RobM

Every single position was discussed by posters here during the summer. But that's not my point... you asked what miracle would occur during Jan that would differ from the summer. Experience is the answer. That's no miracle, but I'm not picking on individual word choices. We know NA wanted to strengthen the positions we now know for sure are our weaknesses, that was proven with the intent to sign the likes of Buttner, so it's not like there was no intention to address them. But for reasons we can only speculate on, those signings never happened. In Jan, with the benefit of experience and half a season of learning, we will be very focused. In fact, I dare say the work will begin ahead of Jan. The only risk to this is Cortese not stumping up the cash, which is a concern given how daft prices get in Jan.

How much time in the Premiership did we have with these players before the season started? How much time to learn did we have, to understand how well they would perform in the Premiership? We had a good idea of who would and wouldn't cut it, but couldn't possibly prove it. Come Jan that will be very different, for Adkins or for his successor if he is (wrongly, IMO) sacked before then. It should now be clear where our weaknesses are and where we need to add quality. Additionally, those gaps we need to plug are few - full backs, a CB and maybe a defensive midfielder.

Agree with some of the comments about, Punch off for Chaplow made sense as Chaplow provided Yoshida some cover down the right, as he really isn't a RB. That was a sensible move, despite Punch having a very good attacking game. But taking Lambert off was madness. This game, even towards the end, suited him and the way we play with him. We took him off and then continue to play in the way we do with him on, so it made no sense. If it was a tactical move to change the way we play, fine, I could understand it. But we didn't do that, we carried on lumping it to the back post and trying to play through positions normally occupied by Lambert.

Two holding midfielders, two midfielders who typically play wide and two strikers... it's got to be 4-4-2, surely? To make it anything but that, we'd have to play JRod and Punch as wingers with Lallana in the hole.

The more I look at it, the more it looks like a really good Championship starting lineup, rather than a Prem lineup.

Is Clyne injured? Must be to miss out completely, since he's been one of our brighter players this year. (edit - saw the confirmation tweet as I submitted this post) Does look like 4-4-2 though and definitely more defensive, but at lest we might see what JRod can do up front. Hopefully he plays just ahead of Rickie.

Nothing but respect for him. He did well for us, always seemed an honest player and bloke and left the correct way, at a time when keeping players like him just wasn't an option. I understand he plays a more defensive-midfielder role these days, perhaps we could tempt him back...

No, he isn't. He just isn't a Premier League player. I would stick with Clyne / Richardson again, as at least we have experienced defenders in those positions.

We tried, it didn't work out as he went to Man UTD instead.

At risk of being controversial, I want to see Chaplow start. Without Morgan, we need a battling, tough, dare I say 'dirty' midfielder who will run, chase and fight for the ball for 90-minutes. We have pretty players who can do attractive things, we have players who can do the simple things well, but we lack bite in midfield, we lack a physical presence who will charge at the opposition just to win the ball.

If it was really at the expense of other areas, I would agree. But there is nothing to suggest the reason we didn't buy more defensive players was we had blown our budget on JRod, especially since he was bought early on and spending went up massively. I think young, English forwards will get even more expensive over the next year or so, to crazy levels. If he can keep patient and be happy with the chances he will get, I think it could be a wise long-term move. But I also think he would do a decent enough job today, if given a regular starting spot up-front.

Who is Askins? I disagree with some of the tactical assessments though, whoever he is. Against Utd, it was Paul Scholes coming on that changed the game. He won it for them, we didn't lose it because of the subs, as we were backs-to-the-wall by then with Scholes bossing things. Yesterday he got it right too with the starting formation. Even Moyes said in his interview afterwards that our formation caught them by surprise, we scored early on, so I think that shows he got it right. Where it went wrong is Everton adapted and changed their game plan, we didn't then match that and they bossed us.

Have I missed something? Isn't it only September (just, granted) still and only six league games played? Yet we now have a thread to discuss our Championship starting lineup for next season? TDD, I had thought you were one of the more level headed posters around.

I have a sneaky feeling Richardson will impress today, I think he could become a bit of a saviour for us.

Thank you, that would be superb to see.

Agreed.

I think we might see JRod and Lambert up front together, with Lallana and Ramirez out wide and JWP and Davis behind.

I only consider Portsmouth our rivals. Rivalry needs history, it needs both sides to give a damn and, oddly, it needs respect. Brighton only came close to a rivalry for one season, they then went backwards the next and are now history. Bournemouth fans seem to think we're a rival, out of some stupid resentment at us gifting them loan players and letting them off payments owed, but it's rare to find a Southampton fan who consider them any more than a local team.

What all this proves is it's a long season and things can change quickly. It also proves that at this early stage, it's impossible to judge a teams true form. We're above Liverpool with more points and the same GD - how many think the season will end this way? My point is those who have been wetting themselves that we were bottom really should get out more, relax a little and gain some perspective.

I'd keep him in for the cup game and Everton too, let's give him a chance to make this position his own.

It seems he plays well when everyone else plays well, but isn't the player to turn a game around. Somebody like Lallana, probably Ramirez from what we've seen, can grab the game by the scruff of the neck and try and make something happen. Punch isn't that player, he needs positive, confident players performing well around him. When he has that, he's superb. When he doesn't, he isn't.

Punch was great in the second half today, nobody other than Yoshida deserves credit for the first half. I've never been a Punch fan, he worries me, but he is proving to be a great player this season.

So, our season really did start today then! Our defence looked SO much better with Clyne and LB and Richardson at RB, with Yoshida in the middle looking so assured. All we need is Jos back in place of Fonte and I'll stop being so nervous! Going forward, what a signing Ramirez is proving to be, just quality. Davis too looks better and better with each game he plays. So much to be positive about... so long as you put that nervous and sloppy first half aside.

It was Bar Med, the downstairs of Jongleurs was something like Bar Rizza?

I think that was the point.