Fabrice29

Isgrove was kept on the basis of needing him for squad requirements for European football (A side effect people who demand home grown players quotas should be aware of) and will be let go this summer. As we don't have European football next season I'd be surprised to see these kind of contracts being offered so easily and would also point out we have a big squad right now built for European football which may need trimming.

PEH the only midfielder willing to take the ball in brave positions yesterday though. I think decision making will come with experience. Him and Boufal for example you cant knock their ability or their bravery on the ball but their decision making needs work and will get better. It's easy to forget how young they are.

Remember when people thought our lack of goals was down to the midfield not being good enough? Long and Rodriguez's movement is awful ffs

We've got to be careful here a little. He's been fantastic and I'm excited as anybody but everyone in this country got just as excited by the likes of Jelavic at one stage.

To be fair Burnley's team was more full strength than Lincoln's today proving that you can put a good side out and still get beat.

Nobody has said he's starting yet tbf and if it gets to match day and the people working with him everday think he's A) Better than Stephens B) Fit enough to play then I'm happy he's playing. Couple of further things to think about as well 1) Stephens may have played the last 4? games, but other than that he's hardly been active in competitive football. 2) When it comes down to it, on the day, I want the guy who is going to nullify Zlatan and United. I want the guy who has played at the highest level, I want the guy who has experience of being in and working with one of the best defences in world football. I think if Stephens plays and we win then great. If Stephens plays and we lose, we'll be thinking what if in regards to having this guy on the bench. I dont want to be thinking what if after the game. If the staff think he's capable of playing and is the right man to start then he should play.

Done..and now you're not impressed?

What if I dont want my club represented by some dinlo in stone island, smashed out of his face, screaming and shouting like a gimp?

Damn those people enjoying their day out. Damn them! I'm there to watch the football. Like everyone else. Anything else anyone wants to do is totally up to them, as long as they don't stop me watching the game I literally couldn't give a **** what anyone around me does. I suggest you all chill out and do the same, do what you want to do and don't worry about anyone else.

Yes it's ever so sad we'll have someone capabale of being world class playing for us. Would you rather he's **** and not wanted by anyone? Players developing into world class means good performances for us, it means results for us and it means we're much more likely to attract other players capable of turning into world class (Why do you think these players want to play for us) and all the while decreasing the number of clubs players will leave us for. So sad

He isn't going to be sacked so people should stop wetting their pants at that. Also he's yet to deal with a full squad. Just as we get a threat up front he loses a defence. Poor performance transfer wise by the club this year. We've got to a cup final though and we'll stay up so I'm willing to write this poor performance off as long as it's put right in the summer and next season.

The thing I like most about this guy is his desire and ability to win the ball back when he loses it. Loves to chase a man down and put in a tackle.

Would point out Stephens was part of a team that kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford last season, including extra time (Stephens was subbed off at 119 minutes in preparation for the penalties.)

God forbid people enjoy the day in a different way to you. I really hope I'm sat next to you, I wont be singing, I'll be in my Saints shirt and i'll be taking some pictures. Would really love to ruin your day as you seemingly care that much.

Right but it isn't 4 goals in 6.5 games, it's 4 goals this season. Which is pretty bad. Anyway, I like Jay, he's decent and getting better and better over the season and I much prefer him to Long who should be the one to leave IMO if anyone is but lets be real Jay hasn't been good enough this season really. Apart from goals he's offered very little at times and his general all round play has been poor. BUT...when he plays well, we play well and he and we have got better lately. He'll get his chances here the rest of the season and he's got obvious qualities but if we decide not to keep him around for next season then unless he's had a storming end to this season he cant complain. I dont think play central really suits him anyway but he's been poor at times and has struggled to hold the ball up and bring others in. He's got better recently though to be fair. Personally I see him as quite a good option for us, especially his ability to start wide and cut inside. Looks like this new guy is similar from the right as well. I wouldn't be shocked if we start to see movements back towards a slightly wider diamond with these two coming in from the wings and Boufal or Redmond dropped in behind. We certainly have versatility and a bit more dynamism now. However Jay has his Saints future in his hands, he has to perform, and he's just started to do that consistently so hopefully that will continue.

Is he?

