Dusic

Not a slight on Hughes whatsoever, but thought it might be interesting to track his reasoning when we don't play particularly well, to see if any themes emerge across the season which might indicate where any problems are within the side. So far: July 21st - Derby County (0-3) Reason: Derby further ahead than us in pre season/ tough schedule for Chins trip 4th Aug - Borussia Monchengladbach Reason: Hot conditions/three games in a week 12th Aug - Burnley (0-0) Reason: Burnley sharper due to EL matches played Not sure if I can edit so feel free to update as/when needed

IMO you should play at only one home ground in one season. If its not ready then wait til next season.

Haha, not going to this one as live too far away but have been in the past, actually to the Poortvliet one which was quite funny on hindsight. Remember him talking about converting Lloyd James to a RB because he was one of our best passers and full backs get a lot of the ball under less pressure. I do have a ST though... Always think it would be good if they had more pre-submitted questions which would be higher quality. Lots of good talking points that don't have to come across as ultra critical (which just causes club reps to get defensive). Ultimately though its a good thing that the club do these kind of things and usually you find out something interesting that was previously unknown.

This is exactly the problem. You have rare access to the leadership of the club. But Creepy Barry, a season ticket holder for 25 years from Romsey who goes with his wally of a Son will waste it with **** like this.

I would be suprised. For a start: 1. He wouldn't get in that 18 based on ability or performance so could have few arguments (since his bumper new deal he has been beyond ****e) 2. I'm pretty sure Saints would happily have sold/loaned him had there been genuine interest 3. He doesn't seem like the type

Richarlison and Walcott will exploit the space behind the wing backs, and Sigurdsson the space in front of the defence if we play similarly to yesterday. Match up their 4-2-3-1 for the best chance of points. The 5 man defence means we lose out in midfield whilst having two CBs marking nobody and two wing backs unsure of their role.

Ultimately after 14 goals in two and a half years it looks like I am spot on and there are certainly others who are in agreement and can see the obvious. Its almost like people have adopted Austin's career history of goals and imagined he scored them all for Saints, such is the acclaim he gets. He got a standing ovation today which was quite baffling. (Imagine the contrast to if Redmond, who was actually excellent, had been subbed...it would have been muted)

Austin was woeful today. Most interested in winning fouls rather than competing for anything. Obviously the fanboys won't agree but for me he just isn't good enough outside the area and shoukd be 3rd choice. He cannot press, pass, hold the ball up, win headers, make runs to be an outlet when under pressure, link play, assist. Ings showed what a quality front player does.

Five thoughts: 1. The 3 CBs doesn't work for a variety of reasons with the defenders and midfielders we have. System was the biggest problem for the first 55mins, we were so overrun in midfield. Burnley's defence and midfield had so much time to dictate the game. The 4-2-3-1 of the second half suits our players much more, simplifies the roles of some players and allows us to play at a tempo that creates chances in the PL. Please ditch the 3 CBs. 2. Redmond was excellent second half in a more narrow position. Incisive, good passes, creative. 3. Ings really promising, showed up Austin, who was woeful. Ings was the 10 in a 4-2-3-1, versatile player. Can tell he has been training with better players for the last year. 4. Elynoussi promising. Not a lot of pace but good feet and suprisingly robust. Appears an upgrade on Boufal and a lot more of a worker. Nice corners too. 5. Austin is done IMO. Woeful today yet got a standing ovation when he went off due to a quite bizarre cult status with our fans. Offers absolutely nothing unless in the area and we can't afford passengers. 14 PL goals in two and a half years and he doesn't do anything else. That isnt worth a start and IMO he should be third in the striker order. The league is too quick for him. It is 4 years since the season he was good at this level.

Red card a bit of a shame. Jagielka probably wouldn't have played next weekend as Yerry should be fit but obviously no chance now which is frustrating.

Palacd are a good team IMO. Lots of pace and dynamic players, massive threat on the counter attack. Could push top half if Zaha stays fit.

Standard absolutely horrific. Sims nor Hesketh gain anything from playing at this level, especially in division two. Both should be out on loan playing every week in men's football.

O'Connor being converted to a CB perhaps? Overall very similar to last season. Probably a few for whom this season will determine if they really have what it takes at Saints: Sims, Jones, Slattery, Hesketh etc. You can't be a player of potential forever.

If Gallagher is loaned out now then IMO he has no future at Saints (in the PL anyway) and we should hope he does well and then sell next summer for as much as we can. Potentially if he had a great season, the sale of SG could cover the Ings fee. However, if they like him then we should keep him and try and loan out Long, whose time is surely up at Saints now. He just isn't PL quality and someone else deserves a chance.

At the end of the season Ings would only have one year left on his contract so surely available for a Clyne/Wanyama knock down fee. Loan makes complete sense, hopefully his fitness holds out. Not sure he is the profile of forward we need but he can finish and will have a point to prove. Would be interesting to know if he has been a genuine target through the summer or is a panic signing of sorts? Expect Gallagher will go out on loan, but wonder if we could ship out Long instead and keep SG as 4th choice. If he goes out on loan now then thats him done at Saints I would think.

