Saints have to see out the final two games of the season before they can start to plan for the next season, but their supporters want to see a team out against Brighton that looks to next season rather than this.

When Mohammed Elyounoussi arrived on the pitch against Fulham in the 73rd minute he did not receive a warm welcome to say the least, rightly or wrongly and I do think that at times Elyounoussi has received unfair stick, as he has been no worse than many other on the pitch with him, but the fans saw the Elyounoussi as very much part of the problem this season.

Add to that the fact that with his contract being up at the end of the season, it is very likely he will leave the club at the end of the season and so therefore most of the fans were of the same opinion, what was the point of playing him.

In fairness although going into this game our chances of escaping relegation were slim, Ruben Selles had to put out an experienced squad whilst there was still a chance, if he had put out kids in this game and lost and then won the last two games and we had been relegated by a poit or two, then he would have been vilified and accused throwing away our chances, that is football for you, as a manager you are damned if you do or damned if you dont.

But now relegation is already confirmed, there are no such excuses for the final two games of the season.

Of course no one expects wholesale changes and a team of youth and fringe players to go out there and take on two clubs who are battling for European qualification, but we do want to see some of those who are charged with taking the club straight back up next season in the team and some of those who have underperformed not !

In the starting line up I would want to see Gavin Bazunu restored, in truth Alex McCarthy has been no better and you would think that next season Bazunu would be undisputed number 1, last season he was one of the best goalkeepers in League One, but this season he was thrown to the wolves, you can't throw in an inexperienced 20 year old goalkeeper into the Premier League unless you have a well organised and drilled defence in front of him to bring him through games, we certainly didn't have that.

So play Bazunu, let him continue his learning curve and come back stronger next season.

In the centre of defence the decision might be taken out of Selles hands with both Salisu & Bella-Kotchap likely to miss the game through injury, any combination of Caleta-Car, Lyanco & Bednarek will do.

At Full back it will be harder to make a choice, but I would go for James Bree at right back and KWP on the left,

Bree might not be everyone's cup of tee, mainly due to his perceived connection to Nathan Jones and damned by association, but he could be a key player next season, he is a player with extensive experience in the Championship, therefore play him in the final two games rather than Ainsley Maitland-Niles who being on loan is not likely to return next season.

I'm not sure if Will Smallbone is available to play now that the Championship season is over for Stoke, but if he is play him alongside Romeo Lavia as a holding midfielder and play JWP in a more advanced role.

Likewise Nathan Tella, he has scored for fun in the Championship, it would be nice to see if he would do it in the Premier League now.

But it is probably on the bench that we would like to see some of our up and coming B Team players sitting on Sunday.

Although I think it is fair to say that some Saints fans would clamour for Dominic Ballard to start, I would suggest that he would be better coming off the bench, his goal at Cambridge in the League cup has given him a higher profile than perhaps it merits, but he is an undoubted talent and giving him some game time off the bench in the latter stages of the Brighton game would please most fans.

The same could be said for Lewis Payne and Tyler Dibling, the former also played in that League cup the, the latter has yet to play for the first team, although he appeared on the bench at Brentford at the end of last season.

Kamari Doyle is only 17 but is highly rated, perhaps a big ask for him to play this season, but wouldn't rule it out next season, likewise Diamond Edwards who played for the first team in pre season and also in that League cup tie at Cambridge as a late sub, but unfortunately a cruciate injury ended his season shortly after, he turning 20 in August could well make a big contribution in the Championship.

It is now time to look to the future, this is where the club's interests and Ruben Selles may differ, the club and indeed the fans want to see some of the underperformers left on the sidelines and look to those who will still be here next season.

But it is likely that Ruben Selles will not be here at St Mary's, usually when a coach steps up to the first team job and then fails, it ends his time at that club, that is likely for Selles, the sad thing is that with experience he might well have been a good manager for Southampton in 2-3 years time, but he took over the job having never managed an adult side, the club failed him by not bringing in an experienced assistant, instead plugging that gap by moonlighting B Team manager Dave Horseman, a man with little experience coaching above academy level.

