Addressing our home form

[GeckoSaint]

If remember correctly under Strachan when the results at home weren't going our way, didn't he have the first team training at the stadium to get the players used to playing there.

 

I wonder if Jan & co would be/is taking the same steps to turn things around?

[eelpie]

If remember correctly under Strachan when the results at home weren't going our way, didn't he have the first team training at the stadium to get the players used to playing there.

 

I wonder if Jan & co would be/is taking the same steps to turn things around?

 

Good point, but too obvious, so I doubt it.

[Whitey Grandad]

Good point. It could be that from the middle of the pitch the ends and the sides look the same. That would explain why we play the ball sideways and backwards so much. If by any chance we make progress towards their goal then it's purely random.

[krissyboy31]

If remember correctly under Strachan when the results at home weren't going our way, didn't he have the first team training at the stadium to get the players used to playing there.

 

I wonder if Jan & co would be/is taking the same steps to turn things around?

 

I think it's time for the return of the white witch!!

[St_Tel49]

I think it's just a complex they have now. They don't relax as much at home, and it doesn't take long at all for the crowd to get on their backs. Even when they're not, it's not necessarily good support, more an expectancy of not winning, or quiet, which is understandable. I just think the fans need to play their part and keep right behind the players for 90 minutes. Just need to get that win at home and hopefully more will follow. What better chance than saturday? Don't forget, we were pretty good against Reading too, so there was a slight improvement. I'm not about to count the Man Utd game for anything.

To be fair Adrian , I have not really heard the crowd get on their back, in fact any nice bit of work by our players gets applauded. Maybe sometimes there is a reaction when someone makes a mistake but that is just the usual frustration when any player makes a mistake at any time (they are not allowed errors you know ;-) )

[derry]

It would help, if we played the whole width of the pitch, rather than 15-20 yds inside the touchlines. It is so easy to compact the defence and defend in depth. Unless we sort this problem we will struggle to win at home.

[Frank's cousin]

I think sometimes we do forget these are young players thouigh who are more likely to be effected by any adverse reaction to mistakes - you notice the nervousness that can creep in with the lads who are usually very confident on the ball, looking to get rid quick and thus our passing game breaks down. But confidence is also affected by the the style and formation. go with two yup front and get told to as Derry says to maximise width - use the pitch and get to the byline and things go better - its no coincidence that we have looked more ineffective since we seem to have pulled back on the more free attacking style from the first month or so, where we looked good, but maybe a bit naive - now we just look naive and opften poor as a result - If you are going to ghet beat, might as well bet get beat in style! ;-)

[SaintDonkey]

It would help, if we played the whole width of the pitch, rather than 15-20 yds inside the touchlines. It is so easy to compact the defence and defend in depth. Unless we sort this problem we will struggle to win at home.

 

I'm pretty sure we could narrow the pitch at St Mary's and still be within the allowed size - the rules of the game say between 45 and 90 metres is allowed but I guess there will be separate rules for the football league as I don't see many teams playing on pitches 45 x 90 metres!

 

Do you seriously think it would help?

[derry]

I'm pretty sure we could narrow the pitch at St Mary's and still be within the allowed size - the rules of the game say between 45 and 90 metres is allowed but I guess there will be separate rules for the football league as I don't see many teams playing on pitches 45 x 90 metres!

 

Do you seriously think it would help?

 

The rules are common whatever the competition or country. Maximum width if you need to get round or through a defence. Minimum or reduced width helps the defence.

 

If our team took a leaf out of Man Utd's team play, they have two players one each on both the touchlines, joined by the fullback on the play side.

 

They also always keep the wide players from being sucked in, providing two players wide of the back post. They score loads of goals because of this. They are always getting in crosses from the byeline.

 

Surely if it's good enough for MU to play this way, why don't we copy them. Our wide players are always too narrow. We scored at Barnsley because Holmes was 20 yds out on the back post, classic Utd, the first time it's happened this season.

[70's Mike]

at home you have to pass it forward and take the game to the opposition rather than hit them on the break.

Our big problem is that our defence is not good enough to stand on its own so we pack midfield to protect it

[Saintsnodisbelieving]

I think this weekend could be a turning point for the team.

