Saints travel to Norwich City hoping to keep the unbeaten start to the season going, but there is one big question that needs to be answered.

The plus point of the first two games of the season has been how we have improved on results from the corresponding fixtures last season, back then we got no points, this season we have garnered 4 and its a good sign that we are turning draws into wins and defeats into draws, last season we drew at Carrow Road although it took a last minute penalty save from Artur Boruc to keep the score at 0-0, this season although a draw would be perfectly acceptable, a win would mean a big leap forward and really start to make the rest of the premier league take notice.

But before we do anything the big question on Saints fans lips will be what side Mauriccio Pochettino puts out, in fact it can be narrowed down to more than that, will Osvaldo start the game ?

Last week saw injuries to Shaw & Schneiderlin mean the manager had to make some enforced changes, some would say they workd in that we enjoyed a lot of possession but the fact remains that we did little with it, I felt we juggled our players around to accommodate both Lambert & Osvaldo and I didn't feel that was the right thing to do, Mauriccio Pochettino has built his reputation on playing to a certain system, of course he needs to be flexible in that formation at times, but the key phrase is "at times" managers have to go with their beliefs rather than pander to playing star names, square pegs in square holes is a good philosophy to have in football, when you start trying to fit them into round holes you have problems.

So In the starting line up, I want to see players playing in their true positions and in the system that has served us well, after the win at West Brom everyone was talking about how disciplined Saints were etc, why should we change that, so in my book Pochettino has to decide who is his main man up front, if its still Rickie Lambert then start him and leave Osvaldo on the bench, if it is now Osvaldo, its a tough position, but the fact of the matter is Rickie is not a wide player or a midfielder, we have players who can do a better job in these positions, a tough choice is needed but that's the price of success and as managers say a nice headache to have.

Elsewhere its a question of if Shaw & Schneiderlin have recovered from their injuries, if Shaw hasn't recovered does the manager go with an out of position and clearly right footed Clyne or again does he put in a man who is a left back ie Fox.

Perhaps another question mark will be in midfield and whether its the right time to bring back Ramirez, again another tough one, do we take the game to Norwich in which case there is a case for Ramirez's creativity or do we keep to our high tempo pressing game.

Personally I think Ramirez is a great passer of a ball, trouble is in Saints formation of last season and the first 1 1/2 games of this he has no one to lay through balls to, simple football and balls to feet or simply played out wide are things anyone in the squad can do, what Ramirez needs is an outlet for his undoubted passing ability, think Steven Gerrard at Liverpool, with Suarez last season and this season Sturridge, Gerrard can thread some great through balls to run on to, Lambert simply hasn't got the pace to do this, the big question is does Osvaldo ? and is this his type of game ?

Still all of these things are good things to have and it shows the depth of the squad is getting better, when we went to Carrow Road around 5 months ago, the team picked itself, now there are options in all departments.

This will be a big pointer as to where the season will go for Saints, of course we will lose games this season, but in travelling to the Canaries we are up against a team who are in a similar position to ourselves, they too harbour certain hopes, last season they were better than us, will it be the same this time out, we will soon know this and other answers.

Photo: Action Images

LenWilkins added 09:39 - Aug 30 "big question that needs to be answered". My prediction is that it will be at about 14:30 tomorrow.
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slynch added 09:48 - Aug 30 Boruc Chambers-fonte-Lovren-Clyne/Shaw - - Wanyama-JWP - - JRod-Lamb-Osvaldo-Ramirez --These have looked the best, I'd start with them. And at least one of the lads from the Barnsley game on the bench.
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SaintDownUnder added 10:10 - Aug 30 Boruc Clyne. Fonte. Lovren. Shaw Wanyama. Spider JWP Ramirez. Osvaldo Lambert (Possibly lallana for Ramirez as we're away from home)
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ExiledSupporter added 13:06 - Aug 30 SaintDownUnder, I fear that there is not much to choose between Ramirez and Lallana in terms of resolute covering, tackling and tracking back when away from home! I share your dilemma. Slynch as usual your consciously iconoclastic views do not justify your omission of Schneiderlein for whom you have always had unreasonably negative feelings!
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thegeneral added 16:56 - Aug 30 Boruc Chambers Fonte/Yosh Lovren Shaw/Clyne Wanyama JWP Schniederlin Rodrigues Ramirez/lallana Osvaldo I think this is where Ramirez would be at his best and Lallana for that matter, the compromise is of course losing a midfielder in front of the defence, but maybe we can now as we are stronger. Rodrigues will not be so strong defensively possibly leaving the left back exposed at times but this formation does leave us very well set to counter attack and we must also ask with so much possession in so many games do we need two holding midfield players?, true they may contribute to this high possession rate but its mostly sideways and backward passes. Osvaldo can feed off the through ball and excellent delivery from JWP. I guess its a bit different but half time re-arrangement would only need one sub.

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schatfield added 17:06 - Aug 30 we are gonna hammer Norwich this weekend, good feeling about this game! ok, i said the same about the Mackems and was wrong, but still.....
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SaintDownUnder added 04:21 - Aug 31 The general, I might be wrong but I can't see MoPo moving away from a 4-2-3-1 formation. I assume you're saying he could play 4-1-3-2 with Ram or Lallana playing up with Lambert (I can't see lambert not starting) if he did go this way then I think it would make sense for Osvaldo and Lambert play up top and Ram/lallana play just behind, that would be all guns blazing but I can't see it myself. ExiledSupporter, I'd heard that lallana was putting himself about a bit more this season, it seemed that way on the TV, that said you get a better indication of workrate off the ball seeing the game live so you're probably right. Most pundits and most of my mates are forecasting a draw at Norwich, I however think we will starve the home side of possession, frustrate the sh1t out of the home support, ride our luck at times but grind out a well deserved 2-1 away win. I've been wrong before though.......

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SaintDownUnder added 04:31 - Aug 31 Slynch, just read that Schneiderlein could well be injured, that being the case you predicted line up won't be far wrong.... Given the guys in front of them Wanyama and JWP will have a busy afternoon.
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