Yeah different league & massively difference in quality. I’m a bit gobsmacked some thought / still think (with more time?) playing out the back will work for us (virtually all the time, which RM philosophy demands).
Guess we are on MOTD currently as getting messages coming through now, joys of being a Saints fan “it’s mental how utterly **** you are” “can’t see you winning a game all season” “what a waste of a PL spot” Some of the highlights
Do they have a possession % table? Edit: Apparently joint first with spurs, 70% Were second to city in backward passes. Bottom for goals scored.
I don't know if that's true though, Os, in terms of trying to reinvent football. Practically everyone else in this league plays in largely the same way from defence. The major difference being the progression through the midfield, and the quality on the ball of the defenders. I personally don't think we're doing an awful lot different, just our players aren't as good/adapted yet to the speed of PL press, plus the major problem is that we'll **** around at the back, then crap ourselves when it gets to midfield. It's the regressive passing from midfield that for me is as much of a problem (sort of) as the trying to build from defence. If we played progressively in midfield more often, then maybe the fabled 'more positive outcomes' would actually be true, rather than a figment of Russell's imagination. I like the guy, we have to give him a chance to learn and to change things about a bit. Funnily enough, I thought with Rambo we were actually a bit less 'fanny about at the back' than we have been. There's a hell of a lot still to do, but I think a midfield containing Fernandes and Dibling will absolutely and immediately make us look a hell of a lot better from the off, as they're naturally more progressive. If we start seeing them regress from that natural game and become more safe because of instruction/coaching, well then that is the time we should start questioning the management.
I’m sorry but that’s not true. We have by far the highest ratio of pass to shot in the league. Martin continuously asks the players to pass to each other in dangerous areas.. areas where other teams wouldn’t. It’s literally what he is known for
Yeah which is what I've been saying all week. Fernandes and Dibling have to be starting. I'd be tempted to stick Lesley in ahead of Aribo too.
Yeah, but that's because we pass it up to midfield and then pass it back, then up to midfield, then back. So of course we have a million passes per shot. That's what I mean by progressively moving up from midfield (and taking some risks getting it into their red zone, rather than in our own red zone).
Not just tempted. It will be criminal if he doesn’t start. He’s a much better player. Downes next to Lesley every single game and we have a chance to stay up.
