The reason that we aren't scoring......

[lambertsrightleg]

I have noticed that a lot of posters on here are flagging up a drop in performance from Lambert and Hammond. It has also been mentioned that we were top scorers last season and haven't scored in 4 games running now. So why is this........

 

Last season we were absolutely quality in the wide areas and created loads of chanes for the forwards and those arriving late from midfield (Hammond). How many times have we done that this season.............a great deal less. So it's no wonder that Lambert looks ****ed off when we hit straight balls from 40 yards out into the box, rather than getting to the by line and whipping balls in for him to attack. We've got no penetration out wide and I hate to say it but lossing Waigo and Antonio is the main reason for this.

 

We've got no Plan B, there's no pace up front and we don't have a midfielder who can unlock a defence with a through ball so we have to play out wide. We mastered it last season but until we find replacements for Waigo/Antonio then I'm afraid we will continue to look as drab and mundane up front as we do now.

 

Rant Over

[Rob the Saint]

Totally agree

[Torres]

I think we're missing Lallana more than anyone else.

[dubai_phil]

Interesting one for Statisticians.

 

What was the ratio of goals scored when one of Papa or Antonio was on the pitch versus when they were not.

 

It might show the defence were tweaked to contain a different type of threat. The "Winger cutting inside and playing narrow" means less space in the middle for the strikers.

 

May be signisficant, may not be

[Saint Charlie]

Lallana is the best player in the league.

[Rebel]

Cortese should bring Waigo and Antonio back to Saints ASAP and spend some money on a new striker - Adam Le Fondre - before its too late

[Nexstar]

Cortese should bring Waigo and Antonio back to Saints ASAP and spend some money on a new striker - Adam Le Fondre - before its too late

 

It is too late, the transfer window has shut.

[SaintRichmond]

Reasons why we arn't scoring ???

 

We have no Playmakers

 

We have no Goal chance creators

 

We have only Barnard as a recognised Goalscorer IMHO

 

Lambert you ask ?? Very good at free kicks but little else

 

WHATEVER the reason, we are bearing the brunt of NOT strengthening in ATTACK. Antonio and Waigo were not replaced, and a very BIG question has to be levelled at Cortese WHY NOT ????

 

I honestly think Pardew lost interest some time ago, over a collection of issues

 

Where Cortese did wrong was NOT addressing those issues long before the alleged "incident" which led him to act. FAR FAR TOO LATE

[Saint_Ash]

I think it's down to Lambert's right leg on a forum writing posts instead of on the pitch scoring!

[warsash saint]

 

Lambert you ask ?? Very good at free kicks but little else

 

 

Honestly ????

[SaintRichmond]

Honestly ????

 

Sorry, but that's all I think of him. Take his free kick ability away and, IMHO, there's not a lot else

[shurlock]

Again this was a problem last year - so lets not kid that this season's form is a bolt out of the blue. Last year we were lucky to have papa and antonio - both of whom gave us options when either Lallana or Puncheon flagged. But we still regularly went long and hit the ball in from deep positions.

 

I don't accept that we didnt try to replace to Papa or Antonio - in part we were trumped in the transfer market, but in part i think Pards tactics were also evolving. In particular, it seemed like he was putting much more emphasis on the fullbacks overlapping with the midfielders to give us width and share the load with our 'widemen'. Hence Dickson and Richardson -fullbacks who like to bomb forward- were brought in. Had the plan worked, i don't think we would have missed Antonio or Papa as much. The plymouth game showed that we could deliver decent balls (esp from the left), though that day we had no height in the box to get on the end of things. In other words, I dont think you can disconnect the shopping spree on fullbacks in the summer from the relative inattention to wingers.

 

However, Richardson's freak injury combined with doubts over Dickson's ability to defend have forced us to go back to using more traditional and defensively-minded fullbacks (Butterfield who's experienced but no springchicken and Harding who provides more width but not as adventurous as the role requires). Without that support,we've been exposed further up the pitch. As I say I think this was a deliberate plan by Pardew and might have worked splendidly had circumstances been different but it has failed without a plan B (e.g. pacy widemen) and consequently we're fitting square pegs in round holes.

