Lack of creativity in midfield was the main problem IMO.

No attacking threat through the middle whatsoever.

Defensively we weren't too bad really - not too much threat from Southampton apart from the penalty. I think we miss Helveg's organisational skills, to be honest - they look competent individually (mostly) but far less good as a unit than did Helveg-Drury-Fleming-Shackell at the end of last season (at least at home).

However, we never looked like scoring. Huckerby and Ashton both seemed to drift wide an awful lot (particularly Hucks), and playing Huckerby, Brennan and Charlton in the same team really didn't work - all three would be out wide leaving the middle under-manned, and when Brennan moved inside to cover for Hucks, he didn't know whether he should be shoring the midfield or joining the attack.

Green's distribution was very poor again - too often he'd release the ball only for it to come straight back.

Otherwise, we just didn't do the basics very well. Some very poor crossing, lots of clearances that went straight to the opposition, and plenty of very simple passes went wrong. Just wasn't our day, I don't think.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot, Aug 20, 21:59:03