Very strong side. 9 professional and 2 kids. Statement of intent. Big night for DJ, Dobson & Morgan to try and play themselves back into the starting 11
Enjoyed the Crawley match and it gave us a chance to see Davison and CBT could move up the pecking order.
Won't watch tonight as going to grass roots match but not sure if this is mentioned any where else but who decided that Gunter, Washington and Ghandour missing meant we needed to call the match off at the weekend ?
I can't see us getting any momentum at this rate.
You get match fit by playing matches.
The part time players I know prefer to play Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday, rather than play Saturday, train Tuesday and Thursday and then play Saturday again.
Who's decision is it to use the International games to get a postponement ?
The two weeks break didn't help before the Cheltenham game when the first 45 minutes was a horror show where no energy was on show !
Taylor, Bielik, Gallagher, Williams is understandable but there was a Welshman, Irishman, and a young guy from the Lebanon, and once upon a time........
Rotherham have 3 call ups so would have binned it off anyway. It is what it is
Wouldn't have Blackett-Taylor anywhere near that team. I'd have his fast twitch fibres rested up under a 6 month contract extension with extra year if he makes 30 appearances. Same goes for Purrington, wouldn't risk his hamstrings after pre-season.
Bit worried he's gone 433 again. He needs to utilise his best formation, one where all our strange players can slot in and out of. No problem trying something different the last 20 minutes, but not Adkin's formation methadone of 433.
That front 6 played together have proven themselves incapable of creating chances - very odd and dont expect anything different tonight
I completely agree they were void of any ideas or imagination. But it’s Southampton under 21s in a pointless competition not Sheffield Wednesday in the league.
Looks more like a point proving exercise than a useful match to get the team cohesive and gelling and fit which it could have been - anyway,what do we know ?
I too enjoyed the Crawley game and I will be going tonight. Amazing that we can put out a reserve team with only 2 youth team players in it. When was the last time that happened I wonder?
Wouldn't have Blackett-Taylor anywhere near that team. I'd have his fast twitch fibres rested up under a 6 month contract extension with extra year if he makes 30 appearances. Same goes for Purrington, wouldn't risk his hamstrings after pre-season.
Bit worried he's gone 433 again. He needs to utilise his best formation, one where all our strange players can slot in and out of. No problem trying something different the last 20 minutes, but not Adkin's formation methadone of 433.
It's exactly the same formation as we have played all season bar 1 game. It's always 433/4231 when we lose but suddenly everyone thinks the same players, in the same formation is 442 when we win.
A flat back 4, 2 "holding" midfielders, 2 wingers, a "number 9" with someone behind him. Write it how ever you like but it's the same formation Adkins has played in 18 of the 20 league games he has been in charge of.
Any time I’ve seen anything of Harness I’ve liked his play as a keeper. I hope saying that doesn’t put the mockers on anything. We have actually cultivated a nice furrow of new keepers right now, I don’t really know why Henderson has been added.
Starting XI makes sense to me - we have lots of players still
looking to get minutes in their legs, and time on the pitch together to
build understanding and partnerships. Makes sense to rest most of the
starters from Saturday, but also makes sense to use the game as an
opportunity for first team squad members to get the minutes they need,
especially with a break for internationals following this match.
Some of you are now in the mindset to criticise anything and everything now though.
Wouldn't have Blackett-Taylor anywhere near that team. I'd have his fast twitch fibres rested up under a 6 month contract extension with extra year if he makes 30 appearances. Same goes for Purrington, wouldn't risk his hamstrings after pre-season.
Bit worried he's gone 433 again. He needs to utilise his best formation, one where all our strange players can slot in and out of. No problem trying something different the last 20 minutes, but not Adkin's formation methadone of 433.
It's exactly the same formation as we have played all season bar 1 game. It's always 433/4231 when we lose but suddenly everyone thinks the same players, in the same formation is 442 when we win.
A flat back 4, 2 "holding" midfielders, 2 wingers, a "number 9" with someone behind him. Write it how ever you like but it's the same formation Adkins has played in 18 of the 20 league games he has been in charge of.
Lee looked more like a striker than midfielder on Saturday, but otherwise I agree it’s not that different.
NA is taking this cup seriously. I think he wants a trip to Wembley.
Interesting that Henderson doesn't get a start.
We've got a 2 week gap between matches, and a number of senior players who've not had many minutes recently, so why not play them instead of in a meaningless behind closed doors match. Also surprised Henderson isn't featuring
Interesting that Dempsey is playing, I assume that the EFL squad rules don't apply to this competition, as he's overage and not in our submitted squad?
Disappointed that we are not taking the opportunity to gel the starting 11 from Saturday.
I hope he is at least playing the same way as the 4-3-3 he played Saturday. Or as I prefer to call an attacking 4-5-1. At least we can start settling on a formation.
Wouldn't have Blackett-Taylor anywhere near that team. I'd have his fast twitch fibres rested up under a 6 month contract extension with extra year if he makes 30 appearances. Same goes for Purrington, wouldn't risk his hamstrings after pre-season.
Bit worried he's gone 433 again. He needs to utilise his best formation, one where all our strange players can slot in and out of. No problem trying something different the last 20 minutes, but not Adkin's formation methadone of 433.
It's exactly the same formation as we have played all season bar 1 game. It's always 433/4231 when we lose but suddenly everyone thinks the same players, in the same formation is 442 when we win.
A flat back 4, 2 "holding" midfielders, 2 wingers, a "number 9" with someone behind him. Write it how ever you like but it's the same formation Adkins has played in 18 of the 20 league games he has been in charge of.
Lee looked more like a striker than midfielder on Saturday, but otherwise I agree it’s not that different.
When you play well, Crewe, 1st half of Gillingham, about 15 minutes of MKD, most of Saturday, the "10" will look more like a "9" when you play badly, almost all the rest of the season, he will look more like an "8".
The only time I have seen us play a flat 3 was the preseason game against Fulham when Morgan and Clare clearly flanked Dobson.
Comments
Bit worried he's gone 433 again. He needs to utilise his best formation, one where all our strange players can slot in and out of. No problem trying something different the last 20 minutes, but not Adkin's formation methadone of 433.
A because he can learn how to organise a defence
B so he can clear up Pearce's mistakes
MacGillivray -> Harness
Inniss -> Elerewe
Famewo -> Pearce
Gunter -> Purrington
Washington -> Kirk
Otherwise, six players that started that game are starting tonight: Matthews, Dobson, Clare, Morgan, Jaiyesimi, Stockley
Amazing that we can put out a reserve team with only 2 youth team players in it. When was the last time that happened I wonder?
NA is taking this cup seriously. I think he wants a trip to Wembley.
Interesting that Henderson doesn't get a start.
A flat back 4, 2 "holding" midfielders, 2 wingers, a "number 9" with someone behind him. Write it how ever you like but it's the same formation Adkins has played in 18 of the 20 league games he has been in charge of.
I hope saying that doesn’t put the mockers on anything.
We have actually cultivated a nice furrow of new keepers right now, I don’t really know why Henderson has been added.
Interesting that Dempsey is playing, I assume that the EFL squad rules don't apply to this competition, as he's overage and not in our submitted squad?
I hope he is at least playing the same way as the 4-3-3 he played Saturday. Or as I prefer to call an attacking 4-5-1. At least we can start settling on a formation.
The only time I have seen us play a flat 3 was the preseason game against Fulham when Morgan and Clare clearly flanked Dobson.
Big squad, payday for TS, take away the attention from what’s likely to be a promotionless season, piss up at Wembley.