Lallana's Left Peg

I love the outrage at these interviews. What did people expect - awkward questions to be asked in a live environment? I am sure there are lots of questions fans and journalists would like to ask but even if there was ever a forum to ask them do you think you'd get the truth in an answer? The club quite rightly wants to control the information it gives and there is absolutely no reason on earth it would volunteer information that would portray it in a bad light. Why on earth would the club do that? Makes no sense. Much better to have control over what is said and try and manage how the club is portrayed in the piece. And if awkward questions were asked the club would just give the answers it wants and then people would claim it isn't the truth and we're back to square one. This is probably as good as it gets under the current ownership for now and while it may be frustrated to many in the real world the club are doing the right thing for itself.

Hard to say until we see how Pochettino has us playing. It may well be that a few players out in the cold come back into contention. There isn't a glaring hole in the team, and it is hard to attract players to sign as backup so assuming we're only going to go after players who will make us better it is a difficult time of the year to make transfers.

Prior to a week ago, I didn't really know of Pochettino. Because of that I've basically read all articles that have since been published in order to understand what it is about the way he plays that made Cortese appoint him. There have been a few good articles that point towards his record with giving youngsters debuts and nurturing them into the first team. However at Espanyol I don't think he had any other choice. So I've been focussing on how he gets his team to play. This article appears to go over it as well as any other I've read: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/757/punting-on-pochettino?cc=5739 So in summary the main characteristics of his football are: - Lots of pressure on the opposition in their half - Attacking - One and two touch football to move the ball quickly - A high defensive line How well do we think the existing squad is aligned to this approach? Pressing The Opposition This is a sure way to completely exhaust Rickie Lambert yet it appears the pressing will start from the front. However Lambert is clearly our most effective striker so how will he press so much without the ball and yet still remain a threat when we have it? Attacking This will suit us very well - though I am a bit concerned at the counter attacking ability of the better teams. One and two touch football to move the ball quickly I am not too sure about this - it relies on lots of movement and of course lots of quality. We are bound to lose the ball far more often than we like. In the Championship and by and large in this league we aren't really an 'early ball' team - we tend to work it a bit and tease open a situation. This sort of football is quite different. A high defensive line This is quite scary given our current personnel - our improved defence has been all about team shape ensuring weaknesses can't be exposed. None of our centre-halves are particularly quick and whilst they are decent at reading the game there isn't much you can do when the ball is lumped over your head into 30 yards of space. This is the biggest concern for me. I think back to how AVB did this at Chelsea with far better defenders and they were opened up at will. The other theme to all this is how well the squad as a whole is aligned to this sort of football. It will be interesting to see if players who had a small role to play with Adkins (or no role at all) find this type of football a better fit for their abilities or whether it is something our best team / better players will be able to take to. There will be some casualties along the way but if I had to hedge a bet I could fast see Chaplow becoming a preference off the bench ahead of Davis because of his energy and how he hustles. Just as we get tired in midfield he could replace a winger and run about hassling the opposition. But that is just a hunch.

The one thing that will harm any credibility that opinion has is it coming from f**kwit pundits who talk alot but say very little - like Jamie Redknapp. How on earth can he start that column by saying Pichettino may be good in the long run - completely undermines the rest of his point the stupid *****.

So the money the HNW individuals are putting in will be converted to shares if the takeover is successful, yet the Trust state that the majority shareholder will still be the fans if the takeover is successful. Surely the HNW individuals are diluting the impact of fan ownership on a weekly basis? Doesn't add up to me.

A little update on Adkins: This in particular made me chuckle: Blackpool behaved the same way in the summer after they learnt of our interest in Matt Phillips. Karl Oyston what a ****

We only need to improve fitness if we continue to be shabby with the ball after we work so hard to get it. The reason the great teams can press all the time is because they use possession of the ball to replenish energy levels. In the second half we tired because we lost our verve and understanding in the opponents half. When you keep losing the ball and then press for 10 seconds afterwards you are bound to get gassed. So it is clear for me - if we aren't going to get better with the ball then get fitter. If we're going to get better with the ball then perceived fitness will improve without actually having to do much fitness work at all.

Got to learn to take our chances against the better teams, but overall it was a very positive performance. Enjoyed the tempo and the pressing but when Everton put two up front we didn't look very comfortable doing it (pressing) as we didn't protect the ball well enough when we got it back and they had dangerous players on the break. We have Boruc to thank for a point really, but then again we had plenty of chances first half so I don't feel like a point was undeserved at all in terms of overall performance. Bit bothered about Ramirez keep coming up with cramp. Love how much effort he is putting in but that needs sorting out as I don't think he should be getting cramp at this stage. Plenty of reasons to be positive about the future and it will be interesting to see how much is done over the next 5 days in Barcelona. Quite a game to try it all out in - Manchester United away next Wednesday. Could well be a game that Fonte and Lallana are back for in some capacity. In fact Lallana on the bench would be a nice boost but I suspect Wigan may be more realistic.

