When they went away to challenge Rapid Vienna, Southampton's players did not perform badly.
In this game, Ji Ya sent out a relatively conservative starting lineup. Davis returned to the main goalkeeper position, and the defense also restored the configuration of the first round, sending Dembele and Drinkwall in the midfield.
The tactic of three defensive midfielders of Te and Schneiderlin, with Lallana as the attacking midfielder, and Lambert and Giroud starting as the forward partner.
This starting lineup has strengthened the defense a lot, but the offense has weakened a bit. Mkhitaryan and Lambert are both absent. Southampton can only rely more on Klein and Drinkwater to create opportunities.
, At the same time, Lallana's score worked well in the counterattack. Southampton scored a goal by relying on a set kick. Giroud blocked Schneiderlin's shot in front of the goal. Southampton scored in the away game.
leading.
Vienna quickly launched a fierce attack. Sitting at home, they did not want to lose the game. Finally, in the second half, they relied on two consecutive shots to break through the door guarded by Davis. Davis saved the opponent's first shot.
But he failed to block the second follow-up shot!
The final score was one to one. Noriya failed to win the first European game he coached, but he still got ten achievement points because he got the first European game points...
"I'm quite satisfied with this draw. After all, it's the first time for me and my players to play in a European competition. If we don't lose a game away from home, it's considered a victory. The second round? Of course we want to
Work hard to win, Rapid Vienna is a very strong team and we can learn something from them."
Noriya said at the post-match press conference that he then took his players back to the UK. The next weekend will be the third round away game against Leeds United, and the next week will be the second leg at home.
of the game.
Two consecutive away games have had a considerable impact on Southampton.
However, when facing Leeds United, Southampton performed quite well.
Leeds United are an old rival, and Leeds, who were lucky enough to qualify for the English Championship last season, did not make any decent signings in the summer. Their boss Bates just refused to open his wallet.
But it’s normal to think about it. It’s still difficult for a Championship team to make money. If you invest a lot but fail to reach the top spot, it will be a headache. Talents like Bates will not invest when they don’t have the opportunity.
It's huge.
This is why Southampton fans feel even better about Ji Ya - he just led the team back to the English Championship and spent tens of millions of pounds.
Everyone knows that Southampton’s expenditure is basically impossible to earn back in this year’s league. In other words, an expenditure is an expenditure. Noriya is using his own money to support the Southampton club.
!
Although this kind of thing is common in today's football world, it still makes people feel admirable!
Bates is also a top rich man, but he has never spent his own money to enhance the strength of Leeds United. He would rather let Leeds United drag them around to ensure his own profits.
Southampton maintained a double against Leeds United last season. Southampton's strength has improved so much this year. Wouldn't it be easy to defeat Leeds United?
The results of the first two rounds seem to prove this. Southampton scored nine goals in two games and did not concede a single goal, ranking first in the standings. Leeds only scored one point in two games and ranked low.
However, at Elland Road Stadium, Leeds United proved that they were once a strong team after all, and the momentum of a strong team has not been lost!
Noriya fielded an offensive-oriented lineup in this game. Although it was still 4-4-2 and the defense remained unchanged, there was only one Dembele in the midfield and three attackers in the frontcourt, on the right.
Chamberlain, Mkhitaryan on the left, Lallana supporting in the middle.
Such a lineup really weakens the defense a lot. No matter how strong Dembélé is, there is only one person, mainly because Chamberlain and Mkhitaryan are not very involved in the defense. Southampton's midfielder immediately began to struggle.
Although Mkhitaryan scored a goal through his own breakthrough at the beginning of the game, Leeds United scored three goals in a row in the following time, and it seemed that they were about to win a brilliant victory.
Southampton launched an offensive counterattack in the second half. Lallana first helped the two forwards score a goal each through two passes of his own, and then went ahead with a long shot to overtake the score. When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game,
Southampton beat Leeds United 4-3 away from home and won their third consecutive victory.
However, this victory made people feel that Southampton's performance did still have some ups and downs. Jiya continued to use rotation tactics, so he was a little too confident.
Noriya didn't explain much about this. He continued to rotate tactics just to test out a lineup more suitable for Southampton.
This game proved that at least two defensive midfielders are needed in the midfield. Otherwise, the protection of the defensive line will be insufficient, especially when the two full-backs are constantly advancing.
"I suddenly felt that 4, 4, 2 was not very suitable for our characteristics... In fact, I observed the youth training camps for a long time during this period. They all trained players with 4, 3, and 3 as the main lineup. Under such circumstances,
, If we insist on 442, many outstanding players in the youth team may not be able to gain a foothold in the first team." Noriya said to Benali.
"What we are used to is indeed 433. On the forward line, in addition to the center, we usually have a forward with better skills who can pull out the wing, and a fast winger who can move more on the wing... It's just that in the first two seasons
, We used 433 in the Premier League, because the players were not capable enough, so it was difficult to play, so we changed it to 442, and added Simonet, who is more defensive, in the midfield..." Benali replied.
"I know this, but it is not a question of formation and tactics, but a question of player ability... Our current players do not lack ability." Ji Ya replied with a smile.
"So how are you going to change tactics?" Benelli asked.
"I have considered it to a certain extent, and I have also thought about the personnel arrangement... We can play a lot of main players. It would be a pity if there is no fixed rotation." Ji Ya replied.
"Fixed rotation?" Benelli was stunned.
"Yes, some players work better with certain players, and some players don't work well with certain players. As long as you find this point and have a fixed rotation of partners during rotation, it will be very suitable.
