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.
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
Elyounoussi will not start against Burnley. Hes only had 45 minutes of game time and seems to have disappeared.
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.
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.
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.
the defence looks a bit familiar! if we can stop conceeding crucial goals right at the end of games i'd be happy
If we could play without the extra security of 3 CBs because 2 of them aren't really good enough I would be ecstatic!
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.
Yes, it's this one for Man City and Liverpool: Gunn Valery, Soares, Vestegard, Yoshida, Bednarek, Hoedt, Bertrand, Vokins Hojberg Adams
