Graffito

Taller fullbacks or maybe Lambert protecting the near post zone?

As with all these tactical theories which make a compelling case it's often in the execution they fail. But I believe Lambert said on the interview he did on Five Live's Monday Club that Saints used zonal marking successfully last year. So the quality of opposition is much better this season and I guess we are able to retain possession less well which means the ball is in the danger zones more frequently.

On what grounds do you exclude yourself from this description? Let me guess....you don't wear a replica shirt.

Quality first touch and great strike but tbh it was terrible defending.

They've been down as low as the Third Division.

I watched the highlights just now on Saints Player and Uncle Dave isnt keen either. I see the merits of zonal marking. It suits the kind of fluid systems teams use these days. There's a lot more man to man marking outside the PL and a lot more 442. I just think with Saints there's a case for mix and match, playing zonal with man to man marking at set pieces.

You'd stick him on the post.

With man for man marking there is a danger, I agree, that markers will be pulled about thereby isolating a shorter defender, as in the e.g. you mention against the Skates but it seems to me the zonal system allows teams to do that anyway without the need to pull our defenders around, as I indicated in the OP. Is the solution then as simple as taller players, in particular taller full backs?

The general opinion seems to be that Saints' poor defending is mainly due to sloppy individual errors but is zonal marking contributing to our defensive problems? Bent won an easy header against Fox in the build up to Villa's goal. Ok Fox didn't compete but it was a mismatch. We've seen other strikers target our smaller fullbacks, e.g Van Persie, and Lambert has done so frequently. I can see the benefit of zonal marking in keeping shape but is there are argument for man to man marking, if only at corners and free kicks?

In the Chelsea game did John Motson really say Ashley Cole "jerked it over Begovic"?

Why highlight a negative? Lallana had a really good game today.

Very impressed with Ramirez. He'll set the tempo for this team but I'm quite certain he'll be targeted by opponents.

Winning headers would be my only slight concern about him as he had a fine game. There were occasions where we appeared to let them have the headers when not in danger areas and then challenged for the second ball. Gazzaniga is well big enough to dominate his 6 yard box.

Don't have Sky so haven't seen Neville's analysis but I'm surprised if he said that the defensive shape is excellent and that there is plenty of protection for defenders. Seemed to me the fullbacks were exposed by Arsenal and space between and behind the defence easily exploited. This was my perspective from row 2 i.e. about 3ft above pitch level which admittedly isn't the best.

This discussion has become polarised into an either/or argument but for me it's a mixed bag. There are things that I like about Saints in the PL and things that I don't like and the same applies to the FL. Relegation wouldn't be the end of the world but if we're going to get relegated let's do it after this season when the parachute payments go up and the financial gap between relegated clubs and the rest widens.

Apparently Paul Lambert has a masterplan which is...wait for it.....hunting in packs. Surely this is a tactic borrowed from near neighbours Wolves. Anyway I just hope Adkins and the players are aware of this cunning masterplan or we'll be ripped to shreds.

The Sky interviewer hit the nail on the head in questioning him about end product.

Yes I have Barry but it's still poor quality. I thought it might have been down to the camera used to film the action but evidently not if your picture quality is good.

Just watched it. Fairly standard Adkins fare. Definitely not a press release or even pre-prepared answers to an expected line of questioning. Body language, I did think he looked slightly uncomfortable when questioned about his position, as you'd expect. I believe him when he says he doesn't read the papers but the pressure is bound to get through one way or another. Would be good for him to get a bit of support from the crowd on Saturday.

No, aside from not wanting him to darken the doors of St Mary's ever again he's committed to Bournemouth and he's a man of his word.

No but I have an unresolved problem with the commentary though. Also, anyone dissatisfied with the picture quality of the matches? Picture quality of interviews is fine but the match highlights are blurry.

Wigan at home was strangely flat from the beginning; team, crowd, eveything. Nonetheless, I think we just need to get some wins and I guess for most of us there will be no question about where we want to be.

All sounds a bit woolly.

Anybody see Adkins quoted as saying he wanted Del Piero?

Left Back?