Will Still sounds like a Labour Party MP when he pins explains why Southampton are not yet firing on all cylinders in their rather slow start to the season, but perhaps he does have a point.

I am not particularly political, but it does make me laugh when I hear one of our Government ministers pinning the blame on the legacy of "The Previous Government" in literally every interview as to why things are not going right for them.

I want to hear them tell me what they are going to do to change things, I know what has gone wrong in the past, tell me about the future.

So I did find it rather ironic when Will Still said this about Shea Charles & Flynn Downes :

"The areas in which they receive the ball - I think they've been used to being played in and just bouncing it back and not turning and looking forward.

"Especially Flynn. So it's getting them into areas where they can receive and actually look forward, rather than just play a set and keep possession in a really small space.

"It's like you're going to quit smoking, it takes a long time. Not that I smoke at all, but you know what I mean. It's not going to happen overnight."

Asked if his side will look much different in the way they play on Saturday, Still said:

"Hopefully a lot. [Before the derby] we'd had sort of 48 hours.

"We had the Thursday session, where we couldn't do a lot because you can't. Then we had a quick session on the Saturday before the game, but you don't really have time.

"You can explain it on a video or you can show it on a board, but it doesn't feel the same. We've had a full week this week where we've been through a lot.

"It's a lot of information for them to sort of grasp and get hold of and move forward with, but there's only one way that you get things right.

"It's by repeating it and doing it again and correcting when it isn't right. We just haven't had time to do that."

He added: "I've been asked, 'Why don't you just play all the new players and get rid of the dead wood?' It's not dead wood. There are some very good players.

"They're just in a process of recovering from stuff and moving forward and learning a new way of doing things. I'll give you an example.

"I stopped a session the other day because we'd lost a ball playing short. And you ask the question, 'Where's the space?' And they all say, 'It's over there'.

"'So why don't you play it?' I said, and they reacted, 'I'm allowed to'. It's like, yeah, you're allowed to. They are still getting out of old habits."

In truth I think Will Still does have a point, those that played under Russell Martin seem to be struggling a little to shake off the strict regime that he imposed on them in using the ball, although in fairness Shea Charles was not here last season, so should have shaken off that weight on his shoulders in his year at Sheffield Wednesday.

A large part of his squad now either didn't play under Russell Martin, or like Cameron Archer played little, he and Roerslev, Finn Azaz & Tom Fellows in the starting line up. don't really have the baggage that the other 6 in the outfield starting line up do and as mentioned Shea Charles wasn't here last season.

Of the 5 subs used only Adam Armstrong played a significant amount of games, Ross Stewart only a handful, Jay Robinson. Leo Scienza & Casper Jander none at all.

So it is good to see that Still has identified the problems, I'm just a little disappointed that he has pointed the finger directly at certain individuals, it should be a team issue, not an individuals.

But hopefully we can now move forward starting at Hull, the influx of new signings will certainly bring a fresh outlook to the squad and one not tainted by previous systems.

All Photos Via Reuters

ElSanto added 10:36 - Sep 19 Yeah, I was surprised at naming Flynn, but he hasn't been good. Will show his character if he bucks up his ideas or if he huffs. Casper Jander there waiting in the wings if he keeps up his form. Shea has been way better and can only see him getting better.
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highfield49 added 10:44 - Sep 19 I'm disappointed that you've decided to include political comment in your analysis Nick. I hope you don't turn the forum into a lap dog of the partisan right wing press, which always dictates the narrative. Other than that, an interesting insight into the "old habits die hard" assessment by Will Still.
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Boris1977 added 11:44 - Sep 19 Not a great deal has changed at the club over the past 4 seasons. Still the same absence of decent CBS and lack of goalscorer and stacking the team high in mediocrity continues. Sports Republic view us a championship club so that's what we've become. There are worse places to be I guess. COYRs
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saint_jon_74 added 14:33 - Sep 19 Looking forward to seeing Leo Scienza & Casper Jander settle in and provide a positive contribution to the team.
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Bowlercow added 17:22 - Sep 19 Anyone listening to the Will Still press conference will quickly hear that this guy knows what he is doing.He wasn't particularly critical of any individual but more concerned with helping them all to accept a different system. It took RM 2 months plus to accept his system and this may even take a tad longer I remain confident that we have a coach who's determined and capable of giving us a great future

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bryanK added 18:34 - Sep 19 I think the manager is spot on. I previously mentioned the 2 centre backs who persistently play the crap served up by Russell Martin and Downes falls into this mould of negative tippy tappy rubbish. If the Manager expects them to change and they continue with this awful style of play just leave them out. New broom I would rather have and a more direct style of play. Onwards and upwards!!

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mascott514 added 19:47 - Sep 19 Refreshing to listen to him. Results is all that will matter eventually- but he has an interesting honest approach. You feel he doesn't suffer fools
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FrankSaint added 20:08 - Sep 19 Did Flynn Downes learn from Russell Martin to slow down every time he gets the chance to bring the ball forward on the counter attack, so that the opposition can get their shape back? Just asking?
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