't sack him etc etc.Of course there will be no possible thought that it might have been a flawed or risky decision in the first place.

 

This point of view is growing and I tend to agree with it. The problem is : who would want to take us over? No-one. Word yesterday was that RL will ask Wotte to take over as coach. More of the same schexy Dutchhhh tippy-tappy then.

[VectisSaint]

This point of view is growing and I tend to agree with it. The problem is : who would want to take us over? No-one. Word yesterday was that RL will ask Wotte to take over as coach. More of the same schexy Dutchhhh tippy-tappy then.

I would guess that we would have about 20 serious applications to take the job on. There are many good young managers out there looking for an opportunity like Saints. They may not necessarily know what they are letting themselves in for, but I don't seriously believe there would be any shortage of applicants for the job. Just hope against hope that Lowe doesn't make his usual mistake and promote from within. I hear that theres an irish bloke keane to get back into management (I know I'm joking, would be great fun to see Roy and Rupert head to head though)

[PokingFun]

didnt arry get slated for this very thing..?

 

And Burley even more so I recall..

[PokingFun]

Does seem harsh on Drew, if true. But has to be said spot on in terms of McG and Robertson. Personally apart form one moment when he fluffed control of a long pass from Wotton (I think) I though BWP had a good game, and has at last shown that he does have a touch. I know its not popular to say positive things about Bradley, but I would rather see him on the field any day rather than McG.

 

Thought Robertson was willing enough, just not good enough really. Poor touch, gave ball away often and not even really a physical presence.

 

McG should never be playing either wide or in the hole as he is an out and out striker and an average one at that who may improve but equally may disappear over the next couple of seasons.

 

Other managers have been slated for playing people out of position and from what I saw last night there were many players out of position:

 

Skacel - would rather see him at LM even if it means Mills having to learn behind him.

James - a midfielder all day long, decent enough going forward but poor defensively.

BWP - never a LM, maybe could do RM, but in my eyes he is a forward.

McG - never a midfielder in a million years and not even that great a striker.

Lallana - can only play in the hole IMO, when he plays out wide he is completely wasted, needs to be deployed off a big target man to pick up the loose ends and be allowed to create in the final third of the pitch.

 

Last night was not good, we did not get behind the Palace backline hardly at all and when we did our lack of composure was telling. Nearly all efforts on goal were Surman shots from outside the box.

[eelpie]

didnt arry get slated for this very thing..?

 

How could -arry motivate others when he was demotivated himself?

[Long Shot]

I very rarely comment on the games, the players, or the coach, as I don;t go to games, but last night, from a 'watching on TV perspective, oh dear.

 

As said above, James is probably not the best RB in the league, BUT, he was the ONLY player that consistently tried to get passed his man. Generally he did it in the right area of the pitch, and got them turning, on another day, could've got a pen for the ankle tap when it was 2-0. On other TV performances, James has always looked like he's been caught in the headlights (IMO), but yesterday, he was our biggest threat, real shame about the mistake for the third, but that's football.

 

Surman, never got the rub of the green last night, good attitude, but couldn't penetrate into the dangerous area's. Rudi looked determined, even if there was no end product. I think that determination is becoming frustration and he wants out asap.

 

Pearce, oh dear. This is the trouble with playing youngsters against 'old men' (Kuqi), the little nudges in the back, happens all the time at all levels, but by this stage, the CB of a CCC team should be able to cope and have a way of dealing with this. But because of his lack of experience, he learnt this lesson last night. A good player, but highlighted the problem of 'learning on the job'.

 

McGoldrick, WTF! What was he doing? Where was he playing? What was his role? Now those questions may be answered by the manager, BUT, whatever the reasons for his nomadic role last night, it showed him up to be lazy and disinterested.

 

Lalana, closed out, not allowed to play, think the clubs are man marking him as he is our biggest threat.

 

In essence, some pretty football in the first two thirds BUT, no cutting edge in the final third. NOBODY seems to understand how to beat your man (exception being James - RB). This doesn;t have to be taking him on, but movement and timing. Many, many times when the ball was passed and the movement was forward, the player with the ball, turned away from the return pass and went sideways or backwards because this player was not marked. This happened all day, and this meant we didn;t take risks, didn;t take the game to them, never penetrated, never threatened. The only player wanting to get goalside was BWP, who looked bright and determined, never fell his way. God I wish he had the determination of his father though, some chances need to be made, the grit needs to be between your teeth, there needs to be aggression and a desire to score. But, he was still probably the most likely source of a goal.

 

JP, looked like a man on borrowed time last night. His whole world is collapsing and there's nothing he can do that he hasn't already tried.

 

These kids may go on to become good footballers some day, but yesterday, they were not clued up enough, not clever enough, not good enough. Where does that leave this club?

 

Not having a go at ANY of them, I just think that they are out of their depths. We will see performances like James' from many of them over the season, trouble is, we need that type of performance from all of them, every game. But they are kids, and that isn't going to happen.

 

Like I said at the beginning of the season, best we can hope for is inconsistency. I think there may be 3 worse temas than us in this league, not sure there's many more though.

