Manner of our wins

[NickG]

A few weeks ago (around Yeovil game ) some posters were moaning that we were not winning pretty and blowing teams away.

 

I think that was a turning point in our season, Adkins showed that, rather than losing the dressing room, or being clueless he knew what was needed to grind out wins in this league.

 

Said in first half that you just know, with ability of players and Adkins tactics we will get the win.

 

Still playing nice football at times but this team looks like winners.

[moon monkey]

The thing is, we are blowing teams away. We dominate posession in most games but with the oppositions determination to have 10 men behind the ball, it is sometimes taking a long time to get that first goal.

[NickG]

and we now finish games more strongly than we start.

[shurlock]

and we now finish games more strongly than we start.

 

Which isn't necessarily a good thing - apart from Charlton, it feels like an eternity when we last scored (at SMS) in the first half. Under Pards and even with the same stifling tactics, we tended to fly out of the blocks and get a few quick goals; though if that didn't happen, we would run out of ideas and get increasingly desperate.

[david in sweden]

A few weeks ago (around Yeovil game ) some posters were moaning that we were not winning pretty and blowing teams away.

I think that was a turning point in our season, Adkins showed that, rather than losing the dressing room, or being clueless he knew what was needed to grind out wins in this league.

Said in first half that you just know, with ability of players and Adkins tactics we will get the win.

 

Still playing nice football at times but this team looks like winners.

 

good points Nick G.

 

I think it's good to see that in games that last 95 mins. or more, we can hold out to the final whistle and score even in the closing stages when many sides have tired, or try to pack-up shop.

[Turkish]

Which isn't necessarily a good thing - apart from Charlton, it feels like an eternity when we last scored (at SMS) in the first half. Under Pards and even with the same stifling tactics, we tended to fly out of the blocks and get a few quick goals; though if that didn't happen, we would run out of ideas and get increasingly desperate.

 

 

You're right, it's a very bad thing to finish games strongly. I'd rather we didn't have the points we got by scoring late against Brighton, Exeter, Bristol Rovers etc, we dont deserve them because the goals didn't come in the first half.

[sadoldgit]

Surely it is not how you start or finish, it is whether you end up with the three points? Fair play to Adkins, this half of the season he has got the team grinding out results. Teams like Man U don't always play fantastic football but they do usually manage to up a gear and get the goal(s) to win games and that is what we have been doing since Christmas. It probably helps that Huddersfield are keeping up the pressure as there is no room for error. Adkins and his players know that they have to go out and win every match and that helps the focus. I am particularly pleased that he went for the 3 points at Brighton too rather than take his foot off the gas and go for winning the remaining games.

[hypochondriac]

A few weeks ago (around Yeovil game ) some posters were moaning that we were not winning pretty and blowing teams away.

 

I think that was a turning point in our season, Adkins showed that, rather than losing the dressing room, or being clueless he knew what was needed to grind out wins in this league.

 

Said in first half that you just know, with ability of players and Adkins tactics we will get the win.

 

Still playing nice football at times but this team looks like winners.

 

Have to admit, hadn't been to a game for a little while and I was impressed with our performance yesterday. I think I have an unhealthy love for Fonte. By far my favourite player, he is just sooo classy.

[hypochondriac]

Surely it is not how you start or finish, it is whether you end up with the three points? Fair play to Adkins, this half of the season he has got the team grinding out results. Teams like Man U don't always play fantastic football but they do usually manage to up a gear and get the goal(s) to win games and that is what we have been doing since Christmas. It probably helps that Huddersfield are keeping up the pressure as there is no room for error. Adkins and his players know that they have to go out and win every match and that helps the focus. I am particularly pleased that he went for the 3 points at Brighton too rather than take his foot off the gas and go for winning the remaining games.

 

Yep. We have certainly improved this second half of the season. Overall if we finish in second I will grade this season a B+.

[farawaysaint]

Dear God we're actually going to do it aren't we? Years of supporting this team and receiving naught but misery in return,

(occasionally interspersed with some pant-****ting) and we're actually going to do it It's about damn time Southampton you beautiful beautiful team

[shurlock]

You're right, it's a very bad thing to finish games strongly. I'd rather we didn't have the points we got by scoring late against Brighton, Exeter, Bristol Rovers etc, we dont deserve them because the goals didn't come in the first half.

 

Not the point - just drawing attention to the fact that we don't get alot of early goals. We were pretty wasteful first half yesterday, not least the number of crosses that went into the box and nobody was in the middle and its striking how we don't try to test the keeper early with a few shots from distance.

