Everton 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[DT]

McCarthy. What’s the point?

[OttawaSaint]

Makes me think of “Alaska your highness, just in case Bony tries to trick us by coming via the North Pole”.

[OldNick]

Im not sure I can tune in or watch the scores!!! Playing against a defence minded opposition manager who will be looking to give us the sucker punch in counter. 

[ErwinK1961]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:04, Disco Stu said:

It's SOOO NICE to have a strong bench 👌

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Would be nicer to have a strong starting XI

[davefoggy]

That defense.........

[northam soul]

Two of our best players last season Armstrong and KWP on the bench WTF

[Suhari]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:05, DT said:

McCarthy. What’s the point?

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There's 3 of them. Sadly none for us!

[VectisSaint]

Stuey I can sort of understand (late coming back to training from Euros?), but no KWP, must be an injury or something (no offence to Tino). Otherwise much as (I) expected, though I would have started Tella over Djenepo. Still at least we have a resonably strong bench, with Broja still to come.

[beatlesaint]

Well there’s an interesting line up…….Ralph, you’re a funny one sometimes.

Small mercies - Redmond not in starting eleven…..that’s all really

[Totton Saint]

All the talk about Tella has come to nothing.  Why no ******S Armstrong??*****

[Tom]

Anyone know any streams going ?

[egg]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:04, Disco Stu said:

It's SOOO NICE to have a strong bench 👌

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That's what's happens when you don't start with a number of your best players. 

[AlexLaw76]

We start the season with McCarthy in goal, Stephens starting and Valery in the matchday squad.  Just missing Shane Long for the full house.

yep, not good really

Edited 14 August, 2021 by AlexLaw76

[cloggy saint]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:10, AlexLaw76 said:

We start the season with McCarthy in goal, Stephens starting and Valery in the matchday squad

yep, not good really

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How about reserving judgement until after the game?

[Turkish]

Strange line up 

[S-Clarke]

The bench is very strong, lots of positive options on the bench. Shame the first team is arguably weaker than the bench.

Hopefully this is the season Moussa actually arrives, not holding my breath though.

[skintsaint]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:00, trousers said:

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Taking the game as a free hit I take it. Hopefully that line up will surprise us.

[Viking Saint]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:10, Tom said:

Anyone know any streams going ?

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www.hesgoal.com

[Wurzel]

Am I the only one looking at the line up and seeing 10 round pegs in 10 round holes. ?

(Would have gone FF over AM but neither justify the starting position)

[OldNick]

Im trying to keep the faith, and Ralph takes the stick if it goes wrong, just not good to annoy his mainstays from last season

[Wade Garrett]

He must be some sort of fucking idiot for starting McCarthy in goal.

[Viking Saint]

Three RBs in the squad???

[Saint_Tony]

bizarre line up, would love to know the thinking behind it. A point would be an incredible result.

[markr27]

Just as an aside is it 3 subs or 5 subs allowed to be used?

[Lighthouse]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:16, Viking Saint said:

Three RBs in the squad???

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Valery came on against Liverpool and was superb as an outlet in a more forward role. I’m not against having him in the squad as such.

[Nolan]

I'm sure Bednarek and his partner welcoming a new baby this week is why he's on the bench.

[hypochondriac]

Walker Peters on the bench makes zero sense. Also no Stuart Armstrong? Bizarre. 

[TWar]

Crazy line up. Exciting though. I get Tella not starting as all the hype was around him as a striker and these are our top two strikers. Livramento is a massive surprise, deep end, Stephens and Salisu scares me a bit, neither is great in the air and DCL is amazing in the air. Stu should be starting for me instead of Walcott too, not sure what that's about.

[ErwinK1961]

Richarlison and DCL start for Everton

Townsend starts too… know what happens here 

[CB Fry]

Seems like a line up to make a bizarre point about 'look how big snd strong the squad is now'

Look, our best two players from last season on the bench. Aren't we spoilt for choice.

 

[Dusic]

Don't really see the fuss:

- Stephens and Salisu the best pre season pairing

- Walcott more of a goal threat than the other #10s which is even more important having lost Ings

- Gives a few who have been used to starting every game a bit of a kick

- Very strong bench

- Livramento obviously impressed and also sends out a good message that Saints will give young players a great pathway to PL football

 

[NewYorkSaint]

The negativity from some here is understandable but just misguided. Did you see Tino preseason? He looks to me like potential player of the season.  Adam A deserves the confidence boost of a first intro. If you were Everton, not sure you'd want to see him there. McCarthy and Forster are about the same level. McCarthy has had incredible games for Saints. And for low shots close by he can get down faster.   It's the opening game. Keep an open mind. It's OK to feel a little excitement!!!!!!!!

