Morgan Schneiderlin

[Spurs Lodge Kittens]

i like your support and belief in Paulinho bsinghd - but i fear we'll never see that from him for us. I was hoping the world cup would galvanise him but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

at this moment in time i'd cash in on Paulinho ahead of Sandro and Capoue to facilitate the Schneiderlin purchase as i don't think we should be giving Paulinho one of our advanced positions in the starting line-up

 

[Flashspur]

i think Poch will re-invigorate Paulinho...i really do

 

[DaSpurs]

i think Poch will re-invigorate Paulinho...i really do

That's cool, but on what evidence?

 

[nicdic]

Here's the interview I was talking about. It's with L'Equipe (not the best translation) from October 2013...

Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield
It all started with Pochettino’s arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think you’ve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. I’m expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)

Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…
Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasn’t used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.

You spoke about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do?
First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldn’t do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.

He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldn’t fall back in time. I’m the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.

We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble

So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…
Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coach’s demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.

How is all that implemented on daily basis at training?
You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation

We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.

If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.

While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play?
We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rhythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…

That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams?
I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain

Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.

Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you?
Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication

I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so?
(laughs) I’m being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think we’ve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.
Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table

Are you satisfied with your season so far?
Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasn’t very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea

You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.
Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didn’t understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.

From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either
But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because we’ve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.

We’ll end up speaking about France, have you received a call-up yet?
No, I haven’t even received a pre-call up for an extended squad, even with all the absentees in midfield. Then I said to myself « Morgan, if you receive something, it’ll mean you’re on the good path ». I though I would be pre-called up though but I’m not alone. That’s what I say to english journos. You’re ought to know that I’m being asked the question everytime « how in the world aren’t you called up for France ? « . I answer them that there’s plenty of good French players. I stopped worrying about that. He [Deschamps] makes his choices and I’m going to work like a dog to deserve a future call-up.

You are under double sessions regime during the international break whereas you could rest a lot more with the blue jersey right now
(laughs) But the staff isn’t joking, even if we’re 8 or 9 at training, we’ve a rough time. By the way we’re joking and saying that we may go to Luxemburg to play for them, that would avoid us all those training sessions (laughs). I’m kidding, of course

In France, a lot of english football fans speak about you on twitter. There’s even a hashtag #Schneiderlin2014. Were you aware of it?
(laughs) You’re kidding, right ? I’m delighted but I didn’t knew. They must keep on, I want to go to Brazil (laugh). More seriously, how to get into France squad seems quite simple to me. Contribute to lead Southampton to the first places on the table, play for an important club [in regards of it's position on the table]. So then there’ll be more attention, more focus on ourselves, and thus, on me as well. So it’s up to us to do the job. And when I see that MU is next, I’m eager to it !

source: http://kickoff.blogs.lequipe.fr/morgan-schneiderlin-pochettino-cest-lart-du-detail/

 

[danielneeds]

I think to a certain degree we need to stop judging players by previous form and patterns of play, particularly if that's last season.

All of our midfielders appear to have the right kind of attributes to implement the style Pochettino will want. Just because they didn't play that way last season or haven't before anywhere else doesn't mean they can't. How many of the Southampton players had done it before?

The benefit that Schneiderlin brings more than anything is that already knows the game Pochettino will have us playing, increasing the speed with which the whole team can pick up the new style.

I read an interview with Schneiderlin from early this season I think earlier that highlights some of this. I'll try find it and post it.

I also think MoPo may be extra interested in Schneiderlin because he has the character that the team was so lacking last season, he may be earmarked as as potential team-leader in the engine-room.

 

[Flashspur]

That's cool, but on what evidence?

give him purpose...i think Paulinho is better suited to the Lallana role than anyone else and he could find the ideal position he can play in

 

[DaSpurs]

give him purpose...i think Paulinho is better suited to the Lallana role than anyone else and he could find the ideal position he can play in

Interesting, I don't see even a hint of similarity between those two players. Almost on opposite sides in the spectrum of midfielders by my take.

 

[StockSpur]

Paulinho's problem seems to be Paulinho, didnt seem so bad in the wc..

 

[nicdic]

Paulinho was new to the league, we had too many new players at once, then the disruption of a new manager, and complete change of system. I don't think you can judge any of the players on last season.

