Dean Smith - Confirmed

[Clampy]

When you try and find faults in your team winning the first four games of the season and scoring 12 goals, then you really wonder why people bother. Maybe following a team isn't for them?

[brontebilly]

When you try and find faults in your team winning the first four games of the season and scoring 12 goals, then you really wonder why people bother. Maybe following a team isn't for them?

It's a football forum, people have different opinions, maybe it's not for you?

[Lastfootstamper]

When you try and find faults in your team winning the first four games of the season and scoring 12 goals, then you really wonder why people bother. Maybe following a team isn't for them?

Especially after an entire decade of almost unrelenting shit.

[PeterWithesShin]

We've deservedly beaten the 2 sides that are currently first and second. We also deservedly beat Fulham and Sheff Utd. Trying to claim anything else isn't a different opinion, it's just plain wrong.

[SoccerHQ]

What about Cash playing infront of Guilbert/ Elmo on the right hand side?

He was a midfielder at Forest

I did wonder whether we'd consider that for Arsenal but would leave the midfield a bit lopsided as we couldn't play 4-3-3 and not really sure how Barkley would fit into things.

[Clampy]

When you try and find faults in your team winning the first four games of the season and scoring 12 goals, then you really wonder why people bother. Maybe following a team isn't for them?

It's a football forum, people have different opinions, maybe it's not for you?

Having an opinion is fine. Trying to find fault with being second in the league after 4 games after narrowly avoiding relegation two months earlier is another. There's no pleasing some people.

[olaftab]

What about Cash playing infront of Guilbert/ Elmo on the right hand side?

He was a midfielder at Forest

He may have played midfield in the second tier for a struggling team but for now let him develop in his best position and that’s at right back.

[rooboy316]

Interesting from DS's post-game press conference that at half-time players thought that they were being done tactically by Southampton which DS disagreed with.

Maybe some indication that players are concerned by our tactics. Doesn't excuse their lack of tempo or general lethargy recently though even if they might have a point.

There was a slight improvement in the second half, so who changed things, Smith or the players?

A bit of column A, a bit of column B. A lot of column C, which was that they sat back a lot more, and stopped pressing us as much higher up the pitch. We have, for a number of years, panicked against teams that do this. Invariably ends up with rushed passes back to the GK or Mings, who then hoofs it up to an isolated striker, and we lose possession. One of the great joys of this year, aside from the obvious scoreline, is watching the tables turned against Liverpool, as we pressed and they panicked.

[fbriai]

Worth noting that Hasenhüttl commented after the game on the fact that we have so many attacking options that they had to double up on lots of different players, but that that's only sustainable for so long and that they were knackered for the last part of the game because of it.

[Drummond]

Worth noting that Hasenhüttl commented after the game on the fact that we have so many attacking options that they had to double up on lots of different players, but that that's only sustainable for so long and that they were knackered for the last part of the game because of it.

It's an interesting one. They were lucky to get great free-kick opportunities (through our defensive errors), they scored a great goal through Ings, without those lapses from us perhaps we'd have done them.

[Toronto Villa]

Worth noting that Hasenhüttl commented after the game on the fact that we have so many attacking options that they had to double up on lots of different players, but that that's only sustainable for so long and that they were knackered for the last part of the game because of it.

It's an interesting one. They were lucky to get great free-kick opportunities (through our defensive errors), they scored a great goal through Ings, without those lapses from us perhaps we'd have done them.

It would help if we started the game the way we ended it. That is try and dominate possession from the start. We let them play, we let them create the best chances early on. They forced us into poor decisions and we paid dearly from them. And it's not the first time this season where we have given the opponents too much of the ball and then when we have won it back hoofed it right back to them. I just don't get why that it is even allowed by a manager not know for that style of play. Hoofing long to our striker is such a low percentage tactic but we keep doing it and putting ourselves immediately back under pressure.

[Brend'Watkins]

Agree.  The formation and style of play we started with was a new one on me. It's as if the tactic was "Let's bamboozle them by playing shit".  Watching Leicester last night was how I'd like to see us approach games.  They kept great shape throughout.  Attacked and defended as a team and always carried a threat.  Okay, they have a great target man in Vardy and Leeds had Bamford looking for any kind of  cylinder to fire on but even so their approach was first class. We have enough skill, individual talent in the middle to do the same so why don't we try, from the off?

[Duncan Shaw]

But you are pretty much describing how we played against Leicester?

[Brend'Watkins]

I don't think I am.  We were slow in our approach against Leicester.  In that game both teams cancelled themselves out with an over cautious approach. I don't mind a cautious approach against quality sides.  I think that's how we'll approach the Arsenal game too. Against Southampton I have no idea what the plan was first half.

[Toronto Villa]

Leicester was cautious because of what they saw us do to Liverpool the game before. They couldn't afford to be as aggressive in fear of our counter. Also they didn't have Vardy who makes a massive difference for them and how they approach the game. It was still a brilliant win for us but there were significant factors that contributed to that.