De Ridder, De Difference!

There is no way that a sports hack can pass up the opportunity to say ‘I told you so’.  So here goes, ‘I told you so’! 

If Hull City had Southampton watched at the weekend, in preparation for last night’s game, then they must have been delighted to see the team sheet before kick-off.  No De Ridder!   No Width!  In fact, Nicky Barmby could be heard giggling from as far away as Hedge End,  as he gave his team talk.  It would have gone something like this, ‘right lads, listen up. Pressure the ball (snigger), double up on Lallana (LOL) and squeeze up.  Overlap down the left hand side (chortle).  Close down quickly in the middle of the park (titter) and set the offside trap in motion (chuckle).’  For 45 minutes the Hull City players did as they were told.  Lambert ventured in to No Man’s Land like machine gun fodder at the Battle of The Somme and Hull pressured the ball as if their lives depended on it.  It was no surprise then that they went in at half-time with their noses in front.

The introduction of De Ridder at half-time, much earlier than at Ashton Gate on Saturday, had the impact that this Blogger had prescribed in his previous blog.  With De Ridder pushing down the right side, Frazer Richardson was also able to get forward and deliver some wonderful crosses, one of which resulted in Lallana heading us in front.  Lallana himself began to find space in which to work  as Hull were pushed back in the early stages of the first half.  Schneiderlin and Hammond were able to get a grip of midfield and we began to look like the real deal again: dominating teams and creating good chances.

One must give credit to Nigel Adkins today.  He is a superb young manager who is making excellent progress with the Saints.  A half-time change makes sense.  It allows the manager to speak to the whole team, to explain the tactical changes and what is required.  I’m not saying De Ridder is the answer to all of Southampton’s problems, far from it.  To use a Chess analogy, he is our Rook, occupying the right side of the board and keeping the pressure on the opponent.  Meanwhile, the other pieces slide unnoticed up the board and one even ghosts in to head home the winner.  Checkmate Hull!

Well done Nigel.

thesaint