No matter who you are, be it Chelsea or Chipstead, you can always grab a goal from a set-piece. They give limited sides a chance to get the ball in the box and get the big men from the back forward, and with a good delivery, anything can happen. It constantly amazes me how teams take them for granted. Set pieces can win you football matches. But a lack of concentration from defending them can prove equally as costly.
Take Southampton for example. For all their total football they just didnt do the basics properly yesterday. Three first half set pieces, and three goals conceded. It's unacceptable at ANY level, let alone the Championship. It's basic bread and butter stuff, stuff you work at on the training ground throughout the week. Yet no-one was taking charge, there was no organization. This is hardly suprising really, considering the lack of experience in the Southampton backline. Oliver Lancashire and Jack Cork looked every bit the inexperienced pro's that they are. They needed an experienced head to guide them, but Chris Perry was inexpicably left on the bench. You have to wonder why.
And while Southampton's expansive style of play is indeed admirable, in the long run it wont get them anywhere. Far too often the final ball was lacking yesterday. For all the neat passing in the centre of the park, there was no urgency, no penetration. And in midfield, despite the man advantage they were out-ran and out fought by the experienced pairing of John Eustace and Lee Williamson. Notice a pattern emerging?
And in the final third, the difference was once again clear to see. Where McGoldrick lacked composure and nouce, Tomas Priskin was intelligent and clinical, and took his two goals well. But this wasnt down to experience, more down to service. Watford moved the ball forward to the frontline quickly, getting Priskin in behind at every available opportunity. And it worked.
The faith being put in Southampton's youngsters is a good thing, don't get me wrong. It's always good to see youngsters getting a chance in football, and home grown youngsters as well. But a healthy blend of experience and youth is required if Southampton are to prosper, especially throughout the spine of the team, where experience and know-how is just as important as flair and creatvity.
For me, Southampton look a side destined to struggle. Crowds are down lower than anyone other team in the Football League, the whole total football plan is destined to fail, there's no money, a poor manager with no experience and knowledge of football at this level, and a squad of kids with no real leadership. Relegation is an all too real possibility as things stand, and that's a shame for a club of Southampton's size. The fans deserve better than this.
Look at Watford. They were strong, organized, won their second balls, and got the ball forward and in around the box quickly. Which is where goals come from. It's not rocket science, but it's a concept Southampton have yet to have grasped.
They may not have been as easy on the eye as Southampton, but they were a lot more effective. And I know what I'd rather watch.
Pretty football doesnt win you games, organization and a bit of grit certainly does. And that's a lesson Southampton's young side will need to learn - and fast.
1 comment:
Chances are Perry has a reasonably substantial bonus per game played on his contract, hence he is missing.
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