 

 

SAINTS 5/4 DRAW 12/5 DONCASTER 12/5

 

A must win game for the SAINTS as they want to draw clear of the relegation, and the next two matches are crucial. The prices for SAINTS have lengthened thanks to Charlton's poor form and you can get 4/1 on us finishing bottom, not that we want to bet on this.

 

Anytime goal scorers range from 13/8 for McGoldrick or 13/5 for BWP. We have 6/1 for Surman who has cooled off recently since being out of the team. Or you could go with one of the defenders to score in 90 mins, Molyneux at 12/1 or Perry at 20/1. I honestly think a goal could be scored by anyone in the SAINTS side at the moment, so it may well be worth looking down the list on the team sheet to midfield and defenders for anytime prices.

 

As for the final score itself, I am thinking 2-0 to the SAINTS which is priced at 9/1 but you have to cover the usual SAINTS event which is a goal less draw which is 8/1, either way I just hope we win.

 

http://saintsnodisbelieving.blogspot.com/

[david in sweden]

If remember correctly under Strachan when the results at home weren't going our way, didn't he have the first team training at the stadium to get the players used to playing there.

 

I wonder if Jan & co would be/is taking the same steps to turn things around?

 

 

Agreed, but I still get back to my two favourite topics; statistics and ... luck.

 

..of the SIX home defeats, FOUR have been by only one goal margins.

one goal in these games would have given us 4 more points instead of NONE.

..of the SIX drawn games, one more goal in each game would have won it for us giving us 12 points more.

Totalling 16 points more (would be 42, thats 8th spot-presently C.Palace) and in shouting distance of a play-off spot, as

our away record is already BETTER than half the other teams in this league.

 

NOW is the point in time that everyone mails back and calls me an idiot, by saying that we ought to be in 8th spot.. I'm not BUT according to the FA website Saints (despite their low goal tally) have had MORE SHOTS ON GOAL than almost everyone else in the division. In fact McGoldrick has one of the highest counts of shots.

 

YES -we have poor marksmen, although " inexperienced " would be a better word. IF LUCK has any part in football,

which it obviously does, then at some point in time the reverse situation will help us.

 

(I'm still sounding stupid to some of you,) because this rational isn't going to change the table now,

but with better luck -we will turn it around, wait and see.

[Gorgiesaint]

The rules are common whatever the competition or country. Maximum width if you need to get round or through a defence. Minimum or reduced width helps the defence.

 

Not entirely true, according to this article on the BBC site a couple of days ago...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brechin_city/7828495.stm

 

although doesn't answer the question why Brechin need a UEFA licenced pitch??!!

[Pilchards]

swap changing rooms!

 

The players when sitting in the home changing room have a feel of depression because after every game they will be slumped on the bench wondering how they never won again.

 

I bet you could ask any footballer on what there greatest victory every was and they would instantly know what they did in that changing room afterwards because it was all smiles.

 

 

Discuss?

[jam]

swap changing rooms!

 

The players when sitting in the home changing room have a feel of depression because after every game they will be slumped on the bench wondering how they never won again.

 

I bet you could ask any footballer on what there greatest victory every was and they would instantly know what they did in that changing room afterwards because it was all smiles.

 

 

Discuss?

 

The home and away changing rooms are designed quite differently as a method of giving an advantage to the home team, home room more open, away room more cramped, something like that.

 

There's a video somewhere on the Sky website with MTL doing a tour.

[John Boy Saint]

I think it's time for the return of the white witch!!

 

I have been saying that every since the longest slow motion car crash in history began. But then the Politburo won't look beyond the sound and rational for even the faintest hope of a solution.

 

Someone said about the changing rooms, we use psychological tactics in there, obviously they need revisiting because they are not working at the moment. Maybe the mirrors behind the toilet doors should be changed from ones where you can admire the wedding vegetables to ones that make those parts look tiny and the upper ones make you look a bit of a bunter. Or get someone to really polish the floor like Shankly use to instruct at Anfield.

[saint1977]

at home you have to pass it forward and take the game to the opposition rather than hit them on the break.

