Ronald Koeman has to make a tough decision on Thursday in the return leg against Vitesse, is it the devil he knows or does he throw in his new signing.

Ronald Koeman has to decide whether to play new signing Steven Caulker against Vitesse or persevere with Yoshida.

Yoshida was OK against Vitesse in the first leg at St Mary's, but he has a penchant for losing concentration as was shown last Thursday for the two chances that Vitesse had, Yoshida was caught napping in the 2nd minute when Vitesse flashed a shot across goal for the first of only two real chances and he also was found lacking in the second half when he failed to clear a ball properly and started a moment of uncertainty in the Saints defence that if it hadn't been for Stekelenburg could have seen Vitesse back in the tie.

It is these lapses that have bugged Yoshida during his three years with Saints and stopped him truly being a regular.

Now Ronald Koeman has to decide when it is right to throw in Steven Caulker, perhaps with the Premier League season starting only three days later it might be a reprieve for Yoshida albeit temporarily, with a three goal lead Koeman might feel he can leave Yoshida in and rest Caulker for Sunday up at Newcastle, certainly its going to be a long season if we progress in the Europa League and squad rotation could be crucial.

Its a good problem to have though and hopefully it will get harder for the Dutch manager if he gets in the two signings he has hinted would give him his perfect selection option.

Photo: Action Images

gpsgm added 23:03 - Aug 4 Easy, Yoshida. He played well 1st leg.
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Rupebear added 23:30 - Aug 4 Agree that Yoshida played pretty well in the first leg and RK will have much harder decisions to make than this as the season progresses. Can't see him changing the back line and other than the enforced clasie replacement, would be surprised if there are wholesale changes higher up the pitch either. All about building confidence and gaining momentum and taking that into the Newcastle game.

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SaintNick added 07:38 - Aug 5 Yes Yoshida played well but he had two lapses of concentration that almost cost us two goals, the game could have been much different because of that, that is Koeman's dilemma
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aceofthebase added 08:28 - Aug 5 Everyone makes a mistake or two so Yoshida just gets my vote but STeven C looks a very good CB and I thought paired up well with Fonte but even SC made early errors in the friendly. Long term it's SC for me
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TimSaint added 08:43 - Aug 5 Ron has not seen enough of him to include SC in the starting XI, so Yoshi will start. I know what you mean about Yoshi and it is a point you have continually made for years, but it is not just him. S Davis was more at fault than Yoshi for the Vitesse chance on target and SC got away with a couple of early errors against Espanyol, that could easily have proven costly. Chances are that we will sign another CB and neither will start regularly in the Prem, but it will be Yoshi tonight.

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SaintBrock added 10:06 - Aug 5 Yoshida
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CaliSaint added 18:47 - Aug 5 Caulker, We are up 3 nil...... Ronny will think "hmmmmm why not"....... I better see some J ROD action also. WE MARCH ON!!
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