Dusic

I am pretty sure all the clubs have inconsistency of selection, thats nature of youth teams. There is no specific circumstance that Saints have that others don't. Recently we have had a younger first team bench but for most of that time there has been no U23 or U18 football so that has made no difference. Quite a few clubs have England players who are unavailable from time to time, we don't have that problem anymore. At the end of the day, the results are woeful and have been for a while. There are no excuses. To only win 16% of the games across over half a season just suggests the players generslly are not as good as the players they are playing against. And that doesn't bode well for thinking that in a year or 2 some of them will be gopd enough to play on our first team.

Redmond for £10m has been fine. He has played lots of games and was instrumental in us staying up in Ralph's first season, when he won Players Player of the Season and Fans Player of the Season. He is no Sadio Mane, but he was never going to be. Has he been a good signing for the fee? Absolutely. Plenty of poor signings to reflect on post Pochettino but Redmond isn't one.

U 18s are 1 win in 11 this season B Team are 3 wins in 13 4 wins from 24 games is shocking for a club that places a lot of emphasis on the Academy. Something is badly wrong at the moment.

Their left side with Alonso or Chilwell and Werner in front will kill us down the right with a makeshift RB.

I know he is a young lad making his way in the game but he didn't do ok. He seems to spend so much time on his backside, sliding around whereas good players stay on their feet. He also didn't do ok vs Man City and Derby County two years ago which is why he didnt get a look in until there was nobody else. He is 20 and has no experience of senior football which is a concern for him and probably a reflection of our lost youth setup - he isnt going to make it as a PL player, you can tell that from 3 or 4 games. Plus for those mentioning Jankewitz... I highly doubt Ralph in any way trusts him to come in during a poor run of form...and who can blame him. I am fairly sure he was eligible for the cup game as suspensions are competition specific yet wasnt in the squad.

With a hamstring injury KWP could be out for a while, and whilst it is unthinkably crazy to have a PL squad in a covid season with only one RB and one LB that is the reality. Even if he misses a month, that will likely be 6 so games - and clearly we are going to need to find a way to cover his absence and be able to win without him, otherwise it will become a season defining awful run. So...what do we do. As I see it the main options are: 1. Change to 3 CBs now Salisu is fit and play someone like Armstrong or Redmond as a RWB. Personally I dislike this option because: - It removes at least one pressing option, which is the basis of our entire attack. - It forces our immobile CBs to defend more in wide areas. - Armstrong, who would be the prime candidate is needed in goalscoring positions 2. Play a CB at RB, presumably Jack Stephens or possibly even Bednarek. This is also not an ideal option as its a totally different position to CB. Stephens is more suited than Bednarek as is better on the ball but as seen vs Newcastle he was awful, and easily exposed by a good player on that side. It alao adds nothing to our attacking play at all. 3. Hope Diallo is fit soon and play him at RB. This is probably the best option in theory but there is no sign Diallo will available any time soon, so is probably not viable. 4. Convert an attacker into a RB, primarily either Armstrong or Redmond. I think Armstrong possibly could work, and it would allow the same formation but he is better used further forward and would probably get ripped apart. 5. Hope that an U23 steps up. Unlikely as Ramsay appears to be the most likely candidate and he is just not up to PL level, and at 20 has made no impression in senior football at any level. Quite damning of the setup really that such a chance comes along and there isnt anyone good enough to fill in for a few games. My opinion: it really shows how mismanaged the squad profile is that one injury leads us to this point. Probably option 1 or 2 is the least awful - but neither is good - until Diallo is back which at least gives Ralph more options. Heaven help us if Bertrand is unable to play all the remaining games.or if KWP has a bad hamstring injury and misses a big chunk of the remaining games.

I think the demoralisation bit comes from knowing that getting goals and winning is very hard at PL level, especially if you are in a poor moment and a feeling of here we go again. During this poor run a factor is that Newcastle aside the goals have dried up as well, so the decisions like the Ings offside are even more important but we could have been two goals up by then had we taken our chances. Earlier in the season we had more goal threats. Now it feels like Ings, Armstrong or a JWP free kick. Thats one area Walcott is a big miss. His finishing is erratic but his movement means he gets big chances, Redmond and Djenepo don't make the same runs and looks like Minamino won't either.

