Saints vs Newcastle Build-up

A point a game will be easily good enough to stay up this season.

I'm not saying it isn't but it's still a pretty low bar for us and IMO not good enough.

Just saying before the witch hunt starts.....

 

 

I am not saying JWP is better than Redmond, different players.

 

 

Am just asking the question why he does not start when he adds a different type of goal chance for the team than just running and dribbling. it really is not rocket science to have more options of scoring on the pitch than doing the same thing time and time and time again that we have done for 2 seasons + 9 games now with the same crap results.

JWP doesn't start because we are playing a 4-4-2 and he works in neither in a midfield 2 or as a conventional winger.

Which is not really his fault, it's more the archaic tactics/shape we are playing.

We have neither the pace, physicality or defence to successfully play a 4-4-2 IMO. Watford play a 4-4-2 sort of, but they have Deeney to be physical and annoying up front, Gray/Success to add some pace and then have very powerful centre-mids in Doucoure and Capoue who are basically able to do pretty much everything. We have very little like that. Atheltic Madrid also play a 4-4-2 variant but again have very good defenders, pace and power up front, pace on the wings and are very aggressive at retaining the ball, again we don't have or do that.

And considering we have some tall centre-backs and come centre-forwards who are pretty decent in the air I think making some use of JWPs very good set piece ability is not a bad idea.

Personally I'd have him sitting narrower as a AMR in a 4-3-3, get a proper DM in the protect the defence which should allow more freedom for Betrand and Cedric to bomb on.

I'd go -

McCarthy

Cedric, whatever centre backs they all seem a much of muchness at the moment, Bertrand

Romeu

Hojberg Lemina

JWP Redmond

Ings

Newcastle haven't won a game all season in League, we know what happens here.

I'm not saying it isn't but it's still a pretty low bar for us and IMO not good enough.

 

 

 

 

JWP doesn't start because we are playing a 4-4-2 and he works in neither in a midfield 2 or as a conventional winger.

 

Which is not really his fault, it's more the archaic tactics/shape we are playing.

 

We have neither the pace, physicality or defence to successfully play a 4-4-2 IMO. Watford play a 4-4-2 sort of, but they have Deeney to be physical and annoying up front, Gray/Success to add some pace and then have very powerful centre-mids in Doucoure and Capoue who are basically able to do pretty much everything. We have very little like that. Atheltic Madrid also play a 4-4-2 variant but again have very good defenders, pace and power up front, pace on the wings and are very aggressive at retaining the ball, again we don't have or do that.

 

And considering we have some tall centre-backs and come centre-forwards who are pretty decent in the air I think making some use of JWPs very good set piece ability is not a bad idea.

 

Personally I'd have him sitting narrower as a AMR in a 4-3-3, get a proper DM in the protect the defence which should allow more freedom for Betrand and Cedric to bomb on.

 

 

I'd go -

 

McCarthy

 

Cedric, whatever centre backs they all seem a much of muchness at the moment, Bertrand

Romeu

Hojberg Lemina

JWP Redmond

Ings

Feck sake mate, time to let JWP go; he is not going to make the grade.

JWP is the answer, but what is the question?

JWP is the answer, but what is the question?

Whose the nicest young man, that your granny would like to have tea with, in PL football?

Hughes seems to be in permanent denial at his press conferences, he's been saying for weeks

"we have a very good group of players"

"we are about to turn a corner and move up the league"

"we create more chances than most other clubs"

"we just need to start converting a few more of these and we'll be fine".

Yet, nothing changes and today he admitted for the first time it won't happen overnight

What an indictment of him and his coaching staff. The excuses are being lined up already for this weekend and where is the passion you'd expect from a manager with his back to the wall?

"Newcastle are a much better team that their points tally suggests, 6 of their opening games have been against top six clubs, they were 2-0 up against Man U...."

"Losing Tadic was a big blow"

"It's very hard to get any points in the PL"

He's under pressure alright but with Les's 3-year gold plated contract in his back pocket why should he be worried?

He's under pressure alright but with Les's 3-year gold plated contract in his back pocket why should he be worried?

Pellegrino had a 3-year contract, that didn't stop him (eventually) being sacked.

JWP is the answer, but what is the question?

He has been left behind by Henderson & Berkley. A year or two ago he was seen in the same light as those two midfielders by the media and no doubt by national team set-up at St George's. Arguably had he been with a top six club with far better players around him to help his development he would have continued to progress and maybe realised all those earlier hopes and expectations. Staying in a comfortable backwater is never a good strategy for a young person in any profession but in the highly charged media spotlit world of football, to be the best you have to rub shoulders with the best. His chance appears to have gone.

He has been left behind by Henderson & Berkley. A year or two ago he was seen in the same light as those two midfielders by the media.

1) Henderson is 28 years old, Ward-Prowse is 23 years old!

What makes you think a year ago the media viewed him in the "same light" as Ward-Prowse? Henderson has been playing for England since 2010!

2) Who is Berkley?

 

2) Who is Berkley?

I'd imagine its Ross Barkley, most people could work that out.

This. Ings and Gabbi with young Obafemi ready to jump in from the bench if we haven't scored after 60 minutes.

I'd love to see young Opafemi play but I fear the stakes are going to be too high in this vital relegation match should we not have scored. It would be a brave gamble and Saints don't do brave these days.

Having said that it would be exciting to see him on the pitch heading for goal.

i'd have been tempted to start Sims if he was here....shame...give us a bit of pace and running.

i'd have been tempted to start Sims if he was here....shame...give us a bit of pace and running.

Long, Mayuka and N’Guessan gave us pace and running. Sims struggles to get into a team fighting relegation from the Championship. He’s not the answer.

Rondon fit to play.

What a surprise. I would hope we don't stick with Stephens & Hoedt.

