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Southampton At Queens Park Rangers The Preview

With Will Still gone, Saints supporters travelling to Loftus Road will be hoping to find that at least part of the problem was the former manager and that now the team can find some leadership, organisation and confidence.

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating as Tonda Eckert becomes the 5th manager either permanent or temporary, to take charge of the Southampton team in the last 11 months, with a 6th due imminently.

The last 13 games have been notable for a side that had slowly disintegrated from a team that hade made an average start to the season, with the potential to make a run into the promotion race with a couple of straight wins, to one that was almost falling apart in front of our eyes.

I have always maintained that we have a good squad at Championship level, so now we will find out how much of the slide was down to Will Still.

Tonda Eckert is an unknown quantity, he is clearly highly rated at the club and with experience as an assistant coach at senior level and extensive experience at academy & youth level, he is clearly earmarked for a bigger role at St Mary's going forward, but it would be surprising if that is the route that Johannes Spors will take now.

Hopefully Eckert will get back to basics, even with the injury issues he can still put out a good side, but what is needed is the right balance and some leadership.

The news on Oriol Romeu returning to the club has gone quiet, so I would assume that he will play no part in this game, but Eckert has other options.

What Saints fans want to see though is firstly a team that knows what the task is ahead and a manager who gives players a chance to get into gear, a solid starting line up in a formation that the players can easily slip into and square pegs in square holes.

A team that knows what it is doing and how to play that formation and one that plays to the strengths of the players that are available.

We don't want to see wingers crossing the ball into the box for other wingers and short forwards, keep it simple and play to the strengths of the strikers.

This would be a good time to find our form again, hopefully the players will feel rejuvenated and ready to step up a gear.

Saints supporters will be ready to back them, they will be loud and with a weight lifted off their shoulders after the performance on Saturday will hopefully be able to back the team and Tonda Eckert and give them the chance to show what they can do.

I hope that he keeps it simple, a 4-4-2 formation, Adam Armstrong & Cameron Archer up front.

Leo Scienza, & Tom Fellows out wide with probably Flynn Downes & Caspar Jander in the centre, although I would not upset to see Finn Azaz in the side or Joe Aribo for that matter.

At the back Mads Roerlev on the right and Ryan Manning on the left, with Ronnie Edwards & Taylor Harwood Bellis in the centre.

In goal I would go for Gavin Bazunu, he did little wrong to get dropped and things have not got better with Alex McCarthy in goal, so I would restore the Irishman.

This I feel is a balanced team, it has other potential options and we will have them on the bench .

So the message is keep things simple rebuild the confidence and the quality will shine through.

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