Edited 16 September, 2010 by shurlock

[beatlesaint]

Sorry, but that's all I think of him. Take his free kick ability away and, IMHO, there's not a lot else

 

I suggest you take another look at the DVD of the JPT as just one example to show that clearly isn't a very balanced or accurate view.

 

He's not fully fit and off form at the moment, it happens, but to say he is nothing more than a free kick taker ?

No.

[Shroppie]

I suggest you take another look at the DVD of the JPT as just one example to show that clearly isn't a very balanced or accurate view.

 

He's not fully fit and off form at the moment, it happens, but to say he is nothing more than a free kick taker ?

No.

 

Last season he was an excellent target man, winning perhaps 80% of long balls either with a flick on or control and pass, usually out wide from where he then was getting planty of good crosses. Whilst that was the case, there was nothing wrong with the long ball tactic, mixed with a passing game. Now he's winning almost nothing so the long ball isn't working and when the ball is passed around he looks slow and is not providing movement so that isn't working either.

[beatlesaint]

Last season he was an excellent target man, winning perhaps 80% of long balls either with a flick on or control and pass, usually out wide from where he then was getting planty of good crosses. Whilst that was the case, there was nothing wrong with the long ball tactic, mixed with a passing game. Now he's winning almost nothing so the long ball isn't working and when the ball is passed around he looks slow and is not providing movement so that isn't working either.

 

Couldnt agree more.

[Clifford Nelson]

Again this was a problem last year - so lets not kid that this season's form is a bolt out of the blue. Last year we were lucky to have papa and antonio - both of whom gave us options when either Lallana or Puncheon flagged. But we still regularly went long and hit the ball in from deep positions.

 

I don't accept that we didnt try to replace to Papa or Antonio - in part we were trumped in the transfer market, but in part i think Pards tactics were also evolving. In particular, it seemed like he was putting much more emphasis on the fullbacks overlapping with the midfielders to give us width and share the load with our 'widemen'. Hence Dickson and Richardson -fullbacks who like to bomb forward- were brought in. Had the plan worked, i don't think we would have missed Antonio or Papa as much. The plymouth game showed that we could deliver decent balls (esp from the left), though that day we had no height in the box to get on the end of things. In other words, I dont think you can disconnect the shopping spree on fullbacks in the summer from the relative inattention to wingers.

 

However, Richardson's freak injury combined with doubts over Dickson's ability to defend have forced us to go back to using more traditional and defensively-minded fullbacks (Butterfield who's experienced but no springchicken and Harding who provides more width but not as adventurous as the role requires). Without that support,we've been exposed further up the pitch. As I say I think this was a deliberate plan by Pardew and might have worked splendidly had circumstances been different but it has failed without a plan B (e.g. pacy widemen) and consequently we're fitting square pegs in round holes.

 

I like your analysis, Shurlock. For the first time I now understand why we kept buying fullbacks and nothing else. It nevertheless doesn't feel like a convincing strategy if AP thought that the likes of Dickson and Richardson could provide the danger and unpredictability of Antonio and Waigo. If that is what they could have provided they wouldn't have ended up as fullbacks in the first place. That's the weakness in the thinking, not in your analysis.

 

Having had a few nagging doubts especially through the spring and early summer I also wonder if the team actually is as good as we thought it was? If our best performances last season was the team playing at it's very peak then it is childish to believe that such a level of performance can be retained game after game. In Hammond, Puncheon, Jaidi and others we have players who far too often don't come up to the heights they need to be to provide a threat at a higher level, and therefore for winning this league. We may well have deluded ourselves.

[Dr Who?]

We have created plenty of chances though, just lack sharpness in front of goal for some reason!

[PhilippineSaint]

Because Pardew has done all the scoring we will do this season.

