merrimd Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 that has helped us turn the corner do you think? AP takes a huge deal of credit in getting him playing in possibly the most pivotal position on the pitch. Perhaps he DOES know more about football than the rest of us on here after all!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 No. It's Waigo, Antonio and Lallana giving us width. Hammond giving us some bite. Jaidi and Trottman forming an understanding. And Lambert just generally being quality. Fair dos to Wotton though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 wotton and scheinderlin have been good recently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I wouldn't say it's just down to Wotton - but the part he plays is bloody vital. It allows Morgan and Hammond to push up a little bit and it gives us the scope and numbers in the middle to dominate and win the midfield battle. Once you've got that won - hand it over to your creative players to do the biz - and they're doing that right now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think Hammond has been the difference tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 IMO it would be AP getting his point across and the players getting used to the way he wants us to play. Also the monkey of -10 off our backs and the players growing in confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merrimd Posted 17 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I wouldn't say it's just down to Wotton - but the part he plays is bloody vital. It allows Morgan and Hammond to push up a little bit and it gives us the scope and numbers in the middle to dominate and win the midfield battle. Once you've got that won - hand it over to your creative players to do the biz - and they're doing that right now! I think you are right. Claude Makalele was not the greatest player in the world, but made Real Madrid, France and Chelsea tick, just by allowing the great players in the team the space to play. I think that is Wottons role in the team at the mo. The other players are playing fantastic, but I think that is because Wotton is allowing them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Uwe Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 It is an interesting one to say the least. For me personally I thought he'd shot it - he was a great servant to Plymouth but got a nasty knee injury and consequently Sturrock released him as he felt he'd lost his sharpness - I was amazed at the time we signed him on a 3 year deal, even if he was an "experienced pro". Nevertheless, he is making his mark on the team at the mo and will hopefully steer clear of too many yellow cards!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Huge respect for Wotton and how he has performed the last few games. Great man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Nelson Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I am delighted that with all the stick he kept on getting Wotton has to a degree proven everybody wrong. It wasn't only down to him, but to a team that didn't play well. Now he is doing a similar job to what Nobby Stiles did when he said that the tactics were dead easy: "My job was to win the ball and give it to Bobby." Nobby was my first footballing hero. He was small, toothless, not handsome and seemed to lack a lot of talent, but he was bloodyminded and tenacious. All of that gave hope to the ones of us who weren't born with great technical gifts. If a bit of that is what PW will leave behind when he retires, that's not bad. Round pegs in round holes is what it has been all about. Not only PW looks better than ever, so does Lallana, James and Schneiderlin. All the players I and many like me had question marks against. Wotton is at the end of his career and AP will have to look at acquiring a replacement. I don't think we've got another one in the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Good manager, good players, balanced side - and most importantly confidence building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasiak-9- Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Wotton does well in a 5 man midfield as he's decent defensively but offers absolutely nothing on the ball or going forward. So when alongside Morgan (very much a technical ball-player) and Hammond (box-to-box), all three are able to sorta cover for each others weaknesses and accentuate their own strengths, and as mentioned before once the midfields in order it allows the creative attacking talent the freedom to shine and score goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think Hammond has been the difference tbh Spot on, he is just a dynamo, quality signing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Apart from Pearson we have had poor managers since WGS left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintant Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Partly Wotton but only because it allows Morgan to get forward. I find it staggering that it has taken this long to get Morgan playing in an advanced position where he can do damage with his undoubted quality. For a long time he has been completely wasted by being given too deep a role - can't understand why it has taken til now for professional coaches to realise the obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think Dean Wilkins and Wally may be the reason - awful before they arrived then suddenly we are on fire!! Coincidence.......? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think Dean Wilkins and Wally may be the reason - awful before they arrived then suddenly we are on fire!! Coincidence.......? Wilkins was with us before the start of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Wilkins was with us before the start of the season. Are you saying its all down to Wally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Are you saying its all down to Wally? nope he has made an impact on our defensive side though - clear to see. but the whole team has knuckled down and pard's has found a formation that works at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 nope he has made an impact on our defensive side though - clear to see. but the whole team has knuckled down and pard's has found a formation that works at the moment. I will read between the lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 think it is down to AP finding a system which works for the players we have, not fitting the players to a set system. Wotton, IMO, has been pivotal to this and it has removed the defensive shackles slightly from certain other players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilsburydoughboy Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Wotton in the side in the role he is playing allows others to push forward.Morgan is no defender but ball to feet going forward he is quality and looks like he enjoying his football at the moment.He can only do this with Wooton behind him. Wooton is not a player to think he can play anywhere on the pitch.He knows his limitations and good on him for that. He will give 100% everytime he plays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Apart from Pearson we have had poor managers since WGS left. and Pearson was gash, almost as bad as Hoddle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymojo44 Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 What is important is the 'team performance' - Fans may criticise Wotton or other individuals but Pardew's recent success in turning us around has all been about Saints as a team. Wotton plays a role and is therefore important just as Lambert is knocking the ball into the opponents net. Well done that man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 valid point, wotton does the