qwertyell

Good game. Weird game. Started quite well for 10 minutes, then got absolutely pulverised and looked like we might go in 3 or 4 down. Then Lavia comes up with an equaliser from nowhere, and it's been fairly even since - before we put together our best move of the match to edge into the lead. No idea which way this is headed. When Chelsea went through the gears it was men against boys. Have they shot their bolt, or will we come out as dozy as we did after HT against United? Come on, lads, dig deep, bring it home.

I'd take Solanke, and Lloyd Kelly's got some promise. Re: Brownhill - his name came up about a month ago and has lingered, Harry Winks style. If there's any substance to it, then Romeu must be gone. Tidy but unexceptional midfielder. Hope he's cheap.

Were we supposed to be? He's an important first team player, under contract for another year. Make a decent offer, or wait until next summer and pick him up on a free. Pretty simple, I'd have thought.

That's not reassuring at all.

Lost that in the first ten minutes of the second half when we didn't get out of the dressing room. Poor mentality to half ass it until pricked into action. Aside from that we competed really well. Desperate lack of quality going forward though. That we're throwing on Lyanco to play centre forward and playing hit and hope sums it up. I think a creative player is even more important to bring in than a striker. Having Elyounoussi and an out of position Adam Armstrong trying to open up defences is not a sustainable approach. Aribo might be an awkward set of limbs, but I've seen nothing to suggest he's a creator. Defended well generally. There's a good partnership to be developed between Bella-Kotchap and Salisu. Djenepo put in another manful shift. Lavia is a brilliant player - he's outshone Ward-Prowse in midfield every week so far. Disappointed not to get a point, but not a total disaster.

Was coming. We haven't come out after half time. Good finish, to be fair. Don't see how we're scoring. Not a lot of quality going forward.

Bit of a sense of inevitability about this. We have no threat at all going forward. Going to have to be perfect in defence to get a point. Why is the pitch so terrible? Oh, of course the stickied match thread isn't the match thread.

Sounding like Atalanta have wrapped up Rasmus Hojlund for €17m. Only moved to Graz in January for €1.5m - people getting rather excited about a young Scandinavian 6'4" left footed striker with electric pace. For some reason. Shame we weren't all over this. Or if we were, it's a shame we couldn't play the Danish card and get it over the line.

This is true. He's wildly overrated on account of having one really good attribute - his ability to drive through the midfield in transition. Unfortunately the rest of his attributes aren't at the same level. The end product after an impressive drive isn't there - he's a mediocre passer, his decision making is ponderous and muddled, his finishing ratio is about two bangers per season to a hundred shanks. Being somewhat versatile, he'd be a decent squad option in normal times. But I don't think he's anything special at all. Doesn't start for Scotland - not a team blessed with creative riches. That said, I'd start him all day every day ahead of Elyounoussi.

Not really. Slow. Clumsy. If he wasn't English and prone to showing that "passion" (shouting and badge fucking) that pundits get weirdly in a froth over no-one would rate him at all.

They finished 3rd last season. Qualified direct to the Champions League group stage.

He was going to be our Lallana replacement back in the day. I imagine that ship has sailed. Ramos, I just don't believe the link. The move makes no sense for him. Edit: sounds like Atalanta have ramped up moves for Rasmus Hojlund. He seems a more realistic target for us.

Richards broke his leg, I think.

I'd be disappointed if Diamond Edwards wasn't involved too, having played on the pre season tour. We're desperate for wingers/creative players. Assuming Payne is viewed as a right back/RWB - maybe he'll get a chance to show we don't need to bring in further cover.

Just reward for actually starting to play. Why it took us until we fell behind to have a go, who knows? Salisu's long throws actually make it to the penalty area now. Crazy days. Now what - stick or twist?

Poor goalkeeping. Could see that shot coming a mile off. Yet to be impressed by our "coup" signing of Man City's 4th choice keeper.

0-0 h/t. So far so good, I guess, but a poor quality game. It does make a huge difference for us to have mobile centre backs. Even if they are clumsy as fuck. Nice "goal" from Mara - he's got some quality about him, although his hold up play is nowhere at present. Nothing really to report from our "ball players". Prowse off the pace, Aribo not in the game, Elyounoussi being Elyounoussi. I'd take a draw.

JJ Morgan in the training pics. Can't imagine he's going to make the match squad, but always nice to see a youngster training with the first team.

You've announced it in the right thread.

Livramento has had a serious injury - potentially career ending - that most players struggle to fully get back up to speed from a year later - if not longer. We shouldn't be budgeting for his return any time soon. I doubt he'll start six games this season. So we need a covering option for the whole campaign. Whether that's a loan, or an experienced free (Aurier, Sidibe, Malcuit among some very serviceable right backs without a club) on a one year contract, IMO.

And Ramsey released. As far as I can tell the only fit full backs at the club who aren't youth team players are Walker-Peters and Vokins (who hasn't been in a Saints match squad for a year). It'd be absolutely wild for us to not bring another full back in. Negligent, even.

Slow as fuck.

We'd still be short a full back.

Not the rule. Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity isn't invalidated by the keeper being in position - otherwise no-one would ever get sent off when fouled going clean through. Handball that denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity is a red card. Except when the officials bottle it. Edit (from the FA): "Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off. Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area). The following must be considered: distance between the offence and the goal general direction of the play likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball location and number of defenders"

Well, we're on the board - and surely taking with us a little bit of positivity and momentum after a decent comeback. Another must-win game slips by without the desired result, though. The next four don't look likely to yield a win. Five at the back is absolute shite for us. Can't defend no matter how many muppets are back there, and it just kills what little attacking threat we have. We muddle on.