Baird of the land

Very positive first half. Mccarthy (Thought he was ok, came and claimed very well). Beaten by a top corner shot and sitters.) Livramento clearly has something about him. Split between Ralph being blind or KWP being dead as to why we didn't make a change on that side when Gray started to get the better of him. Stephens/Salisu. Some good moments(especially salisu covering) but managed to let both their strikers have sitters to score. We are so lacking any threat from set pieces too. Perraud (some bright moments going forward, less certain defensively) Romeu (quiet today) JWP (Saved our bacon quite a few times) Walcott (had a brief spell of about 5 minutes in 2nd half where he looked threatening Djenepo (very threatening, just frustrating he wants too many touches) Armstrong (lovely signing) Adams (very good again) Subs (unrated because for some reason some useless goon waited until we were behind to make them)

So we definitely need to sign a tall CB, not least because we look completely unthreatening from all the set pieces we are getting.

Don't see how today's goals were his fault. top corner effort and twive when the defence let their strikers have a free effort in the 6 yard box.

I keep waiting for Ralph to learn to make proactive subs. He gets enough practice of watching the opposition make changes and score and yet he refuses to try it himself. Had it up my ears of waiting till we are behind for his lets make a double/triple change.

Think Mccarthy is unlucky. Got his arm to it but its richoutted off his leg. The issue is their striker getting a free header 2 yards out.

Now the idiot makes a double change.

Why Ralph won't you make a Sub????????????????????????

Feel Perraud has struggled a bit. Not terrible but much improvement hopeflly to come. Livramento, yeah he's going to play for a top club. Mccarthy fab, claim and punch. Don't think Forster would have come for either. Stephens lot of very good stuff, one moment where he switched off and let Calver Lewin run off him Armstrong, who needs ings.

Interesting that the Chelsea loan guy isn't even on the bench.

Ok wouldn't have predicted that lineup. What's up with KWP, not fully fit? Stephens looked good in pre-season so i can understand that. Keeper is a toss up so again fine with Mccarthy. Surprised Armstrong is being thrown straight in.

From the outside arsenal spending £50m on an average cb to bench a reasonably good cb in holding was just bizarre transfer business.

Wonder will arteta last the season.

Maybe madly optimistic but I Fancy it to be a score draw.

Bertrand certainly isn’t suited anymore to getting up and down. That’s why saints were so predictable in only having kwp doing so last year. Not sure I agree that vestergaard isn’t suited, despite his lack of pace.

My concern about dier as a cdm would be his lack of mobility.

Quite legitimately without new investment, there’s a massive pile of Covid debt to be paid off.

I've got Monkou & Killer on my football Card Southampton wall xi, with Chris Nicholl on the bench.

I'd say on the surface of it Perraud is a uplift on a current Bertrand, as it allows us to have someone with legs on the left to provide a threat/balance on that side.

Always thought Bednarek is a decent reader of the game, so not surprised he's got good interception stats.

Training sessions will help him learn how we play, which he’ll have had very few of. each to their own on tella, personally I think his raw pace on the break against a team that will be forced to come out will be very dangerous.

I think tella could cause them problems so i’ll be happy if we start Armstrong on the bench. Doesn’t make sense to rush him in whilst he’s still learning how we play and getting to know teammates etc.

Seems we might be getting the Bolton baresi to join our Cornish Maldini. Not sure about him, not writing him off completely as really hasn’t played enough to have a full judgement. He was a somewhat feel good story of showing up Klopp and Showing him he should have played the cb he didn’t rate, whilst he farted about with cm’s there. He seemed committed/good in the air, very limited with the ball. Not sure about his pace but didn’t look speedy. Maybe good organizer? Still to me you could go to any warnock/McCarthy team and get someone who’ll go after headers. Unsure at moment what makes him worth the money quoted other than Liverpool branding. Doesn’t seem to offer the really needed ability to play dm as far as I can see either. So i’d Be very worried if he was the final move.

I still think bednarek is a good defender, maybe not the greatest passer of the ball but I expect him to bounce back. as to vestergaard. Think Leicester are getting a decent player, he’s no Johnny Evans in terms a steal of a signing but he’s a threat aerially and has a decent pass. Though if it’s him and Bertrand lining up together i’d Expect teams to be trying to exploit that side with pace.

See three out of eight Football365 writers are predicting us for relegation in their predictions. Don't see it myself & hoping we can show them up with a decent full season this time round. Here we go: Football365's season predictions for 2021/22

If that's the case i hope its a CB that can play DM, otherwise we'll be in trouble if Oriel gets another injury.