 

Obviously it doesn't matter when the goals come as long as we win and its great we've developed some steeliness, patience and belief (if Norwich go up, it will be because they pushed to the end); but there's no reason why we we can't both start and finish strongly, right? After all, opponents grow more confident the longer the score stays at parity and there will be times -as in the past under Adkins- when we leave ourselves too much to do because we didn't capitalise early.

Edited 26 April, 2011 by shurlock

[hypochondriac]

Dear God we're actually going to do it aren't we? Years of supporting this team and receiving naught but misery in return,

(occasionally interspersed with some pant-****ting) and we're actually going to do it It's about damn time Southampton you beautiful beautiful team

 

I see you've lined up the chickens but they still have their shells on. My advice is don't. Not yet.

[Minty]

There is no doubt that our resilience and composure, even when faced with 11 men behind the ball, has been excellent, and Adkins has instilled this. Panic and anxiety are no longer an issue - just a calm belief that we can and will score.

 

That said, shurlock's point is valid to a point.

 

There are some interesting stats that relate. The first, and most obvious is the 'fail to score' stats, which show us having failed to score in 13 of our 43 games, 30%, which is quite a lot: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/failtosc.html

 

But, it's not for the lack of trying. After 41 games, our number of shots, and shots on target were the highest in the whole division (extrapolated from here: http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues), being 545 total shots, 312 on target. Peterborough had 530 shots, with only 271 on target, Brighton 430/220, Hudds 484/229.

 

Once we do lead, we never lose. We're the only team in League 1 with this record, having inflicted Brighton's first 'defeat after leading' on Saturday: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptslost.html

 

We have also won the most games having gone behind (7), which underlines the resilience and belief: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptsgain.html

 

So, all in all, I would say the manner of our victories has been very good, but with a bit more luck/better finishing/less inspired opposing goalkeepers, we would've been champions. Room for improvement, yes, but you have to be happy with how things are going. If anything, it's that room for improvement that gives me the most optimism for next season, once Adkins has had a full pre-season to really get the team firing.

Edited 26 April, 2011 by Minty

[Minty]

Oh, also, we've had the lowest number of shots and shots on target against us in the whole League too, which shows our defensive prowess. Whether they go in is of course down to the quality of the shot and our goalkeeper!

[up and away]

Not the point - just drawing attention to the fact that we don't get alot of early goals. We were pretty wasteful first half yesterday, not least the number of crosses that went into the box and nobody was in the middle and its striking how we don't try to test the keeper early with a few shots from distance.

 

Obviously it doesn't matter when the goals come as long as we win and its great we've developed some steeliness, patience and belief (if Norwich go up, it will be because they pushed to the end); but there's no reason why we we can't both start and finish strongly, right? After all, opponents grow more confident the longer the score stays at parity and there will be times -as in the past under Adkins- when we leave ourselves too much to do because we didn't capitalise early.

 

It's very rare that I disagree with your view on players, tactics and the game, but this time I feel you have it the wrong way round. It's true we don't capitalise early enough but that I feel is just the natural course of events. The opposition put in the concentration and effort early doors, but that gradually fades as those powers diminish with extended pressure and it becomes more easier to score later than earlier.

 

The main reason we leave ourselves too much to do is because we have exposed ourselves to the counter attack with our bias upon getting those early goals. We then have a race to claw back what we have given away and sometimes that is just too much. Whereas nowadays if we have not given the opposition first half gifts, it's very rare the game is not ours at the end. Brighton are the classic example, they take in the opposition and see what they have to offer, then start probing their weaknesses, building that to a crescendo as needs must. This is the percentage way to get results and I am just so glad we have wised up to this eventually.

 

One player that has been vital to this approach has been Guly. He has been the tin opener and the difference between how we used to drag into a stalemate rather make it all look comfortable at the end. If you look back to having Lallana and Oxo on the wings, we either dominated teams or if they managed to resist long enough, floundered because the opposition knew what was coming and got into an easy rythym resulting in us losing points. The one very noticeable difference between Adkins and Pardew is that Adkins gets the players to follow his instructions. I don't believe there is a lot of difference between how Adkins and Pardew wanted to play the game, as evidenced by Pardews disgust with the players when they never followed orders.

