Saints travel to Watford after a busy day in the transfer window after 1 departure and 3 players arriving at St Mary's, but the big question is how may of those signed will be available at Vicarage Road

Friday started with the news that Matteus Fernandes had left Southampton to join West Ham United but within an hour it was revealed that his replacement was now a Saint, Finn Azaz joining from Middlesbrough.

By the end of the day Aazaz was joined by Tom Fellows from West Brom followed by Casper Jander from 1FC Nurenberg.

From the timings of the announcements it would seem that Azaz will be eligible to play at Vicarage Road, but the other two may not have hit the noon deadline.

However it could be that Saints were timing the announcements for maximum effect, Azaz is undoubtably the best attacking central midfielder in the division and his signing could be crucial for Saints promotion hopes, not least because his signing along with Fellows sees the arrival of players leaving clubs placed in 2nd & 5th place respectively in the Championship and not only have we strengthened our squad, but we have significantly weakened the squad of two of our rival for promotion this season.

But assuming that the latter two signed after noon, then it will be perhaps only Azaz who is in contention for a place, that being the case then I would hope that he is slotted straight in to the squad to replace Fernandes, he has been playing for Boro so he is match fit, he is a direct replacement for Fernades slot him straight in.

But Will Still has to address more than our midfield, he has to look at how we set up defensively, the back three has not worked so far, it has been a shambles, it is not the quality of the players in the back three, but the lack of leadership and organisation, yes I harp on about this, but if I am wrong then we would not have conceded 4 goals in 3 Championship matches, all of them very avoidable.

So what does Will Still do at Watford, the arrival of Mads Roerslev and Charlie Taylor from injury, does give Still an opportunity to revert to a back four, but unless Fellows is available he has no actual genuine wingers available to play wide aside from Ryan Fraser.

So that might mean us staying with a back three from this game, personally I would like to see Taylor Harwood Bellis anchor the centre, I think Joshua Quarshie offers strength and pace on one side, so who would play on the other ? Stephens ? Taylor ? Edwards ? Wood ? I would got for Charlie Taylor myself.

The central midfield picks itself, Charles, Downes & Azaz, out wide Ryan Fraser and then it starts to get difficult, do we slot Robinson in on the other side or play Fraser on the left and Robinson on the right.

Up front it is more difficult I think we need a dedicated centre forward so that is either Downs or Stewart and then to play off them either Adam Armstrong who is doubtful but might make the bench, so for me it is Cameron Archer.

Overall though we have a strong squad, I feel assuming no more departures, that it is already stronger than the one that won promotion two seasons ago.

The signs of that were evident at Norwich City, the shoots of recovery were visible and we were getting back into a winning mentality, we have to have confidence in out squad and manager.

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, those that have gone are gone, they have funded players who might not be as good as those that have left, but who are more suited to the needs of getting promotion from the Championship.

We should go to Watford with confidence that we are getting there in terms of what Will Still wants, in the last few days or so the changes are being rung, we move forward with confidence, not just by the fans, but by those players that have joined us like Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows, both of whom see the best chance of making the Premier League being with Southampton.

All Photos Via Reuters

Colburn added 08:29 - Aug 30 I don’t see how Quarshie and Taylor fit into a back 3 unless THB is the right side and Quarshie in the middle. I think THB, Stephens and Wood may be the combo today if 3 at the back. Archer has to start, he’s the best finisher. I see Fraser and Robinson starting today so I think only one other attacker, CA for me. Personally I feel we could play Robinson and Fraser on the flanks with Azaz in the middle of a 4-2-3-1.. but we haven’t seen that including Fernandes this term yet so I expect the same formation as the first 3 games. We need a win today or it’s 1 or 2 points from 3 games and so a poor start.

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WestSussexSaint added 09:20 - Aug 30 Even if Azaz etc were signed to be eligible to play at Watford I don’t expect them to start and I don’t see a change of formation at this stage. The new players might be match fit but have had no time on the training ground with the coaches and new team mates. There is an international break after this weekend and WS will have 2 weeks with those not away with their national sides to drill in the preferred 4-2-3-1.

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BigbadBarry8myboat added 09:22 - Aug 30 Colburn. There's no way Stephens should be anywhere near the starting line up. For someone who was given a new contract based on being a leader, there's more chance of communication and organisation coming from a dead duck that is the problem.
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sandywelsh added 13:40 - Aug 30 We won in the cup without Stephens so why spoil it by putting him in today.
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Bowlercow added 14:08 - Aug 30 When Fernandez was left out of the Norwich squad we all suspected that a transfer was in the offing despite Wills wise words He also left out Stevens and I am clutching at straws that he may also be about to leave Today could be the last time we see a back 3/5 Once he has the wingers in house I expect to see 4 2 3 1 Happy days ahead
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