Didn't Adkins alude to the players going away for a few days in the sun after we got knocked out of the FA Cup against Chelsea? Pretty sure he did. Weird coincidence it is Barcelona though.

So do we know anything of how Pochettino likes to play? I have read a few articles that talks about pressing high up the pitch and playing possession football, but do we have any idea of formation or anything like that? He has said he has seen us for a few weeks so I'll be interested to see whether he looks to keep the players with what they are familiar with and phase in his ideas slowly or whether his ethos requires complete change at the start.

Well this is the thing isn't it. We need to detach what Adkins has done for us and the manner of his departure from any feelings of our prospects under Pochettino. Quite clearly Cortese believes we have a better chance moving forward under Pochettino. I can potentially see why when you consider his pedigree and reputation - moreso when you align it with the objectives of the club moving forward. The timing of it seems disastrous though, and that is my big concern. For what it is worth my perception is that Pochettino can take us forward, but he has half a season of real pain to keep us up and impose his ideas on the team. We'd just about got to the point where we had adapted under Adkins and now to start again is a big ask. I trust the players to get on board, I don't think they were all devote followers of Adkins as the fans were, and I may dare say a fresh voice and new ideas could help several of them. And, one other potential benefit is that if Cortese feels he now has a man at the helm appropriate for the league we're competing in, the signings could be even more exciting. But that is a hunch based on nothing.

I'm usually quite pragmatic but that left me a bid sad.

Well I only get 3 posts a day so I may as well use one to cover everything. Was angry earlier in the day but now the dust has settled a bit I am thinking a bit more rationally. I'm absolutely gutted for Adkins - he deserved far better treatment. The journey he has led the team on for the past few years has been epic and a joy to be a part of. We're back in the Premier League far quicker than even Cortese planned to be and as a result he has seen the end of his tenure. We'll never know for how long Cortese planned to keep Adkins once we got back to the Premier League but I suspect the succession planning started the moment we got promoted. I doubt we'll ever hear from Adkins, I imagine he has a decent severance package and a part of that will be to keep his mouth shut. For what it is worth I think Pochettino seems a good appointment, and if you detach the way Adkins has gone, I think he has decent credentials for the club. He seems a good 'fit' however the massive concern in the short-term is the impact this has on our Premier League survival. If you consider he has in the past rejected Fiorentina and Valencia and been linked with the Real Madrid job, as well as rejecting several opportunities since November, it appears to be a bit of a coup for the club. A few other observations: 1. It feels disgusting for Adkins to be replaced instantly, but lets face it, we'd be up in arms if Adkins went and no-one was lined up. At least (scant consolation I know) the club knew who they wanted beforehand. 2. We've picked up some more points recently but there has definitely been a departure from the 'Southampton Way'. It seems quite clear that the Cortese Brief has Saints playing a certain style and a certain formation. Adkins has gone away from this (quite rightly) and now I would assume we're heading back to it. 3. Adkins will always be remembered and the way he has been replaced is pathetic but I don't think Cortese would do it if he thought it would harm our long-term prospects. Cortese may have some strange behaviours but he was proved right when he appointed Adkins and I hope he is proved right again. 4. I sincerely hope any frustration at Adkins going is done in a way that doesn't impact the new Manager or team as that is the last thing we can afford. 5. A Manager of Pochettino's stature won't want to manage in the Championship - would love to know what makes Cortese so sure we'll avoid relegation with the disruption of his appointment. 6. Considering Pochettino speaks pigeon English I thought he acquitted himself very well in his press conference and interview - and I am excited to see what impact he can have on the team. So on the one hand I am gutted and full of regret that Adkins didn't at least have the season, but on the other if you detach the fondness for Adkins and disrespectful way he has been replaced I think Pochettino is a potentially exciting appointment on the long-term. Now just for the nervous last 4 months of the season as we effectively start again. Survive and it will be a very interesting summer. Go down and all hell could break loose.

I don't think he is a bad player, I am just not sure where he fits in right now. Works very hard and respected by all the players but we're a young team with some verve and he operates at a slower pace. It wasn't always a given that Cork and Schneiderlin would step up so brilliantly therefore it will be interesting to see what happens in the summer if we stay up as Davis is at an age where he needs to be playing regularly - not least in part due to his experience and national team standing.

Think it is an early kick off in order to not clash with the final of the Capital One Cup that day.

