Saint Pete

Stephens has always been prone to blunders and poor decision making and we saw both yesterday. Unfortunately, I still think he's probably the best partner for THB that we currently have at the club, that was proved for the majority of the unbeaten run last season. We can bring Wood in for him but don't personally think that will improve things as he isn't great either, will be a matter of time before he messes up too and you are all howling for Stephens to come back in again. Quality, reliable centre backs are hard to come by, we have just one at the club, which is why it is vital we do our utmost to keep him here this season.

Possibly yes. So we will need to adjust how we play when he is on as he won't hold it up as well but may offer other qualities, which was my point.

First impressions of Mubama are that he doesn't have the same physical presence and strength as a Larin or a Stewart. Of course it is very early days and I'm not writing him off to end up being a good signing by any means, but not having seen him play before, my feeling is he won't provide the focal point that we have been used to with the Larin/Stewart combo. So, perhaps we will need to adjust how we play a little when he comes on or starts. We certainly seemed to miss Larin when he went off today.

Well, classic Saints start to the season really. Just we can't afford it this season starting on -4.

I know that was our pattern last season but did Larin really need to come off? He was still influencing the game well and Mubama not really in it so far.

Let's not write him off after 1 proper game, just a thought.

Downes needs to calm down, we'll have no midfield at all if he goes off!

2 poor crosses from Scienza there.

Azaz close!

Superb from Manning. Could be a game winner that.

Game on.

Good defensive header from Jack there. Sadly at wrong end.

Thought we looked quite sharp in possession without end product before they scored. But the 2 goal start we have handed them means Watford can sit in now and we can't break on them.

Stephen's Just retreats into the centre and leaves him free run on goal.

Stupid from Larin there, needless booking.

WTF Stephens?!

Poor challenge on Scienza, deserved yellow.

Kit looks good in my opinion.... from a distance at least!!

It's not really his "job" to do that though to be fair?! He's not an employee of the club. What he's reporting is the bid is way below what the club value THB at, so they certainly won't be selling at that price or even near it. It's not his job to say we won't sell him at any price if that's what you want, unless someone at the club has explicitly said that, which they haven't.

Yes, people have short memories. Very fair to remind them that Smallbone was a regular starter in the side that season that went up and achieved 87 points in the league. Like a lot of our players, Smallbone didn't prove himself at the next level above, but did certainly do a good job for us in this league. Bragg looks promising so far over a smaller number of games.

Because they are Chelsea and we are Southampton. A different rulebook and moral code applies, didn't you know?

Yep, used to annoy the hell out of me when people used to argue that Tadic should be dropped whenever he had a not so good game. Another quality player with superb vision and ability to produce moments to create goals and win games, like Azaz does at the level we play at now. These are the players that make me want to go to games, but some fans just don't seem to see it! (or don't accept that what they do won't come off 100% of the time).

Yes, absolutely. Wasn't saying we shouldn't have signed him, we did need more depth in that position and he looks a quality addition so far. The point I was trying to make about Azaz/Dobbin was that they are both high value signings and when both are fully fit, it will be interesting to see if both will be accommodated in the starting 11 and if so how. There is much more potential that both could play than the other 2 examples you give above due to their flexibility and I think Tonda and the club will be keen to use them both as much as possible given the outlay and that they are both quality players who can hurt the opposition.

The Dobbin signing was interesting, Azaz/Dobbin as the 2 options for the attacking midfielder is great, but seems a little bit of a luxury of if one of those 2 will be sat on the bench, so will be interesting to see how they are employed by Tonda when both are fully fit.

It's a little different between the way the 2 have left though? Stewart left at the end of his contract so his message of thanks and good luck etc was at that point rather than when he subsequently signed for Swansea. I don't think there is bad feeling, in fact Tonda said he was still in touch with him after what happened with the extension.