Our big problem is that our defence is not good enough to stand on its own so we pack midfield to protect it

 

The most sensible post on this thread. Our midfield stifles itself, not the opposition and gets in each other's way. Playing 2 up front with Holmes, probably our best crosser of the ball available tommorrow, something to aim at and using a lot more width would help. Doncaster are similar to ourselves - some talented playmakers like Brian Stock but lacking punch up front so time to lift a bit of the blanket and have a go. Our back 4 would be strengthened if Sajies and Perry both start with only James as the weak link at RB. A point is useless tommorrow so we need to go for the 3 points.

[eelpie]

The most sensible post on this thread. Our midfield stifles itself, not the opposition and gets in each other's way. Playing 2 up front with Holmes, probably our best crosser of the ball available tommorrow, something to aim at and using a lot more width would help. Doncaster are similar to ourselves - some talented playmakers like Brian Stock but lacking punch up front so time to lift a bit of the blanket and have a go. Our back 4 would be strengthened if Sajies and Perry both start with only James as the weak link at RB. A point is useless tommorrow so we need to go for the 3 points.

 

But a defeat will be disastrous.

[derry]

Not entirely true, according to this article on the BBC site a couple of days ago...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brechin_city/7828495.stm

 

although doesn't answer the question why Brechin need a UEFA licenced pitch??!!

 

My comment is not really about the dimensions, the width of the pitch is variable between maximum and minimum dimensions. However once a pitch is marked out, that's the way it stays. If a team changed the dimensions it would have to be verified legal.

 

We need to play to the touchlines not 15 to 20 yds inside.

[70's Mike]

Agreed, but I still get back to my two favourite topics; statistics and ... luck.

 

..of the SIX home defeats, FOUR have been by only one goal margins.

one goal in these games would have given us 4 more points instead of NONE.

..of the SIX drawn games, one more goal in each game would have won it for us giving us 12 points more.

Totalling 16 points more (would be 42, thats 8th spot-presently C.Palace) and in shouting distance of a play-off spot, as

our away record is already BETTER than half the other teams in this league.

 

NOW is the point in time that everyone mails back and calls me an idiot, by saying that we ought to be in 8th spot.. I'm not BUT according to the FA website Saints (despite their low goal tally) have had MORE SHOTS ON GOAL than almost everyone else in the division. In fact McGoldrick has one of the highest counts of shots.

 

YES -we have poor marksmen, although " inexperienced " would be a better word. IF LUCK has any part in football,

which it obviously does, then at some point in time the reverse situation will help us.

 

(I'm still sounding stupid to some of you,) because this rational isn't going to change the table now,

but with better luck -we will turn it around, wait and see.

 

I suspect that most home defeats in english football are one nil because once teams get in front they tend to shut up shop.

 

Anyone who has seen the home defeats will tell you we were lucky on most occasions to only lose by one

[VectisSaint]

Agreed, but I still get back to my two favourite topics; statistics and ... luck.

 

..of the SIX home defeats, FOUR have been by only one goal margins.

one goal in these games would have given us 4 more points instead of NONE.

..of the SIX drawn games, one more goal in each game would have won it for us giving us 12 points more.

Totalling 16 points more (would be 42, thats 8th spot-presently C.Palace) and in shouting distance of a play-off spot, as

our away record is already BETTER than half the other teams in this league.

 

NOW is the point in time that everyone mails back and calls me an idiot, by saying that we ought to be in 8th spot.. I'm not BUT according to the FA website Saints (despite their low goal tally) have had MORE SHOTS ON GOAL than almost everyone else in the division. In fact McGoldrick has one of the highest counts of shots.

 

YES -we have poor marksmen, although " inexperienced " would be a better word. IF LUCK has any part in football,

which it obviously does, then at some point in time the reverse situation will help us.

 

(I'm still sounding stupid to some of you,) because this rational isn't going to change the table now,

but with better luck -we will turn it around, wait and see.

Equally, if 4 of our 5 opponents in our away wins this season had scored 1 more goal we would be bottom of the table with just 2 wins all season.

[Dalek2003]

I think the Saints fans should adopt the away colours and support the away team and leave a few thousand fanatical saints fans in a corenr of the ground and surrounded by the old bill to create an away atmosphere at every home game.