jarhead5

Time to go full r-word (mad Nat). Rambo Bree Harwood-B Bednerak Taylor Suga Lallana Downes KWP Arma Paul Pump it long all game. Bring Archer and Ross when the forwards wear down. A proper Dyche setup. We will get scored on regardless of what we do and we won't get many clear chances. But this might keep it close......er?

Thank you for the updates! No streams and I'm in the US, so i can't listen ether.

Saints match isn't on ESPN+

Bazunu Livramento (only because of injury rebound), Bree, Perraud, Larios Lyanco, Simeu Diallo, S. Armstrong, Smallbone Djenepo, Tella, Edozie Armstrong, Mara

Anyone know what happened to Vokins? Instagram photo shows him with an injured right leg.

Where is Tella?

Right, but are we bringing in a replacement for Reed? I think Reed is our cover this season.

For some time now, (most) everyone describes our style of play as sideways or backwards. I agree. We used to be able to play in that manner and still upend good teams. We are no longer that team, but we still play slow side to side (and backwards) and we don't have the team/skill to play in that manner. The team needs a new outlook. A fresh look at style and directness. Maybe that's the reason for a preseason with 5 at the back. Hughes saw Burnley play very defensive and take an odd goal for a win. Burnley never held the ball, passed it around. They kept there shape and used quick counters and good set pieces. Leister did the same a few years back and overachieved. I'm not suggesting that we try to play like those teams, but we should stop trying to play like Saints of 15-16. It's starting to look like we won't use 5/4/1 (how we were built in the summer), so Vestergaard (who should be a sweeper) will not be as effective as Yoshida/Stephens/Bednarek in a 4 man back line. If we continue in a 4/4/2, Cedric will continue his poor to fair games as he needs to be higher up the pitch (unless JWP plays right mid and will tuck in and allow Cedric to overlap). Cedric is poor in defending, so he is a waste in this formation.....but we have no one else. That leaves left mid for MoEly/Redmond/Armstrong (not his best position). I guess Long is supposed to be our version of Vardy.....? We don't have the players to be 15-16 Leister either.. I wish we had an identity. We always hope that new coaches will bring one....The last two coaches have not. Puel brought an identity, but it was boring and everyone ran him off.

I think Hojbjerg is/will be better than Wanyama....apart from the dive.

So we just need to loan/sell one of: Rose and Barnes? That would put us at 25.

We all believe that we have the answers. We all have different versions of a best XI, formation, tactics, etc. Truth of the matter, we aren't in training. We would like to think that we could polish the turd and make it shiny. It's still a turd.. The Southampton way is to buy (or train) young players and sell them for higher rates (and repeat). That has worked great....to an extent. For every good buy, we have a bad buy. No one swoops in to buy the players who don't progress. And they stay on high wages. We are always buying to replace. Sometimes we make a great buy (VvD, Mane) and they move on quickly for a huge fee. We have some that come in a do a job for us (Tadic) and move on for a minimum fee. We have guys who come in and play well, get a big wage and fade out (Forster, Long). Now we have a little transfer money but have too many players (some on high wages). We have a ton of players who we can't move on. We can't give some of them away. Everyone wants to get rid of Hughes? I say, put him on the banner! He willingly came here. We has very little room to bring in players he needs and is limited on wages he can offer. He is handcuffed by the terrible choices of Reed. We are paying ex managers to not coach for us. We are paying high wages for a 3rd keeper. Hughes is the best we can do/hope for. He is doing his best to polish this turd. But regardless of how shiny he gets it, its still a turd.

I'm surprised no one has included Bednarek. He looked good at the end of last season and played well in the WC. Any word on Armstrong? He picked up a knock and was subbed off. I feel that 3-4-3 can work if we use the right personnel. Vestegaard was incredible and will be better with better speed around him. Stephens did ok. Hoedt had one good tackle, but was mostly a liability. I would go with 2 up top with 1 central attacking mid. This would help get the wingbacks higher up the pitch. Hojbjerg needs a look this weekend. Romeu seemed to disappear in the game. Lemina forced everything and gave the ball away to easily. He is clearly trying to be creative in a position that is too far back. Maybe Hughes should try him further up. He is clearly class, but currently not a fit for us. I would start: McCarthy Bednarek Vestegaard Yoshida Cedric/JWP Hojbjerg Romeu Bertrand Lemina Ings Gallgher/Gabbi

If we bring him in and the 2 to go are FF and Long, it would be a very good window for us.

No Davis, Flannigan, or Jones.

At the end of the season, it seemed like Bertrand, Cedric, and Boufal would be out the door, as soon as possible. Then, we would need to replace those players. Now, Tadic is gone and we sign a midfielder and a winger. Looking like we have a centerhalf and keeper close to joining. Rumors of a Barca Forward and possibly another winger coming in. I love the direction we taking. But, I wonder who will be sold. Our squad was bloated at the end of the season. Now, we have huge numbers on the books. We must sell... I think we sell/loan: GK Forster CB Stephens LB McQueen CM Reed CM Clasie W Boufal F Long F Austin

I think I would go in for Brereton. Looked pretty good in this match.

Davis has lost us the ball every time he has touched it

at least Long found the back of the net!

rightback

Our team screams: 4/1/2/1/2 or 4/3/2/1 ------------Gabbi--------Austin ------------------Boufal ----------Lemina-------Hojbjerg -----------------Romeu Bertrand--Hoedt----Yoshida---Cedric -------------------FF or -----------------Austin ---Gabbi---------------------Boufal --------Lemina--------Hojbjerg ---------------Romeu Bertrand--Hoedt----Yoshida---Cedric ------------------FF

I can't count. That was 12. lol

I agree with you, but here is your answer: --------Gabbi-------Austin --------------Boufal ---------PEH---------Lamina Bertrand----Romeu----------Cedric ----Hoedt----VvD-----Yoshida --------------FF

Looks like JWP has dropped back into the RWB role. He and Bertrand are defending first and moving forward very slow.

--------------McCarthy ----Yoshida---VvD---Hodet Cedric-----------------------Bertrand ---------Romeu---Lemina -------------Gabbindini --------Long--------Austin Bench: FF, Stephens, Targett, Davis, JWP, Boufal, Tadic With our FBs being so good going forward, this will allow them more freedom to be aggressive. Very strong midfielders to disallow anything in the middle. Gabby and Long can give chase/ run the channels. Austin must play.....so the crosses from cedric and Bertrand will connect......with someone. McCarthy needs a run of games. Targett/McQueen should get a game soon, to put some pressure on Bertrand. Hojbjerg may need to be on the bench, to have a like for like strong midfielder (rather than JWP).

Speaking of Big Sam, I wonder if he could turn us around.