Saints New System Will Suit European Competition
Saints are gradually coming to terms with the new style of playing under Claude Puel and now they get the chance to test it in the Europa League.
Continental football has a different style of play than the more direct game we play in the Premier League, under Claude Puel Saints are playing a more possession style of play as favoured by the continental teams and although that has not quite had the results in the Premier League so far, the fact is with every game Saints are being more accustomed the system and when they get it right the wins will start to come.
Now with the arrival of Sparta Prague to St Mary's we have the chance to prove that it is not the system that is at fault, bt the fact that we have not yet quite mastered it, against Sparta it will be about playing in a more controlled and possession based style that that favoured by the majority of Premier League teams and Puel's system is just that.
Last season we went out against Midjytlland because of the system we played then was about plenty of rush and push, but not about keeping the ball and working up opportunities, that meant the Danish side played to their strengths and caught us on the break and took their chances.
On Thursday night we need to show that we can pass the ball, indeed as we have done in most of our Premier league games, but we need to add some clinical finishing and if we do so then the system will be a resounding success.
So I expect to see a good display from Saints, I expect them to build on the good display at Arsenal and I think that our new style will suit the Europa League.
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