Anyone got any idea why we have 3 x LB but only 1 x RB?

For balance, our lineup versus QPR in Sept 2014 (the game Pelle scored the overhead kick), shortly after the Aug deadline in the 2014/15 season: ---------------------------Forster-------------------------- Clyne------Fonte-----Alderweireld----Bertrand ------------Schneiderlin-----Wanyama--------------- ----------------------------Davis---------------------------- Mane-----------------------------------------------Tadic ---------------------------Pelle------------------------------ For me, none of our current players (excluding the three who played in this lineup) would get in that team. Telling IMO and in hindsight mad to have been worried about that season! The back 6 ****s on what we have now and the front 3 miles superior. It looks a proper PL side, with a good mix of pace, power and technical quality. For Hughes to keep this current side well clear of a relegation battle in a 12th - 14th position would be as good as Koeman getting 7th and 6th with these players IMO.

For me this coming season requires a downward shift in expectations from the fans versus what we have latterly become customed to i.e aiming for top 10. When we started the first season under Koeman many were worried after the mass exodus of the summer and the loss of Pochettino, some would probably have taken 17th before a ball was kicked. Thankfully it didnt turn out like that due to smart recruitment and still being left with quality players like Wanyama, Schneiderlin and Clyne. The type of quality we don't really have now. I think this coming season the first aim should be survival. If we end up pushing higher then great, but initially that has to be the main goal. Reasons being: - Squad is largely similar to one that was very nearly (and probably deserved to be) relegated. Whilst Pellegrino was clearly a shambles, the squad is now very average when you go through name by name. Hence few other sides wanting our first XI players. - Attack is largely based around the same players who have struggled for a while and is one of the least talented in the division with probably no player likely to hit 10 goals and only a few 5. We sold our most creative attacker. At best we are level with last year attack wise. Hard to see us scoring many goals. - Signings seem ok individually, although none are proven players who you would be confident will be big successes. - Defence remains extremely weak centrally (up there with what will be the worst in the PL) and we only have one right back. - Manager is solid, but there are doubts about his ability to organise a defence and his 3 at the back was a shambles at Stoke. - Usually you look at promoted sides as relegation candidates but both Fulham and Wolves have surely bought well enough that their quality plus their momentum will keep them up, which will make the bottom half stronger - We probably won't have any cash to spend in January and even if we do our January windows are usually pathetic.

This suggests we will accept their revised offer: https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-fulham-make-inflated-new-bid-for-southamptons-matt-targett Have to say thats a good fee for a player who has only ever struggled when he has played in the PL for us.

Graeme Bailey, ex Sky, saying Newcastle have a free run at Ings as Saints and Palace (rightly) won't pay the £20m. Newcastle ready with a loan offer with sizeable guarenteed purchase fee. David Maddock, Mirror, saying Liverpool confident of selling Ings before the deadline and Saints favourites at this stage. Personally not sure Ings is the profile of forward we need and a huge injury risk.

Indeed. What a dreadful decision that new contract was. Long is dreadful, how the **** is he still at a PL club?

The stuff in the Echo today about him having a chance to play on Sunday is obviously a load of ******** designed to make Cedric look bad when we start the season without an available RB, as it won't be due to fitness issues as the Manager has said he is ready to play him with minimal training. Don't understand why we aren't more honest about it. Its the player who is being unprofessional so call him out on it! He will probably keep it up right til the end of August as well, so three key games with no right sided player - shambles all round.

The key fact: 14 PL goals in 2 and a half seasons at Saints

It is more than just goals when assessing a striker. Mane only scored 10 and then 11 for us, Pelle similar, Jay Rod and Lambert (PL) a little more but nothing wildly spectacular number wise. You have to also consider: - How do they create chances for others, like Lambert did countless time? - How do they provide a threat in behind or press defenders like a fit Jay Rod did? How does that then give space or opportunities to others? From wide how does that impact the opposition full backs and how much they can influence the game going forward? - How do they scare a team as soon as they pick up the ball, often inducing fouls, like Mane did? On his debut at the Emirates Clyne scored from a corner Mane got out of nothing, he also won us countless free kicks in dangerous areas - How do they provide an outball when under pressure like Long is capable of doing? - How do they hold the ball up when you are under the cosh, like Pelle and Lambert did, with a secure first touch that their teammates trusted? The problem with our strikers, is that they don't score many goals, but they also don't do many of these things. Austin - 14 PL goals in 2 and a half seasons. Slow, static, cannot press, not at all creative, will rarely assist. Gabbi - good technically but no physical presence and always on the fringes of a game. Doesnt have pace or strength. Long - not creative, poor technique and first touch, lack of awareness. Really its amazing he is still at the club. ------------- Good example for me is Danny Welbeck. IMO he would be a brilliant signing for anyone outside the top 6. He might 'only' get 10 goals but he would do more of the other stuff than any of our strikers do.

If we stay up this year and then have to sell to buy next summer then we won't be spending much at all...