Don't like to say, I told you so........

[Professor]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

[SaintRobbie]

The game's still going you eejit.

 

We have a Plan A and a Plan B... at last. God sake let Pardew keep refining it. 'Told you so' means nothing Prof. Get a grip man.

[View From The Top]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

Since you stopped going as we were rubbish I'll treat everything you say with contempt.

[S-Clarke]

Pointless post.

 

every team will lose games, if they play 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. We weren't going to win every week.

[alpine_saint]

Despite the poor timing of this thread, he has a point.

 

I dont like 4-5-1 either.

[saintsmike25]

Lets not get too negative!

We're obviously playing well, there's a chance every 2 minutes just not one of those days where we're putting them away. Waigo/Lallana have missed sitters from what I've heard as to has Connelly. It's not like earlier in the season when we got battered from piller to post against Swindon and Huddersfield.

Sometimes the luck doesn't run for you.

[Wopper]

F*ck off

[Andyb1]

yes please do **** off

[SaintRobbie]

We're playing 4-4-2 now and equalising so Prof has a point... but we should have been 3 or 4 up but for unlucky finishing. Pardew switiches and we do well.

 

We need to allow Pardew to master a couple of systems. I am impressed frankly.

[Professor]

The game's still going you eejit.

 

We have a Plan A and a Plan B... at last. God sake let Pardew keep refining it. 'Told you so' means nothing Prof. Get a grip man.

Have you noticed that they've scored two goals since going 4-4-2? Do try to keep up!

[SaintRobbie]

Have you noticed that they've scored two goals since going 4-4-2? Do try to keep up!

 

Read my post above... do try to keep up

[Saint Fan CaM]

I agree - would prefer to start 4-4-2 and then switch back to 4-5-1 if the game dictates it. However, I have every confidence in AP and therefore will consider his better knowledge to be...well, correct.

[JustMike]

4-5-1 snt the half of it to be fair, its not that rigid and it served us well against southend and gillingham to name but two. its nice that we have different options.

[JustMike]

Have you noticed that they've scored two goals since going 4-4-2? Do try to keep up!

 

we had plenty of chances when it was 4-5-1 too

[sotonjoe]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

 

it's true and some of us were saying so last week. However, there are some on here who are too ignorant to see that a system of play can still come in for criticism even if you win a particular game!

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Hmmm ....... I see our last two comebacks have both coincided with the withdraw of Paul Wotton from the game - not that I would suggest there's any connection between these two events of course .

[Glasgow_Saint]

Hmmm ....... I see our last two comebacks have both coincided with the withdraw of Paul Wotton from the game - not that I would suggest there's any connection between these two events of course .

 

I would suggest that Antonio and Connolly coming on has more impact than Wotton coming off.

[Master Bates]

We score when it's 4-4-2, I prefer 4-4-2.

 

Not a pointless post, don't tell him to f**k off, Up the Prof.

[Wiltshire Saint]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

 

You wait till St Will sees this. You're going to get it.

[iansums]

You wait till St Will sees this. You're going to get it.

 

Have you spoken to you brother yet?

[Smirking_Saint]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

The key to what ?? we won five on the trot ?? We have scored more than 2 goals in the past i don't know how many games.

 

The 4-5-1 system is working, i think we need a new DM but it is working !!

 

Have you been to any games this season ??

[St Will]

You wait till St Will sees this. You're going to get it.

 

All I can say is Pard's knows better than us, that's why he's the manager and we're not.

[derry]

The two formations are basically the same except one has Wotton deep so the two midfielders can get forward but don't, we then take Wotton off, have two up front and the midfielders get forward anyway.

 

We are putting the ball out wide and playing football with 4-4-2 giving the midfielders the time to break forward. Behind against Torquay, MKD, LO, switching to 4-4-2 put us back in the game.

 

If we are good enough to give teams a start and pull the deficit back with 4-4-2 then it is worth giving it a go from the start as soon as Connolly is match fit. I suspect Connolly's lack of fitness has a lot to do with not starting 4-4-2 at the moment.

Edited 31 October, 2009 by derry

[iansums]

All I can say is Pard's knows better than us, that's why he's the manager and we're not.

 

Totally agree, and the important thing is that AP HAS changed things round to get the result. He is not religiously sticking to one system. I think he probably will start 4-4-2 soon, probably at home. A lot of people see 4-5-1 as a negative formation, I don't agree.

