Hillcroft's challenge for this Saturday's game

Seems to be the fluidity of our current formation. From what I understand the idea behind the current set up is that the two wide men (e.g. Vaz Te and Haynes) use their speed to push up to join the attack. To a slightly lesser degree so should the other more forward positioned midfielder (e.g. Butterfield) so that, at times, we are almost in a 4-2-4 shape. As an example, if Haynes gets towards the edge of the box when wide on the right, what we should see is Davies, Vaz Te and Butterfield in the box waiting for the cross. That didn’t happen against Morecambe on a number of occasions. When in a position to cross we had just the one player in the box, isolated against four if not five Morecambe defenders.

This is something that Hillcroft have to sort out for Saturday. If we’re going to play this system at home the absolute key to its success is that the midfield three who sit in front of the two more defensively minded midfielders are quick at supporting the attack. They basically have to run their blood to water for 90 minutes covering a large area of the pitch. If they’re not willing / able to do that then Hillcroft are going to have to have a rethink.

Hill said that the manager got it wrong against Morecambe, and I just wonder what tactics he will deploy against a very attack minded Southampton side.

 

Good analysis, there were a number of times when we could have crossed, but no one in the box!! Midfielders have to commit esp at home against defensive opposition, don't think that will be the case against Southampton though!!