Le Saux says Saints must take the game to Premier clubs (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Graeme Le Saux wants Southampton to be creative in the Premier League
6:10am Wednesday 27th June 2012 in Sport
Graeme Le Saux
By Tom Crocker
Graeme Le Saux has highlighted creativity as the key to former club Saints enjoying a successful return to the Premier League.
Le Saux, pictured, part of the Saints team relegated from the top flight in 2005, insists midfield flair akin to last season’s surprise package Swansea is a must if Nigel Adkins’ men are to avoid the drop.
He said: “For a team like Southampton they need to have a bit more creativity through the middle, like a Mata-type player as we have seen with Swansea.
“They (Swansea) have good technical players in the centre of midfield and they can be the link and open up defences.”
The fixture computer has been unkind to Saints, with matches against both Manchester clubs as well as Arsenal inside the first four games of 2012/13.
Le Saux is adamant that Saints do not just sit back and defend against the league’s leading lights.
He said: “Finding that creativity just takes the pressure off the defence and causes problems to your opponents.
“If you try and defend against Premier League teams you eventually concede because they just wear you down.
“You need to be able to take the game to them as well.”
Norwich City are another side who caused a stir in the top flight last term after being promoted, and Le Saux feels everything is in place for Saints to follow a similar path.
“Nigel Adkins has done a really good job and they are built on a good foundation,” he explained.
“They are going to need to strengthen their squad a bit but any team being promoted would have to.
“If they can emulate Norwich and Swansea particularly, then they could be a decent Premier League team.”
Many people have criticised the tactics of managers such as Ian Holloway and Roberto Martinez in the past, with their insistence on providing fans with attractive football even if it ultimately sees them lose matches.
However, Le Saux agrees that it is possible to continue with your footballing principles even if some are calling for a less eye-catching but potentially more points-scoring style of play.
“Any team that gets promoted through playing good, technical football and rises above the more direct football that can be associated with the Championship are already halfway to being prepared for the Premier League,” he outlined.
“The Premier League is so competitive, so aggressive, so physical, that you need more than that physical side of your game to win matches.
“You need to have that craft, skill and technique.”
Graeme Le Saux was speaking to celebrate the first-ever draw of the new Capital One Cup. Capital One are the new title sponsors of the League Cup. Visit footballleague.co.uk for more details.
Comments(37)
St Retford
says...
8:04am Wed 27 Jun 12
zummerzet saint wrote:Nigel's on it. Believe.
It's true....Swansea's key player last year was Leon Britton, we need to spend and get a top quality creative midfield general in. We do lack that sort of player at the moment.
St Retford
says...
8:07am Wed 27 Jun 12
Saintsayer II
says...
8:14am Wed 27 Jun 12
Shareholder
says...
8:22am Wed 27 Jun 12
Alicesdad
says...
9:28am Wed 27 Jun 12
I am however fed up with people comparing us to Swansea, Norwich and other newbies who just seem grateful to be in the same league as the so called big guns and are only interested in avoiding the drop.
Is nobody listening ? The owners, the chief exec and the manager are looking to be a top half team, not a "hanging by a thread" survival outfit.
We are Southampton - we are back - if anybody DARES to treat us with disrespect they will be trampled into the holy dirt and richer dust that covers our pitch. We WILL win at home and we will be DANGEROUS away from home and we WILL be a top half team and our players WILL be international class.
We realy must get this mind set right .. timidity will see us among the timid... boldness, skill and the Southampton style will see us as a team feared across this land, and across the borders of Europe.
Onwards.
mack chinnon
says...
9:52am Wed 27 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:There will probably be lots of them.
On a related theme, Rangers are no longer playing in the ML cup. I wonder how this will affect the Davis rumours.
5cum 5cum 5cum
says...
10:09am Wed 27 Jun 12
St Graz
says...
10:17am Wed 27 Jun 12
SO50 Saint
says...
10:24am Wed 27 Jun 12
dopplershift
says...
10:28am Wed 27 Jun 12
.
“Any team that gets promoted through playing good, technical football and rises above the more direct football that can be associated with the Championship are already halfway to being prepared for the Premier League,” he outlined.
