Caulker Or Yoshida ?
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.
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