So it would be natural for Selles to look towards his own future in the final two games, if he is to look for his next job in the summer then no one could blame him for trying to end the season without two big scorelines against him on his CV.

So if you were Ruben Selles what would you do ? I would suggest that you would stick with the experienced players, OK you know what you are going to get, albeit usually a 1 or 2 goal deficit defeat.

There will be those that will point to Selles record of chopping and changing each week, both in his starting line up as well as multiple substitutions as one of the reasons that we have gone down, he didn't know his best side and kept throwing the dice so to speak, that being the case then perhaps he will try his one remaining option and that is ditch those that have let us down and bring in those that are not part of the problem but could be part of the future and therefore the solution.

So the question is if Ruben Selles is brave enough to try and do something different in the finale to the season, or whether he is just prepared to coach it to a whimper.

Photo: Action Images

pjt50 added 10:31 - May 19 I don't think we'd be doing the kids any favours by putting them in a struggling team against two of the league's form sides. What would it prove? I'd rather limp over the line (hopefully with a bit of fight) & look forward to a really positive pre-season. I haven't heard much about Simeu or Small lately. Are they still in the frame for next season?
0

Bowlercow added 10:38 - May 19 Impossible to say what next seasons team will be unless they know who is staying I disagree with the thoughts on Elyounoussi He has been by far the worst player in a Saints short for decades In all the minutes I have watched him he has only twice gone past an opponent with the ball Baffles me why successive maners have gone with him
2

Springhill_old_boy added 10:45 - May 19 I would imagine that any of the loan players registration would be with their loan clubs until the official end of the season but I may be mistaken? Surely the championship season would only end after the final play off match has been played ? I would agree that any of the players out of contract should not make the final squads .. unless its a way of them saying goodbye , Moi probably not but Willy ? Has he anatagonized the crowd to the same extent?

1

davenbennett added 10:58 - May 19 Cship not over until after play off final game. I would not play anybody who won't be here next season. Unfortunately that would inc JWP, Lavia, KWP and Walcott. Would be a sad way to end Saints careers. So, play Ballard, Doyle, Bree. We don't know if Big Paul will stay. With talk of any new manager having to play tippy tappy football, can't see him staying. Sulemane might want to go. No idea about Mara. Could be OK in Cship. But might want to leave. Number of players like McC, Adams, Stu A, Stephens, Diallo, Smallbone out of contract end of next season. So, have to sell, offer new contract, 40% under current wages, or let go on a free in a year. Bmuff might want Stephen. Stoke do want Smallbone, who I would try and keep.

1

StRipper added 11:11 - May 19 I would suggest that Ruben Selles has in no way demonstrated any competence and that it is no coincidence that our obvious decline under Ralph coincided with Selles elevation by the club to be Ralph's number 2. Who knows for sure. But there is zero evidence that he would ever be a good manager. He has no ideas, no ability to learn from his mistakes and has a terrible read of the game. Any positives anyone can think of? I think if anyone asked one of the young prospects if they wanted to get a run out in the first team before the end of the season, that they would all fall over themselves for a chance. We saw the energy that Ballard brought to our disastrous game against Grimsby. After which Selles then completely binned him off. I certainly don't think their egos are that fragile that their belief and confidence would be damaged from the experience. They would bring an energy that has often been lacking in our games this season. And wouldn't it make sense to at least give these lads a bit of experience of what it is like to play against a Premier League side before we drop a division? Sadly, in response to Nick's question, we know what a dull and unambitious manager Selles is. I suspect we will be likely to have to endure more of the same while the club ensures it meets its loan and contract commitments to give players time on the pitch and Selles repeats the same disastrous substitution jamboree of nearly all his other games. I can't think what other reason there can be to give so much dross the chance to disappoint over and over again.