 

Apart from individual errors, our weakness has always been the midfield, either being over run by numbers or the gaps down the flanks. It was interesting to hear what you said about the midfield against Brighton, where we had some control for a change. Normally with the extra attacker they tend not to cover for the full back and it's a question of whether the threat is sufficient to pin their defence back or expose our defence. When you look at how unbalanced our team becomes at times, with the amount of out and out attackers on the pitch, it should really comes as no surprise that the opposition can easily open us up if we are not doing the business in front of their goal.

[Charlie Wayman]

The trick is not to worry at all during a game, cast your minds forward to waht it will be like at 90 minutes and say to yourself 'we'll probably win 1-0 or 2-0' and you won't even remember you felt and other way earlier.

[Charlie Wayman]

It's very rare that I disagree with your view on players, tactics and the game, but this time I feel you have it the wrong way round. It's true we don't capitalise early enough but that I feel is just the natural course of events. The opposition put in the concentration and effort early doors, but that gradually fades as those powers diminish with extended pressure and it becomes more easier to score later than earlier.

 

The main reason we leave ourselves too much to do is because we have exposed ourselves to the counter attack with our bias upon getting those early goals. We then have a race to claw back what we have given away and sometimes that is just too much. Whereas nowadays if we have not given the opposition first half gifts, it's very rare the game is not ours at the end. Brighton are the classic example, they take in the opposition and see what they have to offer, then start probing their weaknesses, building that to a crescendo as needs must. This is the percentage way to get results and I am just so glad we have wised up to this eventually.

 

One player that has been vital to this approach has been Guly. He has been the tin opener and the difference between how we used to drag into a stalemate rather make it all look comfortable at the end. If you look back to having Lallana and Oxo on the wings, we either dominated teams or if they managed to resist long enough, floundered because the opposition knew what was coming and got into an easy rythym resulting in us losing points. The one very noticeable difference between Adkins and Pardew is that Adkins gets the players to follow his instructions. I don't believe there is a lot of difference between how Adkins and Pardew wanted to play the game, as evidenced by Pardews disgust with the players when they never followed orders.

 

Apart from individual errors, our weakness has always been the midfield, either being over run by numbers or the gaps down the flanks. It was interesting to hear what you said about the midfield against Brighton, where we had some control for a change. Normally with the extra attacker they tend not to cover for the full back and it's a question of whether the threat is sufficient to pin their defence back or expose our defence. When you look at how unbalanced our team becomes at times, with the amount of out and out attackers on the pitch, it should really comes as no surprise that the opposition can easily open us up if we are not doing the business in front of their goal.

 

I agree with all of that. Well expressed. Thank you.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

From listening the Brighton game on the radio (and as such I am depending on the viewpoints of the commentators) it sounded like we played 3 different formations in the game, and it was the third formation (ostensibly a 4-3-3 but probably more of a 4-2-1-3) that finally paid off for us, it's good to see a manager not only changing the personnel during the game but also radically altering the formation to exploit the oppositions weaknesses or ratchet up the pressure.

 

For all the negativity surrounding the diamond Adkins is not averse to changing things if it's not working, the sign of the good manager IMHO.

[Dellman]

What impresses me is that the squad can adapt to all the tactical changes in the midst of the game, the idea that footballers are a bit thick is old hat, this squad is highly adaptable and that means highly intelligent, good sign for the Premiership future!

[The9]

Dear God we're actually going to do it aren't we? Years of supporting this team and receiving naught but misery in return,

(occasionally interspersed with some pant-****ting) and we're actually going to do it It's about damn time Southampton you beautiful beautiful team

 

Eeeeeeeeeeeeek, one's broken ranks ! GET BACK IN LINE !!!!

 

It's bad enough with what I can only assume are the newcomers at the back singing about us "going up" before it's a mathematical certainty.

 

Living with the fear and expectation that we will find a way to fcvk it up is what separates Saints fans from the animals. Except the weasel.

[The9]

From listening the Brighton game on the radio (and as such I am depending on the viewpoints of the commentators) it sounded like we played 3 different formations in the game, and it was the third formation (ostensibly a 4-3-3 but probably more of a 4-2-1-3) that finally paid off for us, it's good to see a manager not only changing the personnel during the game but also radically altering the formation to exploit the oppositions weaknesses or ratchet up the pressure.

 

For all the negativity surrounding the diamond Adkins is not averse to changing things if it's not working, the sign of the good manager IMHO.

 

Standing in the ground, I can assure you that none of us who were there will be able to assist with this !

