Or just 'Fergie-time'; existing for whichever duration is required for Saints to concede, more than they actually score!
Talking of players doing well, I applaud Fraser. I get he won't play every week but would keep him in whist he is playing well for us. I must admit, I couldn't see the point of keeping him but the wee man is giving his all which is all i ever want from a Saints player.
Team news: Damion Downs - available Ross Stewart - available Ryan Fraser - available James Bree and Will Smallbone - set to rejoin training next week, hoping to get them into the teamsheet before the int'l break but will be touch and go
Probably want to see Stewart start based on that. If Still trusts Fraser at RB switch to a back 4 - he was excellent against Ipswich. Baz Fraser THB Stephens Manning Downes Charles Adarma Matty Robinson Stewart
Hopefully Mads is comfortable enough as a conventional right back. Appreciate Fernandes might not be here at the end of the month, but imo Downes, Charles & Matty are our best three players and the 4-2-3-1 is the best for them and with that midfield you definitely don’t need three centre backs behind them.
Interesting answer from WS on styles of play in the written section of his press conference... on Stoke being a direct, vertical team, different styles of play and which teams he enjoyed watching growing up... I just love football. The thing that's always stuck in my head goes back to the first coach that I worked with. He said that we can try to play the most beautiful football in the world, but the ultimate goal is winning - because that's what you're judged on. People say 'oh you need to play this way, or that way...' the Southampton way or like with Sam Allardyce, the West Ham way. But what is the West Ham way? What is the Southampton way? You got relegated, so obviously there's something that doesn't work in it. Our way now is win, because that's all we have to do. You also depend on the profile of the players that you've got. You're not going to ask big physical players to play the tiki-taka that some teams want to play. Which is why when people ask 'what's your coaching philosophy?' or 'what approach do you like?' then it's just: you've got to get the best out of the players that you've got, deal with their strengths and their weaknesses with whatever squad is in front of you. Our job is just to win football games because if we don't win them then you don't get time and you get sacked. I've never been a fan of keeping possession for the sake of keeping possession. We want to be positive. As long as the players enjoy it, get a kick out of it and the fans can identify with what we're trying to do then I'll be happy. Ultimately, I'll only be happy if we win games. Stoke have been winning games, so they're obviously doing something that's working for them and is efficient. Like you said, they've scored six goals, they didn't concede in the last game and they look really good.
