Suhari

Changed throughout the groups? Didn't know that........great though - I find that encouraging. Tactically football is continually evolving, as we all know. So the club has taken a decision to make changes 'ahead of the masses'.....brave move. It does seem most now play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. That wasn't the case until quite recently. If we don't try new things, then in a few years we'd be moaning about 'still playing to an oldfashioned system'. On a related (nearly) note...I did enjoy the Pep, 'play your fullbacks in midfiled' discussion on MOTD the other night.

Puel's preferred formation. Which is fine...and yet not really in keeping with 'The Southampton Way'. I thought we brought managers in who played the way we do throughout the club. Unless we've changed to diamond throught the age groups?

One of the things that's making it so interesting for me is the amount of new managers at the 'Top' clubs...... have Utd got the 'Special One' or the guy from last season? Will Conte and Pep be able to do it on a rainy night at Stoke (cliche I know, but they're not guaranteed success).....the teams with momentum from last season might still surprise. Klopp (sadly) is a decent manager, ....ditto Poch, who no-one seems to be mentioning; but top 4 for Spurs wouldn't surprise me. WHam could be an outside bet for a top 5/6. Although I'm probably wrong and it'll be a 3 way fight for the title, with Liverpool or Arse getting 4th. Which would be dull.

That's better! Used to enjoy Talkspot going back to about 2003. Now they're awful.

Didn't hear it...but all they ever do is pick up on a story and get a retired player to make a few meaningless and uninformed comments.

Has he switched to Rugby?!

Interesting if there is a move to replace him as captain. Is there something lacking in his leadership? Perhaps the other candidate is simply considered a better option? Or perhaps their signing a new deal was linked to being made captain..? (Assuming of course the candidate is one of the recent re-signs).

He's 32. He's not going to get better than he is. At some point we need to sort a replacement. He's just won the Euros. He will never have a better opportunity to secure a final, massive money move somewhere. He's been a great servant and I wouldn't begrudge him that. And if we get a chunky offer for him, given his age, do you think we'll turn it down? It'd be another Pelle situation. If he goes that's fine. If he stays, that's fine too. Doesn't change what he has contributed to Saints, and he should still be on the banner.

Apparently he didn't perform much at night.

Good signing that Redmond. Coming on for himself like that!

That's a bold claim! Agree that it will be very interesting watching his development. Shame it's a reason to to watch the Scousers with a sense of anticipation.

I don't buy the 'we massively overachieved last season' argument. We were dismal at the start, and awful for 10 games around Christmas. We're comfortably a top 8 club, and we'll be in the top 8 this season. Getting out of the Europa group would be awesome - and I think we will. Quarter finals of one of the cups. It's going to be great.

That jumped out for me too. Right after the comments about developing Henry.......so is he trying to make an English version!? That said, if his system asks the front two to split wide, then it makes some sense to utilise a striker who is comfortable out wide, so why not give it a go?

Cheers.

Cmon, give up some more details!

Interesting second post. Care to share more?

Blind date off Plenty of Fish. Bet she's minging.

Hard to see him as a Saints type signing. However.....'new direction' - talented kids, with an experienced leader in the dressing room to help them develop...?

Yep. Seem to be holding off chucking crosses in to the box. As you say.....early days, yet the speed of pass and pressing is nice to see - particularly since it's 'only a friendly'. Quite fluid up front too.

We definitely seem to be moving the ball quicker than we have done in the past.

Hungry?

So can we draw any conclusions from the first 45 minutes? Probably not.....! Full backs seem to be pushing up quite high, and JWP made a forward run into the box.

Very, very nice third goal from Redmond.

They're a week or so ahead of us in preseason too.

Tidy finish by Austin.