Evening all, interesting game against stoke today. Looking at it objectively many top clubs would take a point at Stoke and many would love almost doubling the amount of goals they've conceded this season at home. However it was distressing to lose a 2 goal lead against a club with only 10 men. Anyway my question to the forum; do we play better when we're more direct? It just seems to me in games like today when we don't mind hoofing it a little (although not as much as stoke) we do seem to perform better Lambert thrives on this sort of football as his short passing seems to be degrading of late. Obviously it's not that nice to watch and gives you a sore neck but I'm starting to think while we're down in a relegation battle 2 tall strong strikers and a more direct style may be the way to go on harsh away days? What say you forum? (lets all cheer up as well )
I'm only mildly disappointed at only getting a point at Stoke, through a great first-half performance. We are the only team apart from Man U at home to score more than 2 goals against Stoke in the league this season, so the tactics were perfect for Stoke. We ran out of ideas and energy a bit in the second half but it wasn't as bad as some people are making it out to be, give Stoke some credit for the way they fought back. To answer the question, I'm really pleased that we can vary the style to suit the circumstances, as there has been some doubt that we could in change our approach.
Think that's spot on Chilco. We need to remember Stoke thrashed Liverpool playing the way they did in the second half.
I was thinking this at a half time, and it certainly should be considered, but it all depends on the game. There's an argument for us playing more direct at St. Mary's, the defeats against Wigan and Sunderland could've been avoided by starting Rodriguez and Lambert up-front, and pinging long balls straight up to them a la Stoke at the Britannia. But I think it's a dangerous philosophy away from home, where teams will try to assert their game upon us rather than at home where it's more a case of them trying to stop us playing our passing game (something Wigan and Sunderland succeeded in doing). Stoke's away record is consistently woeful, as they don't really mix it up and are consistently outplayed on the road by passing sides. I think today was a case of us completely catching them by surprise in terms of team selection and tactics. They were expecting a fluid passing game so were pressing us very high, so the ball to Rodriguez over the top and the switch of play was extremely effective (in the 1st half at least). It's great to see that we can successfully play two completely contrasting styles of football so effectively.
Direct with plenty of bodies forward suits us best. If it works against Stoke who are the most physical side and best side aerially in the league then it will work against any side
Don't need to play every ball long, but being able to attack in a variety of ways is an absolute necessity at this level. The threat of getting players behind prevents the defense from pushing too far up; the threat of an early cross creates space in the center of the pitch as defenders pile back; break incisively and you'll make teams think twice about closing down at every turn. Prove that there's no one way to defend us -- and to date, that way has been to crowd us out in midfield, and stack players at the edge of the box when we're in the final third -- and opportunities will open up.
Agreed that direct was the right tactic against Stoke, but not against every team. I would like to see Saints be a tad more direct at times just to vary things and keep opposing defenses on their toes but in general I think they are playing the right style for the players they have. One thing is that I think we have bad link up play between our back four and the midfield. Not sure whether it is just sloppy passing or because everyone gets pulled out of position when we have to defend. But lumping the ball up gives us a chance to get it to Lambert (or maybe out wide to Puncheon to run onto) who can maybe knock it down and hold up play. From there, you don't have to go directly at goal but you can then get the midfield up and play possession in the other team's half.
It's a weapon in our armoury, not something I expect to see us make our primary approach though regardless of our success in the first half. You could see in that game why it doesn't work on a full-time basis, we played it like that for 90 minutes and it meant we barely had our foot on the ball for longer than 20 seconds and kept the pressure on us. If we had found the balance of the direct approach and more patient approach in that game we might have come away with the win, and we need to find that balance in future too.
Well done today guys havent seen the game today but from what I have herd u might have deserved more than a point. With regards to thread around playing direct I think the thing with the prem is u have to have a plan b. We always set up away from home not to conceed and once we do were screwed. You guys seem to be able to mix it up a bit and think that cud help as the season progresses. Good luck for rest of season hope u stay up think u cud have a good chance as any of the newly promoted teams Happy new year to u all
Interesting comment regarding the Sunderland game, as I cannot remember us playing so many long balls in a home fixture since Adkins took over, particularly in the second half when chasing, but also in the first. I just assumed it was to do with the conditions being so lousy that day. The Stoke game was a tactical thing as many top teams have floundered playing pretty football there. But Sunderland?
Another Stoke fan totally agree with the above... You played well first half and let's face it.. although we did'nt have Shawcross or Cameron you just crossed so many balls into our area we did'nt cope with it. END RESULT was a two goal lead at half time. WE get hammered by some fans for playing this way, mostly in our away games. IF it WORKS for you and it did yesterday first half, keep doing it! You we're well worth the pt and at half time, in truth I said to my mates. " We won't come back from this now" We did but do any Saints fans think that Nigel A got his tactics wrong 2nd half? All credit to you guys first half Huth/Wilko etc could not cope with your forwards. HOW we came back I don't know but it felt like a win in the end. I was happy with a pt. And, not many teams will score 3 at our place anyway. WELL DONE. And all the best for the rest.
Thanks very much, and all the best to you. Hopefully you will have sown up your Europa League place before you come to us last game of the season!
I thought we were pretty direct against Villa (time and time again Gazzaniga was finding Lambert's head, who was consistently beating Vlaar to the ball), and of course we won that 4-1.
Main reason I like having him playing for us. Makes the odd mistake, but his distribution is excellent. Shame the Swansea error knocked his confidence as the quick exchanges between the defence were good to see. There's a balance to be struck between keeping the ball down and not messing around with it. If the opposition are pressing high, there's something to be said for going over the top and playing the game in the opposition half. Wild hoofs are no good though. We need to aim long balls to feet or heads.