[St Marco]

Was not at the game today sadly but from a brief call with my friend who was there he said we dominated from start to finish. We had many chances with Lallana missing some sitters in both the first half and the start of the second.

While it was 4-5-1 we bossed the game, they had 1 chance of which they scored from. Rest of that half was 1 way traffic. 2nd half we continued to create chances. They got fortunate with an own goal, which was their 1st shot of the half.

Now this is the bit which seems a bit confusing. My friend said we did not play 4-4-2 we played 4-3-3 as Lallana was pretty much a 3rd striker alongside Lambert and Connolly.

If that is true then the whole 4-4-2 argument is stupid.

At the end of the day Pardew kept the side that had won those games going, you never change a winning side and it is nice to see someone finally understands that here.

We dominated the game and if it was not for luck they would not have scored their 2nd.

 

So credit to Pardew, his tactics and changes worked, because at 2-0 down im sure all of us would of taken 2-2. It is a pity they did not play for 5mins more as he said we would of won.

[Saint in Paradise]

We still scored 3-1 as the last few games Only snag one of the 3 was for them

[up and away]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

I thought your first offering on this was really dumb, but this takes it to new levels. We had a goal against after a couple of minutes. You think a more attacking line up would have stopped that or a following own goal?

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Hmmm ....... I see our last two comebacks have both coincided with the withdraw of Paul Wotton from the game - not that I would suggest there's any connection between these two events of course .

 

A totally pointless post then?

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Classic attention seekers thread.

[madruss]

Question is, is Connolly fit enough to start. Because without him there's not a lot of point playing 4-4-2

[up and away]

Originally Posted by CHAPEL END CHARLIE

Hmmm ....... I see our last two comebacks have both coincided with the withdraw of Paul Wotton from the game - not that I would suggest there's any connection between these two events of course .

A totally pointless post then?

 

Maybe, but if the opposition end up defending most of the time, resulting in us playing 4-3-3 in response, Wooton is not my pick to anchor a 3 man midfield. Be interested to see if Hammond was up to par because of the niggle he was carrying. I have seen nothing to indicate that Wooton will not cost us, but he has been acceptable in a 5 man midfield. It's been no coincidence that he was soon dropped after his performances in our early 442 set ups, along with being first subbed from our 451.

[docker-p]

The Professor has posted an interesting and pertinent quuestion, and gets a gob full for his troubles from some.

I wasn't there today but listening on the radio it did sound like we created the better chances once we had changed to 442. This has been the case on several occasions this season including last week against MKD. The ball is played more on the deck and we create more chances.

As Derry points out, maybe Pardew will play a whole 90mins of 442 when Connerly is fit enough to make it.

[del boy]

Of course you do, everyone likes to say I told you so (whether right or not)

[pilsburydoughboy]

We are not going to be able to play a certain system every week.AP started today with a formation that created plenty of chances but we did not put away.

At last AP will change the team when things are not going our way.Previous regimes would have just stuck with it and hoped for the best.

[Cabrone]

I was there and we were miles better as a 4-4-2, 4-5-1 just neuters our forwards.

 

It was good to get back to 2-2 but yet again AP dropped 2 points due to his negative tactics.

 

If Connolly is fit then he's got to start - he looks bloody good. To have Wotton on the pitch instead of him is nuts IMO. Ricky comes alive when he partners him.

 

Just as at Charlton I got the impression that AP was more interested in not losing than than winning!

[eelpie]

Just back from a really exciting rumbustious game. It was not the system that conceded a goal within three minutes. It was fast physical direct play by the O's that caught Saints by surprise. They had the measure of some confused, slow defending, and it was the same in the second half. Too many miskicks from the whole team played into their hands. In truth Saints were overconfident and were bustled off the ball. Whatever system, we were rumbled and not allowed to settle down. So too hasty in front of goal and too many missed chances. It was not until we conceded that Saints played as we can. Our subs were better than there's. End to end stuff, and a tiring Orient let us in. One of the most exciting and exhilarating ends to a match I have seen for a long time. A draw for both teams was a fair result.

And Saints supporters were just out of this world.

[Lazlo78]

Even during the good run of results, I have been saying that Alan Pardew seems to be too wedded to the 4-5-1 system. Pards has shown he will switch to 4-4-2 when the game is going against the team but then reverts to the defensive system for the next game.