.
is a little behind the times. Yeah sure there is a bit of kick and run(!) but that is a massive injustive to the top 10 teams in the champ who over a season played out a very entertaining conclusion with some great players on show playing some breathtaking prem style football. Saints, WH, reading, Boro, cardiff, blackpool, BHA, B'ham and Hull all played 'proper' football (some more than others) and made it a very difficult league to escape from. At some point people outside of the football league are going to stand up and acknowledge that perhaps the future of English football lies in the champ and a team chosen from the afore mentioned teams could have done better at the Euros than the actual England team!!!
spyware
says...
11:11am Wed 27 Jun 12
oregonsaint
says...
11:13am Wed 27 Jun 12
Confucious
says...
12:00pm Wed 27 Jun 12
lowe esteem
says...
12:11pm Wed 27 Jun 12
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
Confucious
says...
12:16pm Wed 27 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:I did hear that on Sunday night Nigel dreamed he was a horse and he told Nicola that since then he hasn't been entirely sure whether he is actually a horse dreaming that he is a football manager. This is a very difficult one indeed and I hope he gets through it.
zummerzet saint wrote:Nigel's on it. Believe.
It's true....Swansea's key player last year was Leon Britton, we need to spend and get a top quality creative midfield general in. We do lack that sort of player at the moment.
St Retford
says...
12:24pm Wed 27 Jun 12
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction.
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.
frenchvic
says...
1:21pm Wed 27 Jun 12
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Tide must be out, one of them has crawled ashore.
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
worried of n e hampshire
says...
1:46pm Wed 27 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:obviously
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction. Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.5cum 5cum 5cum wrote: What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games? Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
St Retford
says...
1:47pm Wed 27 Jun 12
worried of n e hampshire wrote:Fact.
St Retford wrote:obviously
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction. Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.5cum 5cum 5cum wrote: What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games? Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
St Graz
says...
1:59pm Wed 27 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:Might be a plastic - although it shows the intelligence - referring to the league that they are (possibly) in the second tier of in derogatory terms.
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction.
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.
SO50 Saint
says...
2:12pm Wed 27 Jun 12
circa 66 saint
says...
2:12pm Wed 27 Jun 12
lowe esteem wrote:bit of a quiet day today so had a look at the poopey news site.
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
now the real question is how can an island race, as the portsea islanders are, be so close to civilisation and show such lack of intelligence.
some think Chainrai will save them.
some think the truss will do the business.
very few do not understand that unless the high earners are removed no one will save them.
oh final question is liquidised "skunt"toxic and will it have to be stored like nuclear waste .
great time to be a saint
spyware
says...
2:49pm Wed 27 Jun 12
If I may add that poopeys exit from administration, by means of a CVA, will still not guarantee them escape from a possible points deduction for the start of the new season.
This will be decided by the Football League in the coming weeks.
SFCOLDBOY
says...
2:59pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Alicesdad wrote:Here! Here!
Interesting viewpoint from Le Saux, but nothing new really. It's all been said on these threads by the sage fanbase.
I am however fed up with people comparing us to Swansea, Norwich and other newbies who just seem grateful to be in the same league as the so called big guns and are only interested in avoiding the drop.
Is nobody listening ? The owners, the chief exec and the manager are looking to be a top half team, not a "hanging by a thread" survival outfit.
We are Southampton - we are back - if anybody DARES to treat us with disrespect they will be trampled into the holy dirt and richer dust that covers our pitch. We WILL win at home and we will be DANGEROUS away from home and we WILL be a top half team and our players WILL be international class.
We realy must get this mind set right .. timidity will see us among the timid... boldness, skill and the Southampton style will see us as a team feared across this land, and across the borders of Europe.
Onwards.
I second that.
COYR
george chivers
says...
4:45pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Alicesdad wrote:I admire your optimism and positive attitude. But. Do you watch much Premier League football on TV? With our current squad plus another 4 decent additions we can probably make 15th in the league.
Interesting viewpoint from Le Saux, but nothing new really. It's all been said on these threads by the sage fanbase.
