Chez

Some fans don't have a fucking clue. He fed off absolute scraps. He put himself about, won a few free kicks, made a few dribbles. Not sure what else he could have done. I saw someone posting that he `didn't press enough' - as if a one man press does anything. I saw another Saints fan on twitter saying he "hasn't been arsed since November". November FFS. The whole side has been poor, yet a nipper on loan is the one fans focus on. Adams is another that has failed to have much impact in the second half of the season. I presume that's because he doesn't want to be here too? Ings was a huge hole to fill and Broja has done a decent job. When he goes back there will be another hole. Armstrong is going to have to step up or we will be in big trouble.

Lewis would have to be one of however many that depart.

Obviously we played five at the back and only one up front to limit the space for their dangerous attackers. We were thus on the back foot from the off and only got onto the front foot, when Liverpool dropped all men back themselves. Even if their side was weak, they still has some talent up top and when given a tiny bit of space they caused us problems. If there had been more they might have run riot. We gave Chelsea too much space and they destroyed us. I guess the fear was the same might happen. I think though, when they named that side, there was an hour to play with and,= the manager should have ripped up all previous plans and had us pressing them and going for it. There was nothing to fear there. They were still good, but they weren't out of our league. That said, if Brentford can carve us open, then why not them? Despressing.

what a very good post. Liverpool certainly did press us well (especially for a thrown together side) and we had no answer. Isn't always the case? If I was an opposing manager I'd press the fuck out of us - we can't cope at all - although many other tactics seem to work against us. Wonder what our tactic is against the press? Cross our fingers? Spot on about the floating player. One thing I would say is Diallo provides almost no cover to CBs. He is wrong side of the ball far too much and usually five to te yards too far advanced and not filling that space where the floating player resides. I'd love to analyse a game with Ralph and see what he sees. I see players looking at ipads before coming on, but the attention to detail is non existent.

this annoys me so much its not true. For starters CBs should never be taking throws. They should either be in the box challenging for the header, or in a defensive position in case the ball is lost. And the ball is lost a lot in this situations because you are basically chucking it up in the air and hoping for the best. I can understand the logic of a looping throw. It's hard to clear well, so there is a good chance of picking up the second ball. However, it doesn't actually seem to work. The number fo times this year I have seen us be hit on the break from ur own throw in is incredible. It is a management failure to not spot this and change the tactic. It also makes me sad that we have gone from being a side with someone like Morgan in it, that will collect the ball short form every single throw in, keep possession and then start an attack where we actually have control of the ball. Hopeful throws down the line or in the box should never be happening. I wouldn't want to see it in Sunday league never mind this level. Its embarrassingly poor.

Ralph himself did so, but sadly it didn't last. I am not convinced we have too many top class players, but you are right, we should be getting a better tune out of them than we have done recently. It's gone badly wrong. We have survived, from a business point if view that will have bene the aim, but it feels a long way short fi something to celebrate. All we can ask is for a decent window and the side come out fighting/attacking next season. One note. I wonder if the absolute battering we took against Chelsea led directly to this shape/tactics/display/performance tonight? After that display perhaps its little surprise there is no confidence to take on a big boy.

I think Berge was £22m. Still bigger than our record signing though, I guess. didnt stop them going down mind.

Diallo was £12.7m according to The Athletic, £11m according to the BBC. He looks a million miles from the player `dominating' midfields in France. He's not improved at all since he came, in fact he's gone backwards IMO. He doesn't understand the position or the role being asked of him. He doesn't mark, he doesn't sit in the right position, he doesn't show enough. He doesn't dominate. When he arrived he looked like he had something about him. Great body position and the ability to get out of tight areas. He just needed t impose himself more. That potential seems a million miles away right now. Really depressing that he hasn't progressed. CM is a critical position. We seriously need to look at an upgrade there.

Whatever peoples thoughts on them, Forster and Broja have been first choice for a large chunk of the season and neither will likely be here next season. We are thus weaker before we start. We need to get two signings right to avoid going backwards. Reserve keepers apart, only Long is out of contract - so this massive overhaul is only going to be possible if we offload our unwanted players - but who is going to take them off our hands? No one, especially at the start of the window. Maybe a few go out on loan, with us paying a percentage of their wages. There will be movement. I suspect Salisu will go and that will give us some cash to play with, but that will be three first choice players to replace just to stand still. Maybe tonight is not the night for me to be mulling this over. Depressing stuff on the pitch never mind off it. Roll on the summer.

Diallo and Tella were poor. Both should have been subbed at half time IMO. Ralph waited until they scored the second. Not sure either are good enough for the Prem. Moi was non existent in this game and JWP too I should add. So many players failed to show the courage on the ball needed when under pressure or the movement intoi space to help those goys under pressure. Not good at all.

made the FA cup semi final twice in that period, all be it both displays in the semis were not far off what we showed tonight.

Agreed. It was worth going four at the back or pushing those fullbacks high well before the 88th minute.

yep. I guess it worked against City - and fans were happy with that earlier in the season - but when you don't get a result it looks horrible. That Liverpool side were not world beaters. We should have had a go. Depressing considering we were safe and had a free go effectively.

I can understand us surrendering the pitch to their first choice, but when they put that side out surely we should have taken heart and gone for it. That said, when we gave them space they tore us to bits. Everything about us is bad right now...

...and there's the real Lyanco that's been waiting to come out, juggling it over Origi.

tonight is worse.

straight to Redmond, but he was too slow getting onside.

Difficult to flip the switch and suddenly go for it. We made subs but not exactly changed the mentality

I guess that shows why we didn't try to go toe to toe with them. We press and they waltz through it and we are in trouble.

this. I don't often criticise his subs, but absolutely no excuse for no making a sub on the hour or earlier. We did nothing after half time.

Why were those two subs not made at half time? Wait for the opponents to score and then react. Shit management.

fucking shite header.

learned that trick from Forster.

Ho may touches has Moi had do you reckon. Two maybe?

two long throws taken by CBs, both end up with Liverpool breaks and us being stretched as fuck. FFS stop it Ralph.