Saints are sweating on the fitness of both Mohammed Salisu & Armel Bella-Kotchap, but if both fail to pass muster, Ruben Selles is confident that any replacement will be ready to step up to the plate.

Southampton fans may be worried about who will play in the centre of defence at West Ham on Sunday afternoon, but Ruben Sells isn't, he is confident that if he has to deploy either Duje Caleta-Car or Lyanco that they will do a job.

Asked by the media if he 100 per cent trusts Caleta-Car to come in if needed, he had this to say:

“One of the things that has happened is that I have had a lot of players and I need to decide who to play, but it’s not because the other ones have a lack of quality."

"If Duje or Lyanco has to play in the centre-back position, I trust them and they are capable to do it as they have done before.”

Likewise Lyanco, whilst few Saints fans would have him as their first choice, he has rarely let anyone down when picked for the side and has done a job both when in the starting line up and coming off the bench to help shore up the defence late in a game.

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 09:22 - Apr 1 I don't think any of our CB's are bad but what they are is inconsistent, they are all capable of having a very good game but equally a very bad one. The system we play puts a lot of emphasis on our CB's being alert to counter attacks & we are quite often found wanting if the sitting midfielders are breached. However our biggest problem is free kicks & corners coming into the box, I don't know if its inadequate marking, not going size for size (we leak a lot of goals on the far post) or just lack of concentration? If we can stop that happening we have a chance but whatever we do putting the ball in the net the other end more often is vital! COYR

2

felly1 added 10:41 - Apr 1 As Block8 says its the crosses we can't deal with. This applies to both ends of the pitch as our CBs never score with headers from crosses /Corners. They just don't attack the ball with any conviction and it's what separates the really good defenders with the average ones.. Anyone remember what John Terry was like?
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls