If we made no more signings...

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st_brendy said:
Agreed.

But I do think he'll play, because I'm sure we'll start with a back five.
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This is what worries me most about the coming season. I don't like it when we play with a back five. Hasenhuttl is alleged to prefer to play a back four and the five at the back was supposedly only used last season because of his lack of confidence in the ability of our defence. Given the way we performed under Hughes, this is more than understandable but I saw the five at the back as a necessary evil. The defence we currently have is now effectively weaker than last season with the departure of Targett and Vokins unproven. I think that Hoedt and Vestergaard should be moved on to other clubs regardless of the fees they would command and we need someone to come in who is of markedly better quality. As far as Stephens in concerned, I would be very worried if he became a regular and am surprised that he has not already been moved on. If we cannot sign anyone decent to bolster the central defence in the next week, I would be worried.

A new central defender is not only key to improving what is a shaky defence but also essential to allow Hasenhuttl to play the kind of football and formation he wants to use. I just think that a re-built defence will make a much broader difference in how we play football in the coming season and not just a matter to preventing goals conceded. It is a far more fundamental issue.
 
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Gunn

Valery
Hoedt
Bednarek
Bertrand

Hojberg
JWP
Elynoussi

Redmond
Boufal

Adams

Not our strongest team but I think Ralph might be willing to roll the dice on some of the Maybe's in the squad
 
I had a dream last night that we’d played our opening game against West Ham (at least I got the colours right). My mate showed me the score on his phone and I saw Saints 2, but he pulled the phone away and wouldn’t show me what West Ham had scored. In my head it was either 6 or 1, and I woke up before finding out.

I think our season might go a bit like that.
 
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saintlyhero said:
Gunn

Valery
Yoshida
Bednarek
Vestergaard
Bertrand

Højbjerg
Ward-Prowse

Redmond
Ings
Adams
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This for me. It's what we started the weekend.

With Romeu seemingly still injured I think it may take him longer than Burnley to return to full fitness. Djenepo also needs time to get fit and used to the team.

I could see Boufal in for Ings given the weekend's performances. The final friendly will obviously give us a better idea of where our squad is at, but based purely on what I know now I would go with the above.
 
tomw24 said:
If Hoedt sorts out his attitude and if he's impressed Ralph in training then I can see him playing. If we're playing a back 4 then I would rather he partnered Bednarek than the other 3. Mark Hughes did not help him either. Ralph could really help Hoedt if he wants to be helped. There are the makings of a good CB in him. I've seen glimpses of it.
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I don`t disagree. Maybe being away for a while will have given him time to reflect on his attitude (and stop trying fancy Cruyff turns). Elyounoussi on the other hand has good attitude, but I haven`t seen any other attribute that suggests he
 
Hoedt isn't great. He's got ability but he kept blowing it by making stupid mistakes and giving the ball away in dangerous positions. If Ralph has sorted that out, and told him to keep the fancy-Dan stuff for the other end of the pitch, he'll be an improved player.

That said, we desperately need another CB.
 
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I should imagine Ralph being able to field his 4-2-2-2 is a basic requirement - let alone the promise of being 'backed' in the transfer market. I hope Ralph is happy in the coming weeks, we need a happy Ralph.

I think this is an opportunity against Burnley to play Vestergaard in a back four. If he can only operate in one - at the expense of our better CB - he should've perhaps been a priority to sell this window.
 
I’m disappointed we’ve not signed another CB yet but there’s still time. Not unhappy with Yosh and Bednarak as the starting pair. I can see all 3 others pushing them at various stages of the season.

Ralph as confirmed he will play 4 or 5 at back depending on opposition. In fact I’m pretty sure they have a third formation they’ve been working on.
 
mowgli said:
I’m disappointed we’ve not signed another CB yet but there’s still time. Not unhappy with Yosh and Bednarak as the starting pair. I can see all 3 others pushing them at various stages of the season.

Ralph as confirmed he will play 4 or 5 at back depending on opposition. In fact I’m pretty sure they have a third formation they’ve been working on.
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Yes, it's this one for Man City and Liverpool:

Gunn
Valery, Soares, Vestegard, Yoshida, Bednarek, Hoedt, Bertrand, Vokins
Hojberg
Adams
 
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