Dusic

Copyright: Dave and Ron

Not sure about centre back but as a front sweeper he would have been excellent. Could have used his pace to patrol the entire width of the pitch in front of the back four. Something like: -------------------------Davis------------------------- Richardson---Jaidi---Seaborne---Harding >>>>>>>>>>>>■ ----------------------Hammond------------------- Lallana-------Lambert---Connolly----Barnard

Just like Billy Sharp his Saints PL career was taken away from him by the audacity of the club to sign better players. One has to wonder just how much a hand-signed JQ photo would have been worth had he been given the chance to score a hattrick on Super Sunday against Watford. Despite this, his L1 contribution, in one game, made his signing worthwhile. Welcome back at SMS any time Jonno, just avoid the Gasworks Bar unless you have an alternative income stream.

RMC saying Lemina has agreed to join Monaco, and the clubs are discussing the last parts of the deal. Differing reports as to whether a loan with an option, or obligation, to buy. If its just an option, then its not a great deal for us considering 12 months ago we would probably not have sold him for £30m.

Indeed. Pretty much the whole concourse is geared towards the pie and pint target market. The Gasworks Bar clearly isn't. They may well have got the pricing wrong and may have mistead their market. But seems people are moaning about something that isnt intended for their market, which is slightly odd. Most other grounds have exactly the same type of places, and most supporters at those grounds don't use them. But presumably some, the target market, do use them.

Summary: Nobody is going to a bar that nobody went to before.

Presumably because he is behind Djenpo, or Ralph thought Djenepo's pace would be a good bench option. Also we had an extra attacker on the bench in Ings, compared to the Burnley game. In Thursdays presser, RH said Boufal's work against the ball still needs improving.

Thats very harsh IMO. He isn't a rapid player. He has a nice mix of being steong enough, quick enough, agressive enough and technically good enough to cause problems. He isn't going to be the next Harry Kane but looks like a player who can make life difficult for PL centre backs and certainly adds attributes we have lacked the last few seasons. Home debut to suggest there is more to come (if you are realistic about what he is and what he will be).

Small cameo but what I liked was that: - Quick feet to beat a player from standing start. Not unlike Mane in that (who by the way is some player - better than Salah IMO) - Nice pass selection and weight of pass - Got stuck in and seems a good character He will be a sub at first, but should start at Fulham.

I thought we played very well for large parts, against a top side who were not on top of their game. At HT we should have scored 2, easily and thats probably what cost us, as know our defence isnt good enough to keep out a team like Liverpool. Adams worked hard and clearly will offer a lot. Romeu was good first half but tired so quickly in the second. We look very light in his position, essentially with no other player who offers what he does. For their first goal we have them an easy touch from thr throw and the second was the kind of mistake that gets punished at this level. Our throw ins were dire like normal.

If he was intending to shortly he could easily have said "I am talking with the club, would like to stay and lets see what happens" or along those lines. From what was said it seemed clear there had been talks and he has told the club his position and when/in what circumstances he would sign a new deal.

The Hojbjerg answer to me sounded like he has told Saints he would consider signing a new deal if certsin things were to happen, probably that it looks like we are improving and may actually have a chance of being the club that he thought we were when he signed. Which from his perspective is very logical, and smart. Otherwise, run down your contract and become a very attractive proposition for other clubs.

'Undisclosed third party' has had a shocking summer IMO.

For an Academy role. Nothing to do with Rohl.

Please align all future opinions and comments with @Sinsandouts (Tip: don't mention replica kits, muggy bubbles, Sky or that you like the PL).

Need Hojbjerg and Bednarek to sign one ones. Hojbjerg especially is quite a pressing need. Noticed when Redmond signed that RH made a comment along the lines of it maybe helping others to commit as well, which I took to be PEH.

Good summary. I didn't go to the game but you aren't alone in being someone who did and feeling Stephens was our best CB on the day... Also agree re Rohl. It must make a difference, and however small, its a negative one.

Just for balance: Many did know who he was, and he and Ralph clearly worked well, as had been at Leipzig together. Rohl knows RH and how he thinks much better than Watson, Davis and Fleming do. He also provided RH with a sounding board and someone he could probably be totally honest with, possibly about the other coaches. Rohl has gone to Bayern, in an analysis role. Ralph mentioned countless times how important the video analysis is to him. Fair to suggest he might be good at it. I would suggest none of Davis, Fleming or Watson would be hired by a bigger team than Saints, and two of those are very much novice coaches. Not saying its a huge issue, but to pretend there would be no impact just because you didnt know who he was, is possibly a little naïve.

Burnley are one of the hardest teams to press because they are happy to be direct and you have little opportunity to actually press. Whilst clearly Liverpool are miles better rhan Burnley, they will play in a style that allows us to press and really the majority of PL sides do, apart from Burnley and probably at times Watford, who also have big, physical strikers to look for. Yesterday was a horror show, but our pressing game will match up better against most other opponents than it does Burnley.

Is there an argument that a back four is the way to go as it means only needing to select two out of our pool of mediocre CBs? Or, because they aren't individually very good does the safety in numbers help, despite meaning an extra one is on the pitch? A back four would also mean we could pick Romeu, Hojbjerg and JWP in the same team, and crucially, wouldn't have JWP as one of two central midfielders - which has worked in his entire career. Big decisions for Ralph as the five defenders has been his preferred approach, but why pick one more CB than we need to?

Very clear this will be another difficult season, with a lot of players who are unproven at this level. Whilst this is just a start, with our fixtures to November looking very tough, its hard to see anything other than being in the bottom 6 for at least the first third of the season. A lot resting on Danso.

Could only be due to some kind of illness/fitness issue presumably?

That was the same game he randomly kicked Lossl in the head. Just when he had built up a bit of form. He was banned for 3 games but missed many more injured. Poor signing.

Interesting that yesterday Brighton announced a big 12 year extension to their deal with Amex, worth over £100m apparently. Somewhat puts into context our deal with what is effectively a company that doesn't exist, into the shade. Its also not just about money. I know Amex, as well as employing a few thousand in Brighton & Sussex, also do a lot in the local area, and are a key partner with Albion In the Community, the Brighton equivalent of the Saints Foundation. Surely more will come out about LD and I would expect it to be a topic at next weeks fans forum. A simple "How does our sponsor generate the money to pay us for the sponsorship?" would be an interesting start.

In theory, our best for a while I think, although it largely depends on how Danso turns out which is a bit of an unknown quantity. Assuming he is good enough to start, I think we are probably only a little light in central midfield. Attack as been freshened up nicely with Adams, Djenepo and the return of Boufal. Outs wise, great to get rid of Austin who has been a poor signing. If we can lose Carrillo permanently and Elyounoussi/Hoedt on loan by the end of August then I would give it an 8/10.