Southampton Banter Archive November 30 2014

 

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30 Nov 2014 23:12:19
Why did Koeman break up our solid defensive partnership and play Toby. A in midfield?

That is a really poor bit of game management. Why did Sammy Lee not say "Do one Ron - you don't play your fastest defender in midfield against Man City and Aguera"

What was he thinking?

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I think he felt that Toby was the most adaptable option given that Aguero was missing his shooting boots anyway. However I agree it didn't work because it also meant Wanyama was no longer acting as our box to box midfielder and getting in between City's play. If Cork had been available then maybe we wouldn't have been so easy to capitulate.

I think as already mentioned by others the main concern seems to be our loss of fluidity and error strewn attacking play. Nor the clinical finishing we had in other games. I personally would like to see Mane dropped to the bench against Arsenal so Tadić can play on the left wing where he's looked best this season. If Morgan is fit and Cork not I'll then play both of them with Wanyama in midfield and Davis on the right. That's when we've been at our best.

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02 Dec 2014 22:55:09
Tbf i thought toby was class at CDM. His range of passing is unbelieveable for a CB and so that is probably why he played him there, don't think Koeman is a fan of Cork.

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30 Nov 2014 20:46:10
I think we were unlucky today, the only difference was that City were clinical and we weren't, I think we were lacking in service to Pelle, another thing is that appart from Pelle and Long I don't see many goals in our front 3? Despite this result we have still had a fantastic start to the season and we're going into an Arsenal game knowing we've won there before this season which has to be a boost, so COYR!!!

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30 Nov 2014 18:58:55
Not much to say about today apart from we were well beaten. Better team beat us but we just seemed to be frightened of them and our so called star men let us down. Mane, Tadic, Davis, Pelle, Clyne, Bertrand etc. all looked a shadow of themselves. Our game is built on posession and quick play which we had none of today. Just hope this was a one off as we are a lot better than that.

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Totally agree with everything you say Chris. None of our top players played like we know they can. Maybe fear factor ?

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I think it's been coming. There's been a noticeable drop off in intensity in recent games and the performances have suffered. I expected the midfield to swarm all over Toure and Fernandinho, but they never laid a glove on them.

Tadic in particular has lost all his spark and energy from earlier in the season - I'm sorry to say he was an absolute passenger today and should've been subbed instead of Mane (who was having a reasonable second half). Easily brushed off the ball, laboured in possession and, once again, unable to cross to save his life. Everything hit the first man, including his woeful corners which eventually led to the breakaway third goal.

Credit to City - that's the best I've seen them play in a while. And there's obviously a gulf in class between the team that finished top last season and the team that finished eighth. But I didn't feel Saints gave a good account of themselves. They looked inhibited. They're better than they've shown in the last couple of games.

Let's hope they can regroup and come back strongly in midweek. Nothing wrong with a reality check if you learn from it.

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