Crisis what crisis, Ronald Koeman showed he not only has a plan B but a plan C and D as well as he superbly implemented a game plan that he changed as the game went on to ensure that the points came Saints way.

It's fair to say that Ronald Koeman's selection for the starting line up surprised a few people, the inclusion of Toby Alderweireld was predictable, but bringing in Jack Cork for James Ward Prowse certainly wasn't with Victor Wanyama still on bench duty. Sadly there was no Sadio Mane who seemingly wasn't fit after a gruelling week.

Saints started at breakneck pace, the aim was clearly to unsettle Newcastle and this worked with Shane Long almost sneaking an opener when he chased down a back pass and made something out of nothing with Krul's clearance rebounding off the Saints man just wide of the post.

But an opening goal would not be long and it was a superb move, Tadic naturally was involved as he played a sublime ball for Bertrand to run on to and his cross was perfect with Pelle picking his spot.

The second was again well worked but it did involve poor defending, Long played a good ball forward but it wasn't dealt with well by the Newcastle defence, Pelle battled to win it and played Tadic through, the man who makes Lallana look shite could have had a go himself but he unselfishly passed to Pelle who had a tap in.

Saints then dominated for a period although the visitors did show signs of a revival in the minutes before the break and it needed a smart save from Fraser Forster to ensure they didnt get back in the game.

This is where Koeman's tactical nous came to the fore, the visitors where clearly not playing as a team but the warning signs where there to see, they had players who could change a game with individual skill so a change of strategy was called for, off went Long and on came Wanyama to do what he does best and that is break up play, it worked and Saints got their grip back on the game and it was made safe when Jack Cork capped a fine game with his first ever Premier League goal nipping in on uncertainty in the Newcastle defence and pinching the ball and slotting home.

The game was now won as long as Saints didnt do anything silly and Wanyama made sure that they didnt be breaking up the play aided and abetted by Cork and Schneiderlin, the result looks emphatic on paper but contary to belief the visitors kept playing and enjoyed the lions share of possession 52% and their 9 shots was only one less than Saints themselves, thus Koeman made another change off came Tadic and on came Ward Prowse to make it a solid midfield with the emphasis on keeping what we had rather than doing anything sloppy.

It would take a monumental collapse for Newcastle to have got a result after the third, but Koeman was making sure that did not happen and his substitutions where all excellent and this should not be lost on Saints fans on a day when our ex manager did what he does best, ie enjoying massive possession and shots at goal, but seeing a lead thrown away by sloppy defending.

By the end Saints had total dominance and were passing it around well, Koeman's final change was to bring on Florin Gardos for a taste of the game and he slotted in well with Toby Aldermoor (So good we have named a district after him) stepping into Jack Cork's shoes in the centre of midfield, a wonderful passing move was rounded off by a sublime Pelle flick to JWP who then found Schneiderlin who curled in perhaps the goal of the game.

At the back new man Toby Alderweireld looked a class act, he seemed to have the right combination of quality and confidence to play the ball around, but he also knew when something a bit less cultured was called upon.

This was a team display though, indeed more a squad display with 14 players doing their bit from Fraser Forster who had to make several smart stops right up to Pelle who put in a shift ad must have had a wry smile at those in the Northam now singing his name when it was only the last game he was getting abuse from some of them, he has done things the right way though, just got on with the job of scoring goals, it would be a hard task to replace Rickie Lambert, but he has made a good start in doing so and it should be noted his three goals so far have all been from open play.

To pick a man of the match would be hard, literally every man in our team could lay claim to it, but a couple perhaps just shaved it, Dusan Tadic was again superb, instrumental in the first two goals he was at the heart of everything going forward.

Pelle took his goals well but his overall contribution was good, he works hard when not in possession and seems to be key when we are defending corners.

Jack Cork was his usual hard working self and his goal capped a great display.

Perhaps though man of the match was Ronald Koeman, not only did he use his squad to great effect, he got the tactics spot on making changes at various points in the game that altered the shape and style of the team to make sure we kept our grip on the game.

So a great start to the season now from Saints and we still have Sadio Mane and Jay Rodriguez to come into the side, when they do we might just surprise a few people and this season could be even better than last. I was going to say we play a different style of game from that under Mauriccio Pochettino, but that would be slightly untrue, in the early stages against Newcastle we pressed as we did last year, but we now have more than one style and options, in general though we play a more restrained game, with the emphasis less on closing down the opposition at the back and more on winning the ball deeper and going forward quickly with both full backs able to overlap as Ryan Bertand showed with his cross for the second goal, last season that just would not have happened Luke Shaw just couldn't get forward like that.

