sydney_saint

Brave passing today. Looking to get in behind. Willingness to lose the ball to create chances. And we look so much better for it

Oh what, we are playing already?

Oh 1000%. To be honest I have wanted Ange at Saints for so many years. When our fans were talking about who should replace RH (before he was sacked) I mentioned Ange and got shot down, whilst at the same time others were bloody baying for Big Sam. What I don't understand is why we are so rigid about RM system. Or at least why he is so rigid about it. It has never delivered significant results. If you look at the Swansea side from about a decade ago. They too had a possession-based football system with very neat passing that was put together by Martinez and Rogers. It delivered them promotion, and success in the premier league, and the foundations to win a trophy. So yeah, try and replicate that, it has worked! May not work for others, but at least it was proven. RM system has never been shown to work well. It doesn't 'fail' either. It is just mediocre, and when you are trying to get promoted you need more than mediocre.

Mate, I've been following ange's career for a very long time. It is a very much a system. He tweaks it based on the players available to him. For example the Celtic side played with its wingers more inverted. Spurs are playing with theirs closer to the forwards. But his system is always possession based, always about winning the ball high up the pitch, dominating every part of the pitch. Keeps the ball on the ground. And the fullbacks are always critical to the way he plays, mostly because he used to be one himself. He also signs players to fit that system. He doesn't sign the 'best' player available. He signs players that he knows will play the way he wants to. He did very much at Celtic. And you look at Spurs signings, none of the big clubs were sniffing round Maddison, but Ange knew Maddison would fit that role in the way he plays It's tweaked for sure. But you aren't going to see him playing a Cont 5-3-2

Of course systems matter. Ange comes in- implements his system- and has a previously dejected set of players top of the league. Villa had no real system under Gerard. In come Emery, implements his style, and look at them now. Look at Brighton. We brought in a manager whose system delivers mid table results. He's implemented it, and we are putting in mid table performances, helped with moments of genius that keep us above the RM zone. The issue isn't with systems, the issue is with the one we have got. It is delivering exactly what it says on the tin

Remember when we conceding all those goals and some thought KWP wasn't very good, instead of RM kamikaze tactics. It's incredible to have a player of KWP quality in this side. Probably our best defensive and best attacking player at the moment. Loved how he keeps throwing everything into each game, getting back to defend and then straight up the pitch again. I also like that he's a bit of an old fashion full back (well 90s and 00s) in trying to beat his man, instead of cutting in all the time

I said before the game I would be happy with a point if we put in a good performance. We were reasonable defensively and Preston didn't have many chances. But fuck me that was a cowardly performance going forward. We set up with just KWP and Edozie as creative players. And it showed. By the time we got our attacking players on Preston had all their players behind the ball and we didn't know what to do except sling the ball in. Hardly City of the South. 13 league games into his reign and I don't really see much difference from the first game against Wednesday. I would like to be seeing some shoots of growth.

Ha Bazunu!!

We haven't really created a clear cut chance all game. Even our goal was a bit of KWP magic rather than working a great opportunity

One Armstrong is giving it absolutely everything to make something happen. The other is giving him nothing

Our captain has gone missing again

Fair play to RM. Not fucking around. This second half collapse is on the players.

God damn. 2-1. Not good from a bunch of players. Edozie can't defend. Bazunu through his legs

He probably could have booked KWP, but wasn't a howler either. No idea why they would boo. He's been pretty steady

Bazunu with an excellent save! One of his best since he got here

It is said with love to him.

KWP is too good. Just too good. What on earth is he doing in this division

I don't think Smallbone has been terrible. It's just a midfield 3 of Charles, Downes and Smallbone is destined to be dour. Then on the few times we get the ball forward, it ends up with Arma and the move breaks down. Edozie and KWP are the only 2 with any creativity. That said, we have been decent defensively, we just don't look like scoring

Smallbone booked. Fair enough

Bazunu plays a good long ball into the channel to KWP. Withing 5 passes we are back to our halfway line, and within another 2 we have passed it out of play

KWP lucky not to get booked

I am enjoying it every time

78% possession which the connoisseurs would love. Haven't even looked close to an attack

Think it might have been just wide. But needed to make sure. Arma lost the ball poorly in the build up but KWP did excellent to get back so quickly

Arma and Smallbone - the undroppables (also Manning but taken out of RM hands today)