teams are now starting to play 5 across the middle against us, which may be the reason of our recent slump. We are getting bullied off the ball in the middle and regardless of what combo we play the end result is the same. How can we gat to grips with the midfield ? do we play with five across as well, especially away games
Didn't west ham try to do the same ? Allardyce said all southampton have is their midfield who feed Lambert ( or words to that effect ). But little did he know we had the goal machine that is Jos Hooiveld.
If another team packs the midfield, then Adkins should swallow his pride, change the formation and play over the midfield. simples. Then the other team will drop into a more formal formation once they see this. Most teams actually play 4-5-1 but like to say it is a 4-4-2. In truth they are a 4-4-2 only on the team sheet but 4-5-1 when you haven't got the ball and 2-5-3/2-4-4 when you do. This is the way we play, ManU play and most of the rest of the ball playing clubs. All that means is that without the ball one striker drops into midifled. With the ball that striker and one (or two) midfielder(s) step up. With our line it is Guly dropping into midfield when we haven't got the ball, When we have the ball Lallana and Chappers move forward along with Guly with the Left back and right back pressing up. So simply play 4-2-4 and play over the midfield
I'd play 4-2-3-1. We are playing 4-2-2-2 at the moment. This moves an extra man into the midfield area but keeps him in an attacking position. A positive 4-2-3-1 rather than a negative one, so a CAM and two wide CAM's or wingers, whatever you want to define them as. 4-2-2-2 is a horrendous match up against a 5 man midfield because not only is it one man less but it is narrower than 442. We rely heavily on Richardson's crosses, and with an extra man in midfield a player can fill into RB so we are less likely to get hit on the break. Same if Fox goes forward.
Playing 5 in midfield means you are relying on speed to attack something we do not have in abundance. A lot of the opposition like to try and play that when they come down here to St Mary's and providing we do not give the ball away too much we can normally find a way round and over their Mid field. However if we do not have wingers that will stay out wide we are not stretching the play. Something we have lacked in the last 5/6 games and needs to be addressed in my opinion.
Adkins criticized Lallana (in his gentle way) for failing to stay on wing as instructed, but we do need a nippy winger.
what to go with our nippy forward. Only joking no PC responds. Do think any of the youth team fits the bill, McQueen for example
McQueen has lots of potential but he is not ready for regular league games. I would like to see him get a debut in the FA Cup on Saturday though. His strengths are ball control, passing, crossing, speed, covering full back and heading. He needs to score some goals to get his confidence up. A lot to expect of a 16 year old. If he performs well in the Youth Cup on Wednesday and scores I think NA may consider a call up to the bench on Saturday.
Yes Bristol City flooded the midfield and more teams are pressing us higher up the pitch. The way to overcome this is to use the width of the pitch and get the full backs overlapping thus creating outlet options and if closed off more space in the middle as players are dragged across to double up on the full-backs.