I dont think their team in the league cup was stronger to be fair. That's debateable anyway. Point is, we've got 6 games in 3 days, Liverpool and United are the only clubs in a similar position. We've got injuries. We've got a league campaign to get back on track and we're in one final so they're a bigger priority than the FA Cup now, sorry but it is. The team picked was predictable (Apart from Isgrove), we've got to give ourselves the best opportunity for a win on Tuesday and risking the first team when we've got a young squad that needs that could do with the experience is madness.

Sorry but this is ********. Firstly the manager has rotated all season, we're in the middle of 3 games in 6 days and we've got quite a few injuries, what did you expect team selection wise? Isgrove aside the side was fine and predictable. No idea why he's still here, suspect he might not be in the next few days but him and maybe Gardos aside (oh and Lewis), the rest of the team are first team players now but can fully understand why we've not risked Maya and we don't have many other options going forward right now (Issue with the board not team selection). So yes we've got beat but there's logic in the team selection and you should have known that was likely when you bought your ticket if that's an issue for you. It's utter nonsense that they didn't "bother" tonight. We got beat by a better team, get over it, don't go to games against better sides if you don't like it as it's going to happen occasionally. I agree with your last line though, Tuesday is a big game.

You know that's a really **** protest don't you. Someone else just takes your place and nobody notices. Anyway, it's not £300 for one game. It's between £40 and £100 to those who go regularly (yes I know the allocation rules are controversial), like you decided not to.

No.

The fact that Puel had to ask who/what when Jagielka was mentioned to him pretty much relieves all fears I had of him signing.

Whilst I'd love an attacking midfielder, he wouldn't have anyone to play with. The lack of confidence yes, but I think it's a lack of confidence in the strikers personally. We get the ball wide, we don't cross it enough because the players dont have someone like Pelle to hit. The strikers routinely miss chances, good chances, have done all season, at some point the midfielders must get frustrated with that. Don't get me wrong, it's more than just a striker issue but someone to spearhead our attack with a presence, someone to drag defenders away, to occupy defenders, and someone clinical would be a huge asset. Right now the pressure is on the midfield and attacking midfielders to do it all and because they cant they lose confidence and start to play safe as you said. Boufal is a prime example, everytime he plays he's coming deep, getting the ball, looking up and has no option, so tries to beat a man too many. Tadic is a huge chance creator, one of the best in the league, but is getting worse every week becasue he's got no options. Redmond is so frustrating because he's trying too much. Like I said, the games our strikers have actually performed in this season we've won. Get a striker who performs more consistently and we'll win more games. I agree about the lack of imagination in the central midfield though, it's an issue but one in which has been covered up slightly the past couple of years through having good strikers who mask it and going a little long ball last season and by passing them. A really good one would be great but for me a striker is the major issue, right now it's like playing with 10 men (9 tonight I imagine), we really really need a spearhead in the attack.

No but they're hardly an option are they? Everytime the ball goes forward it comes back pretty quickly. I urge you to watch their game closesly. If the defence/midfield try to up the tempo, the ball is lost within 2-3 passes. They are not a threat. We've become easy to defend against because whichever one of those two play it's easy to nullify them. The midfield cant get close enough to them to become a threat because it's not being held up. We try to play our way through defences but it's difficult because defences drop deep knowing how little a threat Long and Rodriguez are. It's no surprise our biggest threat is down the wings from full backs or wingers taking players on because there is nothing threatening or imaginative about our strikers. If teams let the defence and deeper midfielders have the ball, they know they can keep a good shape and block off balls to Long/Rodriguez knowing if it does get to them they've hardly shown anything all season to be worried about. In fact the two times they have been good this season were recently against Bournemouth and Liverpool, not surprisingly two teams who came at us rather than sit back and not surprisingly two games we won. The sideways and backward passing is because they are devoid of options. A winger like Mane would help, someone capable of darting between players quickly and I think we lack something there for sure but ultimately not having a striker capable of bringing others into the game or keeping up with quick tempo is a huge hindrance to us right now.

The really **** front two we have I'd say.

Are Olomola and Barnes fit? Would love to see one of those start upfront tomorrow if it's not going to be Jay, couldn't do any worse than Long.