I'm still buzzing from yesterday. I hold my hands up though, because Adkins starting line-up didn't look great. I thought I'd post a few little tidbits I've been thinking about since yesterday. I do realise that we are playing one of the best teams in the world, with some of the greatest players in the world, but these are just my thoughts based on YESTERDAYS GAME. Things to look at - - we looked very, very threatening when our plays could play short, simple passes rather than try anything too risky and I thought this was amplified by the fact when Lambert came on. His short flicks and very quick thinking to players around him produced a goal and chances and I think if we go with a 4-3-3 again, we really need one of the midfield to play behind Lambert and support him (or Guly). - Lallana, despite attempts from a couple of managers, will always be best on the wing imo. You will rarely see a creative playmaker working that hard for his team but while that's impressive and very much useful, I'd rather he be utilised to get the most out of his attacking ability. - In a similar way, Rod and Punch, while looked useful at times, do not beat their man as consistently as we need them to - which is where Lallana comes in. I also think they would work better with their strongest foot on the strongest side. Lots of times Rod and Punch made it to the byline and then couldn't do anything due to their weaker foot. I think the addition of crossing could've changed things better than them trying to cut inside. Positives - - Every player looked useful. No one looked out of their depth and every single one looks like a premier league player. We also have youth on our side. This exact team can easily play for 3 years (bar Kelvin, possibly, and Lambert would be getting on). - The passion the players showed were phenomenal and the amount of work they've put in is showing. The one moment that stuck out was when Tevez was running along the box shaping to shoot, like he did the other day and score a screamer. Adkins and the team KNOW this - and the entire saints team crowded him out. Everyone knows their job and no-one was afraid to stick a leg in (and tackled very well). - If we can defend that well against the likes of Tevez, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Nasri etc - players that can play at the highest of levels, and attack against a back 4 of Lescott, Kompany, Zabaleta and Clichy, well, we have an astonishing chance this season. There's no reason the players cannot play like that week in week out. - Once again I doubt adkins. Once again, w get a result - sort of. When you put it into context - teams losing 5-0, big teams losing or drawing, then 3-2 in the HARDEST game we will play this year is astonishing. It's only one game, and things could change dramatically against Wigan, but I've never been so excited at the start of a season or by a single performance. If Adkins can motivate the players week in week out to play like that, we are in with a good chance of finishing above the relegation zone. Can't edit for spelling, have to dash for work
Hopefully against Wigan we will see why Lallana is in the middle. He's there for his decicive passing, and I think against lesser defenders than Clichy/ Kolorov (or Zabaleta, I can't remember), Punch and J-Rod will be more effective. Surely the main positive is that we can score goals! And against the Champions. The last thing you want at the begining of a Premier League campain is a goal drought. p.s. I never check spelling or even proof-read, is that bad? Last time I checked these posts don't count towords my final grade
Adkins had a game plan to put Lambert on for impact and not tire him out at the beginning of the game. Probably the same for S. Davis as he is not fully match fit. It nearly worked and it did in the sense of proving we can score in the PL. Glad to have a manager who does his homework on teams and has plans to deal with them. Clever manager and a team (with 7 from League 1 team) can do a job in the top tier. The team have also learnt how hard they have to work as defending for large portions of a game is mentally and physically exhausting.
I do wish we would put someone on the edge of the box for corners though! They scored once from it, had another chane, and it happened a lot last year, Portsmouth anyone?
Agree with most of this my formation would be Davis/Gazzaniga Clyne Fonte Hooiveld Fox/Shaw JWP Scheiderlin Davis Lallana Lambert/Rodriguez Ramirez The important bit is the midfield and front 3. If we rotate Cork JWP, Davis and Schneiderlin as our middle 3 with Hammond and Chaplow and reserves we should be good in that department. Then our front 3 will be Lallana at LW with rodrigez and lambert rotating in the centre forward position depending on fitness, form and the teams we're playing. Then at right mid we'll have a new signing like ramirez, phillips or tello. With guly and puncheon to cover.
Defence was a little desperate in places yesterday. I thought we were a touch lucky to only concede the three, but on the whole we acquitted ourselves pretty well. I guess we won't play Man city every week, thank Heavens.
