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He was the other one (with Redmond and JWP) who trained with the senior team. Looks like we've probably missed the boat on him. Depends if Conte puts more trust in youngsters than some of the previous managers. What's Loftus-Cheek upto these days? Seems to have a bit of an attitude, but always looked pretty good too. Doubt he's getting many games at Chelsea?

I think he's a little behind Hesketh (who is a superstar at that level), but great to have some promising players coming through as always. I saw that Vokins played again last night - didnt he make his under 21 debut last year at around 16 and get quite a few games? Exciting to see the youngsters coming through.

I for one hope the club do put in a few over-age players to get some match fitness - like others have said Gardos and J-Rod are screaming out for games and it'll be better to give them a run against an ok Crawley team than just leave them on the bench and expect them to do a job in the first team when they're so short of match sharpness. Be great for the youngsters also to go far in the competition. I'm not saying I fully agree with the competition, but if we're in it, we may as well use it for what it is.

Thought Hojbjerg actually played well. He has a habit of doing something really good and then doing something silly though - a couple of great examples where he somehow won the ball past someone with a great bit of skill and then let himself down with the pass. Also looks hesitant going forwards. However, overall I'd say it was another promising performance from a good asset to the squad who's only going to improve. Ward-Prowse was excellent second half, after being his usual 'I'm too scared to shoot' self in the first half. Tadic being marked down by some people for the poor penalty, but Inter knew exactly what they were doing and saw how lightweight the ref was so knew they could get away with delaying the penalty as long as they did, scuff up the penalty spot, elbow someone in the face and crowd out the ref with him barely doing anything! The linesman on the Kingsland side was also ridiculously bad! I'm not even sure he did anything without being told by the ref first...!

Martina is probably running on empty with the amount of ground he (usually) covers and the amount of games he's played recently. It wasnt long ago that he was very good in the last Europa home game vs Sparta Prague. Not sure what's up with Cedric, but obviously the sooner he's back the better for rotation and keeping players fresh, however I personally dont think there's too much between them. Cedric probably a bit better all round, but Martina has had some great games. I think Ward-Prowse is almost certainty to start and looks like Yoshida is the choice for Europa games too.

Surprised about Debayo leaving. I was wondering why he hadnt heard from him - and quite weird as surely Southampton is a better place to learn and get into the first team than Leicester who I cant remember having many young players from their Academy playing in their team?

What (UK) time is kick off and is it on BT / other UK TV or should I search for a stream?

Anyone got a stream??

Fingers crossed not - who plays right back for the u23's? At worst case looks like we could be without any full backs for the weekend as doubts over Targett, Cedric and Martina, with Bertrand (and Pied) already out. Step forwards Jack Stephens, Sam McQueen and maybe Valery / Bakary?!

Any news on the good lad Gardos? He's been in recovery / about to make a comeback for about 6 months.

I missed Targett out as well. So who's going to play left back at the weekend? I'm guessing Yoshida? Always been a bit of a nightmare at full back, but guess we've got no other choice, unless Sam McQueen gets a game now they've seemingly converted him...! With Cedric, Bertrand and Targett out looks like we'll have Martina - Van Dijk - Fonte - Yoshida with Stephens and maybe McQueen on the bench?!

Missed the first 30 mins but did Hesketh play badly or was he injured? Seems pretty unclear.

It wasnt Palace's best team, but four of their best players (Dann, Cabaye, Benteke and Zaha, i'm only excluding Townsend as possibly in with that bunch) all played part of the match whereas we left out Van Dijk, Bertrand, Forster ?(and Boufal!!) completely. Difference is we've got strong youth team players to call up, whereas Palace dont.

Palace arent fielding a youth team as some have said - they're likely to have first team / squad players who have been out injured / on the bench playing, including the likes of Cabaye, Hennesey, Lee, Mutch and Wickham - which is probably the Palace equivalent to the sort of team we might be fielding with JWP, Yoshida, Targett, McCarthy etc. Could be a tight game, but I reckon Palace will field more first teamers and edge it - with a goal coming from a defensive mistake!

Palace will field a pretty strong team (they always do in the cups), and we'll likely pick a far weakened team. However, having Stephens, Yoshida and Targett might be giving McCarthy a very busy night, and we'll likely get smashed. That said, Yoshida had a good game against Prague - I just wouldnt trust them with the same continual passing along the back four as that game though without Virgil there.

It would be pretty disgraceful not to get 30k+ there tonight. Have been looking forward to this since the last day of last season. See you on the train from / to Waterloo tonight. Oh, and lets get a few chants of Southampton in Europa-pa-pa-pa going tonight. Hopefully the club give it a blast over the PA.

Notice that Rosicky now plays (again) for Sparta Prague. Never heard of any of their other players though!

Love the new version. Gutted they didnt get 'Pierre Emile Hojbjerg in midfield' into a line though.

I would be surprised if anyone (except the 'you can never say anything not 100% positive' band) would disagree that we look a bit light across the squad considering the number of games we'll have this season with the Europa games, and the injury records of a few players in our squad.

He'll likely be out more than he plays. Plus is known for being an absolute ****. Hardly an example i'd want at the club, unless being loaned out has given him a much needed message and kick up the behind and he's prepared to put his head down, try and keep fit and prove that he's a good footballer.

Any word on the good lad Gardos?

Has that been proven? I think the whole point of him possibly being loaned out is that he currently isnt at a level performance (and possibly fitness) wise to warrant being in our first team. If we get someone in who's better then I dont see what the problem is. The problem last year was the board relying on J-Rod getting back to the same level of performance and fitness as previously and it didnt happen...

Hesketh definitely deserves a chance, always looked good when i've seen him being skillful and with an eye for a key pass. Has a pretty good shot on him too (JWP take note). Johnson and Olomola also looked good, wouldnt be surprised to see Hesketh and Olomola get first team playing time in the not too distant future.

What time's the game? Be interesting to see which 'senior' players play.

He was out a while with an injury when first here and struggled a little for fitness, however, he seems to have good technique and does get stuck in and has a good range of passing, so think he'd be good alongside a bigger 'enforcer' type. He played pretty well in quite a few games I saw last season, but maybe didnt particularly stand out, but seemed pretty consistent, unlike Romeu and Ward-Prowse who are both prone to the odd stinker. I reckon he's more likely to score from open play than Ward-Prowse too.