Adam Blackmore, ` Radio Solent
New Saints manager Nathan Jones started life with a win at St Mary’s last night but it was such an underwhelming performance against a spirited Lincoln side that I can’t help but feel like he could do more Questions as answers for Boxing Day and the Premier League returns against Brighton.
Last night was déjà vu for Saints fans. In the summer, former coach Ralph Hasenhuttl started the new season with three defenses, but quickly gave them up in favor of his more effective and familiar 4-2-2-2 and 4-3-3. It was like they wasted the preseason.
Fast forward to this week and after four weeks of practice, Saints came out with three behind last night – but failed to dominate or convince – and looked much better and happier in the second half playing with four behind when they finally made it more control over the game.
Jones insisted after the game he wasn’t married to a three-man defense and fans will be relieved of that – the current squad is built around a four-man in my view and they know their roles in a system like that better .
The only nagging question that lingers over this is whether both managers independently decided they wanted a three? Or is this a strategy Rasmus Ankersen and owners Sport Republic want for their model. If so, they better dig into their pockets and buy some players, which of course are suitable for it.
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