[buctootim]

Because Pardew has done all the scoring we will do this season.

 

Thought that one was ruled offside

[Saints67]

This time last year we'd scored 8 goals. This year we have scored 7. The goals will come and we'll batter someone very very soon. Onwards and upwards.

[The Kraken]

Again this was a problem last year - so lets not kid that this season's form is a bolt out of the blue. Last year we were lucky to have papa and antonio - both of whom gave us options when either Lallana or Puncheon flagged. But we still regularly went long and hit the ball in from deep positions.

 

I don't accept that we didnt try to replace to Papa or Antonio - in part we were trumped in the transfer market, but in part i think Pards tactics were also evolving. In particular, it seemed like he was putting much more emphasis on the fullbacks overlapping with the midfielders to give us width and share the load with our 'widemen'. Hence Dickson and Richardson -fullbacks who like to bomb forward- were brought in. Had the plan worked, i don't think we would have missed Antonio or Papa as much. The plymouth game showed that we could deliver decent balls (esp from the left), though that day we had no height in the box to get on the end of things. In other words, I dont think you can disconnect the shopping spree on fullbacks in the summer from the relative inattention to wingers.

 

However, Richardson's freak injury combined with doubts over Dickson's ability to defend have forced us to go back to using more traditional and defensively-minded fullbacks (Butterfield who's experienced but no springchicken and Harding who provides more width but not as adventurous as the role requires). Without that support,we've been exposed further up the pitch. As I say I think this was a deliberate plan by Pardew and might have worked splendidly had circumstances been different but it has failed without a plan B (e.g. pacy widemen) and consequently we're fitting square pegs in round holes.

 

Hmmm; not sure I agree with that, to be honest. The signings of Richardson and Butterfield were good, and necessary. Semi wasn't good enough, neither was Lloyd James at RB, so it made perfect sense to buy League 1's leading right back plus a player who operates as mainly a RB and also other positions, and who graced the Championship last season.

 

That said, we needed to fill other positions on the pitch too. The signing of Dickson was a bit strange for me; no doubt he's a good player, but in Harding and Mills we already have two very good players for this level in that position. For an initial outlay of just £125K we've certainly got a good, young player in quite cheaply, but he doesn't really add too much to the capabilities of the squad other than to give an extra dimension at LM.

 

But I just can't agree with your assumption that it was a tactical choice not to bring in replacements for Waigo and Antonio. Not least for the fact that Pardew highlighted the need for replacements there in pre-season himself. Also, Dean Wilkins recently said that they tried to bring in players "but it just didn't happen".

 

Until I see evidence to have it disproven, I believe that Pardew knew he needed to bring in players but, for whatever reason, the right players were either not identified by Pardew or were denied to him by the transfer committee. So we started the season 3 players short of where we needed to be. It's a total club failing in my eyes.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Hmmm; not sure I agree with that, to be honest. The signings of Richardson and Butterfield were good, and necessary. Semi wasn't good enough, neither was Lloyd James at RB, so it made perfect sense to buy League 1's leading right back plus a player who operates as mainly a RB and also other positions, and who graced the Championship last season.

 

That said, we needed to fill other positions on the pitch too. The signing of Dickson was a bit strange for me; no doubt he's a good player, but in Harding and Mills we already have two very good players for this level in that position. For an initial outlay of just £125K we've certainly got a good, young player in quite cheaply, but he doesn't really add too much to the capabilities of the squad other than to give an extra dimension at LM.

 

But I just can't agree with your assumption that it was a tactical choice not to bring in replacements for Waigo and Antonio. Not least for the fact that Pardew highlighted the need for replacements there in pre-season himself. Also, Dean Wilkins recently said that they tried to bring in players "but it just didn't happen".

 

Until I see evidence to have it disproven, I believe that Pardew knew he needed to bring in players but, for whatever reason, the right players were either not identified by Pardew or were denied to him by the transfer committee. So we started the season 3 players short of where we needed to be. It's a total club failing in my eyes.

