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Thread | The first goal advantage
at 21:36 14 Feb 2024
Hi Guys, The team who scores first have a real advantage being that they are now in a winning position, the other team have to score two goals to be in that position. With the one goal lead that team can gamble on a high press and if their manager spots any weakness in the apposing team he will exploit it and get numbers in the box., the result is the loosing team are pinned in their half of the pitch for most of the match. Playing the whole team in the box whilst defending a corner is what you expect to see in a local non league football match.
The answer to a high press is to copy it and instruct your strikers to not come deeper than the centre circle. If the apposing centre halves back up or use a sweeper push up and go with him/ them. Defenders will not like to gamble with relying on the offside trap too often and they will have to push up to the half way line, the result being that then your players with pace will have a real chance of a break.
Using players who give the ball away to the other side too often should be rested or sent to Spec Savers and playing Walker Peters as a full back is nothing short of madness, he's a *******winger.
The unbeaten run had to end sometime and at an away game in the rain is better that loosing at home in sunshine, however I do hope the managers sees that other clubs are now noting with interest that a high press can beat us and he will radically change his game plan because to put it bluntly - we have been rumbled.
As for our manager; I personally would prefer Joe Tessum who's a match commentator on Radio Solent, he's an ex pro and spot on.
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Thread | The Ross Stewart Enigma
at 22:04 15 Dec 2023
We need Ross Stewart now to have a real chance of promotion, we are told how great this player is and how he will be a real asset when he is match fit, now we are told he can't play through an ankle injury until the January window, does anyone else smell a rat.
You can call me a old cynic but I was once at one of evening meetings when the board invited questions from the fans, many hands were raised but the only ones picked belonged to people who were at the previous secret rehearsal. I recall one brave man got fed up of being ignored and stood up and shouted, "if anyone want's Mane tell them fifty million or get stuffed" the crowd cheered and the board looked very uncomfortable.
It would not surprize me one bit if he is sold BEFORE the January window to avoid a bidding war, you know like the Van Dyke farce, come to think of it maybe he is already a an earmarked Liverpool player. I wish somebody would tell the board that you can't fool all the all of the time.
Apex
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Thread | Strikers
at 20:02 23 Sep 2023
Hi Guys, who first characterized Che Adams as a striker, an attacking midfielder maybe I'll buy that but striker with poor pace, you having a laugh, now I hear remarks that Adam Armstrong is being regarded as more of an attacking midfielder. We need two strikers with pace and a 442 formation or dare I say we will face the R word again.
I asked Goole who were the Saints other strikers in the squad in the invent of CA and AA getting injured, apparently we don't have any senior replacements. 
I listened to Joe Tessem on Radio Solent and quite frankly I would happy if they gave the managers job right now, this guy knows what he is talking about. [ 
I have seen a lot of amazing blunders in football but a defender blatantly pulling back an attacker in the penalty box, wow! that's a first for me, can you imagine how forgiving Sir Alex would have been in the changing room. 
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Thread | They're not laughing now
at 14:44 18 Sep 2023
Hi Guys, when we were in the Premiership I tried several times to suggest that playing a 442 formation would result in more wins, that is providing that the two strikers have really good pace, or at least one of them has. Also that these two player must be told by the manager do not come deeper than the centre circle. The opposition are not too willing to push into your half of the field if you pose a constant threat to their own goal, you have to make them very nervous; and that is the best way to do it.
Formations that rely on a lone striker with no real pace is a clear invitation for the other side to push up and their midfield will reinforce their attack, this is precisely why we are getting hammered and everyone assumes it's a poor manager and/or defence, its actually the formation we play and lack of real pace in our central strikers.
The best way to proceed now is the same as I told you when we were in the Premiership, and some guys laughed back then at my suggestions and dire prediction if vital changes were not made, well here we are back in trouble again and they're not laughing now.
Write to the manager and ask him pretty please to play a 442, you never know he might even consider trying it.
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Thread | The Forgotten Hero
at 21:48 10 Apr 2023
Hi Guys, did anyone else notice how good Dejenpo was in and around the penalty area, he got past several players with his great dribbling skills, he should be playing as a centre forward with another striker in a 4 4 2, I know JWP would agree with me. 
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Thread | Attack is still the best sefence
at 23:23 26 Feb 2023
Hi guys, I can understand why the new manager wished to play a 4411 system in an away match but no way can anyone call it a 442. It is great to have a good tall centre forward upfront but he needs a striker with real pace right up there partnering him and both continually pushing forward, our other striker was playing too deep and that invites trouble.
If any team constantly attack they worry the opposing team from wanting to risk making counter attacks on the break. Look at the way other teams play their centre halves ten yards back deep like sweepers, the only way counter that defensive move is to constantly push up your strikers up, the other sides defenders will then have to push forward to the half way line, that's were your players with pace have a real chance. Attack is still the best defence.
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Thread | A life line for Mr Jones
at 21:40 6 Feb 2023
Will somebody who has ear of Mr Jones please twist it painfully until he agrees to play a 442, with the two new strikers, if he agrees twist again for Djenepo as left winger, Stuart Armstrong central midfield with JWP.
You might have to twist a more sensitive part of his anatomy if you want him to rest Che Adams and Adam Armstrong but then there's no gain without pain.
If Mr Jones does not want to go home with his tail between his legs he will adopt a 442 system from now on as his last life line when he is so obviously out of his depth and the fins are circling.
Ambition is one thing but you should never bite off more than you can chew Taff.
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Thread | How to win games
at 13:54 22 Jan 2023
Hi guys, this a message for current manager who is not raisin our our confidence and moral much, why don't you try that old fashion 442 formation with two strikers who have real pace and don't let them come deeper than the centre circle, you might be surprized how well it works.