I am however fed up with people comparing us to Swansea, Norwich and other newbies who just seem grateful to be in the same league as the so called big guns and are only interested in avoiding the drop.
Is nobody listening ? The owners, the chief exec and the manager are looking to be a top half team, not a "hanging by a thread" survival outfit.
We are Southampton - we are back - if anybody DARES to treat us with disrespect they will be trampled into the holy dirt and richer dust that covers our pitch. We WILL win at home and we will be DANGEROUS away from home and we WILL be a top half team and our players WILL be international class.
We realy must get this mind set right .. timidity will see us among the timid... boldness, skill and the Southampton style will see us as a team feared across this land, and across the borders of Europe.
Onwards.
I am sure NC will have set NA a stretch target of over half way, but to achieve that you need high quality players not just good players
Our present squad doesn't have proven high quality players who have done it in the Premier League, and I don't believe we will bring that kind of player in. So, we have get real, 15th will be a decent result for me. I hope NC see's it that way and doesn't get rid of Nigel if we don't end up 10th or better.
But some how I don't think he will. When Pardew got us within one place of the play-offs and won the JPT, with a -10 start in the league he was told he had failed.
I would love to see us in the top 10, but I have been watching 2 Premier League games per week for years and I don't think our squad will be good enough to achieve that.
Like Norwich and Swansea were are a provincial club, with provincial players. Unless big money is invested I think we will stay that way.
Matt Allen
says...
5:02pm Wed 27 Jun 12
They've never heard of Ricky, Adam, Billy, Jay, Morgan - let alone Lee!
Let the fire power commence.
Europe here we come....
The Inbetweener
says...
5:04pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Alicesdad wrote:Have you recently attended a REDARMY1 training course?
Interesting viewpoint from Le Saux, but nothing new really. It's all been said on these threads by the sage fanbase.
I am however fed up with people comparing us to Swansea, Norwich and other newbies who just seem grateful to be in the same league as the so called big guns and are only interested in avoiding the drop.
Is nobody listening ? The owners, the chief exec and the manager are looking to be a top half team, not a "hanging by a thread" survival outfit.
We are Southampton - we are back - if anybody DARES to treat us with disrespect they will be trampled into the holy dirt and richer dust that covers our pitch. We WILL win at home and we will be DANGEROUS away from home and we WILL be a top half team and our players WILL be international class.
We realy must get this mind set right .. timidity will see us among the timid... boldness, skill and the Southampton style will see us as a team feared across this land, and across the borders of Europe.
Onwards.
Love the positivity - can' wait for the season to commence.
The boys are back tomorrow to start pre-season training hopefully all well rested and ready for the challenge ahead.
COYR's
likewatchingbrazil
says...
5:05pm Wed 27 Jun 12
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:i love the smell of jealousy in the afternoon, kind of smells like victory.
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
coyr foptj
Matt Allen
says...
5:05pm Wed 27 Jun 12
spyware wrote:Sounds about right, Man City started with Swansea as their first game last season and that was moved to Monday night for Sky.
Apologies if someone has posted this before but I have heard that SAINTS' game with Man City has now been re-arranged to the Monday night.
I watched the game, Swansea played really well, but then ran out of steam on 60 mins and City took advantage.
I think we can get something from the game.
slugger
says...
6:15pm Wed 27 Jun 12
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:nice one , keep 'em coming ...... i like a smile on a wednesday evening !
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
PremSaint
says...
6:35pm Wed 27 Jun 12
A suprise result in our first game will be "cutting the head of the serpent" and send a message of intent to the rest of the premiershp.
Saints win against a championship favourite - Leeds last season did kick start our season somewhat.
mack chinnon
says...
7:18pm Wed 27 Jun 12
PremSaint wrote:I was so glad we won our opening game last season.
I personally think that facing Man City at home is the best fixture for Saints.
A suprise result in our first game will be "cutting the head of the serpent" and send a message of intent to the rest of the premiershp.
Saints win against a championship favourite - Leeds last season did kick start our season somewhat.
Optimist
says...
11:26pm Wed 27 Jun 12
Confucious wrote:A dream within a dream. I'll keep an eye open for a spinning top and give a little more respect to horses I meet this season.