3

highfield49 added 11:39 - May 19 The definition between coaches and managers is often blurred. In my view Selles is probably still a decent coach but lacks the cutting edge to be a decision maker and man manager. Managing player's egos and sensitivities, as well as confrontational issues, requires a different skill set to technical coaching. I'm hoping that whoever gets appointed as Selles' replacement has the ability to develop not only the talent but also the expectations of the youngsters. The likes of Channon, Shearer, Bale, Shaw and others made a quick transition but I'd prefer to see Ballard, Payne, Dibling etc given opportunities pre season before chucking them in against teams with points to play for.

0

kenis added 11:55 - May 19 Players who are/were out on loan cant play for us this season. We shouldn't field a team of just youngsters, there should be a balance and some element of selecting based on performance in training, the chosen tactics and the opposition - it all has to be considered. For next season I would predict our team could look like this with some assumed departures (like JWP / Lavia / ABK / Sali etc - any current play not listed below) before further exits/new signings: GK - Bazunu / McCarthy - straight battle for #1. plus need a third/back up, maybe Willy if he's happy and cheap enough RB - Livramento / Bree LB - Perraud / Larios CBs - Lyanco / Stephens (thought his contract was up in 23 but also seen 24 reported) / [new signings x2] CMs - Smallbone / Diallo / [new signing] AMs - Edzozie / Djenpo / Aribo / [new signing] Strikers - A. Armstrong / Onuachu / Mara Would like to keep JWP, S.Armstrong, Adams, Sulemana, Charly as well as ABK, Sali and DCC but seems very unlikely and Lavia & KWP going are dead certs. Anyone out of contract (Moi / Theo) also will have to go.

-1

kenis added 11:57 - May 19 Oh - Tella would be in team all day long, but also assume he will get signed by a team in the prem, Burnley or otherwise.
0

kristianJ added 13:20 - May 19 I agree with Kenis, there’s little chance that Tella will be with us next season, Burnley will very likely put in a bid and he’ll want to move so he can play in the EPL (you can’t blame him for this - he seems like a good lad, so personally I think it would be better to sell and reinvest in areas of the ten that will need strengthening like CM). So there’s no point playing him. I think I would start a couple of the academy players. Let’s be honest we are very likely to lose the next 2 games so we have absolutely nothing to lose by starting Ballard and either Doyle/Dibling. It would be different if they were playing at the back but attacking midfielders and strikers shouldn’t be impacted by a drubbing and more likely they’ll be buzzing at being given the opportunity. Besides it’s not as if any of our current crop of attackers have done anything to warrant starting. Give the kids a chance…

0

Kenm added 14:31 - May 19 Give the youngsters a start they can't do any worse than the main team ?. they may even do better !, may even do better and even say WHY didn't you PLAY US or ME earlier !. The A team certainly has no heart their performances i.e. no goal scoring, have been poor so has the boards , i.e. no striker
1

JoeEgg added 15:51 - May 19 "one remaining option and that is ditch those that have let us down and bring in those that are not part of the problem" But we need 11 players!
1

Farlow added 16:09 - May 19 Ive read some twaddle from you in this column Nick but this beats the lot. If we can get 15m for Bazunu take it hes been rubbish and if Bowlercow thinks Elyonousi is the worst player hes seen in a Saints shirt he hasn,t been watching very long.This crowd will sell allthe good players and then sell the club.
1

underweststand added 09:02 - May 21 Agree with highfield 49 (above) but those in the earlier generations quoted ( Channon, Shearer, Shaw, Bale, etc) were playing alongside experienced players who knew their way around and mentored the youngsters a great deal more than we have in today's group. Many of last summer's young signings showed talent, but lacked the " mature support " of an older generation around them, and some of those were struggling with injuries - and their own poor performances - and in part that has been key to our downfall this season. Clearly neither Adams or Adam A. are a placement for Danny Ings and although they have scored a handful of goals, the new arrivals were never anyone capable of reaching double figures either, let alone become the new 20 goal a season replacements we sorely lacked. Now that we are down, it's time for a critical look at the squad and decide how we can separate " the men from the boys ", are which of " the boys " have a real future with us.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls