Quote from Southampton 606 bulletin board, about Colace

"The best player on the park was their no 5 (the Latino looker)- think his name was Colace. Despite a last minute booking that deserved red, he was in our face and everywhere. We need that."

Nice to see our players being appreciated by the opposition fans, even if a few others say daft things like "Barnsley and Blackpool are physical teams" who do not allow them to play their pretty football. Since when have Barnsley been a physical team?? Always been a bit lightweight in my experience.

 

Colace was without a doubt the best player on the park! nt

 

RE: Colace was without a doubt the best player on the park! nt

Looking forward to my first look at him this weekend. Despite all the doom and gloom around here a midfield trio of Howard, Colace and Da Silva looks pretty good to me provided they don't get in each other's way. Muller back in goal could be a huge boost to the whole team just because he has PRESENCE. Luke Steele did some good stuff but he just hasn't got waht Muller has. Now if we can just get JCR to dance up and down the wing and actually put some decent crosses onto the six yard line we might just create a bagful of chances. Whether or not these are converted into goals is another matter.
Looking forward to the match anyway.

 

I think we have the players to play 4-5-1 defense and 4-3-3 attack like chelsea. A midfield 3 of Anderson, Collace and Howard with Howard given licence to romp forward. JCR and Hume as wide players tracking the full backs where necessary, allowing the full backs to mark wingers. Macken is our best footballing centre forward but he would be too isolated, like KO on Saturday, if JCR, Hume and Howard don't give enough support.

This tactic would work if we played the ball out. This counters the fact that neither Souza or Moore should be allowed to pass more than 10 yards out. The playmakers can pick the ball up, spread it either left or right, and then the opposite winger comes inside, allowing macken to go towards the near post.

but knowing us it would be a straight 4-5-1 with long balls pumped up to the lone striker. who we then boo for not being able to take on 4 defenders.

 

Midfielders collecting the ball from defence

All the teams that come to oakwell and seem to dominate the play do this - if you hoof it up field direct from the back four it is a raffle if we get the ball or not - and usually it is not. With Colace, Da Silva and Howard all who can pass a bit we ought to be abl to control the midfield and at least get into the opponents half in control of the ball. Wonder if the existing coaching staff will consider this as an option.