KICKING off a new, hopefully weekly, feature on the Daily Echo, I am requesting the services of one passionate supporter each Friday.
Your views are the ones that matter, paying your hard-earned money to follow the club home and away, season after season.
To begin, Saints supporter Summa Symonds has reflected on last week's 2-2 draw with Leeds United, after the St Mary's side went two goals down on home turf.
Darwin Nunez giving me Osvaldo vibes
— summa 🫶🏼 (@summa_symonds) August 15, 2022
AFTER a disappointing opening to the season against Spurs, I had expected us go in full guns blazing against Leeds United, a side we should be taking three points from.
I was disappointed from the start to see that Ralph Hassenhutl had chosen to play with a 3-5-2 formation when personally I think we play better with four at the back.
I thought it was a shame to see that Joe Aribo was dropped also. Touching on the first 45 minutes, we played fairly well and could certainly tell that our new signings were settling in well.
I was extremely impressed with Romeo Lavia, in particular, who looks like he will be a very talented player. He’s already absolutely bossing the midfield!
It was clear from the first half of the match that we were lacking in attack, struggling to get anywhere near the goal. I believe Che Adams was playing up top by himself and I don’t think this is how he plays best.
I think to solve this Hasenhuttl should have been quicker and made a substitution before the second-half, but we all know he can be very stubborn when it comes to making a switch, something I’m hoping will change as the season moves forward.
This was then when Leeds scored in the 46th minute and then the 60th still without a change at this point. Aribo and Adam Armstrong made their way onto the pitch shortly after.
In my opinion, the game completely changed when we went into a 4-2-2-2 formation. Immediately, it worked better than the formation from the first half.
It was great that we came back to make the game 2-2, both with really good goals from Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters, but I really think if we had started with a 4222 formation and a different lineup we could have taken all three points.
It’s also key to take away from that game how well Sekou Mara played, on his Premier League debut, and especially with his assist.
I hope we can see more of him this weekend at Leicester City. After last weekend’s game, Hasenhuttl should set up with a more attacking line up and formation against as it’s now obvious we perform better that way.
Leicester away is always a tough game but I think why not be fearless, try and get something from that – by starting with an attacking XI and our strongest formation.
Do you agree with Summa? Leave your thoughts below...
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