Forester

Bazanu Quarshie, Wood, Stephens Jelert, Downes, Charles, Manning Armstromg, Archer, Fellows

Great effort. Thought the whole starting 11 did us proud with just one minute of madness. That is difference at top level. XG showed nothing in it and we had more shots. Biggest positive among many for me was Jelert. To come in for your first start for the club at Anfield and play that well was seriously impressive. He looks a much more talented player than Roeslev to me.

I share all the anger but we are six points off where we need to be (2 points per game) with 40 remaining to address that deficit.

We need to calm down, I’ve driven up and back to Hull today and am fuming but we have lost two games in the eight in all comps we have played so far. It’s mad to be calling for a sacking, and we are in danger of becoming Watford if we look for our fifth manager in less than 12 months. Seriously!

A wet and dispiriting long journey made worse listening to Hampshire losing cup final on way home! Once again Charles emerged with some credit but hardly anybody else did. Cudos to Armstrong who injects energy and scored an excellent goal. A reminder he was the division’s leading goal scorer two years ago. I am really concerned at form of Roeslev and THB, and would be inclined to drop both. Jander is young but looked lightweight and ineffective, and DD just looks well short of the required standard. I also think if McCarthy plays well again Tuesday you may seem him back for Boro. I would bring back Wood for THB, play Jelert at right back, and get Armstrong in alongside Archer or Stewart.

I thought it was a good occasion, and people around me were definitely more up for it than a usual game. In terms of the game itself, am not surprised it was low on quality but we were even worse in the first half than I expected, and I always thought we would struggle to have a good pattern to our play given change in formation, personnel, international break and the whole pressure of the day. I actually thought, despite not scoring, that was Archer’s best game for us in terms of workload and trying to do the right thing consistently. Both centre backs, Bazanu and Charles also good performances and a clean sheet pleasing. The biggest disappointment first half for me was the lack of any forward runs by either full back. I sense they were either instructed not to bomb on while adjusting to back four or just lacked confidence. Either way, net result was that both wingers lacked support to create two on ones, and when people looked up there were too few options to pass to in front of the ball. Better second half, but ultimately a poor game of football and a fair result. However I am not panicking and as others have said time now time to bed in new signings, formation and tactics.

Definitely not great timing, but then again our team prior to new signings should have been good enough to beat Pompey when playing at our best. I am concerned that we may change too much with limited training time given international absence. Would probably limit changes to Downes for Robinson and start other signings on bench.

It really isn’t, see other comments that have totally discredited it. We spent more on one day, Friday, than Sky think we have all summer, it’s bollocks

Always a good trip to Watford, albeit frustrating to lose the lead twice. My reflections would be: - Wrong choice to play Robinson in midfield once Downes withdrew. And this was our conclusion as soon as we kicked off and saw formation rather than hindsight. Would have preferred almost any other logical choice, eg Wee Man deeper, Edwards, Matsuki, Stephens in that role - Azaz looks class, and looks a very good signing. A touch of the Lallana/Tadic/Boufal unpredictability about him, albeit he has much to do to be in the same class as the first two - While a bit chaotic, the playing ball earlier and behind Watford defence looked dangerous and is likely to get best out of our forwards given their profile. Can see this working well away from home, but at St Mary’s doubt we will be given much space as teams defend deeper - I felt Roeslev looked injured/knackered from about 65 mins onwards and should have come off sooner. For this and the Robinson decision it is Still’s least impressive game management fixture so far for me, but am sure he will have learned much. Overall I am not as concerned as many on here. I remember leaving home at 330am almost exactly two years ago to be battered 5-0 by Sunderland, and you can see Ipswich are yet to get going too. We need ultimately two points per game and so we have three points to make up in 42 games, with news signings yet to feature. Very early days.

Any stream for those of us on holiday?

Baz THB, Stephens, Quarshie Roerslev, Charles, Downes, Welington Fernades, Stewart, Robinson Tough on Wee Man but unlikely Roerslev will play 90 mins

Very good signing, hopefully will lead to Sugawara, one of the worst natural defenders I have ever seen play for Saints, going.

Well that is quite the first ever post….👀👀👀

Good post. It’s faintly ridiculous to have Martin (unless he goes on to have a much improved career) and Puel is the same sentence. Briefly: - Puel led Monaco to be French champions, and managed several other top flight European clubs - Puel’s only season, having had Pelle, Mane and (for most of season) VVD all sold or unavailable was eighth - Puel led us to cup final, including clean sheets in both legs against Liverpool and Arsenal away Martin was sacked halfway through a Premier League season en route to us collecting 12 points, and finished fourth below Ipswich who were in League One the prior season. He managed the play off mini season very well, to be provide balance. Absolutely chalk and cheese careers so far A bit of time helps people have some perspective

Thanks to Chez who is engaging with the on topic discussion while others play dictionary pedantry. If everyone stayed, in my opinion it is a stronger squad than last championship play offs team. Goalkeepers as we were, one down in numbers, but Baz looks better than last time Defenders, weaker at right back having lost KWP, better stocked for centre backs despite losing Bednarek (we occasionally had to use Charles as emergency last time), better options at left back Midfielders, as we stand today, much improved. Charles a better player, Fernandes, Dibling and Robinson all upgrades on Kamaldeen, Rothwell and SAA. Stuart Armstrong and (from Jan) Brooks we’re quality players albeit we didn’t see the best of Brooks Upfront I believe we are potentially stronger, but accept some of that is unproven. Mara was poor, but Adams very good at that level. However Archer, BBD, Downs and a fully fit (if possible) Stewart are potentially stronger. Squad looks deeper at this point in my view, even if starting eleven isn’t much better than last time