Saints Analysis Profile picture
Apr 3, 2023 9 tweets 8 min read Read on X
Right, here’s a thread on our Achilles’ heel - not being able to deal with set-pieces.

Have covered this topic before (last tweet in thread) - it’s still holding us back in huge games.

We offer a free goal to teams if they get it right #SaintsFC
Reasons for this weakness (my opinion):

- Lack of height vs other teams
- Saints know they have aerial weakness, so defend zonally and then play for offside
- Defensive line has lost timing/nerve
- Not enough work is being done to sort it
- Players can’t zonal mark
#SaintsFC
I’ll start with Sunday. A point was directly lost by conceding this goal.

West Ham use back post runners to make our line drop early, leaving Aguerd to head home.

Saints don’t try to challenge him the air, but the problem is they also don’t catch him offside either #SaintsFC
Brentford. Again, the first goal in a tight game is a set-piece.

It’s clever from our opponents - I marvel at their creativity from free kicks and corners.

However, the zonal marking system and lack of players attacking the ball is exploited again #SaintsFC
Villa. Watkins gets an easy free header as the result of another wide free kick.

It’s all far too simple. Teams must lick their lips when they get a free kick like this against us #SaintsFC
Fulham. Based on us actually scoring in this game, you could argue that we’ve lost three points here after conceding from two corners.

The first, very messy. No one seems bothered about the edge of the box, and the shot is deflected in #SaintsFC
The second. Identical to how Brentford got their opener but from the opposite side.

Static defending sees the man able to amble his way to the front post, win the header and flick to a dangerous area at the back post.

Defenders bypassed again #SaintsFC
This absolutely needs to be sorted.

It’s costing us points at the most crucial time. We could perhaps have six extra points if we hadn’t conceded the goals highlighted.

We’re giving teams an easy foothold in games where they can then force us to chase a result #SaintsFC
Here’s a thread I did on this topic before.

There was a time under Ralph when we were excellent at defending these situations - we’d catch teams offside all the time with a dead straight line.

This season and some of last season, it’s been terrible #SaintsFC

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More from @saints_analysis

Aug 17, 2023
A thread on Carlos Alcaraz’s role in the current Southampton setup.

After his form at the end of last season, he’s a bit of a favourite with the Saints fans and a favourite of mine.

Everything points to him being a crucial part of Russell Martin’s team this season #SaintsFC Image
Alcaraz is one of the 8s in Saints’ team.

He is there to provide progressive passing angles, and then often moves into a no.10 position in the final third.

His ability to drive with the ball, operate in tight spaces and shoot from range make him ideal for this #SaintsFC
In this shape, the highlighted links will be crucial.

A lot of the key build-up play goes through our inverted full-backs, Ryan Manning and Kyle Walker-Peters.

They must look for the chance to snap passes into Alcaraz and Stu in the 8 positions #SaintsFC Image
Read 12 tweets
Jul 31, 2023
A thread on the shapes that I saw Southampton take up against AZ Alkmaar.

The game gave me my first chance to see Russell Martin’s team live and up close.

First, the normal build-up shape we have seen since Martin was put in charge.

- Narrow at the back
- Midfield passing… https://t.co/YqOHQAn5lotwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Image
How can we improve our attacking play?

In this example:

Image 1: A. Armstrong has the ball deep and lays off to Manning

Image 2: Armstrong makes a darting run in behind with Alkmaar players focusing on the ball

Image 3: Will Smallbone can play to Armstrong or play through the… https://t.co/Z25uRpvcFPtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…



Image
Image
Image
Image
When we did progress to the final third, this is the shape we saw.

This is what Martin calls “closing the net” - keeping the opposition penned in until you find that decisive moment to make the telling pass.

Note the very advanced positions of Stephens/Manning here #SaintsFC Image
Read 6 tweets
Nov 7, 2022
A thread on what I’ve found on Nathan Jones.

Even though it’s difficult not to, please don’t jump to conclusions.

Remember, Sport Republic are looking for hidden gems - he has the potential to be one if we give him a chance #SaintsFC
Jones finished his playing days with a 7-year spell at Yeovil.

During this time, he took his coaching badges, he coached Yeovil ladies, then became men’s player-assistant, and then first-team coach.

This proved his desire to manage #SaintsFC
At Yeovil, he worked with a number of players who became Premier League talent.

Including current Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy
(📸 @gloverscast)
#SaintsFC
Read 19 tweets
Nov 7, 2022
A long thread of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s best moments as Southampton boss.

First, his first home win in which he showed his passion from the sidelines with memorable celebrations #SaintsFC
Following the Arsenal win, Saints then won at Huddersfield.

Michael Obafemi became the club’s youngest PL scorer #SaintsFC
He then overcame Pochettino’s Spurs - another big win in keeping us up #SaintsFC
Read 14 tweets
Nov 6, 2022
We need some good omens for today.

Our last win vs Newcastle was this game in 2020, also on 6th November. It sent us top of the English top-flight for the first time in 32 years.

Good times #SaintsFC
Stu Armstrong’s second to confirm the win #SaintsFC
A happy Ralph speaks about his team’s achievements #SaintsFC
Read 5 tweets

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