[Saint Pete]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:20, hypochondriac said:

Walker Peters on the bench makes zero sense. Also no Stuart Armstrong? Bizarre. 

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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.

[gammon cheeks]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:19, Lighthouse said:

Valery came on against Liverpool and was superb as an outlet in a more forward role. I’m not against having him in the squad as such.

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Valery has never been " SUPERB" !

[AlexLaw76]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:23, NewYorkSaint said:

The negativity from some here is understandable but just misguided. Did you see Tino preseason? He looks to me like potential player of the season.  Adam A deserves the confidence boost of a first intro. If you were Everton, not sure you'd want to see him there. McCarthy and Forster are about the same level. McCarthy has had incredible games for Saints. And for low shots close by he can get down faster.   It's the opening game. Keep an open mind. It's OK to feel a little excitement!!!!!!!!

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after no more than 1 half of a friendly, where the opposition played again 24 hours later?

Player of the season material after that?

Edited 14 August, 2021 by AlexLaw76

[SupersonicSaint]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:22, Dusic said:

Don't really see the fuss:

- Stephens and Salisu the best pre season pairing

- Walcott more of a goal threat than the other #10s which is even more important having lost Ings

- Gives a few who have been used to starting every game a bit of a kick

- Very strong bench

- Livramento obviously impressed and also sends out a good message that Saints will give young players a great pathway to PL football

 

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Agree completely - odd bunch on here, from the reaction you'd think we've started a bunch of unproven academy lads.

Provided Stuart Armstrong comes on second half (if need be) I don't see the problem.

[Convict Colony]

stoked for tino

Liked what i saw and think he will be fearless.

Pace across the line and no redmond to slow it down.

 

[gammon cheeks]

Strange looking team ....buy  lets wait and see.😎😎

[Saint_clark]

Anyone got any streams for mobile?

[st alex]

Amazed that people consider that a strong bench.

Valery as one of two right backs and Elyounoussi. 

[S-Clarke]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:28, st alex said:

Amazed that people consider that a strong bench.

Valery as one of two right backs and Elyounoussi. 

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Last season we had N'Lundulu, Watts, Kegs, Ferry making up the bench.

[Saint Billy]

Omg, that lineup is woeful

[AlexLaw76]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:29, S-Clarke said:

Last season we had N'Lundulu, Watts, Kegs, Ferry making up the bench.

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was that at the start of the season when everyone was fit/available?

[egg]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:19, Lighthouse said:

Valery came on against Liverpool and was superb as an outlet in a more forward role. I’m not against having him in the squad as such.

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If he's there as a 10 and comes on ahead of Stu Armstrong, Tella or even Moi, then something is wrong. If he comes on at RB ahead of KWP, something is wrong.

Actually, having him there at all is wrong - he has a place on the bench of the Chelsea super kid. 

[S-Clarke]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:30, AlexLaw76 said:

was that at the start of the season when everyone was fit/available?

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We had Vokins and Long on the bench against Palace. Smallbone starting etc.

We've not got the squad of the days of Koeman, but it's stronger than it was last year in my eyes depth wise. Quality....who the f knows. I have no idea how it's going to pan out, it's all a bit unknown. 

As someone on another forum said ''I don't know half the Southampton team''.  Arguably we have been crying out for this sort of freshening up for years.....I genuinely don't know what to expect.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:36, S-Clarke said:

We had Vokins and Long on the bench against Palace. Smallbone starting etc.

We've not got the squad of the days of Koeman, but it's stronger than it was last year in my eyes depth wise. Quality....who the f knows. I have no idea how it's going to pan out, it's all a bit unknown. 

As someone on another forum said ''I don't know half the Southampton team''.  Arguably we have been crying out for this sort of freshening up for years.....I genuinely don't know what to expect.

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so, no then.  Daft point to make. 

[Teddeer]

Don't think anyone saw that line up coming. I wasn't expecting Ralph to be that brave. Lets's see how it goes and hope he catches Everton on the hop by springing this team on them. Good luck boys.

[JRM]

  On 14/08/2021 at 13:10, AlexLaw76 said:

We start the season with McCarthy in goal, Stephens starting and Valery in the matchday squad.  Just missing Shane Long for the full house.

yep, not good really

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I actually think Ralph just pulls names out of a hat 

[Jimmy_D]

These players have obviously earned their starting places in training and pre-season.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do

[Baird of the land]

Ok wouldn't have predicted that lineup. What's up with KWP, not fully fit?

Stephens looked good in pre-season so i can understand that.

Keeper is a toss up so again fine with Mccarthy.

Surprised Armstrong is being thrown straight in.

Edited 14 August, 2021 by Baird of the land