Identity It’s A Crisis Can’t You See sang punk rock band X Ray Spex back in 1977 and those words ring true today for a Southampton side that doesn’t quite seem to know which way they should be playing.

Will Still has a few decisions to make today ahead of the game against table topping Middlesbrough, after nearly two months of the season he hasn’t yet decided who his best defence is and up front his best strikers, that has led to shoddy goals conceded due to the American old lack of organisation and going forward the chopping and changing both in the starting line up and also substitutions means that we seem to never quite know where whoever is up front will be.

Good sides ae well drilled and know how they are set out to play and play to a system, but what is our system ?

Two years ago under Russell Martin we might not have liked the tippy tippy football, but we knew how we played and so did the players, it was boring to watch at times, but when we went forward we knew where Adam Armstrong was going to be.

Arguably we have the best forward line in the division, Armstrong, Archer & Stewart are all proven goalscorers at this level, Jay Robinson is a talent and `Damion Downs is struggling but he isn’t being helped by the service is getting.

With a forward line like that we shouldn’t be struggling, but there is no cohesion in our play going forward, at Hull we played with wingers, but we also played a team with no height going forward, the big strong Championship defenders lap up our crosses.

So what is Will Still’s game plan ? That is the question that needs answering, when it fails in the first half, it’s chop and change and we lose shape.

Two years ago we beat Leeds at St Mary’s to finally click into gear and went on a 22 game unbeaten run in the League, hopefully we will do that again today, but it is hard to see it happening.

We can all see what the problems are but it seems that Will Still still can’t

It is hard to write a preview when you just can’t see what we are trying to do.

Via Reuters

saintmark1976 added 09:36 - Sep 27 A season defining game already Nick. Lose today and we will be four wins and a draw behind Middlesbrough before October. You are not alone in being unable to see what we are trying to do. Worryingly, based on all the evidence so far neither is Will Still or for that matter Sports Republic.
0

HythePeer added 10:29 - Sep 27 I think it was 1978?
0

BigbadBarry8myboat added 12:09 - Sep 27 Saints best defence is one without Bazunu, Stephens or THB in it as the display at Liverpool showed. Yes McCarthy gave away a goal but how many games has he played? Bazunu messed up regularly and he's the number 1. As for up top it's difficult and all our strikers are out of form. However with Fellows and Wee man out wide, surely we have to play Stewart for his presence, especially with Downs having issues.

2

Staycalm added 13:02 - Sep 27 Can't argue with bigbadBarry's comments. Let's just hope that at 1 minute past 2pm, we aren't scrathing our heads at the starting eleven!! Hope that McCarthy and back 5 start again and that the goal keeping coach has instilled in McCarthy to put it into Row Z, if he comes under pressure and is in doubt!
1

underweststand added 14:10 - Sep 27 without meaning to sound sarcastic , I think THB and Capt. Jack are suffering from the football version of PTSD. Last season was a nightmare for everyone and the thought they might get through a game without conceding ..must be a humbling thought every game. I wasn't disappointed with the back line v Liverpool, so if it ain't broke ...you know the rest.
0

underweststand added 14:10 - Sep 27 without meaning to sound sarcastic , I think THB and Capt. Jack are suffering from the football version of PTSD. Last season was a nightmare for everyone and the thought they might get through a game without conceding ..must be a humbling thought every game. I wasn't disappointed with the back line v Liverpool, so if it ain't broke ...you know the rest.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Derby County Polls