Could it be another Cercle Brugge situation?

Sorry, but the only one spouting rubbish is you. Souness may have given Dunn and Gallagher there chances - but McEveley, Douglas, Danns were only played because his hand was forced by injury crises. And they haven't exactly had a prolonged spell in the team, even Gally can't get on the bench now. Rather than handicapping the team by playing players out of position, why won't Souness dip into the rich resources of the youth/reserve team and give a rookie a chance? The fans are more likely to repond to a promising 19 year old giving his all rather than Flitcroft trundling up and down the right looking like a lost sheep and playing like one. Did anyone expect Matteo and Tugay, two veterans of the game, to able to keep up with the exuberance of Silva and Fabregas? My mind was made up that Tugay was reaching the end in that England-Turkey qualifier when Wayne Rooney dribbled past Toogs so many times it was embarrassing.

Very worrying that home-grown players aren't given more of a chance. I've heard whisperings that there's been a bust-up between Gally and Souness - any truth?

Krislu gets it right - but he should have announced it as 'crumbling' rather than 'breaking' news - because those negotiations tested everyone's patience. As said before, well done Souness for making an attacking signing that will get the fans excited. I wonder what de Pedro's thinking.

We were always going to lose. So I'm not angry about the performance but once again I find myself seething at Souness for his team selection. Why won't the man show a bit of humility and accept that Matteo is a CENTRE BACK? I don't care who plays there instead of him - Flitcroft, Douglas, Donnelly, Danns - but someone who can play central midfield is what I expect. I love Tugay but at his age he can't compete for 90 mins in a Prem match SO we really need someone energetic alongside him if he's going to play. I.e NOT MATTEO. First half performance was quite good but why is Paul Gallagher not on the bench at least?

I find that strange as well. Obviously, Souness doesn't deem any of the youth players to be ready - hence no squad numbers for them. However, Souness has proved he is not a big one for promoting players from the academy. Apart from Gallagher, has Souness actually brought anyone through to the first team on his own terms? McEveley and Douglas only got games because of injury crises. It annoys me because the talent is obviously there. We don't get to the latter stages of the FA Youth Cup every year and win the various academy tournaments because we have bad youth players. They're just not given a chance - mainly because short-term and 'easy' signings like Coridon take presidence.

Strange how we weren't being so parsimonious when we were spending approximately £2 million on a 32 year old centre half with no pace to speak of. Or when dishing out £8 million on a 31 year old striker past his best and £7 million on an Italian fraud. Hindsight, wisest man.

Ironically, Souness' four central midfielders tactic could work here. Although, I'd like to see Emerton play because if nothing else, his pace could trouble them on the counter-attack.

I don't think we'll get thrashed. Our recent record against the Arsenal is quite good and I feel we could sneak a draw. The secret of our relative success is playing two deep-lying central midfielders who remain deep-lying throughout the match. Because they're plugging the gaps in front of the back four, Arsenal will be restricted in their counter-attacking threat, which is after all their biggest threat. However, playing totally negative football won't work because Arsenal will open you up if you give them too much of the ball - however many midfielders and defenders you pack into the team. So imho, a midfield of: Emerton Tugay Flitcroft Thommo may be able to halt Arsenal.

Why have we motioned a lawsuit against MGP?

Another bid after our original that we made before de Pedro signing. We made a bid on Friday and Tromso have rejected it, albeit with the inference that a deal could be made.

And Andresen played central midfield - want him back?

Wahey, some good news. Not getting carried away because I thought Emerton would be a great player for us and that hasn't work out. Nonetheless, a step in the right direction. Well done Souness. (If you are right that he has signed).

There's no point getting hysterical because it's only 2 matches into the new season. THings can change, especially if we buy a few players. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that in Ferguson, Matteo, Stead, Thompson, Short, Friedel, Neill, Emerton - we have players that most other Premiership managers would love to have. Souness has them and must get the best out of them or he has to go.