Their goals seemed avoidable, though I'm told they did create some other chances so I won't grumble at all about that. Great comeback and superb to see two assists from the fullbacks being brave when it would be fair to accept they would be worried about bombing forward in other circumstances. Say what you want out the Adkins relentless positivity in public but he has never once derailed from that theme and it seems the players are well on board with him. Apparently Yoshida was on US TV before the game and when asked about Saints upturn in form since November he instantly said Adkins and his positivity. It's a bonus point both with respect to feelings before the game and then how the game panned out. But more importantly it adds to that momentum that we're hell bent on picking up points no matter what and we'll play a style and team on a game-by-game basis to get them. Looks like the 'Southampton Way' quickly changed from show horning players into a pre-meditated formation and playing one way to selecting the best men for the job to stop the opposition and keep a goal threat ourselves. Quite a dramatic change if we're honest. But no complaints from me, very happy with how quickly we've adapted to this league and the belief instilled into the players from the Management team. Feels like we can have a proper go at a good Everton team now and make it a very different game to earlier this season.

I think he travels with the first team. Even if it was complete right now I would not be surprised to see it formally announced by the club tomorrow - just easier for everyone and if we were to lose tonight it would be a welcome shift in distraction.

Not adverse to him moving on if the bid was right however leaves us in an interesting situation at left back. How do you buy a good left back with him knowing he'll be second choice to a 17 year old? Then if you can't convince someone to come in with the required experience / quality how would you feel for Shaw's backup to be unproven? Then if we got relegated and Shaw left... All ifs and buts however is a difficult situation to manage.

A large part of the attraction with Forren is what he can do with the ball. The club have been desperate for a ball playing defender for a long time. His distribution is very good and a part of what we desperately need. Add the fact he is left footed to it and the attraction grows. If I am going to be balanced in this I would also add he isn't the quickest so lets hope he is good at reading the game and concentrating.

Bid accepted?

We have a very young team and physically we were up against it today. When that is the case I expect us to use the ball far better and the general quality of play today was terrible. Results don't matter too much at this level but performances do, and I thought Joe Curtis and Jake Sinclair will look back at the game with some regret (if they were senior players there may be a few expletives to describe their performance). On the other hand I thought Stephens was very good, Turnball decent, Targett ok. The rest showed effort but little quality when it mattered. But lets not be too downbeat, you only have to look at the names on the Liverpool teamsheet to know they sign them from around the world so its a good learning experience for the lads.

We have a decent shape off the ball, but Liverpool are bigger and more experienced than us and it shows at times. Just need a bit more belief and movement up front to grab something to hold onto.

Many Pompey fans have had doubts over the Trust bid over the past few weeks and via looking from afar it appears their questions have often been answered inadequately. At first it seemed anyone who questioned aspects of the bid was shot down and deemed not a proper fan. After this initial pathetic response meant the questions didn't subside I've seen a different tactic used recently - it now appears a default response is 'what alternative is there?'. As though the person who has a question of concern over an element of the bid has a point but the best way to answer them without directly harming the bid effort is to admit they may have a point but with no other option available they'll just have to deal with it - it is an almost ignorant response considering people are being asked to put £1000 into the bid. 'Yeah we know there are holes in the bid but as we're the only bid there is no option so please give me your £1000'. Pompey are too big not to exist in some form - if it is as a phoenix club then so be it. But it doesn't rest too easy that the cheerleading for pledges continues via not answering real concerns in the business plan. It doesn't seem too clever or moral. If ever there was a time to be up front and fair now is it. In many respects this article is a reflection of the new approach above: http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/portsmouth/fb_news.php?storyid=19100&title=sj_maskell:_players_have_their_part_to_play_in_not_killing_pompey These statements in particular: I would love for the values enshrined in the Trust movement to actually be visible during their bid and plea for pledges, because quite frankly it appears what they have written on paper and how they are addressing the real and fair concerns of their fans wondering whether or not to pledge is a world apart. You aren't any less of a fan if you don't pledge, and you certainly aren't wrong to question any aspect of the Trust bid. There is another option to the Trust bid, and that is to start again. Otherwise you might end up with a club based on a majority ownership from property developers with no interest in the true welfare of the club, and, I dare say, £1000 out of pocket in a situation you can't truly influence. The Pompey supporters who have real concerns are in a very unfortunate situation.

Today wasn't flashy or great by any means, but in many ways it shows how we have progressed this season. First half was solid and we played our football in the right areas while ensuring we wouldn't be caught on the break if we did lose the ball. A little more composure and we would have had a few goals in addition to the fortunate penalty. Second half was all about digging in as we didn't show the ability to keep the ball long enough to take the sting out of the game. As we dropped deeper and deeper I feared the worse and make no mistake Villa did have some good chances to equalise. But as the game wore on the players stood strong and did everything that was asked of them. We've come a long way in the last 5 months and todays performance showed that. It wasn't pretty but there was a lot of professionalism out there and hopefully that result gives the team some more belief as well.