SonicBoom

Our clearing header - Stephens was it? Drops 4 yards outside the box straight to a Liverpool player with no Saints player anywhere near. Two passes later and it's in our net. FFS. We look so weak at times. We start next season anything like we've finished this season and we will be f ucked.

Tella is in and playing in front of Stephens which does worry me. Now don't go nuts , it's just an innocent question but what is it that Tella does? I've seen him several times now, and people seem to think he has what it takes. I've heard comments that he's very quick but what sort of player is he? I genuinely haven't seen him produce anything so far other than snatching at a couple of good chances. Is he a winger or going to be a central striker? I should caveat this with the fact I know he's a young player and finding his feet. Im not having a go, I'm just wondering what his strengths are?

Moura and Son both stood on the penalty spot unmarked. Shambolic.

Why on earth would Ralph think that Redmond should start up front ahead of Adams. If I were Adams I'd be furious.

This team is drilled to keep the ball. Unfortunately that's at the cost of actually taking risks and creating something. Retention is more important apparently.

Walcott working on the principle that he can't do anything wrong if he does nothing at all.

We are at home against the second worse team in the division. We really should be beating this lot if we put in a half decent performance. Ralph needs to send them out fired up and not lethargic in the first half.

Thats the point. We can moan about pens all we like but if we are incapable of kicking the ball at their goal we aren't going to win are we.

Clinton Morrison saying Shane Long needs to add goals to his game 🙄 Hes 35 Clinton. If he can't do it by now I dont think he's going to change .....

I agree. Bertie seems really lazy and shows no real ambition to get forward. They give him the ball from CB and he just passes it straight back, and stands still. He used to bust a gut to get forward.

Id love to see Djnepo actually do something positive!!

It was gutting. Regardless if we deserved it we were 2-0 up. In the first half we did what we do. We chased and harried and looked to get forward when we had the ball. We had a few lucky escapes but we also caused them problems. Then second half, just like Villa, we came out and played differently. Whereas in the first half we looked for a forward pass, we were suddenly turning back thinking we'd retain the ball. It just meant that instead of having the ball between our midfield and strikers, we were playing most passes between our defence and midfield. United sensed we were scared to go forwards and used a high press on us. Everyone could see we'd lost our threat and were unlikely to hurt them so they poured forward. Once they got one every Saints fan watching knew we'd crumble. I'm not sure why we do this. It was the same against Spurs, Villa and now United. Instead of killing teams off we freeze when we are comfortable, we seem to lack confidence and the opposition realise we'd rather turn back than go forwards. I also think that RH should have changed things. The players were tiring fast and fresh legs would surely have helped instead of hoofing it to Long and it coming straight back. Anyway we move on. The players have done well this year and United is never going to be easy. Hopefully we learn from it and we thrash Brighton next weekend. Gonna be a long week before that getting over this though.

Let's be honest, it all comes down to money. If your owner has limited funds, runs to tight budgets, or wants to be self sustaining then you are going to be bottom half. If your owners spend you'll be top ten. Yes there are the odd exceptions and some of those last for a season or two but overall that's the way it is. Everton weren't very good, spent money and are now at the top. Villa the same. So if we get anyone that it basically using other people's money then we will get more of the same as we have now. If we ever find a billionaire who is determined to compete then we can start dreaming. I feel this Degrosa chap won't be much different to what we have now.

Is there anyone that still thinks our cb's are good enough? Long punt that bounced, and Bednarek out muscled by the smaller man. Warner is good of course but he should never win that.

Good points in the press today. When it comes to giving money to the EFL and FA then all the teams are equal and we all pay the same out. When it comes to getting money in, then the big 6 will get more than everyone else making them richer and more powerful. Also they are talking about the 9 most powerful clubs of which we were named as one. Utter load of crap. Of those 9 there is still the top 6 and they can and will vote through anything they want regardless of the other 3 teams. We would literally be patsies to make it look like they are being reasonable. Bottom line for me, the more you kill competition, the less interest I have.

Hmm Walcott couldn't cross well enough to be a winger and couldn't finish well enough to be a striker. He could run though I suppose.

Did any ITK'ers predict this...?

I don't really understand why people get so annoyed by the lack of signings in a transfer window and blame the club. If a top 6 club want you they are probably paying top dollar - so you go. For everyone else, your agent is going to recommend you hold off for as long as possible. The later in the window you leave it, the more desperate the buying club becomes and more likely to throw more money at you. I expect the club have made offers for several players but the agents are telling their clients to wait. You would too wouldn't you? The club know they are going to get criticised if they don't land a signing or two. It's why everything goes to the last minute. Some of those players we've spoken to may well be very keen to come here, but there is no advantage to them saying yes yet is there. I do feel for the club. They don't know which players will say yes so it must be tough to know whether to move to a different target or not so as not to get left with no one! The only way to push signings through is to massively over pay - and that's how you get stuck with Carillo and Hoedt and Boufal etc etc. The only tie we can really judge is when the window is closed.

If you read the article on The Athletic about the last week of a transfer window, it's amazing that anyone signs for anyone at all. For a business with so much money sloshing about the window is chaotic with players, managers, agents and owners all trying to hold out for the best deal. It's no wonder it all goes to the last day and in some cases the last minute. Agents delay things to get the most money or a better offer for their client so teams like Saints have to decide whether they wait and risk being gazumped at the last moment - or whether they abandon that player and move down their option list. Often other clubs panic and offer a player stupid money to the point they will turn their car round and drive back to another club at the last second. Seems really unprofessional but it is what happens. Certainly not as easy as all the fans seem to think.

It's strange that Bournemouth had all these amazing players....but the team were actually a load of utter ****.

That HITC website seems to link us to about 5 players from Sporting saying we've had bids accepted, or rejected every 2 minutes. I'm starting to think they might not actually know WTF they are on about.

I just wish these buyers didn't say anything at all. Keep your gob shut until the deal is done. Don't tell me which new players you are buying. Don't tell me you grew up wearing Phil Boyer pyjamas. Just do the deal out quietly and without leaking a load of nonsense through the press. Once the deal is done then present your plans more publicly.

Is Adams any better or worse than Obafemi?

The game would be dead if they start giving things like that as pens. It hit him, unfortunate but true. Just get on with it.

Burnley can play how they like. Their basic approach is never enough to beat decent teams. They play that way cos they are limited. We should have enough to play around them but we look laboured today and aren't getting enough balls in the box.