Saints V Newcastle United The Verdict Sunday, 14th Sep 2014 11:21 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 Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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