Dusic

Spurs showing the way to work off the ball in the first half then Leicester since the start of the second half. Can barely think of a game we have played well at a high tempo and with aggessive closing down this season.

We are so poor without the ball, both in a defensive and attacking sense, something ultimately Puel is responsible for. Defensively, we are woeful at winning back the ball. How many times do our front 3 regain possession? How many times do we attack after winning the ball back high up the pitch? Very rarely, we have totally lost that facet of our game. In fact many of our attackers first reaction when losing the ball is to turn and moan at someone rather than try to get it back, by which time the opponent is running at our back four. We are so often too deep, as if Puel is scared we can't handle opening up a bit. We are also very, very suceptible to the counter attack, largely because of a lack of mobility in the middle of the pitch. This also goes for our own corners which quite often end up in attacks for the opponent. Davis and JWP don't help in this sense as neither have any kind of physical presence and allied with Romeu who has been superb but is limited pace wise, its a big flaw. Need to sign a central midfielder who can cover more ground in the summer, a Schneiderlin replacement if you will. We have gone from a really solid Schneiderlin-Wanyama-Davis trio which pretty much covered all bases, to a midfield that doesn't really operate effectively. In attack, our off the ball running is often pathetic, except for the full backs who are largely decent in this respect. Nobody runs in behind, too many of the attacking players (Tadic, Boufal, Redmond) end up coming way too deep and just remove themselves as any sort of threat. Tonight in stoppage time Tadic and Boufal both came towards the halfway line when we needed them to provide a passing option. Gabbiadini has good movement but just gets isolated. If playing with 3 central midfielders one has to get forward more. As it is the central midfielders barely ever make forward runs so we become so easy to mark as you just need to cover the strikers runs and then we are not going to hurt anyone. From a team that used to be considered dynamic, capable of pressing high when needed and generally played at a high tempo (especially at home) its a shame to see how far we have fallen in these aspects - our movement in both attacking and defensive elements is often too slow to give a decent side many problems. Thats my biggest gripe about Puel. If/when he goes I hope this will be made a must have for any new Manager.

Surely 10 of the 11 were nailed on starters in this game? To me at least...

Bertrand likely just rested as Stephens and Cedric have been lately. He has played every game for a while now. Big game for Targett, he always looks short of PL class for me, especially in a back four when required to defend and attack - be interesting to see how he does against good players like Mata and Mhikitaryan.

Seems Ralph has invited a few of the chosen lads in for a chat today. Links below, not looking good for Puel, evasive on Rogers departure, interesting re investment, typical bull re contracts and player exits. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15289665.BIG_INTERVIEW__Ralph_Krueger_on_Saints__future/?ref=mac http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15289641.Puel_s_future_hangs_in_the_balance/?ref=mac http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/16/southampton-review-claude-puels-future-need-move-whatever/

Has to for a club our size. Plus the money is pretty much £2m per place - every little helps if the owner doesn't want to invest any further.

He is too big an opportunity for one of the big teams to miss and they won't let that happen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4504120/Man-City-willing-sell-Iheanacho-amid-Dortmund-interest.html This says Iheanacho is available permanently for maybe £20m. If thats true, its equal with £12m for VVD/Alderweireld as an absolute steal! Ludicrous price for such a talent.

I get the impression there is about a 1% chance of him being here next season and that we played him to aid rotation over a busy period.

Telling point for me would be the type of clubs that will go for each of the three strikers if we make them available. That probably says it all.

Hit the channels, eh Dave?

Doubt Long or Austin would have had the technique or vision to pick out Redmond like Jay Rod did for the 2nd goal.

Don't especially see what Reed has done majorly wrong apart from being rather smug with public comments that bite him on the arse. He doesn't control the finances or size of club we are and has been a key component of what we have done the last 5 years or so.

If we were to get rid of one ore more of our strikers this summer what would be your priority order in terms of sales. For me: 1st: Long - woeful finisher, not suited to any style apart from direct. On big money. 2nd: Austin - good goalscorer but poor injury record, poor movement and also on top much money for what you get in return. 3rd: Rodriguez - easily the most suitable of the three in the type of style Puel employs, the best finisher and is capable of a level the other two aren't. *Obviously leaving out Gabbi who will be here and Seager, Gallagher et al.

A seemingly genuine link: Cenk Tosun, Besiktas striker. http://m.fotomac.com.tr/besiktas/2017/05/13/cenk-tosun-48-milyon-tl

Can add Chung to that list.

Arguably lost that due to the last 3 or 4 overs of our own innings. Our only real lack is a big hitter at 7 or 8.

If he was fired you could understand Puel being a bit ****ed off in some ways. Both transfer windows have been poor which isn't his fault and have left an unbalanced squad, and his best player has missed half the season yhrough injury compounding the board level decision to sell the captain.

IMO we played our best football with this formation. The issue was we didnt take chances, whereas now we have stopped creating. We also have Gabbi now who will score given the right service. With options of Gabbi, Austin and Redmond as strikers and Boufal being allowed to develop in his preferred no 10 role, plus an ability to control midfield bettee with three players in there I think we might improve. Second half of West Ham away was still the best we have played all season IMO. Thoughts?

The ultimate question for Reed et al to ask themselves is: do you see Puel turning around his reign to be considered a successful Saints Manager? If not, then why prolong the inevitable. Continue with Puel, sell a few of our best players and have a mediocre transfer window under an owner looking to sell and we could easily be in the mix for relegation next season, we haven't been too far away this time

Ok then: Puel seems a decent guy but we are getting worse under him rather than better. If he stays, is it because we see that he will massive improve us next season, or is it just to save face that after finishing 6th in the PL he wasn't the right choice. He was a big risk and at that stage we were established enough not to take one.

Chelsea are willing to spend €40 million on Ajax centre-back Davinson Sanchez. (Mundo Deportivo) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_dAu3KXoAAmbA3.jpg If true, then £50m for an established, top class, PL proven VVD with 5 years contract left is not enough.

This summer will see far inferior players sold for that amount, or more. I think it was undervalue for a matchwinner, a player who troubled the best defenders rather than being a flat track bully. Anyone not playing as a striker who has his goals to games ratio is almost priceless. Was clear to any sane fan that he had massive potential and with a little more consistency would be one of the top 5 PL attackers. For that you would usually bw looking at £60m+, which is certainly what Liverpool would want now.

Hojbjerg and Romeu together doesn't solve the blatant problem we have in this area: we don't have anyone who is quick or agile enough to cover lots of ground. That it what we are crying out for. We are so easy to counter attack partly for this season. Romeu has been brilliant but his weakness is agility, ditto Clasie, ditto JWP and Davis isnt a presence in the holding position. Hojbjerg is a good player but his best attributes don't cover what is currently needed. Shame we chose Clasie over Idrissa Gueye looking back. He is basically the type we need IMO.

Graeme Bailey (formerly of Sky) suggesting Saints are fairly happy to let Bertrand go as have McQueen and Targett at the club already. Personally feel this would only add to the feeling we are moving backwards. McQueen is a good no2 LB but not top 10 PL quality and Targett IMO hasn't shown anything to suggest he is PL class at all. He is a couple of yards short of pace which is telling and nigh on impossible to find. If/when Bertrand goes we should replace him and loan Targett out.