Saint Garrett

Should win, a third win in a row for us would be huge. We have the quality to go and rack up a win by a fair margin. BUT, as we know in this league, it's all about moments and fine margins. If we have a couple of fuck ups, and struggle to take our chances then it can go the other way. We should have far too much for them. Would go same team unless there are any injury concerns. We finally have found a balance all over the pitch. I did wonder if we didn't bring Adams on last night becuase he's due to start on Saturday, or just whether Martin thought it was an opportunity to give Mara minutes.

He's getting better and better, which I think most of us expected to happen this season. His confidence is growing which is absolutely massive for him and this side in general. His distribution is fantastic, and completely key to how we want to be able to play. I still have concerns about his shot stopping, but he will grow in that area too. He's still so young, a lot of keepers aren't playing regular football until they're 25/26 and their prime is seen to be around 30. He's 21.

His tactics seem to have a big impact against top sides. And possibly we were more focused. It was breaking teams down where we had an issue, apart from when Ings was scoring goals for fun.

Think we had just lost 5 in a row, and then started that game with a midfield 3 of JWP, Davis and Reed that day. Missing both Schneiderlin and Wanyama. I think we did have 5 at the back though from memory, Yoshida, Alderweireld and Fonte, Bertrand and Clyne at wing back. What I'd give for that quality these days...!

Who knows…will do the team good to be away from the expectation of St Mary’s, and the understandable groans…! Baz; KWP Bednarek Bellis Manning; Charles Smallbone Armstrong Edozie Adams Armstrong if Charly and Sulrmana can be arsed then they should play, but neither looks interested in the slightest for me. Such a poor squad still sadly …

I'm definitely surprised to see people putting Stuart Armstrong and Alcaraz in midfield. 2 players who give the ball away so ridiculously cheaply. With our current squad, I think it's probably got to be Charles + 1 of Smallbone or Downes, + one of Stu/Charly. The concerning thing about the last few games if we've played 1 "6" in there (Downes who has been nowhere near good enough so far) alongside 1 full back, normally KWP. but sometimes Manning depending on where the ball is. This shifts us into a 3-2-4-1 or 2-3-4-1 when we have the ball.It's not a surprise we are getting killed with the turnover when there is so much space. This system only works if we keep the ball and grind down opposition. We did it against Sheff Weds, and to an extent Plymouth, but we certainly haven't done it enough against Norwich/QPR/Sunderland or Leicester. It's a ballsy tactic, but I can't see us putting in a midfield 3 including Stu and Alcaraz when we have to keep possession.

Smallbone seems to offer more than Downes IMO, hopefully Bednarek fit at CB. Holgate or Downes…what a painful choice…!

Probably a good thing.

Will be interesting to see what happens after last nights shambles. IMO, we need to stop trying to be so clever, we are shit at it. Play a right back at right back, centre backs at CB, and centre midfielders in CM. Charles has to play DM, as he seems to be the only one that can do the job. Downes needs to step up, he was appalling last night. “It won’t happen again” well it just did, in the next game. 3 in a row and the fans are going to lose their shit, but this will be a very tough game against a very good side. We need to go into this game to keep it solid, we have shown we can score goals. Bazunu; KWP Bednarek THB Manning; Charles Smallbone Downes; Arma Adams Edozie/Fraser I’m taking my niece for her 14th birthday, who has really got the bug, despite only getting to see a few shit games over the last few years. Hopefully we can stick a result and performance together for her! I’m not holding my breath though…

Matter of opinion. I think he's absolutely dreadful. I dont think any other club will take a punt on him, becuase he goes and does a job in the Turkish league. He looked completely lost in the premier league, and doubt he's capable of doing a job in the championship, unless you're looking to stick on a big bloke to lump it to in desperate last 5 mins!

From what I’ve been told we were trying to push him back onto Genk, because we haven’t paid them for him yet. We’d still be paying them to take him back. It’s one of the worst transfers in Southampton history, up there with Carillo, forren, Orsic, and Ali Dia, utterly ridiculous

Sorry - I was mainly meaning in defence / midfield, to counter the counter attack. Agree Fraser and Arma have some pace.

There is no way that Macca or Lumley are better than Bazunu, despite Baz's shortcomings...

Would be pretty bonkers to write off about €16m in 9 months! Dreadful buy, for a dreadful manager.

Line up completely depends on condition of the player, but I'd go something like the below: Bazunu KWP Bednarek THB Manning Charles Downes Alcaraz Arma Adams Fraser There is a real lack of pace in the side though with Tella gone. Sulemena could well be the answer to that, but no idea if hes ready, mentally and physically.

If we'd signed him this summer I don't think anyone would be questioning him (yet). But he was pretty awful last season, and he hasn't suddenly got miles better. Watching the goals we've conceded this season so far, a lot of them seem to be a bigger tactical problem with the fullbacks tucking inside, and the wide players not covering fullbacks. The midfield is also not thinking about defending, apart from Charles. Downes was shocking against Sunderland. I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that we needed to get rid of Macca and replace him with someone who can give Baz competition at a minimum, but we seem to have gone and brought in a donkey of a keeper in Lumley, and we know Macca is not the answer, certainly with this way of playing. My hope is that once we sort out a settled side and sorted the tactical element his performances should improve. He made some decent saves at the weekend. We also need to think about how we defend and personnel. We have this obsession with trying to be the lower league Man City, but we need to learn how to defend like them, i.e. breaking up the play at the other end of the pitch, and note they have Walker who bails them out because of his pace. We have no-one that can do that which is a concern. Ultimately, I don't think he's had a great start to the season by any means, but IMO the issues are far bigger than having a shit keeper, and not sure a different keeper makes much of a difference if we carry on defending like we do.

Well, time to get behind him…he’s staying (for now) and if he can get his head right he could be mega for us this season. Same with Che. I understand they wanted their moves but didn’t get them, time to move forward…!

Good move all around, we don’t need him, he gets to play champions league football, and potentially we get a better player next season.

I’m kind of happy he’s going tbh. 5 CBs was too many, and wages… We don’t need ABK now this season, hopefully he can tear it up there this season.

wow! chaos

Still think there is a really good chance he goes, unless something has happened with Stewart deal, or injury is worse than first thought? Great for us though....

We also spent the summer budget in January, knowing we could fund through sales if necessary,

I'm not bothered either way tbh. Think he has something to offer at this level as a squad player, but also, not going to start many games.

I'm hoping he'll be ok with not playing...realistically Charles, Downes and TBH should all be starting. Bednarek won't be happy if he's on the bench, can't imagine Holgate would come here to be backup either. Smallbone will expect to play given him signing a new contract, and can't imagine Alcaraz will be happy on the bench. Nice to have competition for places, rather than trying to find XI that will be the least shit.

Everyone else seems to be reporting it, local journos etc. Great signing on paper, and sounds like a really good fit. Going to be some unhappy players not getting a game this season...!