Interesting how people see things differently. I'm pretty sure the root of our problems all season has been at FB, RB in particular; get that resolved and the whole team will have a better balance. I'm certainly not going to go back and research it, but my personal impression is that so many of the soft goals we've conceded have been down to the two CBs being left exposed by poor positional play by the FBs.
Yes I agree that FB's are playing their part. But our midfield seems inept at mopping up danger around the top of the box. When were in danger and they have players in numbers occupying our back 4 there's nobody apart from wanyama coming in around the 30yd area to put pressure on them. We end up giving them time. If they don't get time they can't pick that pass that catches Cedric daydreaming.
Harsh on the DM's imo. The entire defence is a shambles at the moment. I blame the defence considering all of them seem to have lost the plot.
I pointed that out yesterday. The defense was actually properly positioned. Bertrand was out of the play which left a big gap, so the CB's were in a tough spot as no one could come out to close. Cedric simply failed to mark his man or the back post. And Gazzaniga could have done better. I do not really blame him as Spurs were given too much time and space. He thought they would one-time the shot, but they took an extra touch, so he had slid, tried to get up, and then was off balance as he tried to get down again. In that situation, the result should be a goal and Gazzaniga had little chance. But he still did not play it as well as he could have.
Schneiderlin was crazy fast and covered a lot of ground. MS was also very clever. When we played a very high press under MP, Schneiderlin was the master of catching up to a guy from behind so he could get a little tug in on a shirt or kick a foot to draw a foul and break up the counter. Neither Clasie or Wanyama have the foot speed to do that.
Football seems to re-invent itself every few months. After we 'pioneered' the pressing game everyone else started doing it, so then came the counter-attacking game. The current in-vogue style I can only describe as "high energy" as personified by Leicester but also Bournemouth and others; average players proving to be very effective. Energy/enthusiasm are two of the things that seem to be lacking in the Saints side at the moment. As we were coming up from League One one off our greatest asset was how much of a team we were. In my opinion the biggest problem with losing so many players so quickly isn't so much the loss of the individual player but that incredible team spirit that went with overcoming adversity (i.e. Leicester again). Against Spurs we were pretty much second to everything after the first 10 minutes. There is certainly more, moaning, finger pointing and gesticulating than we have seen in recent years. I also feel we must find a way to play without Pelle. Yesterday he was back to his style, much criticised by FLT, of flicking the ball on whenever he could and appearing to stroll around without a great deal of purpose. The occasional long pass tended to be over hit, and for the 2nd or 3rd game in a row he has swung and completely missed the ball in front of goal. His hair, however, remains immaculate. Its not all Pelle's fault of course as has been discussed by others. I could write a book on it but the only other one I will mention is Clasie who simply appears off the pace at the moment. If we get back to full flow again I reckon he could shine but as it is I think I'd rather see WP, Romeu or Reed in that position. A good thumping of Arse though and all would be well again.
When you look at the table this evening, lots of other club's fans will be feelings bit aggrieved. This is a strange, strange season.
It is a poor but interesting league this season. I also noticed that we are 7 points from the bottom three after 1 point from 18z. We must have been doing fairly well before these 6 games.
Yes, it'll be quite nice if their injuries are in still in place in eight days time. Plus one or two more.
Hate to break it to you.. but West Ham have four points in their last four games (unbeaten in four, all draws). Five points in their last six. Southampton have one point in their last four games. Four points in their last six.
I was going on the last six games, they were below us in the form table before the match today (and obviously have a hideous injury list). You are correct, though it's not *just* us in an iffy spell right now.
I'll miss you. My last comment that you won't see now sadly: You never answered the goal keeper point. The point where you clearly contradicted yourself but refused to respond on it. Shame you couldn't just admit that just like a manager, fans get it wrong too. Never mind.
I'm not going to defend Cedric, for switching off for the second goal, but I wonder if he, and other defenders are getting caught out by the ridiculous offside rule, we now have. Harry Kane, if I recall it correctly, was yards offside, in the middle of our goal area, when the cross came in, and I'm left wondering if the defenders still have the "play them offside" mindset, without getting the call. If one rule gets revised next summer, I hope it is this is the one, because despite tweaking it, this season, players are still jumping over shots (not on this occasion) and not being deemed to be "interfering with play". Even if they change the rule so that if a goal is scored, and a player is offside, the linesman MUST flag it and consult with the referee, so a decision can be made on whether or not the offside player was interfering/in the keepers eyeliner etc. Failing that can we please revert to how it was before they decided to get too clever.
Southampton has been good for Spurs over the years. I can't think of a bad signing Spurs have made from you. First Chivers, then Richards, then Bale and now Poch. I think you're going to do what you've always done that is get promoted, do very well for a few seasons, then go down as in the McMenemy era.
Wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. You aren't in the big boys club, much as you'd like to pretend you are. Poch will leave you, too. As will Kane and all of your players if they are good.
