I have often spoken on this site about the depth of the Saints squad when compared to other clubs in the Championship, however after the first 8 games, in hindsight I would suggest that this has been part of the problem for Will Still.

When you compare the Southampton squad to other teams in the division, I would say that none have the depth of the squad that Will Still has to hand.

At the back we have 5 central defenders in Jack Stephens, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nathan Wood, Ronnie Edwards & Joachim Quarshie, yet so far not one of them can be said to be first choice, all have found themselves in the team and all have found themselves out of the team as Will Still has chopped and changed as he tried to find the right balance in both a back 3 with wingbacks and a back 4.

At full back he has Wellington (When fit) Ryan Manning, Mads Roerslev & Elias Jelert, and again, you cannot say that any of them are truly unchallenged as first choice, indeed Ronnie Edwards seems to be preferred at right back to any of the choices at the moment.

In the centre of midfield we have Shea Charles who to be blunt is about the only man in the entire squad who could say he is truly a nailed on first choice selection.

Flynn Downes has been in and out of the side with a mysterious illness & when he plays has not been convincing at times, Caspar Jander has started the last 3 games in the League alongside Charles and looks to be cementing his place in the side, but it is still early and Finn Azaz has been starting games but is yet to set the World alight as he did at Plymouth & Middlesbrough.

Out wide we now have a plethora of choices, Ryan Fraser, Tom Fellows, Leo Scienza, even Jay Robinson who I don't think Will Still has really decided where his best position is yet, but none can be said to be first choice, Fellows has started games and looks good in the eyes of most Saints fans, but the pair of eyes that count doesn't seem to think so with Still substituting him early in those games.

Up front we have Adam Armstrong, Ross Stewart, Cameron Archer & Damion Downs, again none seem to have truly convinced Still that they should be first choice, the starting striker shave been constantly changed and switched around and strikers need the confidence that only comes from a run of games, not from being in and out of the side from week to week.

Adam Armstrong has shown that with a run of games he can score goals and create them and Damion Downs should take hope from the fact that a fortnight ago Ross Stewart was being called a waste of space for the last two years by some elements of our support after the defeat at Hull, was seen as only good enough for 2 minutes at Liverpool and now after two games in the starting line up and a superb performance at Sheffield United is being touted as the saviour of the front line.

On that note, those fans that have been telling everyone that Downs is a waste of time after judging him on just 151 Championship minutes spread over 1 start and 3 sub appearances, should consider that with strikers, a goal changes everything and in my years of watching Saints the seasons are littered with strikers that have looked good to start with but have been found out in the longer run and those that have taken time to age and mature, Downs should be given the benefit of the doubt until he has played more games.

Add to all this Joe Aribo & Sam Edozie who are back in the squad and you have Will Still who has a large experienced squad and he doesn't seem to know his best team.

When things have been going wrong Will Still has chopped and changed both in starting line ups and also with substitutions, players looking to find their form have not been given time to build their confidence, they have been in and out of the team.

If Still had a smaller squad he would have been forced to stick with players, they would have had time to play themselves back into form, but instead only Shea Charles can be said to be first choice, around him their are 10 players who cannot say the same and players need to know that their manager has faith in them and perhaps only Shea Charles can say that at present.

Some will sneer and say they are professional footballers they should be able to go on the pitch and play, that is not the case whatever level you play at, two years ago we went 22 games without defeat in the Championship, we did so because we had a settled side, Saints fans might not have liked the style of football, but we were well drilled, everyone knew their job and the way they had to play and we got into a rythym.

The players knew that if they had a bad game they would be given credit for their previous performances, they would not be immediately dropped or hooked off on the hour mark, that gave them the confidence to keep playing their normal game and play those killer passes or strike the ball at goal, rather than just play it short and pass the buck.

