If you enjoyed that rather unsympathetic analysis you might also enjoy his website http://www.zonalmarking.net/ which is a great read if you enjoy the tactical aspect of the game. He hasn't analysed any southampton matches yet but surely it's only a matter of time!
Exactly the right response. That entire blog could have been written last season with "Norwich" replacing "Southampton", yet we survived comfortably. The commentators and pundits had us labelled "this season's Blackpool" well before Christmas, and predicted a headlong plunge to the foot of the table in the second half of the season. It never happened, and if like us you keep true to the football that has got you where you are, you'll be fine.
A very well balanced and truthful report. Gomarchingin will be printing it off and pasting on the cieling above his bed.
Sorry but I think that is a junk article heavy on clichés but light on content. "This leads to a simple conclusion -- Southampton is too nice". Do me a favour.
This article though well written just backs what most of us have considered. We have some beautifully constructive midfielders but no destructive ones.
Good article - summarises what some of us have been writing before the season started; not enough defensive qualities in the squad. Still, it is early days and there is time for improvement and maybe bring in another defensive coach to add some 'steel' to the defence. Then, add some new additons in January.
I am not saying a word , work just finished , wife got back from London , nice wine (Joe not a cider mate) and watching hangover 2 , firepit blasting out , no moaning from me guys , sweet ! We all know our problems with our team but tonight is the night for boozing yeah !
Our problems stem from changing the system from the old 442 to a more modern 433. The 433 is a better system, of that there's little doubt, but the change is causing a fair bit of friction. With change comes complication and that will be why so many managers resist the change and stick with their 442. Ideally Pardew would have overseen the change to a 433, but he didn't and Adkins has had to do it. Martinez and Sousa sowed and watered the seeds of Swansea's 433 and Brendan Rodgers started with the flowers already in bud. Adkins is faced with the challenge of sowing the seeds, watching it grow and harvesting the fruit all in one season. It's a daunting challenge and one that won't be without complicaions along the way. Look at the bigger picture and the issues get better with time, but the media reports don't reflect that and write us off already. Most of the pundits are incapable of seeing the bigger picture and take for granted things they don't know about. It's why they're pundits and not managers. They don't see past the end of their nose and it's not worth getting depressed about their opinions. I don't like words like "nice", "soft" and "lightweight". Those words are politcian speak for words like "disorganised", "profligate" and "error-prone". At the top, there aren't teams that kick players up in the air - refs don't allow it. If you give off the impression of being "nice", "soft" or "lightweight", you're doing something wrong and need to work on it.
The article is pretty honest and reflects what most Saints Iknow have been saying over the last month. Probably worth npoting that ESPN is an American organisation and perhaps the article was writtento reflect that market? I think that the defence will prove the undoing of Saints this season although I think it will be folly sacking Adkins. My opinion is that we will get relegated this season and I full expect us to remain on the foot of this league all season. We will struggle to muster 25 points and I expect our season to reflect the likes of Swindon or Derb when they played in the upper echelons. That said, the front line is decent and the midfield is packed with talent. Our achilles heel is the defence where Fonte was sometimes called into question last season. I don't know what the Japanese will be like and Cline isn't too bad. However, Kelvin has started to look shakey. I can't see the logic in getting rid of Adkins who is a proven manager and I expect that he will lead us to another promotion campaign in the future where this season's learning curve will only have served to make him a better manager. I think Reading will also struggle and suggest that the three relegated teams will also include Norwich.