Its not only the system, as better players should always get a better result, so Antonio and Connolly in the team seem to make a difference, but 4-4-2 from the start might be the key.

 

Voted 4-5-1 but would have preferred a "formation schmormation" option. I don't care too much for numbers - what is important is whether the players understand their individual tasks when defending and loosely follow a structure when attacking.

 

The 4-5-1/4-3-3 does seem to bring the best out of some of the more difficult players (Lallana, Wotton, Schneiderlin, Waigo etc.) while the 4-4-2 is a good alternative where other players shine (Antonio, Connolly etc.). Which one is Plan A and which is Plan B for any given game I really don't care about. I'm just hoping that AP will stick to what he feels will win the individual game regardless of what the fans think...

[Legod Third Coming]

Can we have an option that says the manager is better placed than some Luddites stuck in the 70s to decide our formation? Or would that offend all our Mike Basset community...

[Dark Munster]

All I can say is Pard's knows better than us, that's why he's the manager and we're not.

And most of us know better than the "professor', whose credibility is zero after his continuing defence of Lowe getting rid of NP, and replacing him with the two clowns. How's NP being doing since he left Saints, "professor'?

[lenwilkins]

Can we have an option that says the manager is better placed than some Luddites stuck in the 70s to decide our formation? Or would that offend all our Mike Basset community...

 

This answer is probably a little to rational for this site.

[lenwilkins]

We score when it's 4-4-2, I prefer 4-4-2.

 

Not a pointless post, don't tell him to f**k off, Up the Prof.

 

Pointless post, our manager knows what he's doing and you know he does.

[krissyboy31]

Voted 4-5-1 but would have preferred a "formation schmormation" option. I don't care too much for numbers - what is important is whether the players understand their individual tasks when defending and loosely follow a structure when attacking.

 

What yer man said.....

[Plumstead_Saint]

Hmmm.....

Tough call.

Who do I think knows best and makes better decisions for Saints tactics, formations and substitutions - AP or "Professor" and "Trousers", even with their benefit of hindsight?

It's a no brainer, much like the OP

 

PS if you don't like to say it, why did you?

It's not like it's going to save the planet or anything.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

A totally pointless post then?

 

Oh just a minor aside , still rather more than you can manage apparently .

[St Landrew]

I believe the next league match is at Home. I think that means 4-4-2. If it had been an Away venue, I would have voted to stick with 4-5-1. Someone said today that we moved to 4-3-3 against Orient, whent he chips were down. Which kind of puts a curve in the whole debate.

 

Besides, I'd take the opinion of Pardew over anyone here. He's a professional. We are enthusiastic amateurs.

[docker-p]

Can we have an option that says the manager is better placed than some Luddites stuck in the 70s to decide our formation? Or would that offend all our Mike Basset community...

So we're not suppose to question the manager because he is in a better position to decide formations? Bloody 'ell what do you talk about at the game, knitting, gardening, soil erosion ???

[saintrich]

We keep having to rely on 'plan b' too much. It would be nice to play 4-4-2, but I don't think we have the luxury of a fully fit Connolly yet.

[Legod Third Coming]

So we're not suppose to question the manager because he is in a better position to decide formations? Bloody 'ell what do you talk about at the game, knitting, gardening, soil erosion ???

 

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[docker-p]

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

What?

You suggested we shouldn't question the manager. Being a football fan is all about having opinions, arguments, debates and questioning everything we've just paid through the nose to watch. Especially on a bloody forum.

Nobody is saying anything is 'broke'; but that doesn't mean it can't be improved.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

So we're not suppose to question the manager because he is in a better position to decide formations? Bloody 'ell what do you talk about at the game, knitting, gardening, soil erosion ???

 

Exactly , I think it generally established that this is a place for Saints fans to freely express their opinions on all matters SFC related - if this ever sounds like we are setting ourselves up as somehow knowing more about the game than the players/managers who are well paid to actually do the job than that is a misunderstanding . The Professor is perfectly in order to raise this issue and some of the criticism he's had is rather OTT I'd say .

 

There are a few on here who'd like to turn this forum into some glorified cheer-leading group (no names - no pack drill) but all things considered that might prove to be rather dull for thr rest of us .