After seemingly scoring for fun in the first half of the season Saints have struggled recently, but they have all the options they need now to hand.

The last six games have seen only 4 goals scored with blanks in the last three home games, but this drama need not turn into a crisis as Saints now have a lot of striking options to end this drought.

Part of the problem has been that Saints have changed the way that they have played over the course of the season, in the early part of it they played a more fluid game out of necessity as Ronald Koeman worked on building his team and getting it to play in the way he wanted.

The problems started though in December as the squad struggled with injury and then the likes of Mane away on International duty and as we mixed and matched we started to play a more rigid formation that involved Pelle dropping a lot deeper winning the ball and laying it off to the midfield to try and find Elia on the break.

Another issue was that the core of the team was missing, Alderweireld at the back, Schneiderlin and Wanyama in the centre, whilst not being attacking players their solid displays meant we could dominate midfields and have more time on the ball for the likes of Tadic to work the ball forward, without them it was far harder work for Steven Davis and James Ward Prowse who suddenly had to concentrate on sitting deeper rather than creating and getting it forward quickly, therefore as mentioned Koeman had to adopt the tactics to suit.

This worked fine in some games but was not always the answer but with the absence of Mane and the injury to Shane Long it was a case of the only real option available.

This of course didn't help Pelle as he was no longer the focal point of Saints scoring opportunities, Pelle's role was now more focused in the build up rather than getting on the end of crosses.

The injury to Shane long was a big blow, often underestimated by some fans, he was great for Ronald Koeman in the fact that his playing style gave the manager options to change things and Long's sheer pace over 20 yards created panic in defences, it is no coincidence that Saints problems in hitting the back of the net started when Long was injured against Crystal Palace.

Since that game as mentioned we have lacked variety up front and the ability to change and confuse the opposition and that is reflected in the solitary goal scored in the four games since then.

Now though Long is back and we have the opportunity to start firing on all cylinders again, one thing we do not lack is options, in Pelle, Mane, Long Djuricic and Elia we have more than enough firepower to end the drought and certainly a lot of variety.

There are those who say that Pelle needs a break, they do have a point, not because he is particularly out of form, just that he has had to work hard without getting goals and that is what strikers thrive on and indeed what leads some fans to think a striker is playing badly if he is not scoring.

Now we have the chance to start playing as we did before the last six games have been disappointing but far from a disaster, now we have to go on another winning run starting with West Brom on Saturday, get Pelle into goalscoring opportunities more and lets use Mane to the best of his ability again as we did over the Xmas and New Year period, if we do that then there is no reason that we should not get back to winning ways.

We are in the position we are for good reason and that is we have a good squad, good teams don't become bad ones overnight there is nothing wrong that a couple of good wins won't put right.

Photo: Action Images

stmichael added 10:23 - Feb 25 You are very kind and forgiving to Pelle especially in comparison to the almost constant criticism of SRL last year. of course SRL is far more suited to dropping deep and joining up play than Pelle who actually is not very good at that at all. I like Pelle , I am glad we signed him and overall he has done well. But right now he is struggling , no excuses just not playing well. The problem is we have no one else and that is partly due to injuries and playing him out of necessity. JAYROD and SAM being out long term have not helped as you don't want to be spending big when you potentially have the solution already within the club.

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IanRC added 12:47 - Feb 25 I think Pelle had a mare against Skrtyl on Sunday. We do have lots of options now provided Long is indeed fully fit and I would be inclined to revert to playing Pelle further forward but if we do this we need to ensure the quality of crosses and balls forward to him are up to scratch. If so (and with a decent ref) we should have no problems.
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smiffdub added 15:36 - Feb 25 FWIW, I agree with stmichael and have said before...yes, Pelle is playing a different role, but he's just not been doing it well. Last few games he's won almost nothing in the air, failed to complete any kind of pass, his lay-offs have been undirected, etc. I think that's a matter of form rather than lack of ability. Don't want to take too many leaves out of Liverpool's book, but they revived their sterile attack by leaving out the big central strikers and using tiny Sterling as a forward man. It was a bold move and it worked, but RK doesn't seem to have an answer of that sort up his sleeve at the moment.

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saintmark1976 added 15:59 - Feb 25 Why continue to blame Pelle all of the time,he only does what RK tells him to do.Pelle would quite possibly wish to play as an out and out old fashioned centre forward but can not because of instructions from above.Get off of the mans back please.
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BoondockSaint added 16:13 - Feb 25 We've always had the fire power-they just won't take shots! More time on the ball? That's the last thing we need! There is no sense of urgency when we get into the final third. Other teams have scored on us because they blast it in whenever they get a chance and score on deflections or Forster is not ready. The more balls put into the mixer, the more chances to score! Our set pieces are possibly the worst in the league. It looks like we never practice them! I know you are a big Long supporter, Nick, but we were scoring goals before he got on the team. He's not exactly CR7-for every goal he scores, he bungles one. Tadic has not been the same since he was moved from left to right to make way for Mane. I have supported Pelle for his work rate, but he needs to be sat down. Maybe that will set a fire under him. Strikers must score, that's their job.

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Zambucco added 18:24 - Feb 25 smiffdub has it right. Pelle on the bench, come on let's face it he's paid to score goals and he isn't, no excuses full stop. We have 3 tremendously quick and exciting strikers in Long, Mane and Elia, let's take a leaf out of Liverpool's book, and go with pace instead of the big striker. After all he's not even getting the service, when he does get the ball his passing is awful. Against Liverpool Skirtl would have been run ragged by Mane or Elia. We can still have Pelle on the bench as an option. I've been a bit worried about one of my favourites Steven Davis, he just seems to be off his game lately, does any body else agree?

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winchesterbob added 23:54 - Feb 25 Pelle will start scoring again when he is able to get into the box rather than being employed to hold the ball up for others which is what he has had to do lately. Unfortunately it's a part of his game that needs more work. But I agree that with Long fit it will release Pelle a bit more to do what he is best at, score goals. Ryan Bertrand coming back will also help as he is able and confident enough to get much further forward than young Targett. The Baggies should not be underestimated though

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