Chez

aha. But what's the solution? Could some good horse trading this summer change everything, or will the returning loanees hamstring us for another summer/season, so the best we can hope for is a very marginal improvement?

absolutely. The position has been a mess for a while. If we want to improve we need (more) players in the squad that the top 6 want. No one wants these keepers, which is telling.

They have constantly changed the back four with Laporte coming in and Dias or Stones sitting out, and both fullbacks have changed in most games too. Amazing they have been able to still win so many games. Pretty much the whole side was changed today to be fair.

Absolutely, but Turkish did say "the better sides keep a settled back four" which really isn't the case with Man City. They are perhaps very different from everyone else. I'm not overly concerned about the keeper changing to be honest. Getting the right back four is more of a concern.

He did look sharp and with limited funds he may be our options next season too.

dont City change their back four every single game?

fair point, but maybe its not easy to get that ball to strikers feet with a direct ball with CMs in front and defenders tight etc. We certainly should stick it in the mixer a bit more right at the death of games.

I'm not religious at all, so playing devils advocate here a bit, but are you saying that he should put his job before religion?

Absolutely. We got all our players back and there was no improvement at all. Would be good to finish the season with three wins to at least give us some hope for next season.

Chelsea have swapped theirs about a fair bit since Tuchel took over, but its a good point. Is Ralf working out who he wants to keep?

what does `more direct' look like? smash it long and hope to pick up the pieces? Perhaps you are right, but we could do with a Pelle or Lambert to make that work.

turns shit performances into great results. Even Ings has missed a few this season though. Need to score more goals, but at same time we need to be tighter by not having fullbacks bombing on an leaving us exposed to breaks as has been the case this season.

Think Ramadan might be a factor. KWP got caught in possession and from then on we were in big trouble. Not really the CBs fault for that goal. Need a striker. Not sure its on the cards though unless Ings goes.

certainly better, but Liverpool looked a bit fragile at the back and we didnt expose that much.

sure, but there were several minutes of injury time. Keeping the ball is still key. Boot it long and lose it and you may not see it for ages. Not sure we have the personnel to smash it long either.

No idea what game you were watching. Saints played like they were one nil down, but didn't want to leave themselves overly exposed to their pace up front. We are not a good side, but played pretty well

you mean being overly brave, trying at all costs to keep the ball and not to just hoof it aimlessly that ends up turning over possesssion and means we have to chase after it for five minutes?

very. KWP tried to play it out from the back, but just wasn't the space to do it. Not sure we have created enough despite being the better side second half

oh dear. Lets hope it is not four new fullbacks needed this summer

I know Stephens is not a fullback, but the fact he's stays in his sown half does make us tighter. Doesnt help us get a gal back, but how our fullbacks play needs careful attention going forward.

has to do miles better there.

what a great move/ball that was.

Love watching Amstrong. Sometimes runs it too far, but tonight he has been bloody great

certainly is. Need to be brave and keep playing through the lines.

Quick there too. Impressive start. Come on saints....