A couple of things you might not have noticed last night..

[BedsFox]

1. The warm up routine was different

I always get in early, and last night the warm up had changed.

Sousa's assistant Bruno took no part of it, just watched.

Previously he did the first part of the warm up, two lines of players doing runs and stretches, and the last part. This time the physio did both of these stages of the warm up.

Secondly the 5 on 5 game in the cones organised by Powell was back to the the 5v5 with 2 subs as floaters that Shakespeare used.

I wondered

Had the players asked for changes, given their usually slow starts in League games?

2. Zonal Marking at set pieces was gone. Up to last Friday the defensive set up at corners was

1 full back on the back post

3 Players across the six yard box taking a zone each,

1 player behind them beyond the far taking a a zone

4 players with the attacking team

This left us looking at sixes and sevens and game after game vulnerable to free attacking headers. It also indirectly accounted for Morrison's handball last Friday. He was in a "zone" and poorly positioned for the striker's (Kitson) run, stuck his arm up and we know the rest

Last night

1 full back on the back post

Howard on the six yard box

All others man for man with the runners

Yes we conceded four goals but none were from set pieces and I thought we looked more solid in this area

I know Sousa can't have long unless results turn round but I thought that both of these points at least showed there is some flexibility in his approach.

We don't have players that play a zone well, he changed it (shouldn't have done it in the first place, but still)

Next....

Protect the back four properly. To my mind Oakley's legs have gone. Abe/Moreno as DM please.

Full back positioning..time after time they (not Berner but Neilsen especially, Lamey and Kennedy) are dragged to the ball leaving acres of space on the flanks. Three goals at Pompey came from this. The first goal last night saw Kennedy dragged in leaving Holt unmarked beyond the far post. The third goal last night came from Lamey being sucked towards midfield and absence of solid tackling at DM in the first place.

Amidst all the stuff on the other threads, I don't think I'd seen either point above mentioned

[Trav Le Bleu]

Good post and well observed. The fact that he was willing to change formation last night was a good sign I think. In honesty, with their luck becoming our luck last night the result could have easily been 4-3 to us.

[Jackirius]

Nice post. defending from corners looked alot better last night.

After the final whistle did anyone look at Waggy? He looked as if he was crying

[Pen 3 veteran]

Nice post. defending from corners looked alot better last night.

After the final whistle did anyone look at Waggy? He looked as if he was crying

Didn't notice it, but saw he was gutted and one of first to come over and thank us. Also noticed Abe wandering around,looking at ground as if really disappointed and not wanting to leave the pitch. I liked SH's passion at the kick off from N's 4th goal in shouting instructions at the back line.

[Fox You Forest]

Didn't notice it, but saw he was gutted and one of first to come over and thank us. Also noticed Abe wandering around,looking at ground as if really disappointed and not wanting to leave the pitch. I liked SH's passion at the kick off from N's 4th goal in shouting instructions at the back line.

Lamey and Kennedy he was shouting at, bit harsh considering they were probably knackered because of how exposed they were all night.

[Jackirius]

Lamey and Kennedy he was shouting at, bit harsh considering they were probably knackered because of how exposed they were all night.

I thought Kennedy had a really good game O.o

Lamey couldn't header for toffee though.

[Pen 3 veteran]

I thought Kennedy had a really good game O.o

Lamey couldn't header for toffee though.

Yeah, Lamey looked lightweight and little confidence.

[davieG]

1. The warm up routine was different

I always get in early, and last night the warm up had changed.

Sousa's assistant Bruno took no part of it, just watched.

Previously he did the first part of the warm up, two lines of players doing runs and stretches, and the last part. This time the physio did both of these stages of the warm up.

Secondly the 5 on 5 game in the cones organised by Powell was back to the the 5v5 with 2 subs as floaters that Shakespeare used.

I wondered

Had the players asked for changes, given their usually slow starts in League games?

2. Zonal Marking at set pieces was gone. Up to last Friday the defensive set up at corners was

1 full back on the back post

3 Players across the six yard box taking a zone each,

1 player behind them beyond the far taking a a zone

4 players with the attacking team

This left us looking at sixes and sevens and game after game vulnerable to free attacking headers. It also indirectly accounted for Morrison's handball last Friday. He was in a "zone" and poorly positioned for the striker's (Kitson) run, stuck his arm up and we know the rest

Last night

1 full back on the back post

Howard on the six yard box

All others man for man with the runners

Yes we conceded four goals but none were from set pieces and I thought we looked more solid in this area

I know Sousa can't have long unless results turn round but I thought that both of these points at least showed there is some flexibility in his approach.

We don't have players that play a zone well, he changed it (shouldn't have done it in the first place, but still)

Next....

Protect the back four properly. To my mind Oakley's legs have gone. Abe/Moreno as DM please.

Full back positioning..time after time they (not Berner but Neilsen especially, Lamey and Kennedy) are dragged to the ball leaving acres of space on the flanks. Three goals at Pompey came from this. The first goal last night saw Kennedy dragged in leaving Holt unmarked beyond the far post. The third goal last night came from Lamey being sucked towards midfield and absence of solid tackling at DM in the first place.

Amidst all the stuff on the other threads, I don't think I'd seen either point above mentioned

Interesting post, a breath of fresh air amongst so much dross.

[CheshireFox]

Didn't notice it, but saw he was gutted and one of first to come over and thank us. Also noticed Abe wandering around,looking at ground as if really disappointed and not wanting to leave the pitch. I liked SH's passion at the kick off from N's 4th goal in shouting instructions at the back line.