Vague 4-3-3ness was about as specific as it got from my vantage point - and even then Hammond kept dropping into the back line to collect the ball with the full backs ahead of him and Fonte and Jaidi split to the widths of the area, which is hardly typical of a centre midfielder in a 4-3-3.

[doddisalegend]

A few weeks ago (around Yeovil game ) some posters were moaning that we were not winning pretty and blowing teams away.

 

I think that was a turning point in our season, Adkins showed that, rather than losing the dressing room, or being clueless he knew what was needed to grind out wins in this league.

 

Said in first half that you just know, with ability of players and Adkins tactics we will get the win.

 

Still playing nice football at times but this team looks like winners.

 

surely you mean look like runners up?............

[The9]

The trick is not to worry at all during a game, cast your minds forward to waht it will be like at 90 minutes and say to yourself 'we'll probably win 1-0 or 2-0' and you won't even remember you felt and other way earlier.

 

I bet £2 on Hartlepool on Monday, entirely due to my expectation that we'd be a tired side not up for the visit of mediocre Hartlepool after the excitement of Brighton. That and the 6/1 odds.

 

As soon as I saw that we'd made 6 changes I was significantly more at ease with Saints' chances, we hadn't weakened, we had players playing for their places, there was no obvious weakness out wide, and we had enough creativity to break the stubbornest side down.

[NickG]

surely you mean look like runners up?............

 

no.

[doddisalegend]

no.

 

but they haven't one anything yet, well I suppose some of them won the JPT.......

[sandwichsaint]

There is no doubt that our resilience and composure, even when faced with 11 men behind the ball, has been excellent, and Adkins has instilled this. Panic and anxiety are no longer an issue - just a calm belief that we can and will score.

 

That said, shurlock's point is valid to a point.

 

There are some interesting stats that relate. The first, and most obvious is the 'fail to score' stats, which show us having failed to score in 13 of our 43 games, 30%, which is quite a lot: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/failtosc.html

 

But, it's not for the lack of trying. After 41 games, our number of shots, and shots on target were the highest in the whole division (extrapolated from here: http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues), being 545 total shots, 312 on target. Peterborough had 530 shots, with only 271 on target, Brighton 430/220, Hudds 484/229.

 

Once we do lead, we never lose. We're the only team in League 1 with this record, having inflicted Brighton's first 'defeat after leading' on Saturday: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptslost.html

 

We have also won the most games having gone behind (7), which underlines the resilience and belief: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptsgain.html

 

So, all in all, I would say the manner of our victories has been very good, but with a bit more luck/better finishing/less inspired opposing goalkeepers, we would've been champions. Room for improvement, yes, but you have to be happy with how things are going. If anything, it's that room for improvement that gives me the most optimism for next season, once Adkins has had a full pre-season to really get the team firing.

 

All good stuff but that's the killer Stat in bold - there can't be many (any?) better records than that in the whole four leagues - that resiliance and will-to-win will serve us massively next season.

[shurlock]

It's very rare that I disagree with your view on players, tactics and the game, but this time I feel you have it the wrong way round. It's true we don't capitalise early enough but that I feel is just the natural course of events. The opposition put in the concentration and effort early doors, but that gradually fades as those powers diminish with extended pressure and it becomes more easier to score later than earlier.

 

The main reason we leave ourselves too much to do is because we have exposed ourselves to the counter attack with our bias upon getting those early goals. We then have a race to claw back what we have given away and sometimes that is just too much. Whereas nowadays if we have not given the opposition first half gifts, it's very rare the game is not ours at the end. Brighton are the classic example, they take in the opposition and see what they have to offer, then start probing their weaknesses, building that to a crescendo as needs must. This is the percentage way to get results and I am just so glad we have wised up to this eventually.

 

One player that has been vital to this approach has been Guly. He has been the tin opener and the difference between how we used to drag into a stalemate rather make it all look comfortable at the end. If you look back to having Lallana and Oxo on the wings, we either dominated teams or if they managed to resist long enough, floundered because the opposition knew what was coming and got into an easy rythym resulting in us losing points. The one very noticeable difference between Adkins and Pardew is that Adkins gets the players to follow his instructions. I don't believe there is a lot of difference between how Adkins and Pardew wanted to play the game, as evidenced by Pardews disgust with the players when they never followed orders.

