The Kraken

Yes, but we don't have a spare right back available to do that right now. There really isn't a viable alternative as a replacement to Fox at the moment; other than the reserve full backs we do have available.

If we're going to try 4-4-2 for a bit (we're obviously not, but anyway) then I'd suggest Mayuka instead of Rodriguez. Get Fox back as soon as possible and get Yoshida in the middle with Fonte; in the meantime I'd rather have either Been Reeves or even Ryan Dickson at LB rather than play centre backs there, it quite obviously doesn't work. At all. If we're not going to try 4-4-2 (and according to the manager we're not) I'm completely at a loss to why we spent £10M on 2 strikers for the bench.

I'm not suggesting 4-4-2.

How does that explain us playing a 4-4-2 against Fulham?

Behave :lol:

He played for the development side last week; a 4-2 defeat to Spurs. And looked poor.

Whether its 442 or 433, then either our £12M man or our £7M man can't be properly accommodated. Which highlights the poor strategy of our summer transfer spending.

This. £10M :lol:

Yay, a Miltonroader thread! They're always my favourites.

Well that would be nice.

We played 4-4-2 against Fulham; it didn't stop Hooiveld knocking one in for them and then defelecting another. Formation is only a small part of our problems; a lack of decent enough players and bizarre selection choices are much more of a factor.

Really? And play with who instead?

I simply don't believe that. An average of 3 goals conceded per game is not simply down to the players and individual errors; we just refuse to consider a system which will increase our defensive solidity. Whether that's the manager's choice or direction from above; I don't know and it's irrelevant anyway. Adkins was delat a pretty sh*tty hand with the summer transfer activity; but he's compounding that with errors of his own. Yesterday's bizaare selection was another example to highlight my belief that he's been blinded by the lights of the Premier league; he needs to snap out of it, and quickly.

I think you miss the point completely. "The rules" that you mention should have made it perfectly clear that an all white kit will only really be able to be worn at 1 club in the Premier League; Liverpool. Which makes it a f*cking stupid decision to go with that kit.

Agreed. And he's making do with a squad that is heavy in certain areas and threadbare in others. Silk purses and sow's ears. But I do feel he's compunding that by some questionable tactical and selection errors, which is probably why he's under the cosh right now. I think the dwarf will give him the heave ho; but like you I can't think of an obvious stand-out candidate to adequately replace him.

Saints history doesn't really back that up. Chris Nicholl was a defender; his 4-2-4 favoured formation led to us having one of the leakiest defences in the league. George Burley was a defender but his Saints teams weren't exactly noted for defensive solidity. Glenn Hoddle was an attacking midfielder but his relative success with Saints was built on the back of a solid defence (7 clean sheets in a row at one stage). Same with Gordon Strachan, an attacking midfielder who got the team to work harder and be more solid.

I think its both; but to be fair he has been completely let down by a poor transfer policy in the summer and a raft of injuries. That said, I had a facepalm moment when I saw the lineup for yesterday's game.

Quite a significant change since the last poll like this was conducted.....

No.

Who cares about defending. We've spent over £20M on a reserve striker and a crocked attacking midfielder. F*ck the defence. Who needs it. The signings of Lou Reed and the poisoned dwarf will see us through. Why wouldn't they?

Yep. I hate being correct about all of what's going on; it's awful watching such obvious deficiencies, and where they come from. I take no pleasure whatsoever in seeing the absolute shambles that we predicted was completely likely. But f*ck it; we're a massive club; our fanbase is probably bigger than Everton's; and Champions League here we come. The poisoned dwarf knows what he's doing; he's an incredible businessman. B*llocks.

I remember you and I getting slated by the intelligencia on here suggesting that experience counted for nothing. "Why is experience important?" they shouted. "Team spirit will see us through; you're so negative". It was so f*cking obvious. SO obvious. Yet here we are, averaging 4 goals against in our away games and 3 goals against in all games. Wow, never saw that coming.

Damn that free kick. We'd have won if it weren't for that.

It cleared itself up to allow him to play for Scotland. Maybe the injection ran out.

I started the season horrified that Nigel would lose his job, even if we were doing badly and got relegated. I'm starting to change that view. I don't mind us losing; but I mind us losing and learning absolutely nothing from it. I think Nigel Adkins has been blinded by the lights of the Premier League, and has been found out with how hamstrung he is in the transfer market by the situation at SFC. Its not all his fault; Lou Reed and the poisoned dwarf need to stand up for that responsibility as well. But NA has had a complete mare himself this season; I'd love to defend him but just can't.