Chez

Lemina...what a player we have on our hands.

only game I've seen him look really decent for us was Anfield semi. He can beat a man all ends up, which is one of the hardest things to do in football, but...well you all know the rest.

I agree. Austin was the wrong man for the job, but after scoring twice and being dropped hard not to give him ten minutes to get the winner.

two very good saves in amongst a host of comfortable ones. Got lucky with some palmed straight outwards that fell to a Saint. Kicking woeful as always. That said, I think you might be right. Thought Lemina was fantastic first half, not quite as good second.

saved me the bother. Spot on except you were too soft on Yoshida. He looked very rusty indeed. I'm not one to moan about Redmond, but thought he was a waste of a shirt and I struggle to understand why Boufal didn't get another start. He offers as much work rate and is just as reliable defensively.

what's he done?

dont get me wrong, I like Stephens and he has a great future, but for all his great play with the ball, he just does not dominate attackers in the same way VVD does. Whether he plays ahead of Hoedt is a different matter, but even he is stronger in the air and thats a basic requirement of CBs. The other option is to play three

No. HTH.

I am not sure I agree with this. In my very humble opinion where he came unstuck under Puel was his forward passing, not the stuff in the other directions. Far too much of it was intercepted. Yesterday he kept it shorter and more simple. The direction of which was back, forward and sideways - everywhere. He certainly didn't play well under Puel, but the sideways/backwards stick used to beat Puel with is a red herring. Agree with you about hopefully squeezing a player out of him. If he can replicate yesterdays display it will feel like a new signing. Well shall see.

I've been saying it for a while, but he needs to be given a long run in the side, not just a cameo, followed by a start, then dropped if he doesn't shine in that game. Play him week in, week out, rain or shine for 10-15 games. He needs to `feel the love' of a regular place and then we might see what impressed us before we signed him. It looks like that is going to happen, but if he is **** on Tuesday, play him again next weekend. Redmond, Tadic and Long have had their chance. As I think the kids say, not that I'd know, `he has mad skills', which is not only great fun to watch, but actually might be what we need to unlock some of these rock solid defences. A few less groans when a trick doesn't work might not go a miss too.

**** him...until he retires, at which point I will consider him a former Saint and thus he will regain a place in my heart. Until then, **** him.

**** opposition or not, he had a tremendous game yesterday. He won the ball back so many times and showed great desire and strength. With Romeu out he effectively was the main man and given that responsibility he really rose to the occasion. I never saw him a `destroyer' type, but if he can replicate that performance against better teams then he is going to be a real asset. What I liked most about yesterday was his ball retention. He kept it very short and simple throughout the entire match, not once looking to play an eye of a needle type pass. His biggest failing to date has been his inability to pass to a fellow Saint. Time after time he has given the ball away trying to thread passes through congested final thirds. Perhaps he is just not good enough or cut out to do that. If that is not his role then maybe he can thrive. We shall see. Fingers crossed.

Lower league football certainly has it charms. For starters it is cheaper. Focusing on that and that only, is going to live games more important than seeing your team in a higher league? It might not be applicable to many on here, but for some I wondered whether you'd rather have top flight football, but due to pricing could only afford to go to some games, or lower league football and more games due to lower prices? Yes, I know, its not as simple as that...just asking.

same players were serving up exactly the same **** last season too. That front four or five are ****.

Allardyce? Fuc in ell. Just kill me now.

Lack of quality in the final third the problem not the managers (Puel and Pellegrino) in my opinion. Redmond, Gabbiadini, Long, Austin, Tadic and Boufal simply do not create or take chances. They are not good enough. Neither too are Hojbjerg and JWP leaving us having to play Davis as part of a two man central midfield, which despite is qualities he is not up to. Add in a keeper that has never been good enough and you have a tough tough job.

good decision. Boufal was out on his feet, and jwp perfect man to swing in the last few set pieces and crosses into the box with VVD pushed up front.

who leaves after 81 minutes at 0-1? I know we have lost our way somewhat, but **** poor support.

Long or Austin?

who'd you like to see?

he played central, but it was quite tough going. Brilliant double spin move early on beating two men must have got his confidence up, but space was so limited he couldn't work any gaps. Not much came off. His little slide rule passes were all intercepted. He gave the ball away a little bit. I'm a fan as was annoyed he was taken off last week as the game was opening up, but just as it opened up this week he ran out of gas. That was only 70 minutes in, which was a little disappointing. MP kept him on but he faded and he either gave up (perhaps knowing he was being subbed) or was dead on his feet at the end as he walked forward when the break was on. For me the key is to keep persisting with him, especially away from home where he might get a little more space earlier in games.

we played Boufal pretty much off the striker, with Redmond and Tadic pretty high up the pitch. Saying we had 1 up front is a little disingenuous IMO. What formation and personnel would you have preferred?

what do you mean exactly by gutless? Do you mean players too scared to try and beat a man in case fans get on their back? Not looking for a fight, genuinely interested

any minute now we will have some chump saying drop the lot of them and get the youth in

big Boufal fan here, but even I'd have to admit that he looked tired after 70 minutes and was walking forward (whilst we were breaking I might add) shortly before he was subbed, so think its harsh to moan at MP for that substitution. If we'd scored from one of JWP more effective crosses at the death would that have said it all then?