The outcome at Manchester City was positive despite it still being a defeat, but it shouldnt gloss over the fact that we are still a few players short in this squad.

No one can deny that Saints put in a battling performance at Manchester City, but in the happiness at not being slaughtered its been somewhat forgotten that we were beaten and that like last season some good work for most of the game was undone by poor defending at the back.

In many respects defensively the game on Sunday suited us more than most of our matches in the Championship, last season we spent a lot of time in the opposition half, the downside of this was that too often we were susceptible to being caught on the break, with our defence holding a line up near the half way line they were open to being exposed for pace.

But at City and in fairness many away games this season it will be totally different from last, at the Etihad we were holding our back line for much of the game on the edge of our own box, this meant that City couldnt get in behind us or run at us much, so our back four was not as exposed as much as it could have been, but if we want to win games of football in the Premier we are going to have to tighten up at the back.

As good as the result feels we still shipped three goals and although it could be said that we scored two and it could have been more, the same could be applied to City who with 20 shots on our goal during the game on another day could have turned it into the rout that we feared before the game.

Yes we battles and there can be no doubting the spirit, but we wont stay up on spirit alone and the weaknesses that most of us agreed were there before the start of the season are still there and need addressing.

A look at our bench on Sunday showed how little we had to bring on aside from the three changes we made, Im sure that the likes of Luke Shaw and Jamie Ward-Prowse will be great players for Saints, but they have to be used properly and allowed to develope rather than being expected to come in and do a mans job when not only do they not have enough experience yet, but nor do most of the players around them at this level, yes if you are good enough you are old enough, as the old saying goes, but we dont want to burn them out.

Saints in my mind could do with making a minimum of three key signings, we still need at least one centre back and a wide player on both sides of the pitch, that is an absolute minimum in my opinion and it seems that Nigel Adkins feels the same way judging by the players we are chasing, it was a positive performance on Saturday, but we now have to put in another 37 of them and pick up points, to do that like any team we have to keep on improving.     

Photo: Action Images

slynch added 09:55 - Aug 21 You're not wrong there. Where would the team be if 2 out of the back 4 got injured? A new good LB (they're a bit rare) and 2 meters of centre back wouldn't go amiss. Lee, De Ridder can do the job on the wings, Hammond Cork and Chaplow in midfield but defence has little quality cover unless I'm wrong about the kids. I'm sure Adkins knows all this and is beavering away behind the scenes and the good showing on Sunday will surely help the recruitment drive.

0

vectis added 10:41 - Aug 21 Yup. Still need those centr-halves. Maybe a left back. And wingers if Ramirez and Phillips don't sign (which I personally suspect they won't). The Tello link is weird unless we have given up on either Phillips or Ramirez or both. And Biglia? Another central midfielder? Surely that's just somebody in the press getting bored.
0

Kiwifiedpom1 added 10:51 - Aug 21 Your continued complaining of lack of signings are getting a bit monotonous, Nick. We all know that Cortese and Adkins are fully aware of the shortfall and are trying to rectify the problem. If the right people are not available or we have wealthy clubs competing for the same players. Sooner or later we will get the right players.
0

SingaporeSaint added 11:59 - Aug 21 Fair enough comments for me - we are short and we should have done our business already - our dealings have been drawn out to say the least. We have a few good players, great spirit and exciting youth products - I'd like to see the likes of Sinclair and Hoskins to get some game time this season. We need to strenghten at the back (arguably every position other than RB) and at least one top level pacey wide player to give us an outlet and we'll look a decent side who will win games in this league.. All of Sun's goals were very preventable..

0

schatfield added 13:11 - Aug 21 Nick, how come you never mentioned us being linked with Ramirez, or Forte and Barnard leaving on loan (and both scoring at the weekend as well), or other transfer news...
0

SaintNick added 15:45 - Aug 21 I did a piece on ramirez at the end of last week, forte and barnard leaving on loan was a bit old hat by the time i got back from City etc
0

SaintNick added 15:48 - Aug 21 I agree kiwi that me harping on about lack of signings is monotonous, but then again our failure to land players in key positions in the 14 weeks or so since the end of last season is also monotonous, yes we may land some of the targets later rather than sooner but that could be crucial come the end of the season, if we fail to beat Wigan i feel that I will still be a voice of reason, yet many will start to complain about the lack of signings. Yes there are many clubs who arent landing targets, but then again there are plenty that are

0

smiffdub added 15:55 - Aug 21 all the talk about central defenders and wingers...anyone else think our goalie looked very much off the pace all game?
0

saint22 added 16:07 - Aug 21 Nick is a bit monotonous about defenders but that doesnt mean he is wrong. It was a position that needed strengthening last season and all close season and still isn't. agreed good defenders are short on the ground but we should be sniffing around all and any available. personally i am not even sure we need ramirez AND Philips?? and a goalie is required too. if we want to stay in the PL we need strength in depth, end of story

0

schatfield added 16:16 - Aug 21 re smiffdub's comment, yeah our goalie looked off the pace all game, and is a concern. the new boy cant replace him, so you either buy someone else or stick with though. Personally i would be happy if we could get another goalie, 1 more central defender and Matt Philips thank you very much!!
0

sidsaint added 20:33 - Aug 21 Other clubs still seem more active than us. Bassong to Norwich today and maybe Dawson to QPR. With 2 weeks to go I would prefer to get defenders and others in sooner rather than later it would also see us going into the Wigan game building on last Sundays momentum.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Derby County Polls