 

[Flashspur]

Interesting, I don't see even a hint of similarity between those two players. Almost on opposite sides in the spectrum of midfielders by my take.

can take you through it just concerned its the Schneiderlin thread

Poch plays a system with a pivot at the base of MF, a Defensive Mid who has to be able to play box to box, two wide players and a No.10 behind the CF


....................Pivot.......................
...................DM Box to Box (Schnederlin)............................
Wide player (Ward-Prowse).....................
-----------No 10 (Lallana)----------Wide forward (Rodriguez)
------------Striker (Lambert)-----------------

The Pivots role is to drop back into a Middle Three with the Two CB's when transitioning from defending to attacking. The Pivots role is to nullify the pressing of the opposition when in defence but also initiate the attack. The DM is a high tempo triple lung busting tyro who is critical on transitions - when defending to win the ball back but also start attacks and arrive late in the box as the 'extra man'.

The No. 10 plays off the strikers shoulder and is meant to run on to through balls, move the ball out wide or move wide himself to support the wide player if required and make runs into the box. Poch plays a system which tries to overload the opposition in their defensive third. To do this he relies on the DM and No. 10 to arrive in support of the Striker backed up by the wide forward (Rodriguez). Its all about outnumbering and pressing the defense quickly on transitions of the ball. The Lallana role would be ideal for Paulinho because that is his natural game. I think Lallana is a superior passer to Paulinho however and that is the only concern I have. Poch's No.10 needs to be a slick passer.

Coming back to Scneiderlin through...this guy is probably the critical center piece to Poch's set up. He is the key man. Probably explains why we seem eager to get him.

This is a brief summary, the FB's play a vital role as well.

 

[mpickard2087]

can take you through it just concerned its the Schneiderlin thread

Poch plays a system with a pivot at the base of MF, a Defensive Mid who has to be able to play box to box, two wide players and a No.10 behind the CF


....................Pivot.......................
...................DM Box to Box (Schnederlin)............................
Wide player (Ward-Prowse).....................
-----------No 10 (Lallana)----------Wide forward (Rodriguez)
------------Striker (Lambert)-----------------

The Pivots role is to drop back into a Middle Three with the Two CB's when transitioning from defending to attacking. The Pivots role is to nullify the pressing of the opposition when in defence but also initiate the attack. The DM is a high tempo triple lung tyro who is critical on transitions - when defending to win the ball back but also start attacks and arrive late in the box as the 'extra man'.

The No. 10 plays off the strikers shoulder and is meant to run on to through balls, move the ball out wide or move wide himself to support the wide player if required and make runs into the box. Poch plays a system which tries to overload the opposition in their defensive third. To do this he relies on the DM and No. 10 to arrive in support of the Striker backed up by the wide forward (Rodriguez). Its all about outnumbering and pressing the defense quickly on transitions of the ball. The Lallana role would be ideal for Paulinho because that is his natural game. I think Lallana is a superior passer to Paulinho however and that is the only concern I have. Poch's No.10 needs to be a slick passer.

Coming back to Scneiderlin through...this guy is probably the critical center piece to Poch's set up. He is the key man. Probably explains why we seem eager to get him.

I agree with the shape and have tried to explain it on numerous occasions, however I don't think Paulinho is a good fit for that No.10 role. Lallana was very good at moving laterally across the pitch in that space behind the striker and so popped up in different positions, which makes him hard to pick up and also compensates somewhat for the tucked in wide player on the right hand side. I wouldn't say this is a strong point of Paulinho's game.

I also think Poch sees this player as a technical, playmaker type as you noted. That's never going to be Paulinho, lets be honest. I think Eriksen is made for the role.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Here's the interview I was talking about. It's with L'Equipe (not the best translation) from October 2013...




source: http://kickoff.blogs.lequipe.fr/morgan-schneiderlin-pochettino-cest-lart-du-detail/

What a fantastic interview. Desperate to get this guy now. Could bring something very similar to what Scott Parker did in his first 9 months in terms of leadership, attitude and work rate. What he loses in experience he makes up for in greater passing ability and longevity, not to mention full understanding of Pochettino's philosophy.

 

[Flashspur]

What a fantastic interview. Desperate to get this guy now. Could bring something very similar to what Scott Parker did in his first 9 months in terms of leadership, attitude and work rate. What he loses in experience he makes up for in greater passing ability and longevity, not to mention full understanding of Pochettino's philosophy.

