QPR Is The Litmus Test
Tuesday, 26th Feb 2013 11:49

Are Saints good enough to stay up ? the answer is at present no one can b quite sure, but after the QPR game we will have a better idea of our chances.

Over the past few weeks many Saints supporters across the world of the internet have been espousing of how Saints are ready to move on to the next level and how a points total of around 48 was realistic, but the win against an appalling disinterested Man City side who gifted us three goals merely glossed over the fact that although we had changed the manager it was still the same old players and as we have just found out if you try and do the same things with the same players you get the same results, 5 points out of the new managers first 5 games in charge are excactly the same points average as we had when he arrived and indeed 2 less than Nigel Adkins got in his last five games in charge.

So the QPR game represents a benchmark, defeat would see big questions being asked, especially if other results went against us and we found ourselves only out of the bottom four on goal difference, a draw wouldnt do too much for us either way, however a win would see confidence restored and would mean a points total of 8 from 6, not tearing up any record books bu a rasonable total for a team who wants to avoid relegation.

As I have been banging on about for weeks, there is still a long way to go in the relegation dogfight and for a team in our position what we need now is back to back victories starting with QPR that will take us soaring above that 30 point mark and the safety line in sight, by the end of this weekends games it will be clear whether we are good enough to pull clear at a canter or we are going to have a lot of sleepless nights.

Dont get me wrong I like Mauriccio Pochettino as a manager and i think in the long term he could be very good for this club, but in the short term we havent given him the tools to do the job, there werent many Saints fans who didnt think we had a poor summer transfer window and that we failed to get Premier quality players in key positions, most assumed that we would rectify that in the January window, what happened again was that we didnt sign known quality, in fact we signed unkown quanity in Vegard Forren who over five weeks after signing is still to appear in a Saints shirt and indeed on Sunday couldnt even get on the bench, sorry but there is something strange here, it cant be about fitness any longer he has had the same amount of time as the average pre season to get fit now.

So the task of the manager is now made that much harder, like Adkins before him he is playing a formation that isnt suited to the players that he has to hand, as was shown at Newcastle were former Saints boss Alan Pardew did his homework and did it well highlighting that our passing game will only work if we have the pace in the back four to stop us getting caught on the break, perhaps Man City's goal should have reminded us that we dont.

So beating QPR is crucial but far from assured, for their part Harry Redknapp will know he is well into last chance saloon and that defeat at St Mary's will leave them needing 20 points from the last 10 games to stand any chance of staying up, are they good enough to do that, given its either 6 wins and 2 draws or 5 wins and 5 draws with no defeats I would say no, Harry will be urging them to throw the kitchen sink at us.

Photo: Action Images

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1

ExiledSupporter added 12:32 - Feb 26

Absolutely right St Nick.

Those who seem to assume that we will "scrap like dogs" and "tear them to ribbons" seem more carried away by their own inflated rhetoric and exhibit a highly tenuous grasp of reality.

It's clear that we have spent all our time (and money)since promotion was assured purchasing players who have not fulfilled our obvious priorities, others whose skills were no better than we already possessed and trying to impose a system which took insufficient account of the squad's strengths and glaring weaknesses which resulted in playing some players out of position. Both Adkins and MoPo, in rather different ways seem to be accomplishing much the same given that neither of them seem to have much influence on transfer targets.

Meanwhile Cortese buys one player, who would appear not to be as good in the manager's judgement as either JH or MY and cannot even get on the bench, and chases unsuccessfully another marque signing (in Coutinho) which again pays scant attention to our weaknesses.

MoPo's job may be seriously under threat if he loses to QPR...and that result is a real possibility!

ExiledSupporter added 12:40 - Feb 26

I had also meant to say that both Adkins and MoPo have chosen formations and tactics which seem to pay little attention to our strengths and weaknesses. This must be the wrong way round.

In Adkins case I feel a little more sympathetic because he might have embarked on a formation and strategy which assumed he would be provided with sufficient suitable players during the summer to make it work...as we know that didn't happen.

In the case of MoPo he has used the same formation/tactics that allegedly served him well at Espanyol - but this is a different squad in a different league (where, for example, the somewhat unsubtle tactic of the long ball over the top) can be devastatingly effective against a team pressing high up the pitch leaving a fragile and slow moving defence unprotected.

simmo400 added 12:45 - Feb 26 WE NEED A WIN. Bet on a draw its nailed on.
0

Fordy added 13:06 - Feb 26

At least he now knows how poor Fox and Hooiveld are. One of the main reasons for our turnaround was getting rid of those two.

QPR will probably have Remy back on Saturday and I think he is their only hope of survival. They need someone to get 8-10 goals from now until the end if they are going to survive and he's the only one they have capable of this.

I would be very surprised if we don't score and I can't see them scoring more than one or two. A draw would be better for us than them to be honest as they really need to win it. Should be a good game as the only other away game they went out to win (Swansea) and not park the bus under Twitchy they got hammered.

richardmdcooper added 13:59 - Feb 26

Good article and some interesting points. I personally think we're a much better team than qpr and will hopefully prove that on Saturday.

An interesting point about the Jan window though and Forren in particular - what a strange signing. Forren indicated it wasn't adkins who wanted him and it seems like MoPo doesn't want him so who's decision was it? - assume it was cortese/reed which is very worrying - got to think the same was true with gaston and others as well

latviandream added 15:50 - Feb 26 "5 points out of the new managers first 5 games in charge are exactly the same points average as we had when he arrived" Let's just ignore the fact that Nigel didn't have 60% of his games away from home, or against teams currently averaging 44 league points then shall we?!
0

REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 17:47 - Feb 26

Its not that strange about Forren. When he came to the club he wasn't 100%. He is now fit but previous to the Newcastle game Yoshida and Hooiveld were playing very well. In fact, they were brilliant against Man City. So Poche chose not to upset the defensive partnership that had done well for him.
Now that we've conceeded some goals he might change it.
QPR are going to sit back, look to stifle us and then try to hit us on the counter attack. Its obvious that Poche needs some pace at CB to combat the likes of Remy, Mackie and Hoilett so he might bring in Forren or Fonte for Hooiveld.
Its a must win game for Saints. All a draw will do is allow the teams below to catch us and the teams above to move away. After QPR we're away to Norwich, then home to Liverpool and Chelsea. All tough games. We need the points on the board as soon as possible as it looks like Wigan and Aston Villa are improving.

sidsaint added 18:48 - Feb 26

Some good points Nick with the exception of "win against an appalling disinterested Manchester City side who gifted us 3 goals". There's no need to go to such lengths to arouse some thought provoking and exacting comments as have been made above.
Forren must be wondering what sort of club he has joined. He had a glowing report from Claus and we believe his signing was endorsed my MP even though I'm sure he was not top of MP's list of winter transfer buys as I would be surprised if MP had studied Scandinavian leagues!
I agree with REEDYREEDOREEDZ that he probably didn't want to change the defense which were playing pretty well.It will be interesting to see how we line up against the likes of Tarrabt, Remy and co who have the skill and pace to place and run on to balls over the back of our defence. I can't see MP changing our pressure game especially at home and I don't see him giving Forren a first match on Saturday but Fonte may be back. Vital game for us.