saintant

Diamond system explained in three simple, easy to understand words, 'IT DOESN'T WORK'

As Harry Enfied would say, 'If Claude Puel came round my house and started spouting off about systems and said we're going to play the diamond I'd say, CLAUDE, NO!'

Can we have our football team back please. Does Puel know how to play any system but the one that doesn't work? If not we are deep in the mire and it's all our own making.

Diamond might work in tippy tappy tepid French football but is is not suited to the cut and thrust of the 100mph Premier League. If it aint broke don't fix it is a good maxim but for some crazy reason we've decided to abandon a style of play that served us well for this turgid diamond formation. I get the feeling someone at the club has been too clever by half and it's backfired.

Predictably dull performance from a predictably dull team playing in a predictably dull formation set up by a predictably dull coach. The sign of things to come I'm afraid. Watching paint dry suddenly sounds quite exciting.

Three major things have changed from last season and that sets alarm bells ringing because it's too much upheaval - those three things are the manager, the playing system and the squad which is weaker for the loss of Mane, Wanyama and Pelle. I can't fathom out why we had to opt for a manager who was going to change the system - a high risk strategy....changing the manager was something we had no option over but we should have brought in one who was happy to play our way to give continuity. If we are not careful we will find ourselves playing catch-up and to make the diamond work I think we'll need to sign two or maybe even three quality players which I don't see us doing. I thought we prided ourselves on being a forward thinking club always operating three steps ahead but to change both the manager and system is bonkers in my book. I don't call that good planning.

Let's hope diamonds are not forever.

Play him in a system that suits him and he will bang in goals - you wouldn't buy Rooney and put him in goal!

To me we do not look a brave team that is willing to take a few risks to create openings and chances. I just hope we are not going to spend the whole season playing this system because for me it is almost cheating and giving a false impression of whether we are actually any good or not. Much prefer a pressing game where you try to turn the ball over in the opposition half but I fear we are in for some pretty turgid football in the coming months. More bravery and risk taking required - no risk no reward was very evident tonight.

The diamond is a cop out for me. It makes us look half decent with lots of passing and possession in easy, non-threatening areas but that just hides our short-comings overall. We will struggle to score goals home and away this season. Unfortunately I think we're stuck with the diamond because Puel obviously believes in it and he comes across as someone who has a stubborn streak and not open to change.

Jose saying the closed diamond system didn't cause them any problems and we never troubled them.

This formation is totally sterile. Whilst the stats will show we had loads of possession and completed passes it was all in areas where Utd were quite happy to let us have the ball. We looked toothless and did not even win a single corner or force their keeper to make one decent save. Too many small players and not enough pace and power - as soon as they turned the ball over they went for us and with better finishing they could have scored a couple more. It's not acceptable to just pass for the sake of it with no cutting edge or threat. Will be a difficult season unless we bring in 2-3 quality players. Oh and Redmond is no Thierry Henry that's for sure.

If Woy thinks Sterling is good enough for our squad he must be mad but if he thinks he is good enough to start games maybe it's time for Hodgson to find another sport.

This is 100% the responsibility of Man Utd and as such they should receive a massive fine. As someone mentioned earlier surely every club must carry out a complete sweep of a stadium before a match. Obviously this did not happen at Old Trafford which shows that they are putting thousands of lives at risk every time they host a game. Outrageous and they should be made an example of.

Stonewall penalty and sending off for me when Mane's shot was stopped by the arm of the Leicester player. He could have tried to move his arm out of the way but made no attempt to which can only mean he was deliberately and knowingly using it to help block the ball.

No need for multiple angle views, slow motion replays, large screens or any other technology - you only had to watch Jack Butland's totally guilty reaction to know that was a stonewall penalty. As they said on MoTD he knew he'd got away with one. It was one of the most obvious penalties you could wish for and should have been a no brainer for the referee. He then compounded the matter and again demonstrated his utter incompetence by rashly sending off Mane. An extremely poor performance from the official that could easily have cost us.

This is what happens when you reward players for getting knocked out of the FA Cup by giving them time off! Should have spent the two week gap training harder than ever but no, RK decides he and the team deserve a holiday. You couldn't make it up and it wouldn't happen in any other job. They are paid enough don't pamper them by giving them extra holidays for failure.

Good battling victory with some immense displays at the back notably VVD and Fonte plus FF. Having said that I'm with those who question RK for persisting with Pelle whenever he's fit. Recently, with no big man up front we were causing havoc to opposition defences with the tireless running of Mane and Long - a bit like Leicester play and it works for them. With those two we were creating lots of chances and scoring more goals. Yesterday RK shoe-horned Pelle into the side and we were much worse for that decision and I do appreciate the fact that we got the three points. I just think we look better balanced, have more shape and carry more threat with Long and Mane playing furthest forward and an extra midfielder to replace Pelle.

You know they'll bring on Carroll at half time whereas we won't change anything.

Take off Pelle and bring on Romeu - push Long and Mane forward.

Don't see how anyone would want to change the current strike force which is Long and Mane up front. Three games played, three games won. Why change what is clearly working. We do much better with two mobile quick strong guys given licence to roam up front. Change to one up top and we become predictable, slow in build up, one dimensional and create far fewer chances. Hard to see how RK can change things at the moment no matter what the options.

Can't believe Smalling got away with all that blatant shirt tugging on VVD in the penalty area - he was doing it every time we had a corner or free kick into their box.

Austin powers in the winner! £4 million - what's not to like. Bring on the Gunners.

Play Shane Lone correctly ie as one of a pair of quick strikers with licence to roam and he is as good as most - the only negative is that his finishing is not always as clinical as it should be. However, the problems he causes opposition defenders and the pressure he puts on them makes space and chances for others. Unfortunately RK is too often happy to stick him on the wing where he is far less effective. If Spurs or Liverpool do get him he will be a great loss - I hope he stays and that RK continues to plays him in his best role.

Watched a weakened Leicester side today who were very unlucky to only draw against Spurs. I saw much to be admired in them and a lot of that used to apply to us. They were on their toes for the whole game, not one of them stopped moving and to a man they knew their exact jobs. They chased and harried, hassled and closed down for the whole game and never once let up the tempo. They intercepted, tackled broke quickly and with numbers in support. They got forward quickly and then regrouped and held their shape when Spurs had the ball. They must be around 30% fitter than our players and that's being kind to our plodders. The only thing that stopped them achieving a deserved victory was a quite ludicrous penalty given to Spurs in the dying minutes for an accidental handball by Nathan Dyer who clearly had no idea where the ball was when it brushed his had without even diverting it from its natural course. As I say, so much to admire and many of the qualities we showed until recently. How far we have fallen below those standards and I accept we lost some very good players but it's the complete lack of energy, pressing, organisation and spirit that is hard to accept. Much can be accomplished with a fit, committed and well drilled squad of lower standard players - Strachan did it, Pochetino did it but I'm not sure the current coaching staff buy into this method. I think laziness has crept back into the camp and there can be no excuses for that when one considers how much players and coaches earn these days. Saints are hard to watch and get enthused about now I'm afraid.