Yes nicdic, great post thanks for putting this up

 

[Flashspur]

I agree with the shape and have tried to explain it on numerous occasions, however I don't think Paulinho is a good fit for that No.10 role. Lallana was very good at moving laterally across the pitch in that space behind the striker and so popped up in different positions, which makes him hard to pick up and also compensates somewhat for the tucked in wide player on the right hand side. I wouldn't say this is a strong point of Paulinho's game.

I also think Poch sees this player as a technical, playmaker type as you noted. That's never going to be Paulinho, lets be honest. I think Eriksen is made for the role.

Eriksen could be a weak link - he needs to up his tackling...its really poor....in Poch's system everyone presses...no slackers...especially high up in the oppositions defensive third

 

[Flashspur]

What a fantastic interview. Desperate to get this guy now. Could bring something very similar to what Scott Parker did in his first 9 months in terms of leadership, attitude and work rate. What he loses in experience he makes up for in greater passing ability and longevity, not to mention full understanding of Pochettino's philosophy.

like I said he is a key man in Poch's system

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Here's the interview I was talking about. It's with L'Equipe (not the best translation) from October 2013...




source: http://kickoff.blogs.lequipe.fr/morgan-schneiderlin-pochettino-cest-lart-du-detail/

An absolutely fascinating insight. Love reading stuff like that, very impressed by the player and what he had to say about Pochettino's methods and even the medical team at Southampton.

This bit particularly caught my eye:

"I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble"

Sounds simple, but it isn't. I keep trotting this out when people talk about Lennon's work for the team and how he tracks his man, but what he doesn't do is press the ball properly, he'll jog along with his opponent but does not position himself close enough or apply himself properly so as to actually prevent the opponent passing the ball. He's not the only one but he continually gets praised for his work when really it's token.

 

[DJS]

Paulinho's problem seems to be Paulinho, didnt seem so bad in the wc..

Really?

 

[Mr Pink]

can take you through it just concerned its the Schneiderlin thread

Poch plays a system with a pivot at the base of MF, a Defensive Mid who has to be able to play box to box, two wide players and a No.10 behind the CF


....................Pivot.......................
...................DM Box to Box (Schnederlin)............................
Wide player (Ward-Prowse).....................
-----------No 10 (Lallana)----------Wide forward (Rodriguez)
------------Striker (Lambert)-----------------

The Pivots role is to drop back into a Middle Three with the Two CB's when transitioning from defending to attacking. The Pivots role is to nullify the pressing of the opposition when in defence but also initiate the attack. The DM is a high tempo triple lung busting tyro who is critical on transitions - when defending to win the ball back but also start attacks and arrive late in the box as the 'extra man'.

The No. 10 plays off the strikers shoulder and is meant to run on to through balls, move the ball out wide or move wide himself to support the wide player if required and make runs into the box. Poch plays a system which tries to overload the opposition in their defensive third. To do this he relies on the DM and No. 10 to arrive in support of the Striker backed up by the wide forward (Rodriguez). Its all about outnumbering and pressing the defense quickly on transitions of the ball. The Lallana role would be ideal for Paulinho because that is his natural game. I think Lallana is a superior passer to Paulinho however and that is the only concern I have. Poch's No.10 needs to be a slick passer.

Coming back to Scneiderlin through...this guy is probably the critical center piece to Poch's set up. He is the key man. Probably explains why we seem eager to get him.

This is a brief summary, the FB's play a vital role as well.

I thought Davis was the central presser in Poch's system?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

An absolutely fascinating insight. Love reading stuff like that, very impressed by the player and what he had to say about Pochettino's methods and even the medical team at Southampton.

This bit particularly caught my eye:

"I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble"

Sounds simple, but it isn't. I keep trotting this out when people talk about Lennon's work for the team and how he tracks his man, but what he doesn't do is press the ball properly, he'll jog along with his opponent but does not position himself close enough or apply himself properly so as to actually prevent the opponent passing the ball. He's not the only one but he continually gets praised for his work when really it's token.

Also, it was noticeable how much better Ceballos, Falque, Lamella, were at pressing in the second half than Lennon & Townsend were in the first half in Seattle.

 

[Flashspur]

I thought Davis was the central presser in Poch's system?

Davis took the wide role with Ward-Prowse both are important as they provide the ammo - Ward-Prowse with his brilliant crossing and Davis can pick a pass like very few I saw last season...great distributor