saintant

Ramsdale Sugawara THB Bednarek Taylor Big Les Downes KWP Fernandes Cornet Archer Decent minutes off the bench for Dibling and Lallana.

I don't think there is a specific thread for 4-2-3-1 but quite a few including me have been suggesting it's the way to go. If you look at the most successful teams in the Premier League the only side who don't is Arsenal. Liverpool didn't under Klopp but they do now. Why would a team not adopt the same formation as the best which includes Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, Spurs, Bournemouth, Fulham, Brighton and West Ham? Do we think our way is better? Makes no sense to me.

Was it tip tap possession football playing out from the back? If not Russ won't be interested.

You're probably right in that Dibling is perhaps not quite ready to start games but let's see him given as many minutes as possible. Just watched Sugawara's goal against Brentford again and the pass Dibling plays to Lallana is absolutely sublime. It's on the Southampton FC Official site with views from numerous different angles. Lallana's movement is also impressive as, of course, is Sugawara's finish. More minutes for Dibling and Lallana please.

Well we may have only scored one goal but it is in the running for August goal of the month. So definitely quality over quantity for us. Could be a dangerous way to go!

What are the Onuachu stories?

I completely agree that the team spirit and bond between players and manager is a big plus at this current time. However, this was built last season when we won far more games than we lost. Nothing builds team spirit/bond more than winning. Conversely, if we continue on the current losing trajectory that is when team spirit/bond will be stress tested and we may see a less happy camp as a result. Another important reason why RM needs to get some wins under his belt asap.

Think you mean Dibling rather than Ballard but some perfectly reasonable suggestions there along with a sensible formation of 4-2-3-1

Agree and I'm not saying conversations aren't taking place behind closed doors. What I doubt is that anyone in the press has any concrete evidence about any such conversations. You are spot on and RMs team selection and set-up will be a barometer as to what lies ahead and whether he has worked on anything different during the 2 week international break. We'll see.

I'm not buying the media sources rumours and believe it is just click bait. My guess is that he still has the full backing of the owners and, at this stage, they will not be interfering with or criticising how he sets up the team. Clearly this may change if his tactics bring more defeats, soft goals and unrest among the fans.

Unfortunately Captain Jack seems to be the first name on the team sheet. Seeing as he's never been more than a slightly below average centre back I fail to see the logic.

Unfortunately this is RM's philosophy which he refuses to compromise. He seems hell bent on trying to produce a team that scores the perfect goals every time and it is just not realistic. These goals, on the few occasions they happen, look fantastic but the problem is they are the exception rather than the norm. Can he stop the tippy tappy suicidal short passing at the back that we continue to do and mix things up? I'm not convinced, it seems to be built into his DNA and will likely be his downfall. Unless he demonstrates to the contrary what we are seeing is all he has in his locker.

With the right starting team and a shift in tactics I think we could draw with Utd, beat Ipswich and maybe get a draw at Bournemouth which would improve things. Carry on with the same tactics and we'll likely end up with 3 more defeats even if RM changes some of his starting team.

Ah, more sweeping under the carpet to be done at a later date as lip service is provided. All a giant smoke screen to deflect attention from when Man City are exonerated for all their charges.

I'm now hearing it's another couple of weeks.

Do you have to join X to read this? I'm not a member and can't see any content.

Pretty much agree with that team although maybe give Cornet a go instead of Fraser. Also I wonder if Sugawara could play as one of the double pivots and put KWP at right back and Taylor left back. As you say, the double pivot offers us protection for the back 4 when defending and when attacking one of the two can advance forward to help out the midfield. Unfortunately I don't think this system is in RM's plans.

All the good sides excluding maybe Arsenal use 4231 and Liverpool have now switched to it this season under their new coach. Other teams that use it are Villa, Brighton , Bournemouth, Fulham, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs and West Ham. Strangely, these are mostly the best sides in the Premier League. Not sure why we are trying to buck the trend but this is a sign that all the more successful clubs are playing 4231 and I'm convinced we should be doing the same.

I still have a feeling there are goals in this squad played in the right formation.

Sugawara was on the bench today as Japan hammered China 7-0.

Hard to judge AA so far because the way we've set up and played has hardly been conducive to getting the best out of him. We are back to the old argument that he is not given enough chances so has to be clinical with the few he gets - last season he could afford to miss some and still score plenty. Shame he missed the one against Brentford but we've seen even the best strikers miskick the ball so that it hits the standing foot - yes, should have scored but it happens to the best.

I think we'd be better playing 4231.

Yeah I tend to agree. There is a player in there but now is the time for him to take stock, use his obvious disappointment at how things have panned out and decide how good he wants to be. He has the basic tools to become a good Premier League player and needs to take this loan opportunity, work incredibly hard and make it so the Anderlecht coach has to start him regularly. He has to put the work in. However, if he feels sorry for himself and is half-hearted he will make little or no progress - he must use this time wisely and I appreciate that he's away from home living in a country where he doesn't speak the language so it's going to be tough and he has my sympathy.

I'm not sure about this unless we do nothing and continue as we are. However, change course and, aside from Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool, I'd say we can take points off any other side if our strongest eleven is selected, tactics and set-up are right and games are managed well in terms of substitutes and tactical changes. We've done it in the past. This is a reasonable squad of players. Survival is a distinct possibility but there will need to be major changes in the manager's thinking which is the fly in the ointment.

Agree that these games and the next against Man Utd will be tough but we know there are no easy games in this league. I look at our squad and believe that there is a decent starting eleven there that could hold its own when played in the right formation and with the right strategy. It is up to RM to come up with the names to fit into that decent starting eleven and get them playing to their strengths. We have spent many seasons surviving the rigours of the Premier League and there's no reason why we can't do it again.