A satisfying days work for Nigel Adkins squad against an Ajax side who concentrated on keeping shape.
Ajax being a little ahead of Saints in pre season work concentrated on fielding the same team in both halves with only one second half sub used and therefore gave Saints a good work out.
Saints grew into the game after a iffy start and for much of it matched the Dutch champions, as the game wore on Saints made many substitutions, 9 in total meaning that only Fonte & Hooiveld played the entire ninety minutes, but surprisingly kept some shape and remained competitive throughout, OK neither side played at full pace but Saints looked comfortable.
Shape wise it was a departure from last season, 4-3-3 with a central midfield 3 augmented by Guly & Rodiguez out wide, with lambert in a more central role, main points from the game where,
1. Lambert looked overweight and lethargic, although his touch on the ball was good, he didnt look the lean mean machine of last term, with three weeks to go he has time to rectify that, but he needs to get fitter.
2. Jamie Ward prowse looked comfortable in the centre of the park, he used the ball well and showed composure beyone his years.
3. Adam Lallana revelled in a central role with the freedom to get forward, as i mentioned in other articles, I dont feel he has the pace to play out wide in the Premier, but in this sort of formation it plays to his talents.
4. Clyne looked good and his pace could be a big asset.
We cant take too much from work outs like this, in short it wasnt full blooded and it wasnt that competitve, but there were still plenty of plus points to be taken away from it, Saints still need a centre back or two, but with Steven Davis and Tadanari Lee playing no part and returning from injury, if its a busy few weeks in the run up to the season then Saints might just be ready for it.