it's probably not the time to remind everyone that we were beaten twice by each of Leicester and Ipswich last season. Not sure where the optimism comes from given Russell's trust in the Championship team. But this is the Saints, and thanks to a kind uncle (he worked as a bar steward I think) taking me to the Dell in 1958 they're the team I'm saddled with and have often surprised me. However, I can't see much interest in MOTD coming up.
I don’t normally get involved in predictions simply because I have no control of the outcome of the games and because no matter how well we might play we have an uncanny knack of undermining that by gifting goals to the opposition. However I will stick my neck out and go for 7 points and wouldn’t be surprised if we beat Utd, mainly because they aren’t (unless I am mistaken) a team that presses, which will hopefully give us time and space to get the ball into the final third and create a chance or two. (Harry Maguire to score from a set piece ). We weren’t ready for Ipswich at SMS last season and were poor but we should have beaten them at their place. Bompey could go either way because of local pride, and as much as we want to play down it being a derby, we need the players to treat it like one.
Not sure why people are thinking Russ is going to play the "Championship team" again, when he's pretty openly said after the last game that he isn't going to do that any more. Unless he's talking crap, which I guess isn't impossible.
These next batch of games will be like our "experimental" September of last season with hopefully more positive results. Like others have said it's almost impossible to predict what's going to happen but I hope that the team at the end of the run is the settled starting XI moving forwards. A hopeful 5-7 points.
Would be close to career suicide if he didn't make changes tbh. The vast majority of fans are happy to see how things go but if he keeps playing the likes of Smallbone then it'll get toxic pretty quickly.
I think he’ll change personnel but not the formation or style. Time will tell if “better” players can make it work
Didn't he pretty much confirm he was going to be making changes? I recall him saying something about the players from last season deserved their chance but after 3 losses it was time for others to show what they can do (or something to that affect). Dibling has to start and you'd think Fernandes would be in contention too.
I hope he thinks about ditching the 3/5 at the back also. Seems like at times we are falling over ourselves in defence.
That's just what I think, it just means there more chances to cock it up back there, too many cooks. His style works best with a 433 imo.
Ramsdale Suga, Stephens, Bedders, KWP Fernandes, Downes, Dibling Cornet, Archer, BBD Last season's system with Flynn as the deeper DM and Tyler playing the Stuey role transitioning the play with his forward running with the ball and Fernandes the box to box 8. Cornet as the RWF and BBD as the LWF and Archer as the CF. Jack deserves to start in front of THB right now but I wouldn't be against having a look at Edwards or Wood too.
