Saints V Preston The Verdict
Sunday, 23rd Dec 2007 20:04

Lets be honest this was as bad as Saints performances get.

As Saints blundered away against Preston with no sign of any substitutions, the guy behind me said

" If Burley isnt making any changes it must mean that he is happy with what he is seeing and that about sums it up"

I think the guy had a point, Saints once again did not seem to have any sort of leadership or shape and once it became clear that Preston were comfortably coping with our attacks and were content to let us knock the ball around the midfield outside the real danger areas, the manager sadly had no idea on how to break them down.

Once again Saints were unchanged although just about everybody I have spoken to wondered how Jason Euell could be selected in front of Jonh Viafara.

Saints did pass the ball well especially during the early stages of each half, but despite being pinned back it was preston that had the better chances, the midfield had no idea how to play a penatrive pass and up fron BWP doesnt know how to run the channels and Stern John doesnt seem to be bothered about anything that involves running.

In the second half it was quite clear that we wouldnt score a goal if we stayed to midnight unless we changed things yet the manager did nothing, why want Viafara brought on ? his strength would have added a different dimension and he has an eye for goal and lets be blunt here a midfield four that has three league goals between them has that number for a reason and one of those goals was a penalty for gods sake !

When sides are being bogged down, thats when managers earn their money and lets be honest Burley didnt earn his on Saturday, the first substitution was ten minutes too late annd the second, bringing on Rasiak with seven minutes left was again puzzling, but more worryingly was the fact that it was two like for like swaps for forwards, the midfield wasnt getting the ball through to the forwards, we could have had Peter Crouch and Wayne rooney up front, it they wouldnt have scored because they wouldnt have got the ball.

The fact we didnt use a third substitution is baffling, why didnt we change our shape and approach play, George Burley complained about missed chances, but I didnt see too many apart from the header from rasiak that was well saved on 88 minutes, prior to that we had a few speculative attempts, but nothing more than that, whilst preston had good chances in both halves.

The writing was always on the wall and it was no surprise when Preston broke in an almost carbon copy of the two previous last minute winners at St Mary's this season, the fans didnt complain they merely stood up and left, wondering where the hell Southampton Football Club goes from here, George Burley has been in the job for two years, are we moving forward on the field, Im sorry george but I would have to say no, you have your own side here now, but it just doesnt seem to be playing for you !