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Koeman suggests that van Gaal's tactics hampered United

United struggle to build up play when they use three centre-backs, says Southampton boss.

SOUTHAMPTON MANAGER RONALD Koeman has suggested that Louis van Gaal’s formation hampered Manchester United during the Saints’ 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday

The Red Devils did not have a single shot on target – although Juan Mata did miss two gilt-edged chances – as the visitors picked up their first win on United turf since 1988 thanks to Dusan Tadic’s second-half goal.

The hosts lined up with three central defenders, including returning midfielder Daley Blind, and struggled to create goalscoring opportunities for the most part, something which Koeman appears to have pinpointed and predicted.

“You know that they have difficulties to build up with three centre-backs,” the Southampton boss told reporters of his old adversary’s line-up.

[In] the second half we pressed them better than the first. They have a lot of qualities from the midfield to the attack, fantastic players, so you need really good players to stop that.

Koeman then went on to insist that he was not surprised by his side’s victory.

“We know we have a strong team and that was important at the end of December.

“We got a point against Chelsea and the three points against Arsenal. That makes belief in the players. It is what you need if you are not a big club: belief in the players, not afraid of the name or the stadium. We learned that.

I am not surprised we won against United. We have organisation. We have 11 clean sheets in 21 games. If we keep the spirit and the organisation, we can keep in front in the table.

Robin van Persie will miss tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony because of injury

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10 Comments
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    Mute conor carroll
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:51 PM

    Great advertisement for the LOI. How ex Shels RTE commentator could say Matty Smith should not have been sent off is beyond me. Shels lost their discipline at the end.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:01 PM

    What a game. Incredible to watch on telly.

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    Mute Super Saint
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:47 PM

    Brilliant game of football! Up the Saints!

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    Mute michael graham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:06 PM

    Incredible match , brilliant atmosphere .I wonder why Pats were only given 500 tickets when there was room for another 500

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:51 PM

    May not be riveting football, but I’d rather it that way with lots of goals any day. Some incredible finishes, particularly the two Shels goals. They still have a healthy lead but sometimes pressure affects less-experienced sides more when it matters most. Rovers with the more favourable fixtures too, albeit they need a win next week to truly unsettle Duff’s men for the run in. Those sides fighting relegation like Drogheda can become banana skins too in the latter stages of any league.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:28 PM

    Great entertainment. Couple of wonderful finishes, Keenas effort from inside his own half outrageous.
    Mistakes to be sure but guys on 100000 a week make mistakes.
    Thought Shels should have brought on the big lad up front sooner.

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:44 PM

    It’s like a bunch of drunks doing a 100 metre race. If you’re invested in a team it may seem exciting, but it’s been a very poor season, particularly for Shams with all the resources at their disposal. Even if they do win in the end, Bradders has been exposed as clueless.

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    Mute Ellis Dewald
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    Sep 30th 2024, 9:59 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: you do talk some drivel Ian!

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:39 PM

    @Ellis Dewald: Shels have 54 points out of 96, Shams 49 out of 96. In any other league in the world these stats wouldn’t put a team within an asses roar of the title. Just because anyone can beat anyone on a given day doesn’t make it a great league.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:43 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: Bayern Munich ran away with the bundesliga every year until last year, did that make it a great league?

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    Mute Ultán Corcoran
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    Sep 30th 2024, 11:57 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Personally I will say yes ;) although not the ideal regular winner I agree. If we had a bit more nerve, BVB should’ve snapped up two of them titles too.

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    Mute Fergus Desmond
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:24 AM

    @Ian Cunningham:

    Drivel is right

    Great advertisement for the league with ROVERS back in it

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    Mute Brian I
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    Sep 30th 2024, 11:34 PM

    After shels made it two each, they needed composure, and Duff just throne a tantrum on the line and it seeped into the team, it was a great game, it’s amazing how open it still is, if Pats were to win all four games and get to 59, the other teams are showing no consistency to say they will, poor season but has the makings of a great finish.

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    Mute Ruairi Galavan
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:14 AM

    Brilliant stuff. Best LOI game I can remember seeing and delighted the TV cameras were there. Now imagine what our league could be with some investment.

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    Mute Tony McGrath
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    Sep 30th 2024, 10:20 PM

    The bluffer should be made watch fools and horses

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    Mute patsfan1166
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    Oct 1st 2024, 11:54 AM

    Sh€ls are falling apart again

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