striker

Much better. Preseason friendly's are just practice, can't get too up or down after each one.

Replay is up, nice one touch from Davis on Gabbi's goal.

The radio is behind you guys live at the match. You say it and then it happens, like Nostradamus.

Yep I meant them. I typed too fast.

Sounds like we made some changes at the half.

Thanks doddisalegend and Leo_ARG. Thats the way its sounded, but I thought maybe their commentators just got a lot more excited when Seville was attacking. If we are parking the bus then MP must really think its important to win this.

It could just be my lousy spanish, but it sounds like Seville has been getting a lot of pressure on us and controlling things. Love to get someone there to shed some perspective.

Looks like a corner which was headed forward by someone, then finished in from maybe 5' from Stephens.

Ah that explains it, I couldn't pull Stephens name from the spanish audio. I knew it was us though.

Who scored? WE did right?

What a riot. I'm listening to the Sevilla website radio broadcast, trying to keep up with the Spanish. The game sounds better actually.

I wouldn't bet on a final starting lineup for next week yet. A lot depends on this game, and also I would suspect MP already had a rotation in mind since we had two matches in the past 4 days. You'll likely see the subs come on at the same times as last week again, just in basically reverse.

Maybe not with Gabbi at the #10. Then Gabbi is getting up and scoring, utilizing his pace and movement, and we still get Romeu/Tadic/Davis/Redmond out there too (or some combination). Its not much different defensively than putting Gabbi upfront and bringing on someone like Boufal.

Well I like to see our full first team out there before making any decisions. For me, I would like to see Austin and Gabbi together upfront, not with Austin as a 10 (or whatever he was playing). Maybe a 4-4-2, or 4-4-1-1 with Gabbi behind him, or a 4-3-3, or something. I think they can complement each other tactically, and I think we need both their scoring in their lineup. I know I am beginning to come off as to pro-Austin per some folks comments on here, and I know some like better movers upfront, but in my opinion you can't ignore his scoring (which is to me the main thing a striker does at the end of the day). If you just go by pace you get Long, or other guys like that, and we'll be yelling about lack of goals again.Those two together with Redmond, Tadic, etc. give us some pop. If there comes a time when Austin isn't finishing well anymore, or getting assists around the box, then I agree take him out because other players offer more pace and movement. Long as a late sub to stretch the tired D is fine as well as midfield depth if we have injuries. To finish this, let me point out that we have scored 4 goals in preseason, and 3 have come from Austin and Gabbi (2 & 1). No goals means no wins. On defense, we really need to get Cedric back there with the starters. It would be great to get in with Bertrand, Cedric, VVD, and Yoshida. However with VVD probably not an option lets get Stephens in there and let them gel. I am not sold on Bednarek, and I think Pied looks ok as a sub. I think the lack of time together in the back has been a major problem so far. Still not sure what to do in midfield (or what MP will do). Romeu and Redmond need to play. After that I guess it depends on the formation. Maybe a Redmond-Romeu-Tadic-Boufal line? If we stick with 1 striker I would like to see what Gabbi can do dropping him back to the center, again to get all our scorers on the pitch.

Gabbi, Redmond, and Boufal are the only guys I see contributing a lot. Pied maybe, I am still holding out some hope for him.

I am a little baffled by the midfield play today. My only conclusion is that MP was trying another formation/tactic, since that is what preseason is for. I know we play better than that. I dont think you can make much judgement about the defenders or forward play today because the center field was so bad.

How do you think MP will handle this game? Will he use it as a last test for some subs to see if they make it, knowing the starters will play on Saturday, or will he stick with primarily the starters?

Put me down as another Tadic vote.

9th place finish, but of course people will complain and we fire MP Stephens becomes a top back & Forster has a great season Boufal will be more under control, and we will see less of him going "full boufal" (I love that saying, whoever said it). Unlike last season, we will score a representative # of goals for our 9th position

I'm not related to anyone, and I'm not sure what you mean. I may in fact pick Gabbi if pushed with Austin coming in around 60 minutes. I guess it depends on the formation we play. Maybe I just find it weird that while people yell for scorers they still get on Austin. For reference I also defend Forster, who I also think is unfairly criticized.

I like them both and am not sure what to do. I'd like to find a way to get them both on the pitch. Having said that I am always amazed that some here automatically dismiss Austin. He was our leading scorer last year while only playing 2/5 of the season, and is our leading scorer again this preseason. People clamor for a striker who can finish and put the ball in the net, and here we have one yet I guess some don't like how he does it? The guy scored 18 goals a few seasons a god in the PL, to claim he can'ts score or isn't a finisher just isn't accurate.

Useless but fun article today comparing Austin to Gabbi. I hope they find a way to play them both together. One thing to note in this article is the theory that Austin has no mobility. The article points out that Gabbi is definitely more mobile away from goal, however Austin has good movement around the box and plays hold-up very well. http://readsouthampton.com/2017/07/30/austin-v-gabbiadini-the-big-debate/

So Palace, Stoke, Swansea, and Bournemouth are all "safe", but we're fighting to stay up?

I think MP wants both Austin and Gabbi on the pitch together. He tried Austin behind Gabbi, now I hope he tries Gabbi behind Austin as the "10". I believe Gabbi has played that before in Italy.

yep, it seemed a little odd how Austin was tactically playing. Last match MP had Long playing there too, but not today. Maybe next match try Gabbi? I think MP is just experimenting. In general I thought Boufal, Pied, JWP, Targett, and Yoshida all looked good.