Photo: Action Images

ChristchurchSaint added 11:51 - Sep 14 Excellent viewpoint Nick, and so true about your evaluation of RoKo. He is already making his mark and knows how to bring the best out of players by using them and coaching them in the right way. Long may it continue! (Also well done to our legend Mr Benali!)
2

brady100 added 11:53 - Sep 14 Great proactive substitution, Long for Wanyama! Newcastle only looked dangerous when Sissoko powerfully broke through our midfield. In the second half he helped Schneiderlin, allowed him to move further forward and kept Newcastle's danger men playing in front of our midfield. Excellent!
1

slynch added 11:57 - Sep 14 I may have to change my prediction of "2nd by Xmas" to "still 2nd at Xmas"?
0

thegeneral added 12:04 - Sep 14 How long is Hodgson going to ignore Jack Cork? The best english defensive midfielder in the premier league, surely this performance gives him his chance to replace a useless out of position Wiltshire? Congrats JC on your first goal for the club!
2

samspade10 added 12:09 - Sep 14 Just one point - I think Long was subbed off because he got clattered early on and the doctors had to check him.
3

IanRC added 12:15 - Sep 14 A great performance, hopefully which we can reproduce, with modifications of course, against Swansea and Aresnal.
2

Fordy added 12:18 - Sep 14 What's nice to see this year is that we aren't so predictable. Last year MP would have gone ballistic at the two long balls that should have brought the penalty and the one that brought the second goal. It's nice to see the midfielders being given a bit more freedom to get forward as well. Last year there was a lot of over-reliance on the front three and the full backs to create something. Now it seems like it's the front six and the full backs. I think Koeman has said to them that they're all intelligent footballers and can read the game well and if one of you goes forward the other covers rather than the strict formations under MP. You certainly would never have seen Cork in the centre forward position like we did for the third under MP. It's all very refreshing to see.

1

Slacker added 13:24 - Sep 14 All I would add is that as MOTD replays showed Long was clearly clattered in the penalty area and so we should have had a penalty. Tadic's passing is as gifted as Lambert's was. Looking very good to me.
2

SanMarco added 15:37 - Sep 14 Totally agree Slacker - definite penalty + sending off. Luckily we didn't need it. Roll on Swansea - who I think will be a slightly tougher proposition...
1

landsdownsaint added 17:49 - Sep 14 I got it wrong about Pelle.
0

landsdownsaint added 17:57 - Sep 14 And the board . :)
0

ExiledSupporter added 18:47 - Sep 14 Well said, Lansdown Saint...I agree with your re-appraisal completely! They've done us proud, thank you Mr Krueger
0

GeordieSaint added 19:03 - Sep 14 I read on the guardian website that saints are in a higher position than any of the players who have left and our old manager, long May that last. My only disappointment was when it went back to st Mary's for a late goal and it was us that scored. I had fifteen quid on 3 1 so got a little excited unnecessarily, although I enjoyed that last goal almost as much as I would have done the 200 odd pounds. A few of my mates are not answering their phones, although to be fair most of the Geordie lads knew it was coming. Imagine how great we will be when jay is back and the new players are integrated.

0

halftimeorange added 19:45 - Sep 14 Despite all the euphoria I'm still unsure whether West Ham and Newcastle were just hopeless or Saints made them look totally inept. A club which has started brighter (Swansea) will be a better test. I'm really impressed with Forster. The speed with which he turned the shot over the bar after seeing it late was amazing. I like Pelle. He responded to encouragement at Millwall and hasn't looked back but, to be fair, this weekend he was so poorly marked he began to showboat. One drawback. When will the promising homegrown youngsters get a chance when players like Wanyama are going to be on the bench. Victor, too, was totally dominant when he came on with his "You will not pass" mentality. I would be dejected if I were a Geordie.

0

Whatsforpud added 00:26 - Sep 15 At the end of a game, I often have a guess at Saints' percentage of possession. I cannot believe that it was only 48%. We ran the show, and although we did a lot of lateral passing in the second half, much of which was in our own half, this was OUR possession. Are the stats people confusing possession of the ball with territorial advantage?
0

birminghamsaint added 08:48 - Sep 15 Perhaps I should transfer my allegiance from the 'happy clappers' to the 'bedwetters', but after our second goal, we definitely took our foot of the gas! (which was why Newcastle had more possession) and we had Forster to thank for going in to the break with a clean sheet. Thankfully Wanyama coming on for the second half got the midfield working again.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

AFC Bournemouth Polls