Because in the past of we have sometimes had to rely on managers who don't comprehend the difference between Adept and Inept we have suffered the frustrating consequences, if we want to attract better players then the team we have to scape up some wins by playing a 442 system, then we have at least got a fighting chance, playing one slow striker up front is suicide.
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Thread | Where there's a will - there's a way
at 23:38 4 Jan 2023
Hi guys, It pointless to think and talk negatively, there is still time for the manager to get it right and for the the board buy two fast strikers to avoid the drop.
It may be true that the new manager is out of his depth but let's be fair he was chucked in the deep end, for him its really a case of work in progress and for the board should urgently spend wisely to help him. As the old saying goes " You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear" or to put it another way successes don't come cheap - or Premier survival.
I keep on saying a 442 formation with two very fast strikers would win us more games and maybe Premiership survival, the fans could take a poll requesting this and maybe just maybe the board will listen and send out the scouts, the requite ingredient is - real pace.
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Thread | At last common sense prevails
at 21:10 7 Nov 2022
The board have finally agreed with the supporters that the Manager is no longer up to the job, I just hope they give the next one the much needed money to by new players.
I would personally look for two good players with really fast pace up front such as Shane Long had, then by sticking to a 4 4 2 system the other team are not so keen to leave their defence unsupported in order for their midfield to gambles on charging forward into your box.
Anyone who understands football will know that when the other team have little to fear from your ponderous strikers who lack pace they will push up into your half with full confidence, your defence has to then cope with additional attacking players and which is unfair so don't be quick to blame them.
I hope whoever gets the job does not put the whole team in the box to defend corners, it will be a ray of hope to me if the new managers will place one or two outside the box to challenge for a cleared ball, perhaps then the ball might not be chipped back into the box so much.
For me I would play Dejenepo as a centre forward because he is a great ball player and if they knock him over in or near their box that's ok - JWP will step up to teach the error of their ways.
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Thread | Lose the Jonah
at 20:41 3 Mar 2021
When I last post some time ago I suggested that 4 4 2 was the best way for Saints to win and I was delighted to see them suddenly use this formation which worked well. I will like to make another suggestion to the manager that he will ignore at his peril, drop Adams to the bench because he has no pace or the right skills for the position of a Premiership striker. I know it's hard on the player who does his best but the harsh reality is by playing him as a striker we are in effect playing with ten players. We once played Sadio as a winger who could be seen back in the defence helping out - too much, Liverpool plays him up well upfront where his pace really matters. I was sad to see Shane Long who still has great pace treated badly by the club, we sure could use him now.
We will have a chance of avoiding the drop if this manager (who has clearly lost the plot) now drops Adams and plays a winger with pace up front with Ings. The two central forwards should also be told DO NOT drop back deeper than the centre circle for ninety minutes; let the other nine players in your team take care of the defence. Don't allow the opposing centre halves to drop back deep as sweepers like Van Dyke, The Saints need two central strikers who have pace to constantly push up and worry their defence, the opposition are not so keen to back off then.
Apex
[Post edited 3 Mar 2021 20:46]
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Thread | Two strikers in a 4 4 2 could save us.
at 22:07 28 Jan 2020
Well has anyone noticed how well the team has done with a 4 4 2 formation, told ya.
Can anyone doubt that VAR would have been used to award a clear cut penalty if Spurs had been playing one of the top five teams. TV pundits and national papers said it was a clear cut hand ball penalty so why haven't the Saints board requested an inquiry? Even after the game is finished a penalty behind closed doors could be arranged, we are not talking about a questionable offside decision it is a clear hand ball inside the penalty box.
What I'd like to know who has the ultimate call for using VAR? I hope someone is not going to tell me a match result relies on the integrity of one person to use VAR when he or she wants to. Personally if someone scores a goal I welcome VAR to show that it is legal or not, it may not be a perfect or popular system but it's far better than we've had before, Maradona's "Hand of god "goal would have been disallowed by VAR for hand ball.
There should be more transparency about the whole VAR system and ALL infringements in the box should be automatically be VAR examined, not simply be the vital decision of some undisclosed person in authority who refused to use it, if that does not invite corruption I don't know what does.
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Thread | Two fast central strikers in a 4 4 2 formation
at 21:39 1 Feb 2017
When will these foreign managers stop trying to look progressive and play a proven 442 or 4411 formation, to play one lone central striker (espedially one without pace that Sadio had) is a recipe for disaster and religation is getting closer now. Leister won the league useing a 442 formation then they changed it, look where they are now, I hope someone considers this example a wake up call.
When Saints play one central striker we are in effect inviting apposing full backs to push up ten yards and that in turn allows their midfield players to advance and reinforce their attack, that puts additional pressure on our defence making it necessary to play five defenders to try to cope. This is schoolboy stuff that professional managers should know but apparently some don't.
I hate to say it because the board did there best but Mr Puel seems to be totally out of his depth in the English Premiership, it is not a wise thing to get the whole team in the box when defending a corners, at least one player with pace should be outside to challenge for balls that are cleared by our defence before they are lobbed straight back in by the opposition for a surprise second attack.
I can understand the need to rotate the players before but we are not playing in Europe now, it's looking like even the players are confused as to were they should be during a game. It would seem like Mr Puel is trying destperately to please his bosses by playing improving youngsters, this is a critical time for saints and the priority now should be to play the strongest side regularly in a 442 formation. With Shane Long and another fast striker up front in a central position we might have a chance getting our winning ways back, Romeo in a central midfield position would be great but a 4 4 2 fomation is a must, perhaps if the supporters chanted Quatre Quatre Deux Mr Puel might get the message. |
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