 

This.

[S-Clarke]

Sorry, but that's all I think of him. Take his free kick ability away and, IMHO, there's not a lot else

 

You obviously didn't watch him too much last season then.

 

He was pivotal in our success, take him out and 60% of our goals are flushed down the toilet.

 

He provided 22 goals, as well as scoring 38 in all competitions himself.

 

I believe only 10 of those were free kicks and penalties.

 

We're not scoring as many because lambert isn't fit, we don't have the pace in the wide areas and lallana is injured. Other than that, everything is fine. *cough*

[skintsaint]

NA will bring in loaners next week I reckon, get the next game out the way first though.

[sugarbabe64]

Anyone who was at Milton Keynes last night will tell you Lambert spent far too much time out on the wing and David Connelly all 5ft1 of him was used as our target man ffs. Shouldnt it be the other way round!!!

Milton Keynes used the Big coloured guy as a target man and were feeding off of him with their midfield pinging the ball into him and playing one twos off of him .

And to be honest Dean Hammond this year has been dreadful , along with puncheon and harding.

And im sorry but neither Aaron Martin or Seabourne are any good.

Rant over

[derry]

At the start of last season we again had a poor start and could hardly buy a goal but then we brought in Waigo whose pace and width immediately got us started scoring goals. He was then followed in by Antonio who despite being raw increased the pace and width and impact factor. As far as Pardew was concerned he didn't fancy Waigo and hardly surprisingly Waigo disliked Pardew and didn't want to stay. We are now back to square one, no real pace apart from a reasonably quick potentially good barely 17 year old.

 

The manager needs to replace Davis, Jaidi, Hammond, possibly Schneiderlin, bring in pace and width plus two strikers, one to compete and cover Lambert and a quickie. This was the requirement in June plus a right back or two which we brought in. This is essentially the Pardew promise in May to create a NPC winning side for this season including Markus's/Cortese's demand for a more exciting, compelling brand of football. Unless this is done we can kiss goodbye to a good season.

 

Why are we poor in the second half, a good bet is preparing for the season with the first team only playing in some of the matches, and then for a maximum of 45 minutes. We really were poorly prepared. I bet there is going to be some pre-season type training going on for the next three weeks.

[enzo gambaro]

Interesting one for Statisticians.

 

What was the ratio of goals scored when one of Papa or Antonio was on the pitch versus when they were not.

 

It might show the defence were tweaked to contain a different type of threat. The "Winger cutting inside and playing narrow" means less space in the middle for the strikers.

 

May be signisficant, may not be

 

Go on then, I’ll have a do.

 

League games only:

 

Papa Waigo came off the subs’ bench 24 times and was replaced in 7 of his 11 starts. Saints scored 32 times when he was on the pitch and 53 times when he wasn’t, 15 of which were in games he played no part in.

 

Antonio made 14 substitute appearances and completed just 3 of his 14 starts. Saints scored 30 times when he was on the pitch and 55 times when he wasn’t, 27 of which were in games he played no part in.

 

The pair spent just 144 minutes on the pitch at the same time all season.

 

Not sure what all that tells you, other than that I’m at a loose end at work today.

[The Kraken]

The manager needs to replace Davis, Jaidi, Hammond, possibly Schneiderlin, bring in pace and width plus two strikers, one to compete and cover Lambert and a quickie. This was the requirement in June plus a right back or two which we brought in. This is essentially the Pardew promise in May to create a NPC winning side for this season including Markus's/Cortese's demand for a more exciting, compelling brand of football. Unless this is done we can kiss goodbye to a good season.

 

I agree with the sentiments, but not the complete extent of it. In Davis and Bart we have two top end goalkeepers for this division, and I'm not sure if we could get someone in for a low price who would be significant'y better than them.

 

Jaidi is looking like age is against him; perhaps also being unfit is highlighting this, maybe he will be judged when (if) he makes it to full fitness.

