Baird of the land

Not saying it's the reason, my point is we were generally bad at the end of the season regardless of formation.

Well we lost to relegated Burnley and Liverpool B playing a 5, so really only success of 5 was a very lucky win against Arsenal, so little evidence of it being any use at the end of last season either. The idea that we should stick with a formation (regardless of Perraud's fitness) that has a 1 - 6 goal record this season is plain nuts imo.

I wouldn't, i'd play Djenepo but it's an option(if he's concerned about his defensive frailties) given JWP has always been solid defensively at RB & Romeu was one of best players in the first half of last season. It's much better to do that than to persist with crazy notion 3 at the back is of any use.

Yeah exactly there are so many people who deliberately ignore context just because they are so desperate to take offence.

The problem is it's doubtful anyone is going to give us that for Diallo. The article linked said Valencia were interested in a loan which is useless to Saints.

It's got to be 4 at the back. If he really doesn't want to start djenepo at LB there are other first team options even without perraud. Stephens has played there before(if he's still at the club) or move JWP to RB& bring romeu into midfield.

Garner seems an odd link to me. Clearly talented but doesn't seem a priority for a major outlay imo when you've got Lavia/JWP & Romeu. Guess Diallo would be odd man out in that scenario. Personally i want to see a really pacey 10 arrive but that might be reliant on shifting out at least one of Redmond/Elyounessi.

I'd still assume we'd need to get rid of Bednarek somewhere first.

One of things where var won’t overrule because he got a touch but if he gives it they wouldn’t overrule if ref gave red card. The cynic in me also thinks ref gives red card if it was a man city player

I’d keep djenepo over both. Seems to have got his head down and applied himself this summer, offers some cover at fb and is still relatively young.

I’d argue the reason he did nothing much for 70 minutes was largely to do with the extremely negative formation.

Curious to see that penalty incident. Commentators seem to think McKenna very fortunate not to be red carded.

It should be obvious that we need to attack leicester, a team that has shipped lots of goals but also scored goals this season For Me something like Bazanu KWP ABK Salisu Djenepo Lavia JWP Aribo Armstrong Adams Armstrong

Who was the doppelgänger at the fan forum banging on about how great 5 at the back was and how new players could never pick up the 4 in time.

yeah I think the formation is completely unsuitable. Like multiple players short, not just one or 2. Even someone like kwp looked so much better in a regular fullback role.

Don’t see why you’d surprised at there being unrest. Playing one of the weaker teams in the league at home and lacking attacking threat. Being an excellent bazanu save from going in behind.

I wouldn’t rush him. Use as an impact sub.

If he's concerned about Djenepo's defending at LB Ralph has played Stephens at LB in the past and we won that game. Stephens played left back today again when Djenepo ran out of steam.

With the players we have it is never a 3 other than on paper, it's a 5. Our FB's (especially KWP) look more threatening coming from a 4. Playing 3 Cb's doesn't make us more secure.(especially when one is called Bednarek) Adams looked much improved post change when he actually had some support.

No ... Just no.. never ... in a million years.... He was awful. Reminded me of vintage Championship Manager when you used to instantly score when you took off a player playing several stats below the rest.

The other interesting thing from the Solent interview was Ralph's comment regarding Mara, along lines of 'he didn't show that in training, so it was great.'

I thought that a week ago after tough Spurs game. Leeds(almost relegated), Leicester(lost best RB & Keeper, signed no one), Man Utd(not really recruited well) seems a rather average premier league run & was wondering what this messaging of it being an impossible start was about. As others said we'll probably make them look like world beater but we can hope.

My fault for expecting more because In fan forum even Adam admitted he didn't agree with the 3/5 at the back.

Listening to solent, annoyed that timid blackmore didn't bother asking ralph about changing away from 3 Cb's. Thought Ralph seemed rather low (given normally the manager who comes back from nowhere) would be more enthused.

We need far more than a CB to make the 3 CB formation work.