Southampton (A) - EFL Cup - Post Match Thread

[Darkon]

Not the best of performances, but we're still in it so that's something. Karius really saved us on a couple of occations.

We lacked penetration last night and we defo were missing some creativity. We look somewhat weaker up front without both Coutinho and Mane to make clever runs and passes. Thankfully one is back soon and Mane hopfully soon as well.

We could use a bit more depth squad wise. The youngsters here don't quite look ready, and we're quite vunerable to injuries / suspensions up front.

[calvoboy]

Can't see why Lucas gets stick, he did really well considering, he's never been a speed merchant but reads the game brilliantly well and knows how to intercept the ball better than anyone.

Lucas did what Lucas does, and he did it well. The issue is that without Henderson in there, and with Lucas and Can in the middle, there's no energy and high-tempo to our play. It's even worse without Matip or Sakho, who are capable of stepping out and playing incisive passes from the back. That means our build up is slow, and then without the quick movement of Coutinho and Mane up front we struggle to break teams down.

Basically, if you take four of our best players out of our first eleven we don't look as good. Think you could say that about most sides, but in our case we really need to sign another midfielder and/or attacker with lots of energy for when we're missing a few.

[Maxiedge]

We were ****ing unbelievably **** last night. Reminded me of the tail end of the Brendan Rodger days. I hope it's not a pattern we're going to fall into (short unnecessary passing with no infiltration).

On the other hand, we're going through a slump and probably needed to hit rock bottom before climbing back up. Bring on the scum!

[labourRed]

Sturridge and Lucas showing what having no legs does to a team. Completely wrecks any plans. Couldn't high press properly and then when Southampton sat deep, had nothing in the speedy gonzales department to get past a man.

Also, I'm not a fan of Can. And tonight showed why we urgently need a proper midfielder to cover for Henderson. I'm not fussed about losing tonight as we'll probably beat them at our place. I'm not even fussed about losing to Utd on Sunday IF it happens. But top four is in danger if we have to keep relying on midfielders that just aren't at the party.

Yeah, even when all fully fit i actually like Wijnaldum, Can and Henderson but they don't work as a midfield three. It gets better when you add Lallana but there certainly is scope for adding a top quality midfielder to the squad, preferably a DCM (with bags of energy give how we play/defend).

[Snigger]

Last night showed just how important Henderson is to our midfield - Lucas is past his best, Can is not good enough, too sloppy in possession too often - we need to bring a defensive midfielder to compliment Gini and Hendo along with a first choice CB to play alongside Matip. Fair play to the Saints though, they out Liverpool'd us,

[labourRed]

Also whoever signs van Dijk is getting a quality player. We'll never blow that much on a CB but he's solid and very suited to this league.

A £13 million bargain.

[S-RED]

without a doubt, lala, hendo, cout, gini, firminio, mane are our best option, problem is for the next month that isn't an option. So JK needs to find a formation/system that suits the players available.

Without douby Firmy as the central attacker is our best option, so its either bringing in Can & distrupting the midfield or playing Origi/Studge out of position.

Can't stand it when Firmino is stuck out left

[gratziani]

Game is very different today and at the level they are

I played semi pro as a young man and have played against former LFC players. They were so much quicker, fast and physically stronger than the level I was at

I was a tough tackling player who could run all day but players who played at that level (even retired ones) were miles miles better on every level

The gap is huge

I played against Lee Norfolk who played for Ipswich against us when they beat as at Anfield , couple years later and never got near him for the entire 90 mins

Also played against Dale Gordon and Robert Fleck after they came down into non league and Gordon was so far ahead of anyone else on the pitch in his brain and touch it was unreal.

Johnny Wark the Liverpool legend was another opponent , like you say the gap was huge even when they were on the wane .

[red g]

60 mins with mates then 60 mins with the lads from work straight after.

Posh wank?

[Buzzo]

Also whoever signs van Dijk is getting a quality player. We'll never blow that much on a CB but he's solid and very suited to this league.

A £13 million bargain.

I'm sure he was touted when Southampton signed him from Celtic, dismissed with the usual 'Scottish Footballs ****', which may be true, but doesn't mean good players are not found within it.

[Maxiedge]

Do we even take corners seriously? Seem to get hit on the counter more often than not straight from one of them. It was disappointing that it's an issue that hasn't seem to be addressed since the cluster-**** FA Cup game.

If we haven't got the aerial presence then we should take them short or come up with a different routine. Bit of a joke the amount of corners we waste imo

[Irishnev]

I played against Lee Norfolk who played for Ipswich against us when they beat as at Anfield , couple years later and never got near him for the entire 90 mins

Also played against Dale Gordon and Robert Fleck after they came down into non league and Gordon was so far ahead of anyone else on the pitch in his brain and touch it was unreal.

Johnny Wark the Liverpool legend was another opponent , like you say the gap was huge even when they were on the wane .

I played against guys at schoolboy level who went on the play lower league football in the UK and a couple that played for Ireland. Even now I play astroturf with two lads who are ex league of Ireland - they make the game seem so simple.

One guy used to play astro turf with us who was ex semi pro in England - he was years older than us at the time but he was the hardest ****er I ever saw on the pitch (even astroturf)- was that Lec I wonder?

[Irishnev]

Do we even take corners seriously? Seem to get hit on the counter more often than not straight from one of them. It was disappointing that it's an issue that hasn't seem to be addressed since the cluster-**** FA Cup game.

If we haven't got the aerial presence then we should take them short or come up with a different routine. Bit of a joke the amount of corners we waste imo

What does one hand up mean anyway? Back to the days of Danny Murphy - one or two hands, hard code to crack

[Scratch]

What does one hand up mean anyway? Back to the days of Danny Murphy - one or two hands, hard code to crack

Probably something simple like one for front post, two for far post.

[Irishnev]

Probably something simple like one for front post, two for far post.

I was being sarcastic