 

Apart from individual errors, our weakness has always been the midfield, either being over run by numbers or the gaps down the flanks. It was interesting to hear what you said about the midfield against Brighton, where we had some control for a change. Normally with the extra attacker they tend not to cover for the full back and it's a question of whether the threat is sufficient to pin their defence back or expose our defence. When you look at how unbalanced our team becomes at times, with the amount of out and out attackers on the pitch, it should really comes as no surprise that the opposition can easily open us up if we are not doing the business in front of their goal.

 

I can see where you're coming from - and like you believe that throwing caution to the wind from the off will just lead to the sucker-punch. Of course, there's an important distinction to draw between home and away games: when we're away, the longer we keep the score at parity, the more likely I think we'll nick it and yes I worry about our midfield getting over-run, though maybe that's an argument for changing our tactics altogether and playing more CMs. However, at home when the expectation is that the opposing team will park the proverbial bus and we're up against pretty predictable L1 opposition, I think we should press more. Only a handful of teams -Bristol Rovers, Norwich and Swindon last season and MK Dons and to a lesser extent Huddersfield this season have worried me on the break with their pace and incision.

 

And by pressing I dont mean throwing Jaidi and Fonte upfront or asking Hammond to hold the line as the rest of the midfield is gung-ho. I mean taking a few more shots - how many long range strikes from open play have we scored this season? I went to MK Dons-Huddersfield game on Friday and was struck by how willing Huddersfield were happy to shoot on sight - their opener against the run of play came from one of their players willingness to gamble. They did something similar to us at their place in October. For all their strengths, the likes of Lallana, Guly and even Lambert who is much less instinctive than last year like to take an extra touch and work the ball into the box. Hammond seems more willing; but we surely have cleaner strikers of a football.

 

I also mean the likes of Lambert not dropping so deep to collect the ball -surely something you start to do when you start chasing a game? The number of times we break or get crosses into the box and nobody is in the centre can be frustrating. Someone should genuinely lead the line and stay at the top. Perhaps too much being asked of Lambert - some of his approach play from deep is fantastic but he's also being asked to finish it off. Its one reason I rate Connolly - he complements Lambert perfectly and the partnership reminds me of a L1 Rooney and Hernandez.

 

Minty's stats are fascinating: we are the third top scorers in the division and yet have failed to score in 30.2 percent of our games which puts us 15th in the league. What's going on there? Surely that's an area which is begging for improvement?

Edited 26 April, 2011 by shurlock

[um pahars]

A few weeks ago (around Yeovil game ) some posters were moaning that we were not winning pretty and blowing teams away.

 

Have to say that I disagree with your opening premise here, in that I don't really remember people moaning about not winning pretty or blowing teams away (apart from the odd loon, who is probably a Portsmuff fan anyway).

 

However, I can remember many giving their own honest assessment of our performances and being open and honest in believing that some of them have been below par. This was both from an individual player's perspective and also from a team perspective.

 

I certainly believe that for a period of time after the Oldham away game we were underperforming and nowhere near at our best (but was also more than happy to be racking up the points despite this). I accept injuries took their toll, other teams looking to park the bus at St Mary's etc played their part, but I also felt a few players were underperforming and that in a number of games our shape and set up didn't look quite right.

 

The overwhelming majority of posters were delighted that we were picking up points from these below par performances and most recognised that at this stage of the season and in this division putting points on the board takes precedent over anything, but I don't think there is anything wrong with being critical of performances, particuarly given the squad at our disposal and having one eye on where we are going as a Club.

[NickG]

there was a difference of opinion, some thought we were playing under par but winning which gave great confidence it would continue, some said those performance had made them lose confidence in Adkins (Fitz) or that he has lost the changing room (Wayman).

 

I think we are playing some good football, but even when we don't we appear an efficient confident team likely to win

[up and away]

I can see where you're coming from - and like you believe that throwing caution to the wind from the off will just lead to the sucker-punch. Of course, there's an important distinction to draw between home and away games: when we're away, the longer we keep the score at parity, the more likely I think we'll nick it and yes I worry about our midfield getting over-run, though maybe that's an argument for changing our tactics altogether and playing more CMs. However, at home when the expectation is that the opposing team will park the proverbial bus and we're up against pretty predictable L1 opposition, I think we should press more. Only a handful of teams -Bristol Rovers, Norwich and Swindon last season and MK Dons and to a lesser extent Huddersfield this season have worried me on the break with their pace and incision.

