THE PLAN
aints have been in a footballing demilitarised zone for years now. Too good to go down, not good enough to push on, they’re merely… existing. Sooner or later, conflict needs to kick them into action, especially as the stars of St Mary’s are no longer being plundered with boring regularity and Ralph Hasenhuttl has slammed the managerial revolving door shut. With leadership throughout the side, there’s an opportunity to end this stasis and trouble the top half if the right faces arrive – because already, Che Adams, Mohammed Salisu (who last season won possession more regularly when pressing opponents than any other Premier League player) and
