The Kraken

No I know. I mentioned it as I thought/assumed that was what Still wanted in his sides, as well as wingers. I largely don’t disagree with what you said, although I dont agree we have a good front press, I’ve not been impressed with that part of our style for a few games now. And I think any Saints fan would say “more of that please” from Scienza’s first half in particular.

Cheers. If you’re right in what you say, that this is his third plan, then that says something in itself. Good to be flexible but having 3 styles within two months doesn’t look like great leadership to me. I hoped his style would be akin to the last 20 mins of the first half. Full backs pushed up, “wingers” getting on the ball very high up the pitch and running at defenders. Midfielders driving forward into the box like Shea Charles did a couple of times quite effectively. I enjoyed watching that part of the game. The rest I found quite frustrating. Personally I can’t see that style being sustainable while playing 3/5 at the back, just doesn’t give enough possession high up the flanks and doesn’t play to the strengths of having a “number 10”. Which is why I think we look disjointed and are playing a formation that doesn’t tally with a certain style of play.

Except it is. The statistics from today will demonstrate that the game pretty much reflected the eye test. Nobody has ever suggested that stats will provide a definitive result of the game, but they can paint a picture of it. Todays did just that.

Genuinely interested to hear what you think Still’s style is, because I haven’t really worked it out yet. He seems to have settled on a formation, but the style just seems a bit of a jumble. Take pretty much any half decent manager for us in the past 20 years and, very quickly after they began, you could see an identifiable style. Probably best exemplified by of all managers Russell Martin, you could see in our very first league game how much the team had taken his principles on board (for better or worse). I’m still a bit in the dark about what a Will Still side is. Today he complained that the side aren’t doing what he wants, it’s too much Russball, but what is it he actually wants them to do?

Terrible parenting 🫣

Not just most expensive, but most important positions to fill. Still whinged in the time before they were signed, saying he didn’t yet have the players to play “his” system. Now he’s got the players, he doesn’t use them. And when he finally brings them on to the pitch, it’s not in their natural positions. Pretty hard to defend a manager who says and does that.

It really isn’t. In fact it’s pretty much the opposite.

I know just the man for the job.

Apart from the last 20 minutes in the first half I’m not sure how you can say with conviction that we “played really well”. If anything I’d say we very much underperformed compared to what this lot should be capable of. Yes, poor finishing and lack of composure up front cost us, but it’s not the only story and the performance as a whole is indicative of our problems right now.

Really disappointing. Armstrong and Archer need a good hard look at themselves. Some other poor finishing too. But just papering over the cracks again, Still doesn’t seem to have an idea of what his system is other than throwing on lots of attacking players after 60-70 minutes. The 20 minute spell before half time should have seen us with a game plan to push them back but we just regressed to a pale imitation of Martinball. Scienza looks great when he’s on it. Wood is our best centre back by a distance. Fellows looks very lively but needs an outlet to aim for. Shea Charles genuine quality, some other bright spots too but overall we are so much less than the sum of our parts right now, and I don’t see Still turning it around.

How the fuck?

We know Still hasn’t got too many options up front but this setup does not seem like it plays to our strengths. Scienza seems to have put his toblerone boots on this half. Reckon he’ll get hooked soon.

Second half has gone down a good degree.

We’re not too far away from the Will Still substitute shuffle.

Scuffy Armstrong again ffs.

Wood stays solid 😎

A bit of a half of two halves that. First 20-25 was somewhat laboured, slow, ponderous. Second half was some of the best stuff seen under Still. Quite how we haven’t stuck one in is a mystery. Not a fan of 3 at the back but the formation hasn’t been the problem so far. Scienza absolutely all over them, he’s looked a real threat in every game so far. Their full back looks terrified of him. Promising stuff, but the fact we can’t get a goal despite such dominance is a bit of a worry.

Just can’t get the ball in the goal. Solid header from wood but straight at the keeper.

Armstrong, how has not got anything on that?

Omg, class from Scienza.

Fuck me Archer.

This is quite a frustrating watch so far.

Not sure we’ve got too many of them.

Crock Ness Drogba confirmed as properly crocked. Some tools set to replace him.