woodsaint1

Smallbone back in training but probably too soon for him. It would be this sort of game that we need to give JWP a rest

We should definitely employ the 4-1-4-1 again. Learn our lesson from last season that if we try and take them on its not going to end well. Not interested in glowing words from Pep, its all about picking up points. The only changes I would make from Saturday are Adams for Armstrong (better point man to get us up the pitch and Armstrong can be a late impact sub if we're still in the game with 20 mins to go) and either S Armstrong (if fit) or Tella in for Redmond

Hes been excellent. Thing is hes done this before in his Saints career where he puts in a stretch of good performances but then it all comes crashing down with a clusterfuck of a mistake. If he can maintain the consistency then him and Salisu can be a great pairing for us going forward

Id go with..... Forster (but it wont be) Tino Salisu Stephens Perraud Armstrong Romeu JWP Elyounoussi Armstrong Adams 2-1 Saints - Both Armstrongs 👍🏻

Late winner too. Super for the lad

🤔 werent we linked before?

West Ham looking at Czech players again. Close to signing defensive midfielder Alex Kral from Spartak. Would have been a good addition for us

Thats your opinion. My opinion is that most keepers make that save with ease. It wasnt even in the corner. He will cost us more points than he 'earns us' this season thats for sure

McCarthys stop was referred to on the clubs twitter as a brilliant reaction save, but to be honest it was a good height and 9/10 keepers arent beaten by that header at their front post.

Still doesnt stop some whining on the match thread

Alot of this strategy is obviously being driven by Crocker, but I imagine Ralphs reluctance to use many of the kids last season when injuries mounted has also influenced it. Ralph even said himself that they werent ready but it appears we're addressing that and adding youngsters who can be called upon if needed

Whats up with Vestergaard? Doesnt even make the Leicester squad and they're having to play Amartey CB again

Would go with Forster Valery Bednarek Salisu KWP Redmond Diallo JWP Elyounoussi Broja Tella Whats apparent from that lineup is how much we need a backup LB and another CM (with Smallbone being injured). Would prefer not to play Valery, or play KWP out of position but needs must. Same with one of JWP/Romeu having to play again. Heres hoping that Lyanco is being viewed as a low lying DM and we're still in for another CB. Ralph did mention about interest in a CM a while back but it seems to have gone quiet on that front

He was quality in the first half last week. Will take him time to reach the level of fitness required for a PL full back (in a Ralph team too), its a huge demand compared with the u23 football he was playing

Their net spend is about minus 150 million the last three years before this window. Doesnt buy you success as the anoraks on here would tell you, but its a nice luxury to have an owner willing to put his hand in his pocket. All the while we're treading PL waters with our sell before you buy approach. Depressing

If it works out like that, thats the issue for me, not Lyanco. Will wait to see him in action before making any judgement, but we needed to be signing a first choice CB, not 4th choice. After the defensive shambles that was last season, none of our CBs could feel hard done by if they dropped to 3rd/4th choice (Salisu the exception as hes only had a limited number of games). I rate Bednarek but he was dreadful at times last season so does not deserve to start. He needs to know that his position is at stake and needs to work his way back in, same with Stephens. Its unlikely to be the case if Lyanco is brought in as a squad filler. Unless the club are going to move Bednarek on and bring another new face in. Extremely unlikely but he was linked with a move away last season

Lovely goal 😔

95% of this board (including myself) didnt even know who Lyanco was at lunchtime today. Fast forward a couple of hours and the majority have wrote him off because of a 5 minute youtube video, the tweets of some Torino fans and the low price tag. Id be inclined to trust those at the club whose job it is to analyse the player in depth based on what qualities Ralph wants at CB, not the experts on here. Our transfer business the last two years has been solid so they've earned the benefit of the doubt imo. Ings was wrote off by plenty on here, KWP was the same, S Armstrong, Adams, the list goes on. Be plenty lining up to say "I told you so" if his debut is anything other than top drawer. Maybe give the guy some slack and judge him after a few games, its not hard

Just seen that he took the 5th and winning penalty for Brazil u23 in the Toulon Tournament final two years ago. Must have some confidence about him for a CB

Think I'll reserve judgment until I see him in a Saints shirt. Not bothered by what other teams fans think of him. Remember Celtic fans being happy to see us take Armstrong off their hands, same with KWP and Spurs fans. Hopefully he'll improve our defence

Very true. Was close to securing a move to Liverpool last season so he knows hes on the radar of top clubs (much better than us). That being said I wonder if he would have spoken to Lovren. Could see us as the stepping stone to a bigger move similar to Lovren. 2 years PL experience with us and then make the next step

We really need to set up to frustrate United as they've too much class all over the pitch. Would prefer we went 4-1-4-1. With only one striker I would opt for Adams to try and hold it up and if we're still in the game last 25 mins then look to bring Adam Armstrong on. Or if Armstrong is comfortable playing off the wing then start him ahead of Tella. Forster KWP Salisu Stephens Perraud Romeu Tino JWP S Armstrong Tella Adams Ralph wont do this though. He'll try to go on the offensive and employ the usual 4-2-2-2. We'll press like crazy first 25 and then get picked apart once we tire and spaces open up 4-1 United I reckon

Yeah its not the number of games, more so the quality of opposition - european competitions, international football, top flight football. But even thats not a given with the likes of Hoedt and Forren we've had before. Caleta-Car or Kabak strike me as the best options we've been linked with. Both young but for their age have a breadth of experience playing european competitions, internationals and have some big clubs on their CV. Would even like to see us explore a loan option before spending 10-15m on Worrall

I agree that the Championship and PL are not worlds apart, although I do feel that the one position which struggles the most to bridge the gap is at Centre Back. It demands alot in terms of positioning, concentration, physicality etc against the best strikers in the world. Any lapse of concentration or mistake and its punished. I think its quite telling that most promoted sides have a new starting CB on their shopping list as soon as they're promoted. This season its Brentford (Ajer) and Norwich (Gibson), both of whom started at the weekend. Last season it was the same with Fulham (Andersen, Adarabioyo, Kongolo) and Leeds (Llorente, Koch). My issue isnt with Joe Worrall (if thats who we opt for) as I think he could do very well, but more so the still young, developing Salisu who could partner him with, or Bednarek/Stephens who have mistakes readily in them. Nothing about any of those partnerships fill me with confidence. I just believe we need a more established, seasoned CB to help us and Worrall isnt that

Nothing would breathe confidence into our struggling back four more than a choice of young CBs, one of whom was badly exposed at CB in the PL last season and the another whose experience doesnt extend beyond a mid-table championship club. We already have a starting CB who is young and still developing. Throwing another in beside him will not help matters. Sorry for feeling underwhelmed, but if either is our replacement for Vestergaard we're in big trouble imo. Genuinely believe our PL status next season could hinge on this signing as its a crucial position