Southampton XI 5 Fulham XI 1 A 40 minutes each way friendly. Grand to see the Club playing matches during the break rather than messing about on the training ground and good that they chose decent opposition, rather than a local non-league side (or similar). Not sure what this one does for team confidence though. Before making some observations let me first offer highlights: The teams were: Fulham: Bettinelli, S Sessegnon, Madl (Graham 65), Djalo, Soares (Odoi 40), Cisse, Cairney (O'Riley 40), McDonald (Francois 40), Mollo (Fredericks 40), Kamara (Fonte 40), Graham (de la Torre 40). Southampton: Taylor, Pied, Stephens, Gardos (Bakary 69), Targett, Romeu (Obafemi 69), McQueen, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Redmond, Austin. * Our first half team was principally made up of first teamers not on International duty * Dropping a goal after 33 seconds doesn't help but the body language in that first half was dreadful * Okay they may be game rusty but our CBs (Madl and Djalo) were awful * Generally we lacked any kind of organisation and down 4-0 at half time * Our second half team was predominantly youngsters (great to see Steven Sessegnon playing the full match) * Based on match reports and not simply these short highlights, we were more lively and committed * Cisse seemed to relish the role of 'boss' in the middle * We scored from a corner - and a super one it was from Matt O'Riley * Take solace from the fact that that was a pretty strong Southampton side - in both halves
Confirming my earlier post re; getting rid of some dead wood. I know it was only highlights but the performance of our keeper supported my long held views on him
