I must admit that when Ralph brought on Tella, then Diallo, I thought that Ralph was just giving the pair a taste of Premier League football, as opposed to being a masterstroke of tactical genius. I don't count bringing on Shane for Che, as this is an 'expected' substitution. How do we squeeze Armstrong into the team? Maybe Ralph will experiment again next week, always assuming that the Tier 3 lockdown doesn't prevent Everton from leaving the Liverpool area. Does football count as work?
Armstrong walks back into that side as he has been our best player, Ings aside, over the last couple of season imo. I think it is Redmond who needs to up his game if he wants to retain his starting spot. Which is great, no motivation as good as a little competition - just look at how Romeu has upped his game over the last few matches!
Usual media crap - `big team drops points against diddy team because of defensive mistakes`. Yawn. How come we had more attempts than them, and away from home too ? We forced any mistakes because of our good pressing play. Chelsea are lucky the game didn`t last another 10 minutes !
Completely agree on Armstrong. We won't miss him as much against sides who will attack us and/or have poor defences but think we'll always struggle to create against well drilled sides without him.
Frank was pretty fair and complimentary I thought. But media, yeah. They have a fixed narrative most of the time.
He has not had any obvious rickets since he returned to the team and has looked comfortable on the ball. I have been concerned with his slow reactions in the past but maybe he is starting to show his true form and has finally settled in.
"Anyone else happy we didn’t sell Vestergaard? I was firmly in the get rid camp.....but he now changed my mind these last 3 games." At the start, Vesty had the turning circle of a supertanker. He was playing like a dog, but now he's a...Great Dane! (Insert Cymbals noise here) Of course it was contrived, but it's Sunday morning, so what were you hoping for?
I think that Ralph will stick with this partnership for the time being, as Archers said, Werner is a real handful and Chelsea's front 5 will cause problems for most teams this season.
So true It’s his speed to transition from defence to attack. It means we’re at them before they have time to return to their 2 lines of 4 Maybe Theo and Diallo will do that as well. Theo will certainly be an outlet for him if we can play them both. Theo on the left? Maybe this relieves the pressure on Nathan? He’s too reserved when he should be running at them and causing problems I’m thinking about the benefits of cross-breeding our players. I want a Shaney-Nathan cross. Electrifying!
Highlights from the OS: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/...lsea-vs-southampton-fc-premier-league-2020-21
With real good pressure o places now across pretty much the whole team, RH needs to put the guys on warning that if you play poorly or go missing, we will bring in a replacement for the next game and you have to fight for your place Nice position to be in, I would start Tella over Redmand and possibly Salisu for Bedders
I see Ralph has used the changing room arrangement as being one reason why we stepped it up bit, second half. It seems we were using a health club with stairs, and god only knows how far it was from the pitch. The slow manner in which they returned to the pitch, second half was possibly a way of showing their discontent. Is this an attempt at gamesmanship from some clubs, or are all visiting teams banned from using the visitors dressing room? I presumed that away teams at SMS were using the dressing room, because both teams enter the pitch at the same point and, at the beginning, right behind each other.
I agree, and my assessment isnt only based on yesterday. Indeed, hes been poor all season and Stephens carried the can for the first 3 games (and yes, he wasnt great either)
Yep. I don't think there should be anyone questioning Armstrong's place. It's Redmond, not Armstrong. Although you wouldn't traditionally think of Theo on the left side, Ralph's like of narrow wide men could mean Theo works over that side. He'd be constantly coming inside on his favourite foot - whether to have a crack at goal, or slip a ball forward to the front two. Because of the narrow midfield, he was essentially playing in front of JWP yesterday (or behind Ings/Adams) and maybe would have benefitted from being slightly more left footed. Alternatively, I think Armstrong has experience of playing on the left for Scotland? I still think, first and foremost, it will be Armstrong and Redmond who Ralph would see as our two starters. But as you say, if anyone is likely to be under pressure now, I think it will be Redmond.
We look like a team who will always score goals which increases the chance of wins (and 3 points)....how much better is that than being defensive and hard to beat (but boring as we were a couple of seasons ago). And great to have real competition for places.