Howard should be captain instead of Oakley, he shows loads more passion and I think he would pass this on to the other players.

[Ziggy1990]

SPOT ON!!! i like this

noticed Hobbs went looking for the ball for their first goal, meaning the full back Kennedy should have tucked in yarrr?

(however im sure you also saw this)

i would welcome Howard being captain, again the point of captain only managing 60 mins is beyond reason

[Swalker]

Howard should be captain instead of Oakley, he shows loads more passion and I think he would pass this on to the other players.

I agree he should be captain

Didn't know we even warmed up looking at how unfit the team looks compared to last year

[Kitchandro]

Howard would make a much better captain than Oakley. So would Wellens.

Didn't see the game live but Lamey looked out of position for the 3rd goal

[jimmer]

I agree he should be captain

Didn't know we even warmed up looking at how unfit the team looks compared to last year

Unfortunately thats inevitable when you spend pre season playing keepy uppies and passing games. There were plenty of warnings signs in pre season that this could be a problem <_<

Fit squad is a happy squad! Sorry to have to say this....but it's something the last regime did very well.

If I can remember right Swansea had a poor end to their season due to fittnes problems, confirmed buy their fans posting on here. (we're still at the start of ours)

The irony is I feel we could adapt to Sousa's style better if we were fitter.

[Kitchandro]

Unfortunately thats inevitable when you spend pre season playing keepy uppies and passing games. There were plenty of warnings signs in pre season that this could be a problem <_<

Fit squad is a happy squad! Sorry to have to say this....but it's something the last regime did very well.

If I can remember right Swansea had a poor end to their season due to fittnes problems, confirmed buy their fans posting on here. (we're still at the start of ours)

The irony is I feel we could adapt to Sousa's style better if we were fitter.

Exactly - Sousa's passing style is all about the movement of the players off the ball. We looked cream crackered in the 2nd half v Coventry so it was harder for us to break them down.

[wurmer]

Good post. Thanks for taking the time.

[Lillehamring]

ooh, a proper thread about football!

regarding two of the incidental points - i don't think howard should be captain, i know he can be passionate and shout at players, but there's more to being captain than that, i feel that howard can be a bit of a sulk and a moaner. the best captain we've had recently has been hobbs.

regarding the fitness, it doesn't seem to ring true based on the fact that most of our decent performances and nearly all our goals have come in the 2nd half, the last two games we have looked strongest towards the end of the games. so i don't think it is quite the problem suggested here. although i do agree that oakley is not the right player for this type of football at this stage of his career. especially when compared to Abe.

[jimmer]

ooh, a proper thread about football!

regarding two of the incidental points - i don't think howard should be captain, i know he can be passionate and shout at players, but there's more to being captain than that, i feel that howard can be a bit of a sulk and a moaner. the best captain we've had recently has been hobbs.

regarding the fitness, it doesn't seem to ring true based on the fact that most of our decent performances and nearly all our goals have come in the 2nd half, the last two games we have looked strongest towards the end of the games. so i don't think it is quite the problem suggested here. although i do agree that oakley is not the right player for this type of football at this stage of his career. especially when compared to Abe.

You feel its down to lack of confidence or desire then perhaps?

[davieG]

Teams on a losing streak are always going to look less fit than a winning team full of confidence.

[Lillehamring]

You feel its down to lack of confidence or desire then perhaps?

there seems to be a tendency on this board to think that the current situation is black and white - you know, 'we're bottom so it must be sousa's fault' and i think the same applies here it's not as easy as narrowing it down to one factor, it's probably a combination of many things...

i'm reluctant to comment on anything too specific, as i've only seen a few televised games, so haven't seen the performances in games we've won; so, given the terrible results and awful position, the performances don't suggest a lack of desire; confidence, however, seems to come and go right now, obviously in these situations it doesn't take much to shatter confidence, and the physical characteristics of frustration could easily be mistaken for exhaustion.

i think we also have to remember that they've played a lot of games just lately, with the extra cup match, not to mention playing so much of the last two games with 10 men - also, every match this season we have been chasing the game, having to come from behind, this must be more fatiguing than sitting back and defending a lead.

like i say, so many factors, there is no black and white explanations for the problems we are experiencing.

[hackneyfox]

Unfortunately thats inevitable when you spend pre season playing keepy uppies and passing games. There were plenty of warnings signs in pre season that this could be a problem <_<

Fit squad is a happy squad! Sorry to have to say this....but it's something the last regime did very well.

If I can remember right Swansea had a poor end to their season due to fittnes problems, confirmed buy their fans posting on here. (we're still at the start of ours)

The irony is I feel we could adapt to Sousa's style better if we were fitter.

He took over late in the day.

He wants to play football.

How do you work out who has the skills and brain to do that while they are running up hills?

[jimmer]

He took over late in the day.

He wants to play football.

How do you work out who has the skills and brain to do that while they are running up hills?

He didn't take over late in the day at all. He had full pre season to assess the squad and get the squad fit.

The worrying thing with Sousa is after all the pre season and 9+ games he still doesn't appear to have a favoured first team

Are you suggesting that all top clubs don't endure a vigarous pre season for long term fittness levels? (its a known, established and important part of the season). Even the players came out and said it was a bizzare pre season with not much fitness work. Maybe i'm just imagining it all.

Like Val said and I agree, its not a black and white situation. Probably lots of contributing factors, not to forget we have also been extremely unlucky at times in matches.

I hope he turns it around I really do, cos they have shown glimses of great football. I also hope that Sousa is not a one trick pony that, at the moment he appears to be.

The clock is ticking!