HarvSFC

Great win, up the Saints. Stark contrast from the side that let Chelsea run past them at ease just four months ago. The cult of Ralph lives on, although he has made it difficult at times. We've seemingly learned from the mistakes we were making at the beginning of this season, addressed them quickly and now we're beating Chelsea. Lavia and ABK are stars. I hadn't heard of either before they were linked and then signed, but they're far too good for their age. They're going right to the top, enjoy them while we can and hopefully we get plenty of millions for them. 7th and we haven't had that favourable a fixture list with Spurs, United and Chelsea within our first five. We're staying up again, lets go for Europe.

I guess the hope is with this summer that the new signings will eventually pay for themselves and help with future windows. Due to poor ownership and poor decisions made in recent seasons, we've been left with a squad where our only saleable assets are JWP, KWP, Salisu, Adams and Livramento and selling even one of those would have done the team more harm than good with all the new players coming in. Now, that we've got a plan again and what so far seems to be good scouting and recruitment we can hopefully join in with the £30m signings, but not get lumbered with another Carrillo.

£15.4m is cheap today for a striker.

Neither of Ings, Alderweireld or Mane were reported on before we signed them on deadline day. Think Walcott was kept pretty quiet too before he was captured on video at Saints. Keep the faith.

17 fixtures after January 31st, in comparison to 16 last season, although that does include the postponed Newcastle match. The main schedule change of this season is the season starting eight days earlier and there only being one international break next month before the World Cup in December, when there's usually a break in September, October and November.

That's not right. He was an unused substitute for ten of Roma's last twelve matches last season, despite Italy having the five sub rule. Didn't play in the semi-finals, or final of the Conference League either. He was an immediate starter, but then dropped out. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ainsley-maitland-niles/leistungsdaten/spieler/285845/plus/0?saison=2021

Armstrong's deteriorated quite a bit since his long lay off last year and I think those diminishing physical attributes have highlighted his limited footballing ability a bit more. Last summer when he was linked with a move away it was viewed as a potential terrible move by myself, but this summer I'd be open to it and getting better in, in return. Although, my hopes were pinned on Hudson-Odoi. Double barrelled surname and think he'd have given us the same as Bertrand and Romeu have/did after their moves from Chelsea.

TalkSport, so probably Alex Crook. Still waiting for the Premier League striker we were signing a couple of weeks ago to join Ings and Bertrand.

Newcastle's second string struggling against Tranmere. Targett heavily criticised by the commentators for the Tranmere goal.

Stick Adams on Martinez, whip some crosses in and reap the rewards. Shame Maguire’s unlikely to be playing.

When he wasn't included in the tour, or any pre-season matches due to "injury", there were five Instagram videos posted up of him training on his own. No strapping in the videos for injury and he didn't look too injured, or unable to train with the team. So, not too sure what's going on. One for the itks. https://www.instagram.com/_b3performance/?hl=en

What's weird is both Gibbs-White and Lingard take up the same position if they're going to keep the same formation they've been playing with. So, it's a choice between leaving a player on £200k-a-week, or a player signed for a potential £44m on the bench. You'd hope it would spur on, encourage them to put in performances on the pitch when they get their chance, but then neither put up much of a fight at either United, or Wolves when they were benched. It was consistent first team football at both West Ham and Sheffield United where they shone. Then you have the striker situation. Brennan Johnson's their star man, so he's an automatic starter every week. But, they also signed Awoniyi for £17m and Dennis for £20m. One of them has signed to sit on the bench, which is a bit much for a squad player. Midfield as well to a lesser extent, £10m on O'Brien, £12m on Mangala, Kouyate on a free who was on £65k a week at Palace and Freuler for £7m. To replace one outgoing midfielder, Garner, after his loan. Who's come in to sit on the Nottingham Forest bench? I guess it's exciting if you're a fan and they're at least giving it ago. But, it doesn't seem to be very coordinated, a player becomes available, Forest sign them.

Especially if JWP makes these crosses one of his new trademarks. He tried one earlier in the match against Leicester, but A. Armstrong was the target, so it wasn't as successful.

Given his name and double barrelled surname, Saint-Maximin should have ended up here. He’s torn Kyle Walker apart today, made him look slow.

The overriding positives of the first three matches of the season are the new signings. Usually, there's one, or two a window, who you can tell aren't quite at the required level straight away, a Clasie, a Juanmi, a Hoedt, a Carrillo, a Danso as examples. But, each of our first team signings this summer have certainly made our first 11 stronger. ABK and Lavia don't play like their respective ages. Bazunu and Mara, it's a bit more clear that they're at the early stages of their careers, but they also look like Premier League players and Aribo has brought some much needed quality to our attack. We desperately needed the new signings to add something to our team and they certainly have. Credit to the recruitment team and if this is down to the data driven analysis that Sport Republic/Ankersen reference a lot then I'm all for it. We can go back to the Mitchell days of feeling confident when a player does eventually leave us. Lets hope the next few weeks and incomings bring the same results. Fortunately, nobody came in for Adams with a suitable offer given all the rumours that he's available. Can't sell him after this. Scored two today, unlucky not to get a third and player a part in our two goals last weekend as well. And some thought we'd be fortunate to get £20m for him.

Aston Villa losing 3-1 against Crystal Palace. They need Bednarek.

Aribo’s the only one with any composure out there, we’re giving up possession far too easily.

Great time to play Leicester with the transfer window continuing while the season starts. Schmeichel gone, Ward a downgrade, Fofana and Tielemans not playing. What we mustn't then do is shoot ourselves in the foot and play the reserved tactics we've been playing this season, nor should Bednarek or Elyounoussi be in the starting eleven. As I said after the match last Saturday, if we didn't learn anything from the performance in the last 20 minutes, then ultimately it was pointless, despite giving us a point. This is a great opportunity to get three points. If we sit back and give Vardy, Perez, Barnes and Maddison chances, they'll eventually punish us, as Leeds did last week. Attack them from the off, take a lead, demoralise them and then possibly go more reserved.

Make it happen Villa, I don't get many predictions correct.

Purely from the YouTube videos, I'd say he was most comparable to Pelle of our strikers of recent history. Adams, Ramos, Mara and Armstrong seems a pretty good set of strikers for a club of our size to have for the season, hoping we don't sell Adams to facilitate this.

Lashed out a few times before the actual sending off. See him miss a slap in the video below at 0:44 and even moved his head towards Andersen in the play before actually connecting with him.

For some comfort, they started last season winning their first three matches and without conceding a goal in their first four matches. Then they finished 10th! It's a tough League One with Ipswich, Peterborough, Bolton, Charlton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley down there this season.

Who is MLG's favourite Southampton player of all time? Marek Saganowksi

Next time we play Liverpool JWP has to wind up Nunez.

Once the window closes and Chelsea have their new striker, I doubt he'll be getting those stoppage time sub appearances.