qwertyell

Spurs doesn't sound that believable - although Bertrand leaving certainly does. He's been phoning in performances a la Clyne during the run in. Arsenal need a LB...

Harsh. Cuco was pretty limited, but did a surprisingly decent job in his first season. Won't be missed, but given how little we paid for a back up player, he served his purpose. Good luck to him.

His best days are long behind him. Would be a strange move for everyone.

Not that anyone really does cash plus a player deals these days, but I'd take Patrick Roberts in a heartbeat. Can't see City finding room for him among their attacking riches, but he's a very talented kid.

Not that I particularly rate Austin nor that I think Rodriguez shouldn't move on. Just seems an oddly defensive bench (two defenders, two defensive midfielders) when in the previous game against better opposition we had Austin, Rodriguez and Boufal in reserve - if Rodriguez can't make the final 18 for a match of so little importance against nothing opponents, that rather suggests he's done.

Assume that's confirmation - if it was needed - that Rodriguez is off. He's gone from scoring starter to sub to out of the match squad in three games. Rotated right out the door.

Not sure Saints have any - Ward-Prowse and particularly Hesketh have needed to bulk up for years, but to no avail. Poor Jake wouldn't win an arm wrestle with a kitten. But, yes, Stephens has done well. I particularly like the look of him when he glides forward into the midfield. Seems like it comes naturally to him.

Stoke were absolutely appalling against Arsenal the other day - clueless in defence and attack, totally anaemic in midfield. They're not so much on their summer holidays as semi retired. I think we'll end the season with a comfortable win. Might paper over the cracks, but at least it'll be a positive note to wrap up on.

Ward-Prowse is so poor...

I think we can discount any of our midfielders being in the opposition's box... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Probably, but if you don't try you'll never know. The new owners - if that happens - may be able to sell an ambitious project to someone half decent. If they have an ambitious project in mind, that is.

Don't think Stephens deserved to be dropped to accommodate Caceras - Yoshida has been poorer recently. Curious to see what Pied brings.

To be fair, I'd expect those players mentioned to want to leave regardless of the managerial situation. Van Dijk and Bertrand are very much in demand and can do better than waste their careers struggling to finish above the likes of West Brom and Watford in lower mid-table nomansland when they could be playing in the Champions League; Tadic thinks he's something special, and Long can't get in the team on account of being total crap.

I don't know if Les needs to call it a day, but something needs to change. There's a stench of decline right across the club: the first team has gone markedly backwards, the U23s have been relegated, the younger age groups aren't producing or developing any players that international youth set ups are interested in. Where are we going?

We're more than three players short - and that's assuming we'll be able to hold onto our best ones, which we won't.

We have such an unbalanced mishmash of midfielders, of which only one can adequately perform a defensive brief, and not a single one can fulfill a creative role. The "Black Box" (or the latest version of FM) really does have an unhealthy fetish for slow, lightweight midfielders who only pass sideways and backwards. Aside from Romeu, I don't think any of our midfielders would be much of a loss if they were moved on.

Deserved a point. Didn't deserve any more. Absolutely nothing going forward. Not even a counter attacking threat as everything was so slow and ponderous. A couple of welcome good saves from Forster, but otherwise the defence were fairly untroubled - certainly more comfortable than the LC semi final. Not convinced the referee didn't give the penalty against Cedric - whose arm was flapping around, but nowhere near the ball - rather than Stephens, but regardless, there was no way he could see the incident from his position. Dodgy.

I never thought I'd live to see the day Forster saved a pen! A very "home" decision in the first place...

Very comfortable. Hasn't been desperation stations at all - Liverpool haven't stretched us once. We've done nothing in possession, though, with Boufal and Tadic in particular totally anonymous. Can't see us scoring - Liverpool will probably bundle a lucky one in off their only chance...

Is that why he married his step daughter instead of going out looking for a non-family member to settle down with like a normal person who isn't a nonce?

It's not really surprising that we're weak defending set pieces. In an average game, only Yoshida, Stephens and Romeu are players who you'd back to win an occasional header, and even they're not particularly strong in the air. Compare it to last season: we'd have Van Dijk, Fonte, Wanyama, Pelle and often Martina defending corners and free kicks. We're a team of diddy men now. Which makes it all the more galling that our 6' 7" goalkeeper (probably 8' + with his arms raised) won't come off his line to help ease the burden.

Probably worth keeping: Cedric Van Dijk Yoshida Stephens Bertrand McQueen Romeu Ward-Prowse Redmond Sims Gabbiadini Gallagher Not really bothered if anyone else is moved on and replaced - including the manager, coaching staff.

Except he doesn't dive well to his right either. I think he's just an imobile lump who has had his limited goalkeeping skills well disguised by a strong defence (and playing in a tinpot league) before this season.

Has he played well since the England call up? He's mostly been a miles-off-the-pace passenger to my recollection. He seems to have improved a bit this season but his fundamental weaknesses show no sign of progress: he can't tackle, he loses every 50-50, he's physically weak and easily knocked off the ball, he's slow of movement and in decision making under pressure, and he has no natural position that ideally suits his attributes. Nice chap, though. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Takes a good manager to address a lightweight midfield by making it even more lightweight... It could work, of course, but Tadic (who'll presumably be the 10) will have to show some stomach for the fight and help the midfield win back possession - something he never has thus far in his Saints career. Glad Sims is on the bench getting a bit more match day experience. He really should've been a constant in the squad since he broke in at Christmas. We've invested enough time and patience in the likes of Rodriguez. 3-2, I reckon.