 

And by pressing I dont mean throwing Jaidi and Fonte upfront or asking Hammond to hold the line as the rest of the midfield is gung-ho. I mean taking a few more shots - how many long range strikes from open play have we scored this season? I went to MK Dons-Huddersfield game on Friday and was struck by how willing Huddersfield were happy to shoot on sight - their opener against the run of play came from one of their players willingness to gamble. They did something similar to us at their place in October. For all their strengths, the likes of Lallana, Guly and even Lambert who is much less instinctive than last year like to take an extra touch and work the ball into the box. Hammond seems more willing; but we surely have cleaner strikers of a football.

 

I also mean the likes of Lambert not dropping so deep to collect the ball -surely something you start to do when you start chasing a game? The number of times we break or get crosses into the box and nobody is in the centre can be frustrating. Someone should genuinely lead the line and stay at the top. Perhaps too much being asked of Lambert - some of his approach play from deep is fantastic but he's also being asked to finish it off. Its one reason I rate Connolly - he complements Lambert perfectly and the partnership reminds me of a L1 Rooney and Hernandez.

 

Minty's stats are fascinating: we are the third top scorers in the division and yet have failed to score in 30.2 percent of our games which puts us 15th in the league. What's going on there? Surely that's an area which is begging for improvement?

 

You have left me with nothing to argue again, just add some details for interest. I fully agree about how we set up at home and away, even my dislike of the diamond is muted at home, especially against the lesser teams. The diamond itself is not the issue, it's the players you have to put in those positions, their form and what the opposition have got to offer. Tactically we have been the easiest team in the division to spot the weanesses, with the classic being Rochdale where they switched from their normal diamond to a 442 to get after us down the flanks. Still that makes a change from earlier in the season where the opposition just had to mob the middle of the park to see all supply to the forwards cut off and the defence have their arses exposed.

 

Poyet is right in that we have the best individuals, but not the best team. We have so many good attackers that the option of playing them all seems too much to resist. It's ok when all those attackers generate the pressure, but teams have found it possible to double up on them and expose our midfield. If our attackers are putting in the performance there is little doubt, when they don't the midfield gets dominated and no supply line to those forwards. Why those figures of Minty's make perfect sense.

 

For the team to advance in the Championship there are two conumdrums we need to solve, Guly and Lambert. Guly is relatively simple, don't rely upon a disciplined performance from midfield until he proves he can do it, but like the only tin opener at a jamboree, you just can't do without him. Ricky is a far more difficult problem that I cannot get my head round. He's a real Saints fan and puts his heart and soul into everything for us. His touches and passing between the halfway line and the 18 yard box are a joy to watch, but he is not going to lever Guly out of that position, still leaving us short of a striker. If he could tackle or defend then midfield could be an option, but I just have not seen that. Connolly seems to work like a charm with Ricky, reminding me of Quinn and Phillips to a lesser degree. Will Connoley stay fit? but someone like Mackail-Smith would have been perfect if we signed him. I don't know what has happened to Ricky, but something is still not right. He's jumping for the ball now although not scoring that many headers. Why he has only scored from one free kick this season further baffles? It's a dead ball and they were pinging in from everywhere last season with the goalie having no chance. Give the penalties to another player and you are at the same scoring level as Guly, but having played twice the amount of games. This so reminds me of Rasiak where it required so much support to deliver the goods because of the lack of pace, resulting in the midfield becoming unbalanced. The only thing that makes any sense is the same problem as Fuller, where his knees took a couple of seasons to recover. To me Connolley has shown the shortcomings in the Ricky Lee partnership and it should be either Connoly or someone like Mackail-Smith in the future. I desperately want Ricky to come good again, but if that's not possible I would readily drop him from most of the away games. This may seem a little harsh on Lee, who could even work better with another striker, but I would give it another go in trying to get Ricky up to what's required.

[doddisalegend]

There is no doubt that our resilience and composure, even when faced with 11 men behind the ball, has been excellent, and Adkins has instilled this. Panic and anxiety are no longer an issue - just a calm belief that we can and will score.

 

That said, shurlock's point is valid to a point.

 

There are some interesting stats that relate. The first, and most obvious is the 'fail to score' stats, which show us having failed to score in 13 of our 43 games, 30%, which is quite a lot: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/failtosc.html

 

But, it's not for the lack of trying. After 41 games, our number of shots, and shots on target were the highest in the whole division (extrapolated from here: http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues), being 545 total shots, 312 on target. Peterborough had 530 shots, with only 271 on target, Brighton 430/220, Hudds 484/229.

