Despite the little I know about defenders and defending, I am very smug in that I seemed to be one of only a few people on here who put Fonte before Hooiveld in the whole centre back debate at the beginning of the season. Well done me. Anyway, I'd just like to now say, that those who are writing off Hooiveld as not Premiership quality, will at some point this season again be made to eat humble pie. He is rash, but I think it is unfair to judge him on those first few games alone. It obviously takes time to adapt. He didn't even have a full season in English football before being confronted with the likes of Tevez and Van Persie. He will come good when called upon. After all, the man would literally lay his head on a railway line and wait for a roaring ****ing train to smash through it if it meant keeping the ball out of the Southampton net. I admire that.
All of our defenders are finding their feet in this league. They are playing against much better opposition than they have been used to and the only way to learn is by doing it. Mistakes will be made, but the players will learn and adjust.
Most players will get a chance over a long hard season, especially defenders like Hooiveld. Everyone is learning this season, so no one should be written off. However, I hope that we are never desperate enough to need de Ridder.
Agreed. If there is anyone who is writing him off already then they need to have their heads checked. Hooiveld was a rock last season but he just needs time to adapt to this league and I'm sure he will come good for us. He will at least be an asset against some of the physical players in the league (e.g. Christian Benteke for Villa).
hold my hands up. I was one of those that was calling for Fonte. However Fonte now looking good without Hooiveld doesn't look good for Jos. Much humble pie eaten
Is anyone else wondering what it would be like to play with 3 centre backs and 2 wing backs? Have a 5 strong defence when defending and be aerially strong as hoover is good there whilst also having a 5 strong midfield whilst attacking and creating more width? Think it could be hugely effective especially playing away from home!
Yeah could be good away from home. Who do you think we would have in attack though? There's lots of options. I think the system we played against Villa was good. 4-2-3-1 is such a balanced formation especially with the threat of Ramirez when playing behind the striker. He drops deep to collect the ball as well.
This is a good idea but my only worry is that we would have noone to bring on if someone got injured like Hooiveld did against arsenal. Also got to think about who you would bring off in midfield to make this change. Especially with the likes of Cork looking like he is match fit again.
No. We have three decent centre backs but I only think one of them is pacey enough to play in this formation. And besides I don't trust Fox or Clyne to play as a wing back, I'd rather they just played in the position they really know!
There is the danger of trying to reinvent the game though and adding a defender might not make any meaningful improvements. We would have to lose someone further up the pitch which would harm our ability to retain and use possession, and in this league you need to do that to win games.
Lets be honest if Cortese wants to continue to make us stronger, both will be gone soon. As will Fox and a few of our other defends, the defence is still very much our weakness.
I seriously think the formation could work. I would have yoshida as the central more seeping role as I actually don't think Fonte and Hoover compliment each other as well as yoshida and Fonte. And as for someone saying clyne not being trusted to get forward...don't agree, he is good going forward, he scored on the weekend from 6 yards lol. Fox well mehhhhh!
We have conceded the most number of shots, having another central defender wouldn't address this problem. There are 11 Southampton defenders when we don't have the ball, even Lambert chases and harries. We have played top opposition which mostly counts for the high number of shots and goals, also the current defence is yet to gel, changing it again wouldn't help this either. I would rather play 4-6-0 than 5-4-1 or whatever you are suggesting. Even better 4-3-3 5-4-1 would help against an aerial threat I will say that
I am not sure what formation you would label it as, purely suggesting that particularly away from home we might benefit from a taller defensive central defensive formation. Your right it won't stop the shots but I think Morgan and Davis are doing a good job there and with wing backs you can almost suggest when moving forward we would have a midfield 5 with lots of width whilst still having 3 holding defenders. It may be an awful idea just food for thought. Also think may take a little pressure off the wing backs whoever they may be. I love clyne but he is still learning and on the odd occasion does get caught up the pitch and with a 3 CB it would add cover there. And as for Danny Fox...well I think it showed Saturday we are better without him. I would be happy to see Fraser occupy that right back position for next Saturday just to see how he gets on and then maybe identify that in January as a position to strengthen.
Yeah I can see how you are thinking, at times we have defended very narrow and with an extra body in this line we would be able to cover more space, which would help the fullbacks out immensly. I think we have struggled away from home with Lambert being isolated and taking a midfielder away would compound this. Although we are different team now with Ramirez and we might be able to keep possession much better taking the stress off the back four, not only in terms of attacking pressure but also physically. I think we have conceded 8 goals in the last 20 minutes or something crazy like that, with fatigue being a major factor in this. Against Aston Villa we were much less fatigued as we had kept much more possession. Perhaps Morgan or Jack cork could play an ultra defensive midfielder away from Home.