 

Hammond, agree totally, he is indicative of the current malaise of the whole team. We desperately need a new CM to come in and invigorate the team.

 

Morgan, I disagree. He is a class act and even off colour is better than pretty much anything else in this division. If he needs an arm around him / kick up he arse then I expect Adkins to persevere with him.

 

We do still need at least one winger; with Lallana out we're starved of creativity and Puncheon has been largely under par. However, I think there's much more to come from Puncheon with a bit of management. Chamberlain has bags of promise but is young so the end product is not there yet. An Antonio replacement is an absolute must.

 

As for strikers, I've always believed we need one more to give Lambert a break now and again and provide a new angle. But I think Barnard has been very lively this year and I'm hopeful his return with Lambert will reap dividends.

[shurlock]

I like your analysis, Shurlock. For the first time I now understand why we kept buying fullbacks and nothing else. It nevertheless doesn't feel like a convincing strategy if AP thought that the likes of Dickson and Richardson could provide the danger and unpredictability of Antonio and Waigo. If that is what they could have provided they wouldn't have ended up as fullbacks in the first place. That's the weakness in the thinking, not in your analysis.

 

Having had a few nagging doubts especially through the spring and early summer I also wonder if the team actually is as good as we thought it was? If our best performances last season was the team playing at it's very peak then it is childish to believe that such a level of performance can be retained game after game. In Hammond, Puncheon, Jaidi and others we have players who far too often don't come up to the heights they need to be to provide a threat at a higher level, and therefore for winning this league. We may well have deluded ourselves.

 

Don't think if AP thought that Dickson and Richardson were going to replace Antonio and Papa but that them combining and overlapping with Lallana and Puncheon would have given us width and extra bodies in attack when opposing midfields came to SMS to frustrate. Unlikely it negated the need to bring in replacements for Papa and Antonio but having overlapping full-backs and the fact that Lallana and Puncheon were Pards number one choice, it may have reduced the pressure.

 

Am with you on whether our team is good as people say. We got some massive results last season, especially the run of results at the end of the season which fuelled the preseason optimism (its no coincidence that for most of that period the pressure -relatively speaking- was off us and on the likes of Colchester and Huddersfield). Different kettle of fish now the pressure is on us. More generally, to extrapolate from big displays -especially with hit-and-miss players like Puncheon- and believe we can maintain that form over the season is deluded. Fact is that we also put in some very, very ordinary performances, even when we were winning. Take out Lallana and Lambert this season and im surprised people are shocked how the first six games have gone.

[Leicestersaint]

Very poor performance (like hampshire)

[yorkiesaint]

Don't think if AP thought that Dickson and Richardson were going to replace Antonio and Papa but that them combining and overlapping with Lallana and Puncheon would have given us width and extra bodies in attack when opposing midfields came to SMS to frustrate. Unlikely it negated the need to bring in replacements for Papa and Antonio but having overlapping full-backs and the fact that Lallana and Puncheon were Pards number one choice, it may have reduced the pressure.

 

Am with you on whether our team is good as people say. We got some massive results last season, especially the run of results at the end of the season which fuelled the preseason optimism (its no coincidence that for most of that period the pressure -relatively speaking- was off us and on the likes of Colchester and Huddersfield). Different kettle of fish now the pressure is on us. More generally, to extrapolate from big displays -especially with hit-and-miss players like Puncheon- and believe we can maintain that form over the season is deluded. Fact is that we also put in some very, very ordinary performances, even when we were winning. Take out Lallana and Lambert this season and im surprised people are shocked how the first six games have gone.

 

I agree with this. The problem with Waigo and Antonio is that they provided just as much unpredictability in defence as they did in attack, and always left the full back exposed. I can't understand why there is this focus on them. Neither were a long term solution, and it makes sense to attack with full backs more frequently. We were very lucky last season that Lambert, Lallana, dare I say it, Hammond, and Schneiderlin played as many games as they did: we are not likely to get another season where we were so lucky with injuries. We need to work out a way to replace Lallana when he is out, as he is the one we are really missing at the mo.

