Its getting a little too like deja vu at Saints away games.
Saints only managed a draw at Brunton Park for two reasons, firstly our formation was once again far too negative, as in previous away games and secondly too many players did not perform to the standards they are capable of, nay expected of.
On the formation front, we now have one of the strongest squads in League One, so why are we paying far too much respect to our opponents by playing 4-5-1, this leaves Rickie Lambert far too isolated up front, he wins most things in the air, but far too often he win a ball but has no one to flick it on to, strikers like to hunt in pairs, they like to strike up understandings, Lambert is no different, pair him with a striker and let them form an understanding.
On the day though far too many players had off days, James, Mellis and Mills were appalling in both their control and distribution, we see players on other sides raring to go and prove themselves, this didnt happen with this three, Lloyd James was probably just having an off day, but he was struggling to cope and even kick the ball, more worrying was our wide men, Mills jjust seemed unable to beat his man and the confidence seemed to drain out of him, Mellis was a little better, however in truth im just starting to think he doesnt have that certain something that changes a promising talent into a top knotch player.
For long periods Saints controlled the game, but they just couldnt create the chances due to the formation and it was a case of too little too late with regard to the changes.
Howwever Saints did deserve at least a point and in truth all three, although that would be harsh on a Carlisle side who battled gamely, but that perhaps made it all the worse, although it was resued by a late late equaliser, Saints should have had the game dead and buried long before.
Its time we started putting these sides to the sword, Charlton & Leeds are doing so, so why arent we ? Its about having a winning mentality, Alan Pardew said so himself, so why are we playing 4-5-1, this sends out a message to everyone before a ball has been kicked and that message is not that we are going to take the game by the scruff of the neck.