HarvSFC

Probably gives up his weekend's for a fraction of what he was earning giving them up here. He has my full sympathies.

Remember that the 2014-15 team never had to "gel". We had no other option but to play all the new players due to the turnover that summer. An expected, but narrow opening day defeat to Liverpool and then we won 8 of our next 10 league matches, one of those losses coming against a Tottenham side under Poch entering their best years of their recent history. I'd like to think the saying that teams need to gel is just an excuse, especially after a two week international break. No excuse but to play our best available side against Portsmouth.

For the first time in years we have competition all across the outfield positions. Manning wasn't performing in our last Championship campaign, he was Martin's mate and Meghoma wasn't trusted, so what happened? He kept playing every week. Now, if Manning's form continues, what happens? Jelert takes his place. Downes was also a shoe in, in the team every week, including last season, but again if his poor performances continue, Jander takes his place. If Harwood-Bellis and Stephens continue to look a bit poor, you'd hope they would be taken out of the team with Edwards, Wood or Quarshie all looking to grasp an opportunity. If one of our new forwards doesn't perform we've got Fraser, Matsuki and Robinson waiting in the wings. And then if one of our strikers isn't performing we've got Archer, Stewart, Downs, or Armstrong (shudder) looking to cement the place as their own. Even if we're not winning a game we'll have five good Championship attackers to bring on. Best way to raise the performance level of the eleven? Give them genuine competition for their first team place. Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning and Downes have had it very easy up to now. Only weak position squad wise with little competition is goalkeeper.

Scienza - Azaz - Fellows So good.

Wouldn't have been a Saints transfer window without multiple left-back signings. (Including Jelert as a LB)

Well Spertsyan didn't sign for Leeds. Armenie Football Twitter the true villain of the window, trying to hook in two fan bases with his deal's on, deal's off, final decision will be made tomorrow, no actually it will be made next week, actually it will be made two weeks later Tweets.

Next signing please!

Remember when these used to go on to midnight.

With Downs, he did at least show us in pre-season what he's capable of with the right service. He made a similar run against Espanyol to what he's been doing a lot this season, but hasn't received the ball. It's the two reactionary shots that have let him down, which is a different skill to what he showed against Espanyol and I would also agree that his all round game has been a bit underwhelming. But, the hope is that now with Fellows, Azaz, likely Scienza and Jander feeding him and our other strikers, the goal outputs from them will start to increase. We all love a new striker signing, as much as Newcastle love a number 9, but we have added a shit tonne of creativity this summer, in the last week and we could get greater goal output from our midfield, which we haven't had for a few years.

Sacha Tavolieri gets a lot wrong to be fair. Lavia was sold many times before he finally went to Chelsea. Edozie was sold weeks ago to Strasbourg and Brugge. We signed Manuel Benson alongside a host of other random Belgian footballers. This feels like a tactic to speed us up on deadline day. By all accounts we've agreed personal terms with Scienza, and quite some time ago. It's just the transfer fee that is stalling the deal. Heidenheim would of course love the deal to be concluded early today so that they get the time and money in to sign his replacement, so any reports of a "hijacking", and very few deals get hijacked these days may make our side a bit more proactive.

Yeah, he has a good CV doesn't he, especially for the Championship. Two time Danish league title winner and played 20 league matches for Galatasary last season, who won the Turkish league. With Roerslev looking so comfortable at right-back, I guess it's safe to assume Jelert's coming in as a left-back for the first instance and then right-back cover should anything happen to Roerslev. He could also be seen as the long term right-back if we get promoted as he's still got a lot of growth and potential, while Roerslev is at his peak. Two Danish full-backs. But, yeah, despite his free-kicks this season Manning has been a weak link in the side and was the same two years ago. Left-back needed strengthening, wasn't a priority, but a good move from the club.

Ah well. Disjointed second half performance. New players to come in next game, what a home debut to go into.

Manning makes up for the mistake. Get in!

Manning's been atrocious these last 10 minutes.

We've been good today. Winning the ball back well and Watford have been struggling. Archer's having his best game in a Saints shirt. More of this in the second half, please.