[DAZZER82]

were missing lallanas guile and creativity around the box and antonios pace and directness at defenders. the midfield without adam just havent got a clue how to open up a defence. I can see why puncheon has never lasted at a club his final ball is pretty poor.

[derry]

I agree with this. The problem with Waigo and Antonio is that they provided just as much unpredictability in defence as they did in attack, and always left the full back exposed. I can't understand why there is this focus on them. Neither were a long term solution, and it makes sense to attack with full backs more frequently. We were very lucky last season that Lambert, Lallana, dare I say it, Hammond, and Schneiderlin played as many games as they did: we are not likely to get another season where we were so lucky with injuries. We need to work out a way to replace Lallana when he is out, as he is the one we are really missing at the mo.

 

Let me get this right, we are going to play two wide men narrow, reinforcing the central strikers, the full backs are going to be up wide to provide width, the central midfielders are going to sit deep in front of the centre backs and the counter attack when we lose possession is going to cut us to pieces down the lines. Who is covering the full backs now then?

 

The mere fact having two dangerous wide attackers inhibits the full backs from attacking, so the easy counter is to push two wide attackers into the space left behind the full backs. The full backs will no longer be able to attack freely. Playing very quick players like Waigo and Antonio wide immediately ties down the full backs. Their presence alone inhibits the full backs, our full backs weren't being attacked by two as happens when the wide men come inside and we are counter attacked wide, the opposing full backs are free to reinforce the attack. Often last season when Lallana was narrow Harding had to cope with two wide attackers down his wing.

[West End Saint]

Maybe Shurlock is onto something prehaps Pards intended 3 centre backs and wing backs in Richardson & Dickson he did go 3 at the back occasionaly when we were chasing a goal maybe he knew most teams would come to St Marys and defend.

 

However I am sure Pards wanted to replace Papa or in Antonio's case resign him we will never know who if anyone he had lined up but I am sure he wanted more players in.

 

Last season we were moving the ball quicker the interplay between Lallana & Morgan was really good the build up this season has been to slow and we were not as well prepared from pre season as would should have been.

 

I thought the 1st 3 games whilst not good enough we were not to far away 1st half Plymouth & Orient we looked good good display all game V Bolton then a 4 0 away win. I dont care what anyone says Pards sacking has had a negative affect on the team confidence has gone and they are just going through the motions.

 

Pards has gone and that is that I like Nigel Adkins think he can do a good job I hope he is the sort that can get into the players they are underpeforming and need a good bollocking we are also desperate for at least 3 loan signings to shake people out of there comfort zone.

[Doctoroncall]

I agree with Shurlock that the full backs were brought in to add a different type of attack, although whether the players knew this or didn't get what AP was saying is another matter!

 

One thing we know about Adkins from his time at the Iron is he is capable of using 'ordinary' talent and getting the most out of players so he will at least give the current players a chance. Considering he was able to make the Iron play well and as a unit, I think he has the players here to do the same. The only challenges are if a player doesn't buy into it and the time to turn the results around for a promotion push (2pts per game now). I'm not going to expect much in the next month, hopefully we can get a scrappy win or two while style and tactics come together over a longer term.

[Window Cleaner]

Go on then, I’ll have a do.

 

League games only:

 

Papa Waigo came off the subs’ bench 24 times and was replaced in 7 of his 11 starts. Saints scored 32 times when he was on the pitch and 53 times when he wasn’t, 15 of which were in games he played no part in.

 

Antonio made 14 substitute appearances and completed just 3 of his 14 starts. Saints scored 30 times when he was on the pitch and 55 times when he wasn’t, 27 of which were in games he played no part in.

 

The pair spent just 144 minutes on the pitch at the same time all season.

 

Not sure what all that tells you, other than that I’m at a loose end at work today.

