Width

[Griffo]

One thing that stuck out to me tonight was width. Swindon caused us so many problems getting wide with quick players that could beat their marker and get to the byline or put a dangerous cross in. They put the crosses in areas that got our defence turned and gave us something to think about. They looked dangerous with every ball they put into the box. Whereas we played Lallana out on the left who cut inside at every crossing opportunity and lofted a ball in from deep, which is such an easy angle for a defender to attack and head the ball away. When was the last time we had a genuine winger that could beat his marker, get to the byline and deliver a quality cross most of the time? The lack of width tonight meant we had no outlet ball either, which meant we tended to play backward a lot, or a long hopeful ball up field. Would be nice to see an out-and-out winger at the club soon..

[RedAndWhite91]

I think I saw us spread the ball out wide probably 3 times in the entire match. It's not good, and agree about the playing backwards or just hoofing it up. There was next to no creativity or decent final balls, this is a problem which needs to be sorted as soon as possible.

[DrZuess1979 the 2nd]

Heaney

 

Wallace

 

way to long ago

[Rebel]

Lallana is an attacking central midfielder or a second striker not a winger

 

Joseph Mills and Holmes can do it for us on the left

 

we do need a winger and some pace desperately

[.comsaint]

One thing that stuck out to me tonight was width. Swindon caused us so many problems getting wide with quick players that could beat their marker and get to the byline or put a dangerous cross in. They put the crosses in areas that got our defence turned and gave us something to think about. They looked dangerous with every ball they put into the box. Whereas we played Lallana out on the left who cut inside at every crossing opportunity and lofted a ball in from deep, which is such an easy angle for a defender to attack and head the ball away. When was the last time we had a genuine winger that could beat his marker, get to the byline and deliver a quality cross most of the time? The lack of width tonight meant we had no outlet ball either, which meant we tended to play backward a lot, or a long hopeful ball up field. Would be nice to see an out-and-out winger at the club soon..

 

My sentiments exactly Griffo. Not since Marsden (especially the Marsden/Bridgey combo) have I seen Saints really play with any width to good avail - and how long ago was that? Surely a pacey winger is a "must" for any side - whilst two would be a dream! I'd settle for one right now who's an excellent crosser of the ball. I can't be the only one wishing for such luxuries either. There's a certain Mr Rickie Lambert (not to mention Rasiak) who'd like nothing better!

[southamptonfclegend]

PLAY Lee Holmes!!!

[SuperMikey]

This leaves me thinking that while he may not have been 'world class' as he was billed by some nutter, Ryan Smith would've been good to have around this season. He had a bit of pace about him, quite good on the ball, has the ability to get past his man, but he always seemed a little hesitant to run at the defenders.

 

Which brings me to my next point, Nathan Dyer would've been invaluable in L1. Dyer on the right with Holmes or Smith on the left would've been great, providing service for Lambert. Alas, it seems as if that will never happen.

 

But surely AP has picked up on this and is looking at a winger, right? [-o

[Smirking_Saint]

Oh sh*t the bed, we don't need width did we ?? Not something i have been calling out for in the last 3 months !!!!!!!!!

 

Jeez, thats a new one.

[LeBenali]

Although I am delighted to be signing someone like Hammond, we desperately need a right winger! If we keep Holmes and get Mills fit then we're sorted down the left, but Thomson is the only recognisable right winger, and he doesn't seem up to it at the moment. James isn't the answer, ideally we need *gulp* somebody like Dyer. Any idea of how decent McLaggon's delivery is, could he be the answer when he's fit?

[gammon cheeks]

swindons no 11 was sh it hot ! We should sign him.

[RonManager]

swindons no 11 was sh it hot ! We should sign him.

 

My thoughts exactly. 5'6", looks like he weighs about 8 stone, but soooooo fast and excellent ball control. Very impressive indeed.

