Saint Fan CaM

Yep. The moment a decent sized wedge of money comes in SR will cash in.

I keep on trying to emphasise that it’s NOT the playing out from the back exactly - it’s the next phase where instead of moving the ball forward there is an insistence to hold the ball and pass it backwards or sideways with no outlet and oppo players pressing hard high into our half. If Russ and his coaches had any sense they’d figure out a way of adapting the system to get players running in behind to stretch the defence. But it rarely happens. It can’t be that hard to instruct the players how NOT to take too many risks - red flags perhaps…e.g. don’t fanny around at the back if there are more than 4 oppo players in our half (or similar). Only today did we see what a great passage of play can look like when the ball is moved forward at pace to players that can run and fight (Dibling, TP, Fernandes and Arma). That’s what these players are capable of - Russ is not helping them in the slightest with his dogmatic approach.

One of the worst decisions was putting Downes in at central CB. Had he been sat in front of defence providing more of an outlet I’d get that, but playing him so deep made no sense…muddled the defensive line to an extent and limited our effectiveness in midfield. Instinctively he’s not a CB - that’s why he did such a poor job clearing the ball for their goal. Square pegs - round holes…again. TP going off instantly made us look weaker. Such a shame and I suspect he’ll be keeping Lallana company in the treatment room for two months. McCarthy is not worse than our other backup keepers and to be fair he made some good saves. When you lose your best keeper to injury, you’re going to suffer a lesser, rusty player. Personally though I don’t think that’s why we got nothing from that game. The moment we went ahead 2-1 you could feel Martins presence bearing down on the team - they went back into themselves and started trying to be clever at the back. I mean what’s the point of drawing Pool players onto our defence if we’re not going to play the ball in behind? It’s so insane trying to make it work when it’s not worked previously it beggars belief. Of course Russ will come out with the usual ‘brave’ and ‘proud of the lads’ type comments and seem comfortable with another week of 0 points as he’s learnt so much.

Capt’n Jack getting in the way of THB - a player that can actually head a ball into goal.

This game has provided clear evidence at both ends of the pitch that Russball is completely wrong for Saints. It’s so blatantly obvious.

That’s that then. Goodbye points again.

Russ has told them emphatically to ensure there’s no more of that fucking attacking shit…everything is about the defence keeping the ball in our half. Muppetry.

Then McCarthy pulls off a Wordly save. Defo Marmite!

McCarthy brain fart

Fuck yes! See Russ - fast paced attack works!

Great stuff Russ - take off our best striker and put on…a defensive midfielder. Fuck me.

TP has been done by Gakpo - subbed.

Tall Paul is having a fucking awesome game!

And all because Tyler ignored Russball. PS : where was the card for the Pool player that fouled Dibling?

VAR done the right thing for once.

Lallana’s fucked. Who’s gonna draw the unlucky straw?

There we have it. Southampton architects of their own downfall. Downes fault though.

Yeah Frase r looks very match rusty, but hardly surprising really.

Great stop by Macca

Tall Paul actually looks like a good player - who knew?!?

Well that’s the point - City have some great players who know the system better most. It’s the (better) opposing teams who are able to influence City to make those mistakes. It’s no coincidence that the mistakes look so much like the type our players make, even on a good day!

Not sure if you’re saying that entirely in jest. As I watched the game I’m thinking - the betters teams have worked out how to beat City and City are making more mistakes trying to play out from the back. Saints may be trying to be City lite, but City are showing that the system…Russball if you like…can be beaten even when you’ve got the BEST players in the league.

Your optimism and indeed resolute defence of Russball is to be commended, however it seems your defence stands on the principle of seeing improvements. I’m not seeing any traction in improvement and that’s because there’s little or no sustained change to how we play, so I’m not sure how you gain satisfaction as you suggest. Of course it’s entirely possible that somehow things will click, but the evidence of many months tends to suggest otherwise. If it’s any consolation most doubters will be delighted if your faith is shown to be ultimately justified.

Well said. The issue is not about passing out from the back - most teams do that. It’s about the speed in which we transition from the two CB’s given that often the full-backs are ahead of the CB’s waiting to receive the ball, so if there’s a turn over in the next phase into midfield we get caught napping and the speed/skill in which many teams are able to capitalise ends in a goal. This is exacerbated even more if we’re behind because Russ expects the team to calm the game down and attempt even more possession. Rinse repeat. And of course the speed that we transition out of defence is linked with the number of times we get the ball into a position that allows a shot through fewer than 11 opposition players - hence the lack of shooting opportunities.

Honestly, you have got to wonder why more clubs don’t employ managers that employ such spectacularly incisive tactics - he’s a fucking genius! Actually…in truth…he’s shown once again, in an even more convincing way (if that were possible), that he’s a raving fraud who has no idea what to do to win or draw a game of football. Yep - Russ will keep on raising the bar of ineptitude. Everything points to him being humiliated once again on Sunday and sadly ‘Pool will not need to break a sweat to make our team look like strangers (once again). And who’s for betting the bench will defy logic too - it’ll be five at the back starting with a highly defensive possession based strategy, then after they’ve scored two he’ll panic and bring on three strikers to get aggressive and score goals. Genius. Rant over. COYS!