Matthew Le God

We play again in only 3 days time. There is no need to give the 1st choice players 180 minutes at this stage.

Video stream is on the club website and Facebook page.

You want to overload them a week before the season starts? Some of the the first choice players will be on in the 2nd half tonight, probably the majority of them will start vs Villareal in 3 days time. Seems a sensible approach me! The sports science department at Saints appear to agree!

Makes more sense for the first choice players to come on together in the 2nd half and get gametime as a unit rather than a mix and match line-up.

We have another friendly against one of last seasons Champions League semi finalists in 3 days time. Did you really expect our 1st choice XI to play both games?

Yes, on the club website and Facebook page

I was asking which inexperienced players he improved, as you well know!

Who?

He hasn't done that. We've been playing three central midfielders, Lavia as the deepest, with two in front. That doesn't mean Romeu is playing 'up with the forwards'.

Lis has been signed to be 4th choice/loaned out. We don't need him to be ready to play vs Spurs. Bazunu has been told he is going to be playing PL games for us, not play second fiddle to anyone. That is the sales pitch we've given Bazunu, Lavia, Bella-Kotchap etc.

Do you not think in the final two games of pre-season giving more time for the 1st choice keeper with the 1st choice defence is more beneficial than the 3rd and 4th choice keepers playing? I'd guess Bazunu will be 1st choice, so he should really play in at least one of the games if not both.

Some Barnsley fans on their forum seem to think he is heading to them. So perhaps he is training with them ahead of a loan move like Chauke did at Exeter.

A link to the podcast this came from...

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022-07-26/preview-southampton-fc-as-monaco-pre-season-friendly-27-july-2022

It is far from ideal, but with Perraud and Livramento out injured the options are limited unless a loanee comes in to cover Livramento until the New Year.

Why do you think that is 'clearly' what the club want to do with them? I think it looks like the plan may be for them both to start in the 1st league game.

No Simeu in the B team squad tonight vs Eastleigh, so perhaps a loan is close.

We play formations that use two strikers, that really needs at least four strikers in the squad for decent depth. So neither Adams or Armstrong need to leave.

Can you outline an alternative strategy you'd be happy with?

Their local paper claims it was... 'In the region of £30m' https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/17825048.watford-announced-signing-ismaila-sarr-rennes/