Apologies this is quite long... Its easy to have knee jerk reactions after a game, but when you have lost 6 on the spin in the league it seems worth analysing as collective. Summary: Really poor performances: 2.5/6 (Utd, Newcastle, 2nd half Wolves) Unlucky to lose: 1/6 (Villa) Wrong end of poor officiating: 4/6 (Leicester, Villa, United, Wolves albeit Utd not influencing outcome) Significant injuries: 5/6 (KWP missing alone is significant as have no cover for him, but many games have missed multiple starting XI players) Strange Managerial starting XI selection or clear sub errors: 0/6 Games with good sub options: 1/6 (Villa, at least in attack) Games we started well: 4/6 (Leicester, Arsenal, Villa, Wolves) Games we faded in second half: 5/6 (Leicester, Arsenal, Utd, Newcastle, Wolves) Game by game: Leicester away 2-0 Players missing: Ings, Redmomd, Romeu, Djenepo, Salisu, Vestergaard Selection: no issues Players out of position: None Poor decisions costing us: Yes. Clear foul on Diallo in build up to Leicester first goal when we were comfortable in the game. Performance: Strong first half, faded second. Arsenal home 1-3 Players missing: KWP, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Romeu, Djenepo, Salisu Selection: Had to pick Valery and Vokins as no other options. Had to use Watts and N'Lundulu from bench as no other options. Players out of position: None Poor decisions costing us: No Performance: Strong start, good goal and then poor mistake from McCarthy. Faded second half and Arsenal exposed Valery and Vokins ruthlessly. Didnt have good sub options. Villa home 0-1 Players missing: KWP, Vestergaard, Salisu Selection: no issues Players out of position: JWP at RB. Winning goal came from this side. Poor decisions costing us: Yes. Should have been given clear pen for Cash handball. Very tight offside for Ings where VAR lines not clear. Performance: Generally good apart from scoring. Also finished strongly. Man Utd away 9-0 Players missing: KWP, Vestergaard, Romeu, Diallo, Walcott, Salisu Selection: Had to pick Ramsay at RB and Jankewitz as no other options aside from possibly Armstrong in CM but no real issue as that is Jankewitz preferred position. In game had no experienced sub options to change shape. No issue. Players out of position: No Poor decisions costing us: Yes. Awful VAR decision on Bednarek that probably lead to 9-0 rather than 7. Also seemingly incorrect offside vs Adams at 4-0. Performance: Everything went against us from 75secs, a one off. VAR and lack of viable sub options was a factor in end scoreline plus Ramsay being targetted as he isnt PL quality. Newcastle away 3-2 Players missing: KWP, Diallo, Walcott Selection: Stephens at RB as no other options. No issue Players out of position: Stephens, cost at least one goal Poor decisions costing us: No Performance: Poor, should have taken something from the game and I think would have done but for the McCarthy mistake giving them the 3-1 just before HT. Wolves home 1-2 Players missing: Diallo, Walcott Selection: No issue Players out of position: None Poor decisions costing us: Yes - very debatable handball given and another not Performance: Strong first half, faded badly second half. Forced to change shape once KWP off injured as no cover within our 9 subs. Conclusion: We have been screwed by officials during this run, but performances have also not been good enough over 90mins to win games and we seem to let poor decisions affect us as if it then provides an excuse. Ralph has usually picked sensible starting XIs but hasn't had good sub options to impact the game in the second half, particularly up front and in centre mid to add energy and defensively in the Utd game. When cup games are added, the frequency of games has taken its toll as we have faded badly in 5 of the 6 games. Unfortunately we will have a couple more weeks with midweek games as some players look flogged and need a break which we cannot give them due to injuries or the fact we have few players to come in who are good enough. Having a high intensity style, coupled with lots of midweek games and some players for whom we have no replacement isn't a good recipe, and there is a clear pattern of starting games well and with high intensity and then being limp in the second half with inexperienced subs making little impact. Not having cover for KWP has been a major factor with each of Ramsay, JWP and Stephens having poor games and conceding goals down that side. Injury to Diallo was very unfortunate for a few reasons. However, you cannot excuse a poor run simply because your RB is not available. I don't see how Ralph is at fault. The only things that could be levelled at him are prioritising the cup which many want him to do, and playing key players in too many games (or players who are not used to it) leading to injuries for the likes of KWP, Diallo, Walcott, Romeu. The PL is ruthless and will expose any weakness and it might get worse before it gets better as the problems will remain if KWP misses more games. Deciding in the summer to go with Vokins and Valery as full back cover was an error. Not rectifying that in January has compounded it.

Interesting, means one of McCarthy, Vestergaard or Minamino doesn't start. I would guess Minamino bench as Ralph already confirmed McCarthy will play.

Why? Because the whole point of him going on loan to experience playing regular games. If he sits on the bench for Sunderland he doesn't that so it helps nobody and certainly doesn't help Vokins develop and come back a better player. Would have thought that was obvious.

Dropped today and they were 3-0 up at HT. Would be an awful loan move if he ends up on the bench most weeks.

Sounds ridiculous because he has only played one game, but I wonder if Saints will try to extend his contract? He only signed for four years, and it seems he won't play a huge amount in the PL in his first year, and Ralph has often referred to him as "one for the future". Well...if the optimal selling opportunity is when he has 2 years left on his contract, it would only give one full season before that point is reached. If we could extend it by one season it makes a lot of sense for Saints. Also shows how difficult it is to get the contract length right. We have given the likes of Elyounoussi and Forster a 5yr deal which looks a poor decision, but as seen before with Clyne, Wanyama and possibly Ings now, four years is effectively 3 as we dont want them to enter the final year and go for free. With Salisu its almost turned into a 2yr contract as he has barely played in his first year.

I would imagine Rumbelows ceasing to trade in 1995 would be a problem.

Great debut! A bit sloppy a couple of times in possession but he will get used to the pace and it was his first game in ages. One vs one, the reason we signed him, he was very impressive. The conspiracy theories can end.

Remember how he bounced back from being the fan's boo boy to POTY the following season? Would have been very easy to just give up on Saints at that point and look for a move. That would have been the safe option. He has had a stop start season and I'm sure would be the first to admit he isn't happy with his form. Do you really know him well enough to judge his character? Or is he just another footballer that plays well when confident and less well in other spells - like most attacking players aside from the really good ones?

Thats the point when we sell him to West Ham, or Newcastle (they love a no 9 in the North East, according to reports).

Lots of comments on Twitter that he was continuously caught out of position. Interesting because many here have said the same in his handful of first team apps - he always seems to be a little too high, and then if a move breaks down he gets caught out. Potentially something that can be worked on, but as Ralph hinted recently, Vokins isn't really a natural defender. Will be interesting to see how he does there. For someone who is one of our highest rated prospects and who is considered quite close to our first team, he needs to do well - otherwise how can he seriously be considered as being our back up LB next season?

Ralph often says Armstrong struggles with playing every three days and tends to pick up muscle injuries. I think he will leave him for Sunday.

No other PL side will lose their best striker this summer for £20m and an Academy player. It may happen, but wouldn't be "fine".

Or they would see it as being his form has dipped because our whole team's form, structure and control of games has dipped. Put him in a better team and he would score consistently IMO. Besides, at £20m or thereabouts in a pandemic impacted tranafer market he is extremely low risk.

Thanks Neil Custis.

As ever, once it becomes clear one of our best players will leave the SWF downgrading of their ability begins.

I am totally resigned to him leaving now unfortunately. There will almost certainly be one team that makes a move for him that can offer a hefty pay rise and European football. For a top side he is well worth considering. He is a good finisher, hard worker, adept at pressing, good character, able to last 90mins, English and available cheapily which is handy given Covid finances. Also, as proven, if it doesnt work out there is a clear market to sell/loan him out. Its an extremely low risk move for a big club, with potentially a big upside. Can't see Saints being happy to lose him for free and little benefit to him to sign an extension before the summer, so all points towards Saints "reluctantly" letting him go this summer and hoping multiple teams come in for him.

Would imagine our form of late and likely bottom have finish will have ended much chance of him signing a new contract. Why would he? Any sensible agent would tell him to wait and see what develops...

Boufal was largely dross and if I am not wrong has barely done anything since going back to France. Redmond was poor yesterday, but had Ings shot gone post and in would have had a nice assist. Regardless, Boufal is one of the answers to the question of how our squad got in a mess in the first place, nothing more.