Match Day Thread Southampton vs Everton 15/08/2015 12.45 pm

Amazing that on twitter, posters are blaming our defeat on the patterns on the pitch!

 

They're using twitter is it really that amazing?

 

Elsewhere they are saying the Everton shirts were like a camouflage outfit, especially as our defenders lost sight of them several times............

 

Defending starts from the front and I'm afraid playing four attackers doesn't work. We needed two CDM in front of the defence. Each time their keeper got the ball, our forwards switched off.

You're right, the defence was exposed. They didn't play well, but they were not protected.

 

I think every single player has been blamed on Twitter today, too. I was only surprised that Gazzaniga didn't get blamed despite not being on the pitch as some people seem to have decided to blame him for everything because they don't like him - he gets a lot of abuse on Twitter even when he's played fairly well like this pre-season. Not the only one, either, but he's the one I've noticed it most with.

 

Always struck me as a very decent guy.

 

I am definitely not on the same page as you with this, FLT. I just have one question, though: with all the trust in Ron in all other areas of his management, why do you think he - with all his knowledge and experience over decades at the top in the game - persists in playing Pelle? And what have you spotted that he has completed missed over 40+ games?

 

I get what Fats means about Pelle and his frustrating tendency toward needless extravagant flicks in general, but I would disagree today - I though it was one of his better games. In fact, I think he's looked decent enough for both league games so far....so perhaps he has learnt?

 

Although I don't normally pay any attention to opposition celebrations I did like Kone polishing his boot.

 

Just to qualify that a bit on today's performance - what impressed me most was his aerial dominance, where previously he can look a bit lazy with his jumping, I thought he competed well and was quite dominant in the air today.

 

That's a very good question Pelleteon and well put. It baffles me. Firstly I want to say that I'm not trying to lay the blame at Pelle's door for yesterday.

I watch the forwards very closely as that was the position I played mostly. It's as the position I was coached in, so yes, I am more critical of them then any others.

Each game, I watch Pelle's movement, where he positions himself and how he plays. Yesterday when the ball came into him he laid it back on the ground, to a full back or midfielder approximately four/five times, with a first time pass - that looked good. The rest of the time, he couldn't hold it up or keep the ball or he didn't drop towards the player to relieve the ball, hold it, find a team mate and we moved on - he usually either tries a flick or the defender gets a nick away. Lusaka and Kone didn't allow that.

I see it a lot of weeks now.

I took my mate yesterday (the UEFA A coach) and asked him what he thought, having explained my view and how I am questioned about it in here. I also told him how much I like him and that he gives us goals. This mate loves to prove me wrong, trust me on that , especially on football. After the game. He said that was how he played - never making a run into the channels (poor movement), not showing the strength/touch to relieve pressure on the team at the right moments when we've been under pressure (a very key part of a strikers role) and he said worse of all, he turned his so many times when the keeper for the ball and allowed them to roll the ball out to Barry to start an attack. He also said to me that he was the same as the last time he watched him 'live'. He said he's ok, but not a really good striker.

To try and answer the question on Ron and why he perseveres or hasn't seen the same thing - that's tough. Maybe because he did the same in The Netherlands and got him those goals and so, Ron "plays him for the goals"??? I don't know. I agree it is a great question to ask me, given my view and comments.

What highlights things for me is when Long or Mane find themselves centrally, that they manage to have a touch, get their bodies between the defender and the ball, then play a team mate in.
Pelle doesn't. Yesterday the only times he kept possession was if he laid it off first time and I think he tries first time too often. It's almost as if he doesn't want to feel the hit of the CB from behind.

I'm sorry to all Pelle fans and people that don't agree, but it is where I am. I think we need an upgrade there. There is no doubt I'll be singing his name again this season when he scores more goals for us, and I love him for that. As an all round Centre Forward, no.

Final comment my mate said. Rickie Lambert has failings in different areas, but as a striker he offered you so much more with his touch, hold up play, positioning and bringing others into the game.

Hope no-one is too offended with my current views in Pelle

 

Would love us to bid for Charlie boy, as much as I like Pelle,Charlie would be an upgrade ( surprised he's still at QPR after Newcastle wouldn't meet their asking price.)

 

Not offended FLT, I agree and have always thought the same about him. Although interestingly, I actually thought he was better than normal yesterday

 

I never go on saints web after a defeat for that very reason. Hard for me to criticise anyone individually but as I said earlier this team is learning to work together with new faces. What's missing at the minute is the fluidity we had last season. As full backs got caught forward, the centre backs moved wide to cover the holes with defensive midfielders seamlessly dropping back. Yesterday, we were being pulled out of shape way too easily.

 

Absolutely correct mate. We looked very naive from both management (expecting to get away with playing 4-2-4) to players continually getting caught out and didn't adapt to the situation they faced

 

Agreed...I really don't understand why we haven't made a move for Charlie Austin as he is better than Pelle in most aspects of his game

 

Regarding why he persists, my guess is simple: we were desperately lacking in other options last year. It was either Pelle or Long, and Long isn't exactly prolific, and was starting frequently alongside Pelle. I doubt he'd persist if one of our quasi-strikers made a compelling case to start up top.

 

Don't really get the Pelle bashing. It's hardly his fault we got overrun on the break twice in the first half.

Don't really get the manager bashing either; he gambled with a very attacking formation, at home, and we could have been 2-0 up before they first. Unfortunately the gamble didn't pay off and Everton were quick, strong and lethal on the break. 2nd half Ron fixed it, Romeu gave us back the bite we'd been missing in midfield. By then it was too late though.

Not a total disaster, not really. And we're not giving enough credit to Everton, who were on fire.

Final point; Lukaku's devastating performance showed the benefits of a manager keeping faith in his target man. He was back to his best yesterday, after quite a number of people had written him off.

 

Lukaku was one of the best talents in the league when Everton bought him and he's only 22 - for almost 30 million, also Stones and Barkley are both superb players.

Koeman got the formation wrong at Newcastle (maybe enforced due to injuries) but he also got it wrong yesterday, I would expect wanyama and Romeu to start regularly together from now on