I see Hughes is saying 'we're very close to where we want to be'. Does he mean the relegation zone?

Rondon fit to play.

 

What a surprise. I would hope we don't stick with Stephens & Hoedt.

Why would we not stick with Stephens and Hoedt because Rondon plays? I hope we don't stick with Hoedt, but because with the exception of the last game he has been crap but he hardly needs to be dropped because Rondon is playing, there are many other reasons. Would be good to see Hughes stick with Stephens and play Yoshida alongside, but it ain't gonna happen.

Why would we not stick with Stephens and Hoedt because Rondon plays? I hope we don't stick with Hoedt, but because with the exception of the last game he has been crap but he hardly needs to be dropped because Rondon is playing, there are many other reasons. Would be good to see Hughes stick with Stephens and play Yoshida alongside, but it ain't gonna happen.

To defend crosses?

TalkSPORT have got it 100% spot on about Saints.

Pellegrino had a 3-year contract, that didn't stop him (eventually) being sacked.

assumption that being sacked should worry him.

TalkSPORT have got it 100% spot on about Saints.

What did they say?

What did they say?

Basically that we are ****. Like the earlier poster said, spot on.

Rondon fit to play.

 

What a surprise. I would hope we don't stick with Stephens & Hoedt.

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How do people feel about a manager that barely takes asession or speaks to the players?

 

All done by the first team coaches....

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Basically that we are ****. Like the earlier poster said, spot on.

I heard it all and they were bang on. Said we have got the point where Hughes said we need ‘luck’. They also slated our sell, sell, sell policy and that we r3placed with players who appear to lose all form when they arrive.

I heard it all and they were bang on. Said we have got the point where Hughes said we need ‘luck’. They also slated our sell, sell, sell policy and that we r3placed with players who appear to lose all form when they arrive.

Cheers. Can't argue with that.

I'm confident we're going to win. I really hope it's comfortable but I have a feeling it will be a nervy tight game and McCarthy will keep us in it with a series of spectacular saves.

I'm confident we're going to win.

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I could honestly say that about a PL game. The closest I can recall was last season at home to Chelsea when we were 2-0 with 25 mins left, I was confident of 3 points and a sudden leap away from trouble at that stage.

I am confident we will win too. 2v0

I am confident we are underestimating Newcastle. 3-1 saints and we are going to click today. I have been right once in last 11 months.

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I could honestly say that about a PL game. The closest I can recall was last season at home to Chelsea when we were 2-0 with 25 mins left, I was confident of 3 points and a sudden leap away from trouble at that stage.

god that what game was a real kick in the teeth...in a season full of games that left you feeling like you had taken a good kicking.

A win today is vital but seeing some confidence us just as important.

Much as I'd take a nervy 1-0, if we're going to turn the home misery round, we need a good overall performance, clear win seen out with confidence.

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I am confident we are underestimating Newcastle. 3-1 saints and we are going to click today. I have been right once in last 11 months.

Yes, you are underestimating Newcastle.

personally think we are far too cautious and nervous playing at home.....can see us losing this 1-0

A win today is vital but seeing some confidence us just as important.

 

Much as I'd take a nervy 1-0, if we're going to turn the home misery round, we need a good overall performance, clear win seen out with confidence.

 

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Confidence is massive if we could just put a few results together I think we would be alright this season. You can just feel the fans and players are just waiting for it to go wrong at home games these days. You can just see the players visibly deflate when it starts to go wrong on the pitch in games at the moment.

It's going to be bloody freezing up there this afternoon so expect half our lot to be wearing gloves and leg warmers and only going through the motions.

One hell of a lot of thoughts underestimating Newcastle. They are a better team than that...

It's going to be bloody freezing up there this afternoon so expect half our lot to be wearing gloves and leg warmers and only going through the motions.

Up there? Do you live south of here?

The game will be decided by a long range goal from either Shelvey or Hojbjerg.

What like Fergie or Mourinho to name a few?

 

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Was told this too. Doesn’t utter a word to the players, very hard to get close too and the coaches are like henchmen. Gone are the days when a manager is completely shut off to players like that. Klopp, Pep, Poch....the best Managers are man Managers as well as tactically brilliant etc

Hughes is a dinosaur, times have changed. Get rid and bring in a Young Manager. Missed a trick not getting Lampard or Gerrard.

Hughes is a pretty bad manager to be fair

Well I wish it could be football,

Everydaaaaaayyyy,

When the Saints are playing,

And not as **** as todaaaaayyyy,

Woah I was it could be football,

Everydaaaaaayyyyy,

Let the Saints, rain goals,

For footbaaaaaall

Was told this too. Doesn’t utter a word to the players, very hard to get close too and the coaches are like henchmen. Gone are the days when a manager is completely shut off to players like that. Klopp, Pep, Poch....the best Managers are man Managers as well as tactically brilliant etc

 

Hughes is a dinosaur, times have changed. Get rid and bring in a Young Manager. Missed a trick not getting Lampard or Gerrard.

watching Derby now, they look excellent

edit. awesome football and tearing boro a new one in their own backyard

Anything less than 3 points is a failure.

Got a feeling there will be a sending off in this game. We do seem to lack a bit of discipline these days. And with the wind up merchants Newcastle have ie Shelvey and Ritchie you just know someone is going to bite.

We got this today, feeling confident! 2-0 Ings and Lemina to score. COYR

Lawro's tipped us to lose. Can't be right, surely?

Shelvey to score against us again and have a generally good game.

Hoj will get one too. 1-1.

JWP is the answer, but what is the question?

Who is not very good but won't be replaced by Reed who thinks he is very good? Reed the t*sser.

Austin again wtf!

Hojbjerg out

Austin plays again. Hojberg our as he is ill. Romeu in.

No Hoj?