 

Would agree with all of this - time for a change of direction but with no funds available I am lost for a solution.

[St_Tel49]

Fair point - it's easy to look at a player and believe he is not trying. Most of our lads have played more games this season already than all of last year. And, not that we should have symapthy, these back-to-back games will come as a real shock to a 19-21 yr old used to playing every other week and even then at half the pace and power of these games.

 

It is perhaps a reason JP should have mixed it up a bit tonight beforehand. Pearce looked off the pace, even Cork was not the same player from Charlton second half. Surman looked a bit lethargic too.

 

Hard to be too critical of them given the circs, but we must address basic mental fitness asap.

That's an area that SCW would have addressed - but I forgot - he has nothing to offer to football,

[Legod Third Coming]

That's an area that SCW would have addressed - but I forgot - he has nothing to offer to football,

 

That's an area I could address old son. Or a Colour Seargeant. It is not the preserve of the terminally expensive...

[londonsaint1604]

So, you're saying the youth policy was doomed to fail before it began?

 

Someone should have told Rupert....

 

It was never doomed to fail, but it was always going to require some time and patience to work. As we have seen it has produced some very good results and some very bad performances and results, but I think there is real potential there.

[sunrise]

We need to stop playing 'crab football'(yes I did say crab) - passing it to the side and behind. Its all fair and well playing a nice 30 or 40 yarder pass to the side but it gives time for the opposition to track back and get back to defend in numbers.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Why? He's done well hasn't he?

 

Why would another manager have far better results with Jan's resources??

 

All a manager can do is get the best out of the resources they have. I don't think Jan is that far off doing so. Very difficult job.

 

Point one: not particularly

 

Point two: We will never know but another manager might have more than one

system/style to change to in the event of the preferred system not working.

 

Point three: Getting the best from resources,not for me as we cleary are not

consistant enough and have failed to use some players when available, ie Euell,Scacel and John before the loan move.

[Bailey]

I was just as surprised as Jan after this performance. Just as we looked as though we were starting to put a half decent run together, out of the blue we perform like we did last night.

 

I feel sorry for Jan, because if he said, "It will come, we're close to being a good team." then he'd be criticised for trying to pull the wool over our eyes. When he does actually say it how he is, he is still slated by some.

 

I for one, am glad that we have a manager who says it how it is and gives an honest account of the game. How many people on here agree with him too? Alot of our players did look as though they were lacking motivation, and if Jan says he's going to have some choice words with some players then good on him.

[um pahars]

I was just as surprised as Jan after this performance. Just as we looked as though we were starting to put a half decent run together, out of the blue we perform like we did last night..

 

Please don't be fooled by the recent draws.

 

Plymouth at home was poor, Charlton first half was poor and Sheff Weds was another story of pretty football before falling apart in the second half.

 

We have lost twice as many as we have won, which probably means our wins are more out of the blue!!!!

 

I feel sorry for Jan, because if he said, "It will come, we're close to being a good team." then he'd be criticised for trying to pull the wool over our eyes. When he does actually say it how he is, he is still slated by some.

 

I for one, am glad that we have a manager who says it how it is and gives an honest account of the game. How many people on here agree with him too? Alot of our players did look as though they were lacking motivation, and if Jan says he's going to have some choice words with some players then good on him.

 

Jan is a big boy and should be able to look after himself.

 

He's also been just as guilty of promising much, yet failing to deliver and if you have look back he has also trotted out the standard managerial rubbish (i.e. the target is six wins from ten, we are aiming for the play offs, we will soon thump someone / we will turn the corner etc etc etc).

 

Ultimately this is a results driven business and IMHO after almost half a season i don't think a point a game anything to be proud of.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Sorry to say Jan, but in very simple terms what do you expect of a team of boys that have some skill, but week after week they see the system you are expecting them to play fail time after time after time.

 

Football is a competitive game - winning breeds motivation to win again. Losing (or drawing) can become a habit. We're habitual losers playing this system.

[SaintRobbie]

Sounds very ****5ed off and scathing of some players who are not motivated and says that is wrong. Says we have to motivate them and that's not right as they should be doing that themselves.

 

Says the following were motivated - Lloydy, Jack, Chris, Rudi, Paul and Adam but then said the others were not (think I got the names right)!!!!!!!

 

Says we never looked like scoring.

 

Not at all happy.

 

The only man who ALWAYS lacks motivation... each game... ****ing JP.

 

Puppet and Muppet...

 

Good chose Rupert Club Killer Lowe

[Jackie@home]

He's right that they have to be self-motivated. No one needed to gee-up players like Svensson, Marsden and Franny. Most of us are expected to get on with our jobs without someone continually talking us up or threatening us. Age is no excuse - I have a 17 year old working for me who just gets on with what ever's needed. You wonder, with sulking McGoldrick, for example, however they got this far in football when it is so highly selective. Mentally, he just doesn't have it.

You do wonder, however, how much belief the players have in JP's system. I even agree with Dave Merrington on this one (unlistenable) - if it doesn't work, for God's sake change it. This continually banging your head against a brick wall is the absolute worst thing - it's incredibly frustrating.