Southampton V Watford The Preview
Sunday, 13th Mar 2022 09:16

Saints take on the Hornets hoping to draw the sting from their tail and move forward with the quest for a top 10 finish in the Premier League, but does Ralph Hasenhuttl need to freshen things up a little after the defeat to Newcastle.

The game against Newcastle was a disappointment, but the performance was not as bad as the result, there was plenty of plus points although sadly a couple of minus points in terms of defending.

No one could complain about the line up that Ralph Hasenhuttl picked that evening, it was the same line up that he had used in pretty much the last half dozen games barring the defeat at Villa, but sometimes complacency sets in.

So does Ralph need to make a subtle change or two to keep the side fresh and show his first choice players that selection is not a given and his fringe players that they will get opportunities if they are patient.

The big question of the day is should Armando Broja be given a rest, in the past two games he has looked a little out of sorts , against Newcastle he came off for Adam Armstrong and it rejuvenated Saints as an attacking force in the final 17 minutes, AA seemed to see more of the ball in his short cameo than Broja had in the previous 73 minutes and we created chances although we couldn't take them.

When we beat Watford at Vicarage Road, AA was pivotal in the 1-0 win, although it was Che Adams who took the plaudits with a superb goal, but it was Adam Armstrong who caused the Hornets more problems, he created chances for others and had several shots that went close to adding his name to the scoreboard.

I am not turning on Armando Broja here, he has been vital to Saints this season, but he is young and sometimes you have to rest them for their own good.

Another potential change could be in midfield, Moi Elyounoussi has not had his best games in the past two, perhaps freshening up our options on the flanks could be on the cards.

I would normally suggest Nathan Redmond for this. however he wasn't on the bench on Thursday, so I am not sure if he is fit although he was an unused sub at Villa Park.

There could be a change of formation for this one though, a back three could be employed and if so I would not be surprised to see Yan Valery come in on the right hand side of this with Jan Bednarek & Mohammed Salisu.

That would push forward KWP & Tino Livramento and would add an extra man in the centre of midfield in an attacking role.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has options and most of them could be considered good enough for a starting place in their own right, the manager's job is to keep things fresh and breed success through competitiveness for positions.

Thursday was a disappointment but it wasn't a disaster and sometimes you have to step back and take stock, I would suggest that if you had told any Saints supporter back in August, that in mid March after 28 games we would be 10th and in the quarter finals of the FA Cup, that they would have been delighted about that.

We are always going to be a work in progress, it will not go right all of the time, there will always be blips, but if we recognise that then we can enjoy this season and look forward to watching games in the final quarter of the season whether we get into the semi finals of the cup or not.

Photo: Action Images

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