Couple of interesting quotes from Ryan Manning today: "The gaffer has given us the freedom to attack. He's told the boys who want to cross to cross it. The boys who want to dribble can dribble. The boys who want to score need to shoot. He's given everyone a licence to express themselves." "This year, the timing and quality of our crosses, having bodies arriving in the box at the right time, will make the difference in winning a game."
We have coached the individuality out of our players for a few years now. This could be great. Or maybe our guys are too traumatised to enjoy freedom.
You know what will happen though. The first dribble that fails, the first shot ballooned over the bar, when a pass is on, and the crowd will start to get restless. It does sound exciting though.
Had been told the games were late morning and midday, so in theory we should hear about what happened around the middle of the afternoon, I'd guess?
It just absolutely begs the question of what the actual **** were the last 2 or 3 managers teaching these players and what were they expecting from them? As others have said, just beating the football out of the players but why? What kind of mind gets into football to then try and actively kill the talent?
It’s been happening for ages that players play to a system and individuality is discouraged. Not just at Saints but all over the world
Thing is, as easy as it is to blame RM, I don’t think we have any midfielders who actually like to take on a shot from distance. Stuie was the only one. We’re not suddenly going to see the likes of Downes, Charles, Smallbone or Aribo suddenly hammering 25-yarders into the top corner. If we want a midfielder who shoots from distance, we’ll need to buy one.
It'll be interesting anyway. I wonder if some players might be marked for leaving after this, presumably, tougher game.
