Saint Albert

We're the only team that had to play 3 games in 6 days over the xmas period. We also had one of the more difficult sets of opponents (I can't remember exactly but I think we were fourth or fifth in terms of fixture difficulty, measured by the table position of the opponents for every team). Austin's injury, Bertrand's injury. Cedric's injury and VVD's suspension were all blows but every team including Everton has had to deal with injuries and suspensions and surely VVD could have used a rest anyway. Ultimately these all sound like excuses. We look flat and uninspired. We look like a team that could not beat its way out of a wet paper bag, and we certainly do not look like a team with the attacking tools needed to come back after we go behind. Going into this we had 19 goals in 19 games, which is poor by many standards. Excellent defence papered over the cracks a little earlier in the season. Watching the game, I thought that both teams looked less than bang average. It's a depressing and uninspiring run of form and a wasted opportunity to beat a poor Everton side in Liverpool, something we rarely do. The question is, is this a bad run of form or a downward trajectory? If Puel out is the answer (I am still not sure that it is the answer) it also begs the question: who's reasonably available to replace him? Also, if replacing the manager is the answer, it is something that needs to be accomplished shortly since it will be more difficult to attract someone after the window closes.

My point was that we have been linked with Trippier in the past in various newspaper rumours. I'll try and be more obvious in future.

Trippier looked useful on the first two Spurs goals with his crossing...he can't be satisfied spending the next chunk of his career playing second fiddle to Walker...just saying.

Nyom is having a nightmare. Should be off on the second yellow.

Great header by Long!

Here's a link. Everton and Wolfsburg sniffing around as well: http://talksport.com/football/transfer-report-southampton-table-ps15m-bid-manolo-gabbiadini-they-look-beat-everton-napoli

If it is just a one match suspension, I imagine that the club will be content to give Redmond a break given the fixture congestion. In our next two games, both opponents will have enjoyed more rest than Saints - WBA considerably more, and Everton one day more. According to the account I read, there was no retroactive action against Vertonghen because the panel could not agree on whether he intended to scratch his opponent in the eye.

After going back and forth on this on the match reaction thread, it was not a red card because the grab occurred outside the box and it patently did not deny a goal scoring opportunity because Ali continued into the penalty area and had a goal scoring opportunity.

I appreciate that I am talking to myself at this point but after going outside to take out the garbage, clear the snow and get the mail, and thinking about it some more the rule above does say "denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity". There was no denial of a goal scoring opportunity since Ali got into the box when Redmond fell and Dean played the advantage, and missed a good goal-scoring opportunity. Redmond unsuccessfully impeded a goal scoring opportunity, he did not deny it. Indignation levels restored. Dean is a plonker. Now it's time for a drink.

This is from the FA's website. I may have to reduce my indignation levels a little... SENDING-OFF OFFENCES A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off: denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area) denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the opponents’ goal by an offence punishable by a free kick (unless as outlined below) serious foul play spitting at an opponent or any other person violent conduct using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures receiving a second caution in the same match A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. DENYING A GOAL OR AN OBVIOUS GOAL-SCORING OPPORTUNITY Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs. Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned unless: The offence is holding, pulling or pushing or The offending player does not attempt to play the ball or there is no possibility for the player making the challenge to play the ball or The offence is one which is punishable by a red card wherever it occurs on the field of play (e.g. serious foul play, violent conduct etc.) In all the above circumstances the player is sent off. The following must be considered: distance between the offence and the goal general direction of the play likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball location and number of defenders

I agree with this. I thought that Romeu looked quite strong after the red card.

I hope they do. It was a bloody awful decision that robbed us of any opportunity to get back into the game, and produced a disproportionately lop-sided win. That being said, I would like to see Puel try a Tadic - JRod - Boufal front three. (I'm assuming that Boufal does not have to leave for AFCON until the new year.)

Not in my view. Redmond fell over inside the box. I did not see any pulling back inside the box.

The BBC website has produced the pertinent rule re the red card: Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned unless: The offence is holding, pulling or pushing or The offending player does not attempt to play the ball or there is no possibility for the player making the challenge to play the ball or The offence is one which is punishable by a red card wherever it occurs on the field of play (e.g. serious foul play, violent conduct etc.) In all the above circumstances the player is sent off. Nathan Redmond pulled back Dele Alli so it was a red card. The pull back occurred outside the box, so according to this rule it was neither a pen nor a red.

Ali 1-4

Son scores on the break.

Son for Sissoko imminent

Erickson smacks the bar.

Triple Saints substitution coming up. Hojberg, Long and Tadic.

At least the home crowd is back in the game.

Decision was apparently for the shirt pull, which took place outside the penalty area.

Kane skies it!!!!!

Initial contact looked to be outside the box. Redmond sent off.

Penalty to Spurs

********. Kane loses Romeu and Fonte from the corner, and it's another headed goal.