I disagree that Mané didn't drive into the box. He did so several times last night and would have had a penalty if he hadn't been caught offside. That was the problem last night, the Villa defence was very well-marshalled by Clark and caught our strikers loads of times. That was why we started to have more success when the full backs went for the byline before crossing. Having said all that, I would rather we had started as our normal 4-3-3 with Cork playing ahead of Morgan and Vic, with Long and Tadić on the wings.
I blame Monday night football but also the game coming after yet another irrelevant tapping up break. How many more of these momentum sappers do we have to endure this year?! Hope that's the last.
Well, at least that's a good four months away. Though we might be begging for one after our next run of games! The tough thing about the next few games is that both can both Manchester clubs can leapfrog us (Man U depending on results - eg. if we lose to City and Arsenal) - that's instant motivation for both of them.
my sister is going to the training ground today for a tour, so she has a few ideas to pass onto Ron about Cork given more time in last nights match - but mostly she was talking about helping Pelle with his ball control. Did we try and turn Morgan into Stevie G last night? We need more drive through the centre and cut down on those hail mary type crossfield passes - perhaps that is what Steven Davis brings to our game.
The only reason that Davis would be on the bench is if there is someone else that can do what he does better than he does. JWP is a similar sort of player but even he I feel is not as good at doing it as Davis is. Gaston was bought to try and be the link man but even if he had come through for us we have evolved and that link man now needs to put a decent box to box shift in too. We have no-one else that can do that role. Cork and Schneiderlin would only be able to fill in there. The problem however is that many see Davis as slowing down play when in fact it is more that he is a more patient and sensible player and when other players are making runs that need passes such as Dyer's to Bony at the weekend. That sort of pass is just a waste most of the time as it will only work 1 out of 10 times. As the poster above says. Without Davis' patience and vision we end up seeing Morgan doing what Gerrard does and playing the 'Beckham'esque' 50 yard diagonal balls. That worked a decade or more ago but teams are much more organised now and easily defend against moves like that. It gives them 5 to 10 seconds to set themselves up while the ball is in the air, then controlled etc whereas moving the ball 10 yards at a time quickly means the defence has to keep moving. Someone will counter with 'Well Villa undid our defence with a long pass' but that was different. Villa's pass was instant to the attack when we lost the ball. Stevie G, Beckham and last night Morgan are doing it when the opposition already have their players in a relatively good shape. It looks good when that long diagonal goes to your player but once they've controlled it they invariably are facing 2 banks of 4 in a good defensive position.
Woke up this morning and the first moment I thought of last night's match, along with it came a sense of slight disappointment, which I'm actually glad about. Whatever the players say, they will be slightly disappointed too. It will help motivation to beat ManC next Sunday. Paul Lambert got his tactics right last night. Although Villa surrendered possession until the final third of the pitch, they always had Agbonlahor as the receiver of the clearance. Just before they scored I made the observation that he was being a pain, and so it proved. Nevertheless, Saints were easily the better team, but we have to know how to win against all types of teams, not just the ones who come to play football toe-to-toe, so to speak. BTW, as I mentioned about missing Stevo after the game, I hope this finally puts to bed any thoughts that he isn't good enough to be a starter. He's a vital cog in the engine room, every bit as important as Morgan, Victor [and Jack]. Ronald is probably right. ManC may well be easier. Saints will certainly play better.
First game I've seen live this season - not too many impressive performances - but I thought Jose was magnificent - so safe and calm and didn't place a bad pass. A real captain.
ty southampton, Clyne and Bertrand are doing the business for me wonderfully, was a tad upset when the goal went in and ruined the clean-sheet, but the goal from my Captain Clyne improved my mood (and my points tally). Keep it up, I want one of us to make the CL (but i don't think it'll be us)
"After 38 games I don't believe that we will still be second. But maybe third." Wow Ron. Not holding back now like he was a few games ago.
Still think Arsenal will sort themselves out like they usually do. Man Utd haven't been great and they're still 4th. Still think 5th, but wouldn't rule out 4th or 3rd.
Davis tends to pass it crisply and generally forwards. He gets rid of the ball quickly, so goes unnoticed by some. He brings more tactical awareness and energy to the side. Schneiderlin has been slowing down the play with his hollywood passes. They are totally unnecessary. Simple crisp short passes are all that's needed. I hate to say it but at times Schneiderlin seems to be playing for show, or for stats. What was that back pass to Forster last night about? He refused to clear the ball himself.
I've said this about Davis for ages. Never noticed, as he never does anything flashy, ever. Yet, he also rarely gets things wrong. When he's off the pitch or (very rarely) off form, we suffer. I hope he's OK for Sunday. Vin
Although he did not make the bench, Jake Hesketh was registered (no 42) and travelled with the first team this week. Good on him.
Players like Steve Davis are why it's good to watch a whole game again, if you can. There is so much stuff that he'll do, or Jack Cork will do, that goes unnoticed, for example. Morgan, and maybe Victor, will get 99% the headline comments of the midfield, but Steve and Jack are doing every bit as good in their roles.
