Match Day Thread West Ham United vs Southampton 25/09/2016 4pm Kick-off

In all my many many many many years watching Saints, I think for the first time, when I wanted a goal, I got a goal.

I wanted a goal just before half time... I got a goal just before half time

I wanted a goal on the hour mark when we were so on top... I got a goal on the hour mark when we were so on top

I wanted a goal in added time to rub salt in the open sour wounds of the East End Rogues... I got a goal on the hour mark to rub salt in the open sour wounds of the East End Rogues


This will probably never happen again.

 

The biggest relief for me is that we seem to be playing with that great team spirit that has been so evident since we made it back to the Prem. Everyone seems to be enjoying their football again, what difference from the first 2 games. Magic.

 

We have a young team with a core of talented players, a new coaching staff that appear to know what they are doing and I have reason to be hopeful for the future as a Saints fan, and that is just the worst ****ing feeling imaginable.

 

They're playing like wingers when defending. Do I have to post some fancy screenshots to prove that?

 

I certainly wouldn't recommend launching long balls. However, I wouldn't recommend keeping the ball for the sake of keeping the ball, either, unless a couple up and aiming to kill time. It should be circumstantial, rather than the default, and both Romeu and Hojbjerg did an excellent job of looking for an incisive initial ball forward rather than reflexively playing it back to the CBs or sideways, something that we did too much of early in the year. That tends to lead to punts forward or particularly bad turnovers, IMO; the more the CBs have the ball at their feet, the greater the siren's call of getting it out of the half, and the more we pass the ball around at the back, the easier it is for opponents to take the risk of jumping a pass because the rest of the defense is set.

West Ham on the other hand did quite a bit of that yesterday, and while it took the sting out of the game, I don't think that it was at all to their benefit; we aren't without defensive frailties, particularly with our fullbacks playing high up the pitch, but they were kind enough to take 10-15 seconds and pass it around between the CBs and Noble to allow us to regain shape.

 

Yeah, really interesting. For me the amount of possession Pistol Pete had & how far up the pitch Bertie & Cedric are.

 

I still say that a bit of that is ok and it is always circumstantial (not necessarily being 2 up either). If you try and push every time you get it, you are just as likely to give the ball back to the opponent. As I said originally, it is about getting the balance right.

I's also say that if an opponent is going to try and jump a pass, then we have pulled them out of position and that is when to get that incisive ball forwards.

Our little chat here, shows that there are pros and cons of doing it. It is still needed at times.

PS. Best example of recent years of what a player should do in a deep position is Michael Carrick. This is what he does:

1. Before receiving the ball, he looks to see his options
2. Gets ready to receive the ball (whilst knowing what is on)
3. Plays the ball to the player who is in the combination of furthest forward position to receive the ball AND maintain possession

Nb. That player may well be backwards or sideways, but his first thought is always forward possession.

 

Too soon, too soon.....am still in widow's weeds.

But he is quite good.

 

I like Charlies leadership qualities, something I didn't see in him at qpr. He talks, he berates, he encourages. You can see that he is really self critical & that bodes well, this lad will only get better in this environment.

 

Confidence is so important...that is why goals come in batches (you have to remember that football players are sensitive flowers). I hope Charlie's run lasts till the end of season. Now we just need one to go in for Shane (autocorrect just made that shame ).

 

Leadership qualities come as a given with a Berkshire lad.

 

I have gotten so carried away I have finally changed my previous one and only avatar of Morgan that I have had on Not606 for five years. For me; Morgan was the first name that should be written on any team sheet (Sorry Fran - I know yours was Ricky) - the big guy here has, for me, certainly replaced him with that mantle.

 

Add to that Middlesex (Gatting, Brearley, Strauss) and Yorkshire (Vaughan, Illingworth, and Harold Wilson)

 

Great to see Charlie Austin finding form again.
Good honest player who we'd would still love to have with us, of course.
Well done to you & your team.

 

Have to mention the bargain that is Charlie Austin....he only cost 1 Charlie Austin.

 

He'd have cost 4 Charlies if he had knee ligaments...good job West Ham identified that he in fact has none and pushed the price down.

 

They were smart to loan Zaza for a season at more than 1 Austin, they get him permanently for only another 4 Austins at the seasons end.

 

Austin Maestro

 

Alfa Romeu

 

Transit Van Dijk