The future certainly looks bright but Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl needs to get his hands on a deadly striker to accelerate the pace of progression, Matt Watts gives his opinion on how the season has started.

Saturday’s performance against Manchester United at St Mary’s on Saturday was, on the whole, a very positive one, with the Austrian’s men unfortunate to not take a point.

Things are looking tighter and tidier each week, with the manager selections and tactics definitely more solid and steady since the second half turnaround against Leeds United on 13 August - he seems to have embraced the change needed.

Ditching the failed five at the back has improved the team’s balance and the Premier League quality of new signings Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia, Joe Aribo and Armel Bella-Kotchap is increasingly evident week-by-week.

There were two choices in the manager’s starting 11 against the Red Devils which I would have liked to have seen switched - Stuart Armstrong over Moi Elyounoussi and Sekou Mara in place of Adam Armstrong.

Given the amount of chances created, I can’t help but feel both of these players would have provided a greater threat to the United goal with Mara, despite his lack of game time so far, demonstrating his ability and confidence both against Leeds and during his brief appearance on Saturday.

Unfortunately Hasenhuttl was too slow off the mark in introducing Frenchman Mara, who made his entrance on 77 minutes, when a double substitution alongside Armstrong on 63 minutes might have provided the attacking boost needed to snatch an equaliser and maybe go a step further.

It wasn’t out of reach and he may then have avoided the need to introduce centre-back Lyanco as an emergency striker.

With the transfer window slamming shut at 11pm on Thursday, there is little time left to act if Saints are to add to their attacking options - as well as bring in further defensive reinforcements, with both a centre back and full back still being touted.

I mentioned earlier in the piece that a deadly finisher is needed if Saints are to move forward at pace. There is no doubt the club, with the excellent new recruits already secured, is heading in the right direction and that alone is exciting.

However, adding that bit of proven strength through the core at both the back and up top could make everything happen more quickly with the foundations and infrastructure now in place.

While I would like to see what the addition of Stuart Armstrong and Mara to a starting 11 also featuring Che Adams and Joe Aribo could deliver - and that is a frontline I would be happy and comfortable with - the arrival of a top quality striker and proven goalscorer would demonstrate the appetite of the ownership for success.

The partnership between Mohammed Salisu and Bella-Kotchap also seems to be developing well and I would again be happy to see that continue to grow, however, an alternative quality option to partner Bella-Kotchap would make a statement that the club will push the boundaries rather than see how it goes.

Two new additions - and the return of Tino Livramento in 2023 - means the squad this season could be one of the strongest seen at St Mary’s for a number of years, as well as one of the youngest, which bodes well for the future.

So we have until Thursday night to find out whether the club’s focus is to complete the squad now to ensure the strongest possible campaign it can have this season, or will opt to avoid inflated fees for established talent and see how things go.

Before that there is the visit of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea to St Mary’s tomorrow night and, after analysing the collapse of the German’s side against Leeds at Elland Road, I would be delighted to see Hasenhuttl throw Stuart Armstrong and Mara in from the start to have a real go.

Although they bounced back with a 2-1 win over a struggling Leicester City at the weekend, they have vulnerabilities which could be exploited. They also have a dangerous attacking threat and, despite the efforts and positive performances of Moussa Djenepo, I would be keen to see Romain Perraud return to the starting line-up.

It will be after tonight, though, that the real tests begin. The coming run against Wolves, Brentford, Aston Villa and Everton will provide a measure of where Saints currently sit among clubs outside of the big six - but something against Chelsea will be most welcome!

Photo: Action Images

JoeEgg added 09:34 - Aug 30 Splendid article and in my view spot on! " Unfortunately Hasenhuttl was too slow off the mark in introducing Frenchman Mara, who made his entrance on 77 minutes," ....... Okay its only a point of view but we ae stuck with Ralph for the time being and there is plenty of new talent to keep him in business. Saints dont have a good record of last minute deals so lets hope this time things will be different. Keep it coming Matt - always a good read

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Block8 added 10:01 - Aug 30 Couple of points AA played exceptionally well down the left and quite a few of the chances, we missed, would not have been created if he wasn't there. We lost all attacking presence down the left when he was hooked? Mara should perhaps play centrally behind Che but AA off the left is working very well since his introduction against Leeds!
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StAnt added 10:18 - Aug 30 I think the partnership of Salisu and ABK is very strong and will only get better. To introduce a centre back to replace Salisu (which is what you appear to want) would, in my opinion, completely upset the dynamics and lead to player unrest. By all means get someone in for cover if Bednarek leaves but I don't think we should be looking to replace Salisu with an incoming signing.

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LoisDeem added 11:13 - Aug 30 Saints players -and fans -are missing the goals. That's all!
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highfield49 added 11:49 - Aug 30 Definitely more game time for Mara, he twice came close to scoring during his game time against Utd. Stuart Armstrong seems to have lost a bit of space and stamina, for whatever reason, whilst Adam A was a constant threat wide on the left. If only we had a poaching goal scorer getting onto crosses we'd give problems to most teams in the league this season.
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