Match Day Thread S0uth4mpton v Chelsea Sunday 6th October 2pm
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We're not even in the relegation zone, It's not that bleak yet.
Just watched the horror show MOTD2. You’re spot on re midfield problems and if a defence is under total pressure every time the ball comes across the half way line, it will crack and offer scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Gunn worries me now and so even though we do not have the best back 4 around they are between a goalkeeper showing signs of losing confidence and a midfield who seem to let every thing go past/round/through them. Not a comfortable position to be in. Ralph looks bewildered on the touch line and the post match interview showed this sense even more. We’re in for a tough few weeks now, that’s for sure. I believe he can lead us out of this mess but he needs to examine his part in how we’ve reached this stage so early in the season. Timing is just about on our side if, after the break, we can get the intensity back right across the park. Wouldn’t think the atmosphere is great at Staplewood today?
at least we have a longer break now to dwell on everything!
He's not an assitant in the same way Rohl was though - he's just another first team coach with Davis, Fleming & Watson.
Personally think Hassenhuttl has lost his marbles tactically. I would have preferred the 3 centre backs vs Chelsea. In fact I do like the 3 centre back set up in general. Just no 3 of them plus Romeu vs a 10 man side for an eternity in a game. Against Chelsea he would have been better trying to frustrate with the 3 cb blockade plus Romeu and whoever else to clog the middle of the park and play solely on the break. Maybe he was too scared of Abraham in the air to do this, but if a player is good enough to score with a deep block away from home then good on them.
It's not hindsight, more frustration. Hassenhuttl seemed mentally sound a lot managing us and now doesn't which worries me. We still have time to turn it around but he needs to be more sensible and dominant tactically in terms of trying to control the game in the correct (and realistic manner). Clearly the quality of the squad isn't great, but it's still underperforming in my view.
Predicted 3-0 loss after how he dealt with Spurs and 1-4 loss is basically the same thing. We are capable of losing the next six the way things are going and if we aren't going to the Wolves game is very important . A big mentality shift is required.
It's not hindsight, more frustration. Hassenhuttl seemed mentally sound a lot managing us and now doesn't which worries me. We still have time to turn it around but he needs to be more sensible and dominant tactically in terms of trying to control the game in the correct (and realistic manner). Clearly the quality of the squad isn't great, but it's still underperforming in my view.
Predicted 3-0 loss after how he dealt with Spurs and 1-4 loss is basically the same thing. We are capable of losing the next six the way things are going and if we aren't going to the Wolves game is very important . A big mentality shift is required.
I don't think that the midfield trio of Oriol, Pierre and JWP have performed together anywhere near the level that they were at last season and it is affecting the whole team's play so far and we are not having enough control of matches. It doesn't help with switching the formation so much though and they function best with Rom just behind the other pair protecting the defence and breaking up play. I would like to see what Slattery can do in the coming weeks and hope that he can get onto the bench soon.
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It is funny that after the high of the Skates drubbing, 2 losses against the big six clubs and typical Saints fans are soon back to navel-gazing again...
It is funny that after the high of the Skates drubbing, 2 losses against the big six clubs and typical Saints fans are soon back to navel-gazing again...
I think if Spurs hadn't had a man sent off, and then Brighton beat them easily in their next game people wouldn't be quite as frustrated. Good opportunity for bonus points lost. But sometimes you just need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We all love to get a result against the big sides but ultimately it's not these results that will determine relegation.
We've beaten Sheffield Utd and Brighton and those are the fixtures we need to continue to get results. Could have done with at least a draw against Bournemouth but it's about time they beat us at home. If you think last season we had essentially the same defence and midfield we were never going to suddenly be good in those areas (plus JWP and PEH are underperforming right now), but at least this season we won't just be relying on Redmond in the attacking third.
But Romeu is probably our best player so far this season. I think PEH and JWP need a rest, though.
Disappointing that the academy has not produced any decent central defenders.
Romeu's had a couple of monster games. Also a couple of bad ones. But overall, he's been okay and one of our better players. Really the difference between this season and last season isn't the new players or the suspect players.
Bednerak, Gunn, and Hojbjerg have all been much worse this season, bordering on awful. If those three were playing at the same level as they were last season, we'd be looking pretty bright right now.
I don't know whether that makes me feel better about the team or worse.
