derry

Bloody obvious isn't it. I bet Pardew thinks much the same.

4-4-2 is only a basic set up, it is the pass and move and flexible movement of the players that is important. It is imperative also to pressure the opposition when they have the ball. We actually played an inflexible two banks of four plus Wotton an appalling unqualified front sweeper and one up front who was really never in the game. We didn't pressure Ajax at all. we stood off and let them play, however when we got the ball they pressured us and quickly got it back.

It was Jennings, Elias and Prost that set the standards for the Academy. Henderson really peeed me off on Saturday, if ever there was a day to give it a go that was it. Then to say that Wotton had a good game with simple passing was total crap, as he gave 90% of his passes to the opposition.

What I am saying is that 4-4-2 would have been better defensively as the two banks of four pressuring the ball, plus two up front to pressure the defenders, would have left Ajax with less of a comfort zone. We left an isolated striker up front and withdrew everybody else but didn't try and press the ball but just backed off. Not only that, we left the flanks wide open and the front sweeper, Wotton, just kept passing players on to others, didn't do the job properly and when he did get the ball gave it away.

How the hell can you make criticisms of my statement if you weren't even there. As for fitness we had been back training for over three weeks. It wasn't the fitness as such. Wotton giving the ball away all the time was a big part of the problem. The totally negative approach just standing off and letting Ajax play was the biggest problem. Davis made brilliant last ditch goal saving stops in double figures after Ajax strolled through our static defence. It really could have been 10.

No, Only noted his name at the academy and reserves over the years. Saturday did it for me, plus the lack of awareness and fundamental skills of the young players. Lallana can't even kick the ball properly neither could McGoldrick.

They were infinitely flexible except they always had at least one player on each touchline. They were continually changing shape due to pass and move as it should be.

The allegedly defensive formation sat back and left the wings wide open as usual and allowed Ajax to pick us apart. Sitting back and an isolated striker up front meant we had almost no possession. At no time did we pressure them and it's nonsense to say that 4-4-2 wouldn't work. Two banks of four plus two up front would have put a lot more pressure on the ball. Wotton in front of the back four gave 90% of his possession back to Ajax whilst the lack of two up front and no width allowed them the freedom to do what they liked. If Davis hadn't had a brilliant game this defensive formation could have let in double figures. I lost count of the number of last ditch saves he made.

I think we need a complete clearout on the coaching side. Only retain those players that fit in to the new winning mentality and commit themselves. It's going to happen anyway, the sooner the better.

Pretty much says it all, spot on.

Wotton just gives the ball away all the time. Lallana won't get you goals. I'd like to see Gillett and Schneiderlin tried together, John and Raziak tried together but with Saganowski wide right (as for Poland)

I wish;)

We could do a lot worse than play Raziak and John up front with Saganowski wide right (where he has played well for Poland).

I bet it won't be anything like the 4-5-1 we played against Ajax. Plenty of width and 3/4 players breaking fast out of the middle supporting the striker.

Al Fahim is first to pass the fit and proper person test and is chairman. Hart has signed a 2 year deal as manager. On SSN.

Don't mention 4-4-2 it's not allowed on here. Anything that's narrow and doesn't work will do nicely.

Half the players are on about £320, another third about £500, and the others between £500 and £800. Some I believe don't work during the season and I understand they don't get paid out of season.

Quite, but to do that we have to break the mould.

Formations in themselves are not that important. 4-4-2 is probably the easiest to understand and play. The narrow diamond midfield last year was played by us without any understanding by the players, together with 4-5-1, 4-2-2-1-1, 4-3-3 which are flexible formations that require awareness from the players to play in a flexible interchanging way making sure the team plays with width. We don't do this, we pick a formation and stay rigidly narrow. Against Ajax we just sat back and invited them to pick us apart. Which they did. Anybody know what formation Ajax played? Second question can anybody remember the last time this approach to pre season gave us a successful start? We are one of the worst teams in the country at the start of the season. Let's hope Pardew knocks that on the head, and the 10 points deficit acts as an incentive to get results.

Last Saturday we surrendered and accepted defeat before the match even started. The press, the tv, a big crowd, the new manager and most importantly the new owner at his first match. What did we do, picked a side and formation that couldn't compete and tried to keep the score down. On that day something else was needed to fuel the optimism certainly not accepting defeat. Last night I watched a little Irish part time team take on Real Madrid including Ronaldo and give it a right go losing 1-0. Over the years I've watched little clubs every season turning over big clubs in the cups, they didn't do it by surrendering, they gave it their best shot. We don't seem to know how to give it our best shot, the smell of apathy and defeat is all over St Mary's. Alan Pardew sounds as though he comes from the right school with a we are going to win attitude. For thirty years under Ted and Lawrie every Saints side gave it their best shot win, lose, or draw that is what I demand from them from now on. As a supporter I've had enough of coming to St Mary's week in, week out and watching players and managers going through the motions. Last Saturday was a disgrace and should be seen as such, if it hadn't been for Kelvin Davis Ajax could have got 10 with a defensive formation FFS. The simple fact is Henderson bottled it, the team should have been set up 4-4-2 and given it a go. Any coach or player who doesn't grasp this should be cleared out now and I'm hope will be.

Sport psychology, simple framework I'm beginning to warm to him. He seems to believe in everything we aren't. Our lot are in for a steep learning curve and a few are going to disappear without trace.

Absolutely.

His comments about Wotton beggered belief. His system was awful and negative. The result and I'm not talking about the score was predictable. The results of his years of work in the academy are McGoldrick and Lallana not able to kick the ball properly, Lallana couldn't even clear the first defender with his corners. Lancashire doesn't seem to know how to defend. Worse still there is no natural tactical awareness from the young players which I find appalling considering the time they have been coached at the club. They are now going to undergo an inquisition on both the playing and coaching side and by all accounts their technical education is being found to be sub standard.

I don't know the fitness coach, but it looked like Hockaday doing the warm up and half time with the subs.

He was mentioned in the quoted post. The stupidity was all down to Henderson and I bet it hasn't gone unnoticed.