Whatever it is - it don't work. West Brom: de Pedro Ferguson Matteo Gresko Southampton: Matteo Ferguson Tugay Flitcroft Both quartets had to be rearranged at half-time. Souness has become obsessed with making us harder to beat - a dogged, dare I say it, defensive side that'll supposedly give nothing away. But he's definitely going about it the wrong way. Has he forgotten how he got success with Rovers in his early days? Has he forgotten the free-flowing, enterprising, passing football, fully equipped with wingers that saw us promoted and finish 6th? Souness is complicating things unnecessarily. An orthodox 4-4-2 is what the players are comfortable with and which most teams in the Premiership employ.

Correct. You're meant to find out your first team in pre-season. Souness messed around and the only thing he found out was that Gresko was the new Patrick Vieira - or so he thought until half-time of the West Brom game. All hail Souness the tactical numpty. Yes, the last minute pen was outrageous but never mind that. We were playing against a poor and confidence-drained Southampton side and what team does Souness pick?... A quality centre back on the left wing and an immobile veteran central midfielder (Flitty) on the right wing. Totally bizarre - but in keeping with Souey's absolute negativity. I bet he'll be happy that we're on target for his 'ambitious' 4th from bottom target.

Don't worry - we'll definitely win this one. Southampton are in a bit of turmoil with rumours of dressing room unrest (that's the players in the room, not the room itself) and the fans aren't keen on Luggy's (the Plymouth fans nickname for Sturrock, don't ask me why) 'direct' tactics. And they lost pathetically against Villa. Souness will bring Tugay in, Matteo will drop to centre half and Gresko will be binned in favour of Emerton.

Forget England, he's been a god send since arriving and lets hope he stays fit otherwise Gresko's in...

Not totally sure, but this Odemwingie character could be the answer to your pleas. I agree, we don't really have a player with the dribbling ability to create out of nothing by beating a couple of players (Duffers style). Someone with that ability would be most welcome in our team.

West Brom will be quite strong defensively but surely we should have won with them missing their best player in Koumas. Kanu was an astute signing from Megson. He became something of a laughing stock during his latter days at Arsenal (on the bench looking ugly with his hair 'style') and being the butt of jokes regarding his first name. However, when he first joined Arsenal he was very impressive and a key figure in the team. He hasn't lost that talent but Wenger used him less and less because Bergkamp was preferred.

I don't blame the guy - he's a centre back who's trying to play central midfield. Regulars at the reserves are best placed to comment on this - but don't you think that Ciaran Donnelly or Neil Danns would offer far more in midfield than Gresko ever will? I don't understand why Souness chooses to play our second choice left back in midfield after one decent pre-season performance. If Thommo's not fit let's give Danns or Donnelly a go - young players with enthusiasm and no shortage of talent. It's a classic case of foreign players blocking the route of youth to the first team. And Gresko isn't even a good foreign player.

I'm a bit concerned with this diamond midfield formation that Souness is keen on. From all accounts it didn't work in the first half today and to be honest I don't think it will ever work because it restricts the width of the midfield. A point, I suppose, isn't too bad.

I wonder how long this will last: (sorry about the cut and paste but it's one eyebrow-raising paragraph in a generally uninteresting match report): Fulham 2 Feyenoord 2 "Cole embarked on a fantastic run on 62 minutes that took him from the half way line to the edge of the penalty area, unfortunately his pass to Jensen was cut out by the last defender. It was a fine piece of play from the forward who, along with Collins John, was continually active - closing down defenders and chasing the ball throughout. " Fulhamfc.com

I don't think you'll get a lot of answers. From the sounds of things, the match was merely a disruption to one fantastic imbibing fest.

I feel sorry for the poor person who'll have to follow that. Prediction: 1-0 defeat. All doom and gloom amongst the faithful, but it'll be a mirror image of last season. Start badly and improve to finish 10th.