29 Aug 2016 13:15:45
Can I just say, when we were linked with Hojbjerg and Boufal at the start of the transfer window I thought to myself that if we landed these two it'd be well and truly the best window I've seen being a saints fan for the last few years. I could barely believe when Hojbjerg signed and now actually signing Boufal has me really pleased. It really shows how much respect we now have from players around Europe and it's a credit to everyone who is and has been involved with the club.

Now to unfortunately change the tone of this comment. I posted this on an ugly inside video after the Sunderland game, talking about our set up, and I think it bears repeating.

'Unfortunately I think that was the game that proved to me finally that the system doesn't work for us. Sunderland, like every other team we played so far, were being out possessed and harried for the first 15 minutes or so until they realized to use their full backs.
The whole game Sunderland had easy out balls to their fullbacks and once they got the ball they never had any pressure on them. They could take it forward with ease. This guy wonders why Redmond wasn't always pressing. It's because there weren't any wingers helping with the press. Puel has tried to counter that issue by pushing the 10 to the top of the press and the strikers out wide. But the problems with that are that the two wide players are too narrow and high up the pitch and they don't track back with their opp wingbacks because, well, they are strikers. This isn't even mentioning our attack without wingers which is making the job of the midfield and strikers very difficult.
I'm never the one to come out and say something like this after only 3 games, but it's clearly not working, not due lack of experience with it, but because it's a flawed system. '

Sorry about the length of this post, but I needed to get it off my chest. What do you guys think?

1.) 29 Aug 2016
29 Aug 2016 13:25:33
Then again I could be being harsh on the system considering how many shots we've had.

2.) 29 Aug 2016
29 Aug 2016 13:54:35
And considering the success he's had in France using the formation. I know it's a different league etc etc but it's still football and he's a very experienced coach. Let's see where we are at Christmas before we all start shouting for his head.

3.) 29 Aug 2016
29 Aug 2016 14:40:55
You're spot on. By no means am I raising issues with Puel as a manager. Just with the system.

4.) 29 Aug 2016
29 Aug 2016 16:30:12
I'll agree the system isn't clicking as well as it should be but we need to remember that it's a new system that's very dependent on strong wing backs whilst we're still missing Bertrand and Cedric only had about 45 mins of preseason to adapt to it. I think it'll only be fair to judge once we're at full strength and everyone knows the system better (including Austin/ Long/ Redmond learning how to work together as a partnership) .

5.) 29 Aug 2016
29 Aug 2016 20:20:25
Surely the system is the manager, if you criticize the system de facto you criticize the manage. From what we have so far been served up with the tactical model is fatally flawed.

In my opinion we are quality possesion on passing around, at the back, for the the sake of passing. By the time we reach offensive positions we are met by adequately prepared defences. Instead we should be passing swiftly through the opposition (like last season) and delivering the incisive final pass through stretched defences. (like last season)

I just hope Puel is prepared to adapt his tactics to suit the strength of his playing resources rather than persist with imposing a system that exposes thier weaknesses.

I am red and White all the way, I would just rather be smiling a lot more Saturday afternoons (well more Sundays for a while)

6.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 00:56:27
Just a quick one Abby, you can't take Pelle and Mane out of our side and play last seasons system . They were that system.

7.) 30 Aug 2016
30 Aug 2016 12:49:51
Granted Chris We no longer have Mane and Pelle I would just like to see swifter build play to see if they can be replaced in the context of last seasons style with what we have available.
With the slow build up play currently being employed I do not think it is giving their replacements a decent opportunity to show what they could do.