Bizarre Team Selection

[big nuts]

So your up against the runaway league leaders who have won 19 league matches in a row. Knowing Southampton's style as we do they are a big, fit, fast and physical side. Surely you should try to combat that by playing players with an engine and work rate who can match them.

Instead we play three players in Harley, Paynter and Navarro when we had better options on the bench. The one I can understand to an extent is Navarro as he is a decent holding player, but this game was crying out for Sparrow's engine.

Worst still was playing Harley and although he wasn't too bad today he is a passenger when we haven't got the ball and we needed to be far more solid.

But the absolute cherry on the cake was picking Paynter. Jesus Christ he could well be up there with Damian Hilton in the absolute pile of shit stakes. He looks and plays like a part-time player in the Unibond league who plays football to supplement his income as a trucker. The fact Gus has signed him is fairly worrying as he feels he has to play him to justify himself.

I know we are struggling with injuries, but there were too many league one players on show for us today and we need to improve quickly. Getting Hoskins, Buckley, Vicente & Reyes fit will undoubtedly help, but based on this season how often will they play between them.

Finally Tanno should hold his head in shame, he got away with it against Woking away but he has let himself and his team mates down again. What example does that set to the rest of the squad when your assistant manager cannot keep his mouth shut.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

We have NO creativity. We create NO chances far to often... Once again, zero attempts on target as well...

 

[BLOCK F]

I may be wrong, but I thought Buckley was fit..........but not even on the bench?

 

[fleet]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

 

[algie]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

Don't be sensible mate. It pretty obvious Gus didn't want some of our players in a physical battle while regaining fitness. I'm sure Buckley was spared today as well.

 

[Bigtomfu]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

Yep that's right let's decide we've already lost a game and focus on the one next week. That's why Poyet discussed the importance of this game, for him, compared even to the Palace game.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

I really hope this is the case! The thought of Bridcutt, Buckley, Noone and Vicente in midfield inspires me to believe we will be okay.
Leaving Bridcutt with Navs' and Harley for company does not.

 

[big nuts]

We would have been better of playing 4-5-1 with Noone & Lua Lua on either wing which would have enabled us to get a grip in the midfield with 3 central midfielders. I know it's not playing to CMS strengths but needs must at the moment and he would do a good job up there with his work rate and hold up play. Plus he might get more service from wide areas.

The other factor is it allows Sparrow to support the striker which I believe is probably his best role as we still haven't seen him consistently produce his best form for the club.

 

[bhamex1901]

I know many will disagree but Dicker did provide a creative spark, without him or even a better player signed in January, we really could be struggling.

 

[BLOCK F]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

Hmmm,I didn't think of that,but I am not convinced;after all Gus said this was a mighty important game!

 

[big nuts]

Maybe the team selection was to focus on getting the points against Coventry and not risk the ones coming back from injury until then?

I sincerely hope not as that is surely cheating the 3000+ travelling fans who went under the impression this was a bigger game than Palace.

 

[kevtherev]

Every time is see Navarro and Bridcutt in the same side I fear for us. Not that I got anything against either player, Bridcutt has been outstanding so far this season and I don't mind Navarro either. But both players are defence minded and neither cant turn defence into attack quick enough. It invites pressure and is asking for trouble, yes we got away with it against Barnsley but that was a home game and one we should be winning and it wasn't a great performance, more a case of job done. The only way these two can play in the same side is if we play 4-4-2 with two attacking wide players out of Lualua, Buckley, Noone, Vicente. If them options are not avalible then playing these two in the same side is never going to results in creating many chances, so a smash and grab 1-0 or a 0-0 or a loss and more often than not, it will be the latter.But one thing it will never ever be, is entertaining football.

 

[fleet]

Hmmm,I didn't think of that,but I am not convinced;after all Gus said this was a mighty important game!

He wasn't really going to say "we have no chance I am putting the B team out", was he?

 

[BLOCK F]

He wasn't really going to say "we have no chance I am putting the B team out", was he?

No ,of course he wasn't;but not even on the bench?He,s got to play some time!

 

[Diego Napier]

I really hope this is the case! The thought of Bridcutt, Buckley, Noone and Vicente in midfield inspires me to believe we will be okay.
Leaving Bridcutt with Navs' and Harley for company does not.

I agree, well almost! Good as Bridcutt is, I think we would be understrength in the ball winning department without partnering him with one of Reyes, Vincelot or Sparrow. Unless we're really dominating or chasing a result, having both Buckley and Noone on the pitch along with 2 strikers might be a luxury that would expose our midfield too much to counter attack.

 

[Shooting Star]

What really worries me is yesterday was almost exactly the same squad he put out against Watford.

How we're expected to pass the ball and stretch the field playing on only one wing I don't know.

Is it any coincidence that pretty much every game's team selection since the Palace game has had some bizarre element to it? Tanno coming out of retirement, Buckley and Jara Reyes either getting injured before the game or it being reported they'll be in the squad when they're not, Harley etc. Wasn't there a possibility that Vicente would play against West Ham? Well, a month later and he's no closer to the lineup. Things are incredibly weird at the moment.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I agree, well almost! Good as Bridcutt is, I think we would be understrength in the ball winning department without partnering him with one of Reyes, Vincelot or Sparrow. Unless we're really dominating or chasing a result, having both Buckley and Noone on the pitch along with 2 strikers might be a luxury that would expose our midfield too much to counter attack.

Very fair point. I guess I was going with the formation/line-up that would spend more time passing and attacking thus relieving some of the pressure on the defence!

 

[perseus]

So your up against the runaway league leaders who have won 19 league matches in a row. Knowing Southampton's style as we do they are a big, fit, fast and physical side. Surely you should try to combat that by playing players with an engine and work rate who can match them.

Instead we play three players in Harley, Paynter and Navarro when we had better options on the bench. The one I can understand to an extent is Navarro as he is a decent holding player, but this game was crying out for Sparrow's engine.

Worst still was playing Harley and although he wasn't too bad today he is a passenger when we haven't got the ball and we needed to be far more solid.

But the absolute cherry on the cake was picking Paynter. Jesus Christ he could well be up there with Damian Hilton in the absolute pile of shit stakes. He looks and plays like a part-time player in the Unibond league who plays football to supplement his income as a trucker. The fact Gus has signed him is fairly worrying as he feels he has to play him to justify himself.

I know we are struggling with injuries, but there were too many league one players on show for us today and we need to improve quickly. Getting Hoskins, Buckley, Vicente & Reyes fit will undoubtedly help, but based on this season how often will they play between them.

Finally Tanno should hold his head in shame, he got away with it against Woking away but he has let himself and his team mates down again. What example does that set to the rest of the squad when your assistant manager cannot keep his mouth shut.

I agree with you:

Southampton v Brighton Hove Albion **** Official Match Thread ****

I would not have played Harley, Dunk or Paynter. That was before the start. At home, I think I would have preferred Sparrow to Navarro. And not Dicker to either of them.

And as for Taricco getting sent off. Faced with the most appalling referee I have ever seen, and the most ridiculous decision. I am tended to think he was somewhat restrained.

 

[Mackenzie]

It looked like a case of playing a defensive system to grind out a 0-0.....to be fair it worked quite well in the first half.