[Bailey]

I'd like to see a midfield quartet like this:

 

Lallana - Schneiderlin - Hammond - Holmes

 

In an ideal world, Lallana would be playing in attack just off of Rickie Lambert, but until we sign a right-midfielder, he's the best we've got. Jake Thomson is decent but isn't quite ready yet, he's still more effective as an impact player coming off the bench in my opinion.

[CanadaSaint]

It's not just that we lack offensive penetration if we play inside too much.

 

It's also that we make ourselves vulnerable to width because the counter-attacking opponents encounter no real challenge until they hit our back four.

 

Width is both a good strategy for offence and a good strategy for defence.

 

Why in the name of God has this not been apparent to any of our last eight-or-so managers?

 

I fricking despair over this one.

[shurlock]

Oh sh*t the bed, we don't need width did we ?? Not something i have been calling out for in the last 3 months !!!!!!!!!

 

Jeez, thats a new one.

 

Been saying it for almost a year now!

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2809

[THEVMAN]

Having listened to the last two games on the radio what comes across quite obvious is we really need a centre midfield partnership that is going to win ball and actually play the ball out to the wings, the service to Lallana and Patterson/Mellis was very poor,as everyone has been saying time to offload Wotton sooner rather than later.

[dubai_phil]

OK we need width.

 

Let's also get real, a pacey reliable winger who can get to the line and cross the ball as much as we are demanding is a very rare breed. Hell Stewart Downing & Aaron Lennon aren't world beaters very often. Teams can set themselves up tactically to negate that strategy.

 

Even when we had Dyer, our players (and TBF coaches) were tactically naive as they struggled to exploit the gaps that a double team on a winger create.

 

We need midfielders with BRAINS who can use full backs, we don't need another Terry Curran (who in his entire career as measured by the Under West Stand crew managed exactly ONE cross to a Saints player in his career)

 

The balance is wrong, a shortage of intelligence and football brains is as big a problem as the lack of pace.

 

We have pacey wunderkids who can rotate. We need the brains

[shurlock]

OK we need width.

 

Let's also get real, a pacey reliable winger who can get to the line and cross the ball as much as we are demanding is a very rare breed. Hell Stewart Downing & Aaron Lennon aren't world beaters very often. Teams can set themselves up tactically to negate that strategy.

 

Even when we had Dyer, our players (and TBF coaches) were tactically naive as they struggled to exploit the gaps that a double team on a winger create.

 

We need midfielders with BRAINS who can use full backs, we don't need another Terry Curran (who in his entire career as measured by the Under West Stand crew managed exactly ONE cross to a Saints player in his career)

 

The balance is wrong, a shortage of intelligence and football brains is as big a problem as the lack of pace.

 

We have pacey wunderkids who can rotate. We need the brains

 

I think you're right, though pace helps. The ability to overlap with fullbacks matters which gives you the extra man is one of the greatest assets a team can have but it requires intelligence and discipline. Marsden -not the paciest of players- was so effective because he knew when to bring in Bridge, always a willing runner and then provide a shield if Bridge got caught out of position. The same happened with different personnel for Bale. In such a team, fullbanks don't need to be the most defensively minded. And energy-levels matter more than raw pace.

 

I think we will be OK on the left once Mills returns from injury. Both Harding and Mills have the energy to get up and down and bring the extra man in. Mills who is disciplined would be an easy pick over Lallana and Holmes to this extent.

 

I'm more concerned about the right side. Murty no longer has the energy to get up and down. I would be inclined to play him on right midfield in a similar way to Marsden. Not only would he provide bit more bite in the middle (and is a composed passer of the ball) but he would also provide cover for somebody like Thompson at RB who would have explicit encouragement to get forward as much as possible.

[samoakley]

We need a out and out winger lallana is a good player but he plays as a attacking midfielder if hes gona play there most of the season we should try and use him in a ronaldo role where he stays out on one wing but cuts in more and stays more upfront.

Lee holmes or a player with a bit of pace with league one experince and can do the odd cross that lands on RLs head.