Saint Pete

Forster Stephens Salisu Bednarek Redmond JWP Diallo Perraud S.Armstrong Elyonoussi Broja I thought Romeu had a poor game by his standards last night and looked very weary towards the end so would rest him if we can for this one.

Agree with all the above especially the need to sub JWP or Romeu in second halves. With the formation and high intensity style Ralph uses, it seems obvious that it requires huge energy from the centre mids and that they will tire and make more mistakes late in games. Even more so in periods like this with lots of games. Given that Ralph has spoken out in favour of 5 subs being allowed in the prem it's baffling that he is so slow to use the 3 he is allowed in games like this. He needs to trust the likes of Diallo much more.

Back to back clean sheet wins innit? Why make a change at the back?

I'd be more concerned if they were not making the opportunities and getting in positions to score. Sometimes you have to be patient and the rewards will come.

I agree and personally would start with Adams and Armstrong again. They both played well in last game. Che seems to be a striker who goes on a run once he gets in the goals and Armstrong seems like he is on the brink of some real form so would stick with him for this one. Broja will definitely play a part from the bench anyway.

Still baffled by the omission of Stuart Armstrong again. Presumably not injured as on the bench. I don’t understand why we would be starting Moi or Redmond in preference to him, sorry. Otherwise team is as I would have expected.

Big game for Broja and Albania tonight, home to Poland. Albania currently ahead of Poland in 2nd in the group.

Agreed. Remember the 3 all Palace Liverpool game a few years ago that pretty much decided the title as well? It's those games that are the best thing about the Prem these days, which you would lose if the numbers were cut. Suarez crying on the pitch at the end. Golden memories.

What a player Antonio has become. Match winner again for West Ham today.

Yes agree. Broja looks good so far and I'm sure he is definitely going add a lot to our group of strikers as looks to have some attributes the others don't have in terms of speed and power. But it was just a cameo and you have to take into account it's easier to have an impact with fresh legs vs tired defenders. So shouldn't get too carried away about him yet imo.

Makes a nice change for us to get something with a goal on 90+6. Got to be happyish with an away point in the circumstances.

Reckon that article is probably an over-dramatic interpretation of what has happened from the Everton viewpoint. (Who would have thought it from the Liverpool Echo?) Basically he was offered a pro contract and decided not to take it up and go elsewhere. Perfectly within his rights to do that if he thinks he will get more opportunities elsewhere.

West Ham also signed Craig Dawson from Watford. Not sure on the fee (suspect pretty modest) but he has been credited with making a huge difference for them defensively since signed, originally on loan. Remember also in terms of our signings, VVD was signed from a British club, as were Fonte and Bertrand, all very successful defensive signings.

Interesting that some seem to equate signing players from abroad as a guarantee of quality. Personally, think we should be looking to sign a CB with a few hundred games behind them in UK football this time preferably. Must say I don't know a lot about this Caleta Car guy though.

The manager has to take responsibility for not doing more to address it..., But for me it's just as much a personnel and recruitment issue as it is blindingly obvious that we need an experienced organiser at the back and has been for a couple of seasons. And yet we are still obsessed with bringing in more players who are the "right age" or will be "the future of the club". What about what we need for the present so we don't keep losing winnable games like this?

Same old same old. We don't have strong enough players with enough know how to manage the second halves of games like this where we have started well. Until we sign some men in the core positions of CB and CM with some know how and experience, not much will change irrespective of what Ralph does with tactics and selection.

Not the starting line up I would have expected. But it’s start of season so maybe Ralph is responding to who looks most ready in training at this point? Which obviously we don’t see.

With all the centre mids that have left in last year or so (Hojbjerg, Reed, Lemina, Slattery, Jankewitz), I find it surprising if Ralph wouldn't want another player in that area, even if just for backup.

I think you miss the point a bit with your opening comment. I don't think many saw Vestergaard as perfect by any means. For several seasons, we have lacked an experienced organiser at centre back and we have seen the results of that in the performances defensively. Replacing Vestergaard in the squad with a more inexperienced player is hardly likely to help with that issue, so we need to make sure whoever we sign can compete for a starting place straight away and preferably has the character and experience to help out some of the younger players we already have. Take your point they don't have to be over 30, but defensive players do tend to improve in the qualities we ideally need as they gain more experience. Just think sometimes the club are so focused on our model of signing players who are the "right age", they forget to think enough about what the team needs right now in order to improve.

I hope you are wrong about that. As it stands, Stephens is 3rd choice CB and will be straight in the side if Salisu or Bednarek pick up an injury or are out of form. That's not a situation anyone should be satisfied with! Simeu I think should be thought of primarily as a B team player for this season as has very little experience. So we certainly need a replacement for Vest and it ought to be a player who can contend straight away for a starting place. Personally I wouldn't be against signing an older defender with some experience (Cahill mould) as our team is crying out for more experience and know how especially after losing Bertrand, Ings, Vest.

Yes, feel quite positive about this one as should help with that feeling we had so often last season where it didn't feel we had any good plan B options from the bench if we needed to change the game. This lad may be young but he looks like he has different attributes to our other forwards which should give Ralph more ability to change things up if plan A isn't working. From the clips he looks pretty adept at holding it up and bringing others into the game, which will make him a good option for us.

Yes, notice it says current bid is "up to £15m", which suggests it's not £15m up front, only with the add ons. So as you say reckon we will hold out for £15m before any add ons and that'll probably do it.

Whilst Armstrong can play CM this does take something away from us in the No 10 positions where he is our most effective player currently. Also if Romeu gets injured, we don't really have another more robust DM style player to cover for him, so this makes our midfield look quite vulnerable in Ralph's favoured formation. Overall, I can't really believe that Ralph can be happy with the depth of cover available in centre mid, particularly given that Hojbjerg, Reed, Lemina, Slattery and Jankewitz have all left permanently in the last year or so, with just Diallo coming in. Surely we need at least 1 more DM and must have a free spot given those departures.

Surely we must be looking to bring in another centre mid, as it's obvious we are woefully short of cover in that position. Lemina, Jankewitz, Slattery have all left permanently now and Smallbone presumably still not available through injury. If JWP is still out for the weekend, who will we be able to call on from the bench for CM if needed out of interest?

So what would be the reason to join (or stay at) Southampton out of interest? At the end of the day, players will always gravitate to bigger clubs who pay them more money if they are good enough. In Villa"s case, their best player has left them yes . to join the best and richest club in the land. I wouldn't personally say that was a reason for ambitious players not to join Villa.