St Retford wrote:I did hear that on Sunday night Nigel dreamed he was a horse and he told Nicola that since then he hasn't been entirely sure whether he is actually a horse dreaming that he is a football manager. This is a very difficult one indeed and I hope he gets through it.
zummerzet saint wrote:Nigel's on it. Believe.
It's true....Swansea's key player last year was Leon Britton, we need to spend and get a top quality creative midfield general in. We do lack that sort of player at the moment.
I hope our team from last year (that stayed in the top 2 positions all season) is given a little more faith, I love our opening fixtures, Tottenham had a bad start last year but I remember that that gave them a really good "this is the level" mark by which to play against other teams. After facing that lot if we can come through it unbroken we will feel a fresh freedom with which to aspire to. Unbeaten? imagine the feeling to ride!
lowe esteem
says...
2:24pm Thu 28 Jun 12
george chivers wrote:Gotta call you on this one, George. I am sure you will mark my words. Don't believe everything you see on Telly or read on Wiki- trust in Nicole and Nigel, they will do whatever is necessary to build on these now solid foundations. FIGHT and WIN we RULE the South-ooh, it's catching.
Alicesdad wrote:I admire your optimism and positive attitude. But. Do you watch much Premier League football on TV? With our current squad plus another 4 decent additions we can probably make 15th in the league.
Interesting viewpoint from Le Saux, but nothing new really. It's all been said on these threads by the sage fanbase.
I am however fed up with people comparing us to Swansea, Norwich and other newbies who just seem grateful to be in the same league as the so called big guns and are only interested in avoiding the drop.
Is nobody listening ? The owners, the chief exec and the manager are looking to be a top half team, not a "hanging by a thread" survival outfit.
We are Southampton - we are back - if anybody DARES to treat us with disrespect they will be trampled into the holy dirt and richer dust that covers our pitch. We WILL win at home and we will be DANGEROUS away from home and we WILL be a top half team and our players WILL be international class.
We realy must get this mind set right .. timidity will see us among the timid... boldness, skill and the Southampton style will see us as a team feared across this land, and across the borders of Europe.
Onwards.
I am sure NC will have set NA a stretch target of over half way, but to achieve that you need high quality players not just good players
Our present squad doesn't have proven high quality players who have done it in the Premier League, and I don't believe we will bring that kind of player in. So, we have get real, 15th will be a decent result for me. I hope NC see's it that way and doesn't get rid of Nigel if we don't end up 10th or better.
But some how I don't think he will. When Pardew got us within one place of the play-offs and won the JPT, with a -10 start in the league he was told he had failed.
I would love to see us in the top 10, but I have been watching 2 Premier League games per week for years and I don't think our squad will be good enough to achieve that.
Like Norwich and Swansea were are a provincial club, with provincial players. Unless big money is invested I think we will stay that way.
5cum 5cum 5cum
says...
12:10pm Fri 29 Jun 12
St Graz wrote:Charlie Umbrella November Tango
St Retford wrote:Might be a plastic - although it shows the intelligence - referring to the league that they are (possibly) in the second tier of in derogatory terms.
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction.
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.
St Graz
says...
1:23pm Sat 30 Jun 12
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Sierra Kilo Uniform November Tango
St Graz wrote:Charlie Umbrella November Tango
St Retford wrote:Might be a plastic - although it shows the intelligence - referring to the league that they are (possibly) in the second tier of in derogatory terms.
lowe esteem wrote:The Pompey manager (who I actually quite like despite his inability to say anything without prefacing it with the word 'obviously') has said he'll be going into August with literally no players. So he'll have two weeks to assemble a squad from scratch before starting in League One with, most likely, a points deduction.
5cum 5cum 5cum wrote:Is your name based on the song you, Johnny the Bell and the other 3 sing at home games?
What a bunch of deluded jokers, back in fizzy pop league in one year.
Mine is a tribute to our illustrious history and your present-
Yep, these are great times to be a Pompey fan alright.

zummerzet saint says...
7:26am Wed 27 Jun 12