 

It tells us that Antonio and Waigo not being here any more aren't the totality of the problem, the problem??? easy one; Lambert is firing on 1 cylinder out of 8 and the defence is shipping goals in roughly the same way every game.

[the saint in winchester]

Cortese should bring Waigo and Antonio back to Saints ASAP and spend some money on a new striker - Adam Le Fondre - before its too late

 

I agree. He would come for £2M transfer fee plus his wages. Get him now. The alternative is no goals, no promotion. Him or an.other goalscorer pdq.

[70's Mike]

it does not have to be Papa or Antionio BUT we need something different on the bench which offers a threat, at present we are so predictable.

[Saint_clark]

Sorry, but that's all I think of him. Take his free kick ability away and, IMHO, there's not a lot else

 

He scored 30 goals from open play last season you mug.

[Secret Site Agent]

Reasons why we arn't scoring ???

 

We have no Playmakers

 

We have no Goal chance creators

 

We have only Barnard as a recognised Goalscorer IMHO

 

Lambert you ask ?? Very good at free kicks but little else

 

WHATEVER the reason, we are bearing the brunt of NOT strengthening in ATTACK. Antonio and Waigo were not replaced, and a very BIG question has to be levelled at Cortese WHY NOT ????

 

I honestly think Pardew lost interest some time ago, over a collection of issues

 

Where Cortese did wrong was NOT addressing those issues long before the alleged "incident" which led him to act. FAR FAR TOO LATE

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I agree with your post, but not with the person responsible. It seems Managers buy players, AP should have brought the players, Cortese is only there to produce the finance and seal the deal.

 

But I would still like to think that NA will see how we have faired with and without Antonio and Waigo and, AT LEAST, look to provide players similar to them, if not those players themselves.

 

Perhaps we have become victims of our own success. We did well last season, Papa and Antonio have shown they have a valuable so no long term move unless silly money is involved, and anyone we are going for will also have an increased price tag beacause 'we can afford it'.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Last season he was an excellent target man, winning perhaps 80% of long balls either with a flick on or control and pass, usually out wide from where he then was getting planty of good crosses. Whilst that was the case, there was nothing wrong with the long ball tactic, mixed with a passing game. Now he's winning almost nothing so the long ball isn't working and when the ball is passed around he looks slow and is not providing movement so that isn't working either.

 

You have hit the nail on the head there mate - bang on centre. Lambert should be dropped, but will Adkins have the bullox to do it?

[BotleySaint]

I have heard a strong rumor we are about to sign Matthew Reece from Fulham on loan. A striker.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

We are scoring less goals because instead of having players like Waigo and Antonio in the shirt setting things up, we have Jason Puncheon spooning everything off target from all points of the compass.

[positivepete]

We are simply not attacking the ball in the box, there are few runs to get to the near post. We need to be sharper in these areas

[Give it to Ron]

You have hit the nail on the head there mate - bang on centre. Lambert should be dropped, but will Adkins have the bullox to do it?

 

That worked so well against Plymouth didnt it where we scored how many???

[Saint Fan CaM]

That worked so well against Plymouth didnt it where we scored how many???

 

Look at his contribution SINCE that game. Scored how many? He needs time to sort himself out.

[Andy Durman]

After a bit of reflection time I am now in agreement with NC that AP had to go for this club to progress to the next level.

 

In NA we trust. This could be a Roy Of The Rovers Season. Lets start tomorrow

[Give it to Ron]

1 and who else has scored since Lambert ???

Barnard who has been suspended and played against Plymouth.

So how does he sort himself out if he is not playing matches?

[NickG]

We are scoring less goals because instead of having players like Waigo and Antonio in the shirt setting things up, we have Jason Puncheon spooning everything off target from all points of the compass.

 

puncheon was ahead of those two last season when we were doing well

[kpturner]

It makes me laugh when football supporter start talking about this mystical "plan b" as if it is the silver bullet to all crap performances and/or form.

 

Does anyone know what "plan b" actually is or what it should be?