sotonjoe

This is what I object to as I think it simply isn't true. There was one off side given against him in this manner during the first half (that I saw anyway). Waigo had actually started his lightning run before the other saints player had received the ball, therefore he had no chance of actually playing the ball to Waigo before Waigo ended up in an offside position. In this particular instance, Waigo again needs to judge his run better and it is not a case of Saints players being too slow for him. For the most part though, we're talking about different situations. The ones referred to in the op are when you have a line of defenders running back and an attacker in the middle of them. The ball is out on the wing in the possession of wingers etc. There is no element of the attacker (wiago) having out run the defenders etc as they should all be in a line. At these times he drifts offside constantly; and here the emphasis is on DRIFT, he's not making a sprint ready to recveive a pass that has yet to be played, he's just losing trackof where the line is and finding himself at least a foot the wrong side. Your argument about him just being too quick just doesn't work with what is actually happening out on the pitch imo.

I think AP did brilliantly yesterday and I certainly don't think he should be making wholesale changes. He just needs to sort out the issues I mentioned with the 4-5-1. You must support your frontman with that system otherwise you will lose the ball again and again. There was a clear change in formation when Connolly came on. The most obvious fact was that both Lambert and Connolly were playing in the centre forward role, although both seemed to be very mobile, dropping off when necessary etc. Perhaps the most interesting thing was that even though we lost a man in modfield at that point, we didn't lose our width. In fact, time and time again Antonio was doing great things down the right wing. It meant we were a little bare in the centre of midfiled though which is what made the 80 minute mark a little nervy. Overall, it was well judged by Pards, he just needs to make sure his 4-5-1 is doing what he wants it to.

i'm not sure, i was too excited by that point. I was sat in block 32 though and had a good opportunity to see how clueless he was when we were attacking the northam end in the first half. It's amazing how everybody in that part of the ground can see it , and yet he has clearly lost his head in the build up. It needs to improve soon or he'll find himself frozen out. Antonion did a great job when he came on, admittedly as part of a different system. But if Waigo can't do the job he's beine asked to do, then he won't be starting games much longer.

Yeh, and I was thinking a 'phew' as in "for it to have got better it would have had to have been worse at some stage" and I can't see how it could have been worse because it is still so bad. if that makes any sense

Sure, but it's pedantic of AP to stand there and say it's not 4-5-1 or whatever, when it clearly is. All you have to do it count the players on the pitch. Without getting too sidetracked though, the fact is that the 4-5-1 needs some tinkering if we're going to support the lone front man effectively. Antonio may well do a better job of getting in there and helping him than Waigo.

Good! TBF I can't see how it could have been any worse ;-)

Except that they are!

I had a good look at him yesterday and was amazed to see how unaware he still is with regards to finding himself offside. At times, he was jogging along, a clear yard offside, with large numbers of supporters screaming at him to get back onside. Surprise surprise, he doesn't and the whistle goes! Has there actually been any improvement over the past few games? This is not the case of him being too quick etc, I'm talking times when he is following the line of defenders at a medium pace, but it still a good foot or so the wrong side of them. It's as if he has his eye on the Saints player in possession and forgets all about the line of defenders!

The fact is that all the time we were playing 4-5-1 players were struggling to get up and support Lambert. Waigo was still far too wide to have a hope of winning any second balls.

In fairness, we started with one up front and we played a fair few lofted balls to him that definitely weren't 'short'. He was fairly isolated with players like Waigo failing to come inside for the knock down etc. However, we were much better once Antonio and Connolly came on and the team had changed to a more traditional 4-4-2. From this point on, we weren't using Lambert as much of a target man with lofted balls etc.

the alex on bellevue road does food, real ale, has sky sports and has a garden for hiding children in.

Best Indian in the Shirley area is Jehangir. Trouble is, it's all the way up by the Common so is as good as 'Bassett' really. The Raj of Shirley is great for an Indian take away though and that is on Romsey Road.

Sounds like he behaving like an idiot and got what he deserved.

teehee. I think it's karma.

Don't be silly ... he couldn't play the bass ... that was the point. Sid Vicious as best anti-bass player maybe.

So ... did anyone have a good bet on at 200-1 or similar?

I said...

tversity?

At least Lowe had a lot of respect for the ordinary supporter ... it's a shame it was rarely reciprocated.

makes you realise how tinpot the away grounds really are in league 1!

yes, the funds probably. ;-)

I'd believe all that. It was similar sort of treatment that made Keith pull the plug on S4E wasn't it?

the real reason that many places don't make mash is the time it would take to peel and boil the potatoes. Places like Wetherspoons which are driven by the need to sell food at the lowest price whilst still retaining a profit, can't afford to have their staff wasting time peeling potatoes.

what on earth was ap thinking today? He made a couple of rash substitutions, changed the shape of the team, thus paving the way for a 3-1 victory. wtf was all that about!

brilliant. a good couple of decisions by pardew there. AP OUT!