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New Signings Will Take Time To Adapt Admits Saints Boss
Monday, 25th Aug 2014 09:01

Saints manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that some of his new signings will take time to adapt to the physical side of the Premier League.

After Graziano Pelle came under attack from a vocal minority of the Saints support on Saturday Ronald Koeman has spoken of how his two signings from the Dutch League will need to adjust to the more physical nature of the Premier League after the Eridivisie where the game is played at a less frantic pace, as well as without the more robust defending seen in the Premier.

“It’s difficult,” said Koeman speaking to the Daily Echo. “I think sometimes he can be a little bit more aggressive maybe, to expect in which position the ball falls down, but he needs players from the midfield and with movements around him.

“That was the reason that we changed at half-time and we bring in Shane Long to have more speed in front. I mean, if there comes a long ball, you have to expect something.

“If you wait and you go then, sometimes you are too late.

“But for Pelle and Tadic it’s a higher level and they need to be stronger to be competitive in the Premier League. They need time for that, because it’s a big change.

“The defenders are stronger and it’s more physical than in Holland. The qualities they have, but they need time to adapt.”

The Dutchman is right for Pelle and Tadic as well as Taider who has yet to see action it is a whole new ball game and not only are tey in a new country but they are stepping up in terms of the competitive nature of the league and standard, supporters have to be patient and give them the chance to adjust and come to terms with that standard.

It's made even more difficult by the fact tat they are not stepping into a team that is settled and playing a formation that they are used to, there is a degree of coming to terms with the new style even for players who have been at St Mary's for a number of years.

Rome wasn't built in a day as they say and Saints fans should remember that initially Mauricio Pochettino was not an overwhelming success, when he arrived at the club his record at the end of the season was no better than his predecessor Nigel Adkins and this time last year the jury was still out on him, especially after his first four games of last season that saw only 2 goals scored and one of them a penalty.

The plus point about Saturday's game was that despite lacking attacking depth, Saints controlled the game well, what we need now are the new signings to start finding their feet, once they have done that then as the rest of the team adjusts to the new manager and his ways there should be no reason why a good season should not ensue.

Photo: Action Images



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slynch added 10:15 - Aug 25
The new foreign players seem to be doing alright, to me. It's the original and British players that didn't step up to the plate on Saturday.
Still, early days and they haven't played Manchester United yet!
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abingdonsaint added 10:39 - Aug 25
Pochettino's RESULTS initially were no better than Adkins, but the PERFORMANCES were night and day in my opinion. Important distinction which is constantly ignored!!

Anyway, let's stay patient......
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SaintNick added 11:30 - Aug 25
abingdon lets consider Pochettino's "night & day " differences then.

1st game Everton at home 0-0 should have won it

2nd game Man Utd away lost 2-1 reasonable performance so not that different from liverpool

3rd game Wigan away 2-2 draw, went behind to a soft goal, went 2-1 up and then conceded a soft goal in the last minute real difference was the fact we couldnt defend

Actually the performances were not that much different 0-0 home draw and 2-1 away defeat, if anything we had better attacking options back then but not so good defensively.

Pochettino had the advantage of taking over a side who had played together for a period of time had grown into what was needed in the Premier league and he was taking over on the back of a five game unbeaten run.

Pochettino did well for saints last season, but he had the benefit of having a settled side and of half a season to get it prepared, we need to take off the rose tinted glasses and see that Koeman is taking over in a different scenario and has to rebuild, give him the time to do so
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abingdonsaint added 12:05 - Aug 25
I absolutely agree. It is a completely different scenario now, and it is impossible for Koeman to mould a cohesive team from new players in such a short space of time.
My point is, and has always been, that results are often determined by very small details. The recent Liverpool game is a perfect example. Whilst we won there last season, in many ways we were more comfortable this time. Certainly Forster was less busy than Boruc was, and we had more clear cut chances. But we lost!

What I trying to say is that if you keep playing well enough, often enough, results will follow. You mention the Wigan game last season. That was really the first time I thought that Poch was the 'real deal'. Yes, we conceded a late goal, but in the second half completely took the game by the scruff of the neck and had a clear pattern of play. Which is why I was confident we would have a good season last time round. I also have confidence Koeman will eventually get things right, but I think you underestimate how hard an act he has to follow!

I will, and always have, supported Saints through thick and thin. However, I am not using 'rose tinted spectacles' to see that we played some amazing football last season. I just hope for more this!
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IanRC added 12:58 - Aug 25
I agree Koeman needs time. I do think some see Pochettino's relatively short spell in charge through rose tinted glasses and that includes some of our ex players. Frankly I think many supporters forget how good the football was under Nigel Atkins too. As for crediting Pochettino for developing much of our youth as is common in the media, what nonsense. Still think Pochettino will implode at spurs once they face decent opposition but for the time being my focus is very much on the saints. Happy to give Pelle and Long some more time although distinctly underwhelmed at present by our purchases other than Tadic who seems a much more well rounded player than Lallana. Looking forward to seeing our reserve team thrashed by City today - LOL
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A1079 added 17:11 - Aug 25
You state that Rome was not built in a day. You are quite right, except we were well on the way to building our Rome only for the board (or at least Krueger and Reed) to blow it to pieces in about 5 weeks of the close season. Even the Roman empire lasted more than one season.
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