tough, ugly stuff that allows the rest to express themselves and long may it continue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorpe-le-Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think that Spiderman has looked a different class this season. His distribution is easily Premier League class. He looked like he was enjoying himself at Southend, so hopefully he is here for the long haul Wotton, to be fair, is looking good at the moment, perhaps he has found his level, seeing as he is in the twilight of his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I think you are right. Claude Makalele was not the greatest player in the world, but made Real Madrid, France and Chelsea tick.... Claude Makalele = Aston Martin Paul Wotton = Austin Morris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Claude Makalele = Aston Martin Paul Wotton = Austin Morris Austin Powers more like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 It seems to me that Pardew has basically worked out his system and told everyone exactly what their duty in the game is, which the players are doing brilliantly. Both Wotton and AP know that he isn't the best passer or dribbler of the ball but he's a gritty, strong midfielder ideal for playing just in front of the back four. In my opinion Wotton has shown not only brilliant ability to fit perfectly into a system but a great professionalism to cast all doubts about him aside and win back the fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Perrin Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=423139&highlight=wotton+worst#post423139 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=422907&highlight=wotton+worst#post422907 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=422890&highlight=wotton+worst#post422890 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=15901&highlight=wotton+worst http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=418645&highlight=wotton+worst#post418645 http://www.saintst://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=399380&highlight=wotton+worst#post399380 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=394225&highlight=wotton+worst#post394225 This would be the Wotton whom the sages on this board declared was not good enough for this league, or, wait for it, my absolute favourite, "the worst player to ever pull on a Southampton shirt". It just goes to show how big the gap between what people think they know and what they actually know is. Wotton ain't Maradonna, but he does a job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfredKo Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 In my opinion, the only thing he offers is his heading ability. With the other two midfielders doing the tackling and passing bits, he may find his form now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=423139&highlight=wotton+worst#post423139 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=422907&highlight=wotton+worst#post422907 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=422890&highlight=wotton+worst#post422890 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=15901&highlight=wotton+worst http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=418645&highlight=wotton+worst#post418645 http://www.saintst://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=399380&highlight=wotton+worst#post399380 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=394225&highlight=wotton+worst#post394225 This would be the Wotton whom the sages on this board declared was not good enough for this league, or, wait for it, my absolute favourite, "the worst player to ever pull on a Southampton shirt". It just goes to show how big the gap between what people think they know and what they actually know is. Wotton ain't Maradonna, but he does a job. There's nothing like dragging up old arguments which are now irrelevant to support your oppinion. Before these last 4 games, Wotton had been absolutely dreadful and was so for most of last season too. If he suddenly goes crap again, we'll all be talking about these games as a blip. Kudos to him for the way he's played recently, but it doesn't alter history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Credit to Wotton for being played in the position which he is competent in. But don't under estimate the fact that we have basically had the same 11 players on the pitch (ex Torquay) during this run. It has been a long time since that happened, the days of GB and rotations & JP and the revolving door - 462 Academy players used in 8 matches. The holding role that Wotton has taken up is vital with the players he has around him, but the consistency in selection, fitness and lack of red cards/suspensions is a darned big factor. And a worry for later in the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fen Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I wouldn't say it's just down to Wotton - but the part he plays is bloody vital. It allows Morgan and Hammond to push up a little bit and it gives us the scope and numbers in the middle to dominate and win the midfield battle. Once you've got that won - hand it over to your creative players to do the biz - and they're doing that right now! I've got too agree he makes a big difference because he gives Hammond and Morgan to push on. whether he is a good player is a different argument but the job he does is brilliant in allowing two of of best two players to play further forward and less deffensive. Lambert is class and connolly never disappointed today, what a goal scorer and long may it continue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fen Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 In my opinion, the only thing he offers is his heading ability. With the other two midfielders doing the tackling and passing bits, he may find his form now. Your a muppet, how many games you been too this season? and which ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the boy from saints Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 and Pearson was gash, almost as bad as Hoddle You're going to get exterminated soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 Claude Makalele = Aston Martin Paul Wotton = Austin Morris Chelsea = Premier League Saints = League One Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Perrin Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 There's nothing like dragging up old arguments which are now irrelevant to support your oppinion. Before these last 4 games, Wotton had been absolutely dreadful and was so for most of last season too. If he suddenly goes crap again, we'll all be talking about these games as a blip. Kudos to him for the way he's played recently, but it doesn't alter history. What a bizarre comment! The more moronic posters see players as being ****e if they're not performing Ronaldo-like, week on week. When the team isn't performing, even the most skilled player struggles to make a mark. Wotton does a job, mainly around muscle and motivation. Properly deployed he's effective, not spectacular, but effective. He certainly doesn't deserve the grief he got, just as he hasn't become Ronaldo overnight. Personally I think anyone who uses the 'worst player to pull on a Saints shirt" moniker should be kicked to death in the centre circle as half time entertainment. Extreme, yes, but a player can only play in the role assigned to him and with the players around him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 PW is a cog in AP master plan just as much as Harding Hamond or Rickie IMHO PW is better player this season because he is playing with better players like RJ because he knows a slight slip & defence will cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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