qwertyell

Is Walcott starting again?

Just what we need: more hipster 442 and an inability to organise a defence. Hopefully we're sounding out a few other options too.

I think I'd sit Romeu in front of the back four with a seriously limited brief. Just sit. No more ambition than that. Two of Prowse, Diallo and Sarmstrong either side of him to provide the legs and pressing. The trouble is, our wingers are absolutely appalling. So coming up with a formation that relies wholly on wide attackers for its creativity is doomed to fail. What a mess of a squad. Doesn't really suit the manager's tactics, isn't much use in any other configuration. Still, apparently we've had a great transfer window...

Is he a CB though? All his good games for Spurs have been at RB. I know he played CB as a youth, but whenever he's had a go there in men's football he's looked out of his depth. Unrelated: Sergio Romero is still available on a free.

He won't change. He's thinks he's reinvented football. Written his own handbook. Preaching his impotent gospel right throughout the club. It's farcical really. Our midfield two is always overrun in the second half. Always. Our hybrid wingers/10s are all shite, with the exception of Stuart Armstrong (not selected), and create fuck all. Our only mode of chance creation is pressing high and hoping the opposition defence make a huge mistake. That's it - that's plan A through Z. Nothing else up our sleeve. Can't break down nine men. Can't even create a chance against them if they steadfastly refuse to try and dick around at the back. And I'm too tired to delve into the chaos that is our defensive "system", that has thus far involved playing a high line with defenders who can't run, playing wingers out of position at full back, and swapping equally crap goalkeepers in and out of the XI on a whim. There's no future playing this way other than dropping out of the division. We're so easy for the opposition to pick off these days, they must be laughing their arses off.

This is a manager problem. It's not a coincidence, the repeated second half collapses, the repeated inability to hold a lead, the repeated defensive disorganisation, the repeated lack of subs or tactical intervention when the game has turned against us. It keeps happening - and it will continue to keep on happening - because the manager is a busted flush. He hasn't got a clue how to fix our shortcomings because they're his shortcomings too. Nice bloke, but he's been drowning since the start of the year while his fan club has dreamed up multiple excuses as to why he bears no responsibility for the fortunes of his team.

0-1 ht. So far so good. Wouldn't say we've been amazing, but we're bright. Bit heart in the mouth whenever Everton go direct, but we knew about their aerial strength going into the match. Ward-Prowse isn't fit. Hasn't managed to get a set piece off the floor yet. And Walcott a passenger as usual. But everyone else is putting in a shift. Lovely finish from AArmstrong - great that he's got that first goal monkey off his shoulders straight away. And then there's Livramento... Don't want to jinx the kid, but his quality is outstanding. Looks like he could play any position on the pitch. Richarlison being on a booking is something we should play on in the second half. He's a hot head. SArmstrong on for Walcott at the break, Diallo for Prowse after an hour? The longer we can hang in there, the more this crowd is going to turn against their team. COYS

Not Chambers. He's barely considered a CB these days. Played most of his football at RB or DM in the last three years. Arsenal signed him from us as a RB and tried to convert him into a CB and I don't think it's unfair to say that's been a failure. Why would we sign him back as a CB? Makes no sense.

He'll do well to play in the Champions League with Telegraph Sport. More chance than with Aston Villa, mind.

A worse version of Vestergaard. Just as slow. Brilliant.

I don't really believe him. We'll still have a domestic loan slot free. I imagine we view replacing Vestergaard as a "definite" transfer we'll make; then we'll keep a keen eye on the market right up until the end of the window and see what potential deals shake out as teams finalise their squads. For me, a CB and LB are required, and probably a CM (although S. Armstrong is potentially that's 4th number 6 option). Doesn't sound like we've got any interest in keepers this window. Mentioned it before - and I think others have too - but England u21 LB Lee Buchanan should be available from cash-strapped Derby for a drop in the ocean, still leaving plenty in the kitty for that CB replacement.

The links to Nat Phillips concern me. We have the chance to sign a replacement for Vestergaard who doesn't compromise our tactics by being slower than coastal erosion, and yet we're lining up another slow as shit CB? Only, one who is worse on the ball. Wouldn't improve us one iota.

That was the Everton game last season. Calvert-Lewin won 3-4 headers - albeit two of them by elbowing Salisu in the face, which was waved away by the officials because in England we apparently have different rules to everywhere else in the world. That said, there's no shame in getting beaten by Calvert-Lewin: he's the best striker in the league in the air. Got a leap like a salmon on a trampoline. But Salisu should be a bit more aware of what he's up against this time around.

Do they, though? Replacing one painfully slow CB who's good in the air with another - but one who's worse on the ball - doesn't make much sense to me.

Still got an empty slot for another domestic loan. Wouldn't be a surprise to see that filled at the back end of the window.

Got sent off over the weekend for a ridiculous tackle, incidentally. Is it AFCON this year? Not ideal to potentially lose both starting CBs, Djenepo and (if Nigeria come sniffing around) Tella for 4-6 weeks.

What's even more mental is Areola is one of EIGHT goalkeepers on PSG's first team books - four of them full internationals.

B Team friendly with Yeovil set for tomorrow cancelled due to covid outbreak (think on Yeovil's side). https://www.ytfc.net/news/2021/august/fixture-news--southampton-b-fixture-cancelled/

He's a shadow of his pre-ACL-injury self. Pace gone. Can't stay fit. Played 90 minutes once since Feb 2018. Not sure what he'd bring other than a bit of nostalgia.

If we replace Ings with a three bed semi in Totton, the recruitment team will have a lot of explaining to do.

Two PL clubs said to be in for Atletico GK Ivo Grbic on loan - but Lille favourites to sign him. No indication that we're one of the PL clubs, but it'd be nice to think we're scouring the market for an upgrade on a couple of sacks of shit.

It's just weird to have two full backs on the pitch, but only one of them playing at full back while a winger flaps around out of position at left back.

Can't be arsed to translate, but it seems Danso went on strike to force his way out of the club, so I'd imagine he's just putting his side of the story now he's got his transfer.

Nketiah is just not a particuarly good player. He's a basic poacher who doesn't poach much. His all round game is non-existent. Couldn't get a game in the Championship at Leeds for that very reason: Bielsa needed more from his forwards than simply ghosting about hoping for tap ins. So do we.

Spending some incoming Tielemans money?