 

Once we do lead, we never lose. We're the only team in League 1 with this record, having inflicted Brighton's first 'defeat after leading' on Saturday: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptslost.html

 

We have also won the most games having gone behind (7), which underlines the resilience and belief: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/ptsgain.html

 

So, all in all, I would say the manner of our victories has been very good, but with a bit more luck/better finishing/less inspired opposing goalkeepers, we would've been champions. Room for improvement, yes, but you have to be happy with how things are going. If anything, it's that room for improvement that gives me the most optimism for next season, once Adkins has had a full pre-season to really get the team firing.

 

All good stuff but that's the killer Stat in bold - there can't be many (any?) better records than that in the whole four leagues - that resiliance and will-to-win will serve us massively next season.

 

Last season we came from behind (in that the oppostion scored first) 8 times in all comps to go onto win, twice more we managed to come from behind to salvage a draw. This team was built by one manager and is now being taken up (80% sure) by another fair play to both those managers for building the sort of team that has a winning mentality.

[doddisalegend]

You have left me with nothing to argue again, just add some details for interest. I fully agree about how we set up at home and away, even my dislike of the diamond is muted at home, especially against the lesser teams. The diamond itself is not the issue, it's the players you have to put in those positions, their form and what the opposition have got to offer. Tactically we have been the easiest team in the division to spot the weanesses, with the classic being Rochdale where they switched from their normal diamond to a 442 to get after us down the flanks. Still that makes a change from earlier in the season where the opposition just had to mob the middle of the park to see all supply to the forwards cut off and the defence have their arses exposed.

 

Poyet is right in that we have the best individuals, but not the best team. We have so many good attackers that the option of playing them all seems too much to resist. It's ok when all those attackers generate the pressure, but teams have found it possible to double up on them and expose our midfield. If our attackers are putting in the performance there is little doubt, when they don't the midfield gets dominated and no supply line to those forwards. Why those figures of Minty's make perfect sense.

 

For the team to advance in the Championship there are two conumdrums we need to solve, Guly and Lambert. Guly is relatively simple, don't rely upon a disciplined performance from midfield until he proves he can do it, but like the only tin opener at a jamboree, you just can't do without him. Ricky is a far more difficult problem that I cannot get my head round. He's a real Saints fan and puts his heart and soul into everything for us. His touches and passing between the halfway line and the 18 yard box are a joy to watch, but he is not going to lever Guly out of that position, still leaving us short of a striker. If he could tackle or defend then midfield could be an option, but I just have not seen that. Connolly seems to work like a charm with Ricky, reminding me of Quinn and Phillips to a lesser degree. Will Connoley stay fit? but someone like Mackail-Smith would have been perfect if we signed him. I don't know what has happened to Ricky, but something is still not right. He's jumping for the ball now although not scoring that many headers. Why he has only scored from one free kick this season further baffles? It's a dead ball and they were pinging in from everywhere last season with the goalie having no chance. Give the penalties to another player and you are at the same scoring level as Guly, but having played twice the amount of games. This so reminds me of Rasiak where it required so much support to deliver the goods because of the lack of pace, resulting in the midfield becoming unbalanced. The only thing that makes any sense is the same problem as Fuller, where his knees took a couple of seasons to recover. To me Connolley has shown the shortcomings in the Ricky Lee partnership and it should be either Connoly or someone like Mackail-Smith in the future. I desperately want Ricky to come good again, but if that's not possible I would readily drop him from most of the away games. This may seem a little harsh on Lee, who could even work better with another striker, but I would give it another go in trying to get Ricky up to what's required.

 

According to the interview in saturdays programme he was carrying a knee injury for the first half of the season which he admits effected his ability to train as hard as he need to resulting in his fitness levels dropping. His reduced fitness meant he struggled in games and his confidence dropped (according to rickie himself) apparently he has only just started to get back into shape and get his confidence back, he admitted he had not had a good season by his own standards. So despite being unfit for half a season and having a crisis of confidence he has still managed 18 goals and a shed loads of assits.

[Saint_lambden]

When you watch the extended highlights of our games on SaintsPlayer, you can see that Lambert is involved in nearly EVERY goal we score. Although peeling wide is sometimes frustrating, he does it so well because he can pick a great ball out. I think he'll be fine next season if(when) we're in the Championship, just one more top striker in and we'd be pretty sorted up top with Barney, Lambert, Guly, new striker and possibly Connolly although I should imagine he'll be off. Barnard being out was a blow but David has come in and been brilliant. How many other side's in the league can lose one quality striker and bring another who's total class? Because Brighton it seems were not themselves without Murray when he went off Saturday at the Withdean.