I agree that he has been Ian, it's just that the trio as a whole are not functioning for some reason.
Pierre and JWP shouldn't be knackered this early in the season though so no excuses for them there for me.
Something does need to done (and whilst Ralph's tactics and team selections have regularly looked questionable to me this season, I don't blame him whatsoever when it comes to that midfield. On paper, it absolutely should be doing so much better than it is).
Slattery is, as you say, one option. Or Armstrong. Either of them could possibly be tried with little or no change to the formation.
Or if we were to change formation:
Dropping JWP for Boufal, with PEH and Romeu sitting and Boufal in the hole behind a front three is another option.
Dropping JWP for a third CB, again with PEH and Romeu sitting, but this time the WBs being given real license to get forward, is yet another option.
And there are others too.
For me, what I thought was missing most yesterday was a link between the midfield and the attack. I don't put Ralph in the same camp as Puel or MP, so I don't think he set us up to pass it sideways and backwards. I just think that there was such a detachment in the team, that we didn't have much option but to go backwards or sideways. So whether it's playing Boufal in a deep-ish role, or using aggressive WBs to constantly run beyond the CMs, that could help bridge the gap and link things together. a lot better (I didn't see the point in bringing Boufal on yesterday, only to play him so far forward, without that link being there to supply him the ball. I want him involved, not cut adrift and chasing lost causes.)
That said, I'm not overly keen on either of those two options either. Boufal, plus three attackers ahead of him, is surely too much for our back line to cope with. We'd be having to win matches 4-3. And I don't think Cedric or Valery are good enough offensively to play RWB (and on the flip side, whilst JWP could whip balls in for fun as a regular RWB, he no way has the pace or strength to play there. I really dislike him at RWB).
So maybe I might go Armstrong. For JWP. (No matter what the change, I think it has to be JWP rather than PEH, not because PEH is playing better than JWP but because JWP-Romeu just does not work as a pairing.)
just back from a nice weekend in Budapest to visit my mate and his 6 year old son. Spent Sunday afternoon practicing corners and first time shooting. Me in goal, my mate taking the corners and the 6 year old banging them in! They're both Wolves supporters. If next weeks game goes the same way we're going to concede a couple of early goals but hold out in the second half with a string a brilliant saves! (no idea if we're going to score though)It is funny that after the high of the Skates drubbing, 2 losses against the big six clubs and typical Saints fans are soon back to navel-gazing again...
So when do we start playing like the top 10 side I was told we were heading to be and told to stop being negative. I have been very patient.
Seriously? He’s not been here a year yet. He’s cautiously started by giving every player a chance to prove themselves. He’s offloaded a lot of dead wood to finance a couple of key buys. He’s bought into the club philosophy of not spending mega bucks and instead trying to promote from within. I feel we are moving slowly in the right direction but it’s obviously not as quick as FIFA 2020
Last season league form under Hiughes DLLWDLLDD 7 ponts from 10 games and 3 of the 4 draws were 0-0. A single win. We then had to wait another 6 games for a win over Arsenal which was under Ralph.
This Season LLWDWLL 7 Points from 7 games and no 0-0 gmes.
So yeah its not as bad as last season yet.
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I think it’s the 4222 formation and tactics they’re struggling with for various reasons
I generally prefer 2CBs as we often lose concentration with 3 and lose key opposition players with good movement
But
we are vulnerable on the right because when we lose the ball the midfield aren’t able to get back quick enough and JWPs lack of pace is a problem here
When our RB goes forward no one covers so again when we lose the ball we are vulnerable
I think Ralph is trying to get them to do stuff they are possibly not suited to, and may never be
Oriel is our best MF because he knows his job and is well suited to it while JWP and PEH are fluttering around not quite supporting attack or defender well enough and getting knackered from the transitions of attack to defence when we lose the ball
Shame we don’t still have a fit and motivated Mario
I think we should return to the 4213 or 433 that they understand - DMFs to cover for attacking WBs and the wide players of the front 3 available to drop to midfield when we don’t have the ball
I was not referring to Ralph but the many posters back at the start of the season that said we would finish top 10, I am waiting for those players to show up with the quality to be able to get us to those heights, and we do not have them, so how can we get to top 10. I said it was delusional to think that this team can be that good, but I was being negative. So I am still waiting.