Match Day Thread Southampton v Arsenal Sunday 16th December 2018 13:30.. the Welcome Ralph Thread

Full focus on Udders now. Cannot give them any incentive.

 

I am all for the pressing game, but I’m not sure that I want to see a centre back pressing on our right touchline, towards the half way line.
This is what happened in the build up to the first Arsenal equaliser, with Bednarek still chasing back when the cross came in.
Not blaming him for the goal, but it is feasible that had he stayed in position, one of the three CBs might have got closer to the goal scorer. Also, with wingbacks pushing so far forward, we will need the CBs to be more positionally switched on.
Hopefully this is just a learning curve, as yesterday’s performance was a joy to behold, following recent games/seasons.

 

maybe we will win the FA Cup

 

Last year (I think) some sports stat place rated Maya as the 8th fastest sprinter in the PL.

Vin

 

It was Romeu's job to get after Mkhitaryan asVestergaard went to cover Aubameyang. Unfortunately Oriol couldn't get above a jog.

 

I'm the official site optimist so here's my take on yesterday.

Plenty of people are saying "calm down, it's just one match". Yes it is but when this happened in previous matches, it was an anomaly. We'd have a good half and say "if we play like that next week we'll be fine". Then we would go back to stodgy safe play again.

There's a difference this time. This isn't a one-off. It's the new style of play demanded by a new manager who has a vision for how he wants us to play. We'll be playing in this style for the rest of the season.

It was also a demonstration of what we can do with players who've had just a week of drilling and just a week of fitness training. It will only get better. There may be losses ahead but we'll be fine this season. We won't be near the relegation pool by the end. And if I'm wrong, at least we'll spend the season watching Saints play flowing, entertaining, dangerous football.

Vin

 

The key point that excites me the most is that he's only had a week with the players. I can't wait to see what happens down the line. I can't see us going down now. And I think big clubs might start to take us seriously again.

 

Ralph thinks the fight will continue until the very end of the season, so he knows that there will be ups and downs however well we play. However, I'm sure we will be fine if we maintain the improvements seen on Sunday....we just have to be patient. Be nice to win next weekend though....2 consecutive wins....what a run that would be.

 

It’s just so bloody lovely to be able to enjoy watching football again, and feeling proud of our “small club”.

 

Ok. Last year some sports stat place had Aubameyang as the second fastest player in the world. I doubt he gives much thought to whether a centre back can beat him for pace, just concentrates on staying onside

 

He's nowhere near the fastest, not even top 10. Sane, Mbappe, and even Patrick van Aanholt are faster.

 

We’ll have to agree to disagree here. The thing I saw only had Bale faster, but that was a similar one of “top speed clocked” like Yoshida.

 

Yes and no.
Yes Romeu should have been better placed and closer to the Arsenal player.
No, because if Bednarek had been in position, he would have taken the near post position, leaving Yoshida on Aubameyang with Vestergaard in a position to step out towards where the cross went.
Early days in the pressing game, so lots to learn and more improved fitness will help.

 

Thank Christ, I thought nobody was going to disagree about anything all week.

 

Worried how the pressing will work against teams who do not want the ball and play counter attacking football. May lead to stale football as we try and push past 10 men behind the ball. Good news it will look great against the top teams. (Lovely to watch us win at home against a top side)

 

Hudders will be a very different prospect and is a very tough game.

 

There first goal was well worked and a result of a ball played in behind. Not sure the CBs were to blame at all, Valery maybe was.

But yeah, if we’re going to press up to the half way line, everyone has to be switched on. Without Cedric and Bertrand, we do lack pace. Romeu is quite quick, but he can’t afford to be caught napping again like he was for their first.

Main thing is, we looked like a unit. Games are often won or lost in the moments after losing or gaining possession; yesterday we attacked as s team, and defended as a team.

 

What I want for Christmas:

For Redmond to find his confidence and be the pain in the bum he should have been to the opposition for the last few years. I want him to win Player of the Season, play for England and be a Saints legend.

I think, under Ralph, all that might just happen...

 

I didn't put that down as Bednarek pressing. I put that down as Bednarek being instructed to man mark Iwobi. Wherever Iwobi went, no matter how deep, Bednarek went with him (in the first half - it changed in the second half when Lacazette came on, and Arsenal changed formation).

Man marking will often risk leaving space. But on balance, I imagine that people would rather than we did man mark - for the past 6 months, fans on here have hardly been positive towards Hughes' zonal marking.