 

On another note, watching some of yesterday's game back, Connolly and Lallana were just majestic on the ball despite Hartlepool's attempts to mark them out the game, the later especially.

 

It might not be as entertaining as under Pardew but we've got the results we've needed without any off-the-field issues(dealt with the Puncheon saga well) and Nigel's just kept his head down and got on with it. I reckon come promotion and that last game at Walsall, he'll just explode with relief and joy after being fairly conservative in front of the interviewers all season.

 

Will be fascinating to see how we play and who we bring in for next season, and although we aren't there just yet, I already can't bloody wait.

[Graffito]

Another telling statistic - Goals conceded 36, matched only by Brighton. "Defences win Championships"

[SaintBobby]

I was told - or think I read somewhere - that we've scored over 70% of our goals in the second half...is this right?

 

(sorry, if this was covered above or in one of the links and I didn't see it).

 

Big upsides for me:

 

1. The team has a fitness level that's impressive (at least relative to other League one teams). I don't remember this since the heights of the Strachan era. Some people say that Lambert looks knackered towarsd the end of matches - but perhaps he stands out so much because he's the only player who looks tired.

2. Whatever Adkins is doign in the half time team talk is working

3. The steelinees, grit and will to win is there. And the team doesn't panic. It's not as if, with 20 minutes to go, we start firing in wild shots from 30 yards out. We stick to the gameplan.

 

Big downside:

 

It would be nice to have more games effectively "put to bed" by the 60 minute mark, simply for our nerves/sanity/heart conditions.

[saint lard]

Have to say that I disagree with your opening premise here, in that I don't really remember people moaning about not winning pretty or blowing teams away (apart from the odd loon, who is probably a Portsmuff fan anyway).

 

However, I can remember many giving their own honest assessment of our performances and being open and honest in believing that some of them have been below par. This was both from an individual player's perspective and also from a team perspective.

 

I certainly believe that for a period of time after the Oldham away game we were underperforming and nowhere near at our best (but was also more than happy to be racking up the points despite this). I accept injuries took their toll, other teams looking to park the bus at St Mary's etc played their part, but I also felt a few players were underperforming and that in a number of games our shape and set up didn't look quite right.

 

The overwhelming majority of posters were delighted that we were picking up points from these below par performances and most recognised that at this stage of the season and in this division putting points on the board takes precedent over anything, but I don't think there is anything wrong with being critical of performances, particuarly given the squad at our disposal and having one eye on where we are going as a Club.

 

This is a very good post and encapsulates my stance on the subject pretty perfectly.

Our performances,both individually and collectively for the majority of times, have been just a tad disappointing/underwhelming,this and for this reason only i have been critical of Adkins.

[Saint]

I really don't have a problem with this. Although it's not as pretty to watch, we do sit on top of teams for the whole 90 and dominate them.

 

It frustrates me so much hearing people moan about it. Especially the two idiots sat behind me in the Kingsland. They don't know anything about the game they pay to watch.

 

The moans and groans everytime the ball goes back to Davis. What? We can't pass backwards to keep possession? They would rather it was lumped forward every 5 seconds.

 

They were getting so frustrated and shouting in my ear when we were 2-0 up in the 86th minute and keeping the ball. "Cross it. CROSS IT!!" To who exactly? There's no one in the box because IT'S THE END OF THE GAME AND WE'RE WINNING YOU SPAC!!

 

Sorry.

[Alain Perrin]

I think there is a 'Southampton Way' of playing and that is to make it hard for ourselves (MK Dons at home is a classic example, as was Saturday when we were 1 nil up and they were down to 10 men - we almost threw it away.

 

That said it is hard to play against sides that park the bus in front of goal. We're the kind of team that likes to get on the bus, and that's hard when it's parked and the doors are shut....

 

What Adkins has instilled is patience (I saw him having a 'thrombo' when Richardson launched an aimless ball up to no one on Monday), and that has helped us breakdown defensive minded teams.

 

The mentality of the crowd is funny too. There's a loon behind me who shouts "Forward" at every opportunity. We're passing the ball across the back four, looking for a space, an opportunity, and this guy is shouting "Forward!" like a crazed WWI general. With park the bus teams you can't rush things and that will lead to less pretty football.