The good news though is that the last two League games look like Will Still has finally getting his best side into his head, he has made some difficult decisions, but the last two games although not perfect have seen improvement and although Still may yet shock us with his line up to face Derby, perhaps as many as 7 or 8 players can probably expect to be in the starting line up for the 3rd game running and that is something that has not been able to been said for the first part of this season.

All Photos Via Reuters

davenbennett added 11:36 - Oct 3 Big issue has been recruitment. Should only buy better than have. So, is Downs? He's 4th choice, so no. Quarshie? Got potential, but at moment, not better. 2nd issue is coaching. Onuachu 7/5 at new club. Scored everywhere been, except at Saints. Him, or the club? Is Scienza better than Edozie? Is any recruit better than Aribo? Both may have wanted out, but use or should have got rid, even if subsided loan.

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Bowlercow added 11:41 - Oct 3 We are privileged to be watching a new Saints team evolve Charles is certainly a nailed on starter but after the last 3 matches he has definitely been joined by Wood,Stewart,Fellows,Edwards and Jander I have never known a manager who makes the same substitutions as the fans would. Against Sheff Utd he subbed Fellows off and Fraser on because he needed to make our left side harder to play against He chose to do that by doubling up on that side And it worked Remember with subs that all players wear GPS vests and their fitness levels are being constantly monitored This is a vital tool especially in the championship with games coming thick and fast

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Jesus_02 added 15:10 - Oct 3 This has been the issue since before Ralf left. We buy players like tey are stock. If we believe they are under valued we seem to buy them regardless of what we already have. Players often have a good game and are dropped. It will be interesting to see if Stuart plays tomorrow
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Farlow added 15:19 - Oct 3 The reason we,re looking better at the back is Wood looks like the leader Centre Half weve lacked since Jose Fonte and theyre happier with Macarthy behind cause they know he,ll come for the crosses when he should.How you can still keep saying Bazooka is better is baffling.
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Monksway added 16:50 - Oct 3 This article makes a lot of good points. In fairness, I think THB, Aribo, Edozie and perhaps Armstrong were all expected to leave. This would explain Stephens contract and the purchase of Quarshie, Jander and Scienza. Given their experience it wasn't unreasonable for THB and Stephens to start but both seem unable to get past the disaster of last year. I really hope he sticks with the current back three and Charles and Jander I midfield. I think they will get better and are surely the future for Saints.

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Farlow added 17:26 - Oct 3 I Hope Wellington is available for selection to me he looks the best left back we have. Be great if we can get a second win on the road.
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highfield49 added 18:31 - Oct 3 I know there are multiple reasons for transfer decisions but it does seem, to me, ridiculous that Ramsdale is on loan at Newcastle and ostensibly hasn't played a game. If he isn't going to play we might as well send them Bazunu or McCarthy to sit on the bench rather than waste his talent all season.
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underweststand added 19:32 - Oct 3 Just when we thought we'd clear the decks in the summer we are still " stuck" with some of the old guard who won't get game time, and seemingly no-one who wants to buy them. The main problem seems to be that too many were bought to play "other managers formations " and Will has other ideas, and so we have too many square pegs to get rid of. Who you, I or anyone else likes is really down to Will's choice so we must wait and see. Ramsdale wants to be in the England squad before a World Cup (like Prowsey did 3 years ago) but he will stay on the bench at Newcastle - unless Pope gets injured. Certainly the " new look " line-up seems promising, so now we have even more bodies who must move on - if they want regular game time, but it's too early to see who is likely to be Will's first-choice starting side.

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IanRC added 20:29 - Oct 3 Find myself disagreeing with much of this article if not the main premise. To my mind Wood, Edwards, Charles, Jander, Stewart, Armstrong should all be considered starters and also Quarshie who, whilst not faultless, is much better than the alternatives. Cameron Archer also could start if AA can’t for any reason. I am not convinced about Roerslev and it is early to form judgement on Jelert though he certainly is aggressive.

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kingolaf added 06:18 - Oct 4 Good article Nick.
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