Chez

Very typical saints display in the first half. Lots of possession and absolutely no ability to use it to open up the opponent. A lack of quality was best summed up when Sims miscontrolled a throw in, deep in their half, which lead to him going backwards and eventually to McCarthy. An erosion in quality is subtle. Tiny things all add up to us not creating chances and scoring goals. The second half was much better. We created two half chances with one up front, but when we when 4-4-2 we were far more effective. We started to drag their centre halves all over the place and looked a real threat. MP has selected almost everyone to play behind the striker, but his major failing in not trying different formations. It made such a difference today. You have to ask the question, why has he not tried this earlier, tried different formations, been more flexible? I thought Redmond was decent in the second half. He beat men and caused problems on both wings. When moved to the right he put in a beauty of ball for Boufal's chance having got the byeline. Need to see much much more that. Thought Lemina had another great game, the two centre backs were also good. The distribution from both was top draw. Cedric struggled and made some poor decisions. Tadic and Sims were largely ineffective. Tadic started brightly but disappeared. Sims movement was great, but when he broke free he failed to take advantage of the 2 on 1 chance. Carrillo worked hard and won a lot in the air against two big CBs. Just needs to show more in front of goal.

one was made at half time, and two were made at same time. so I guess thats two minutes.

Genuine question. If we had kept Poch and Nic Nak was still in charge somehow paying players top six wages, do you think players would have stayed? Or would the lure of the big club been too much. I guess, kind of like the current Spurs situation, only its us, who are less glamorous than Spurs.

I'd say it does. If the big six want a player, they get them. You usually hear about it too, because players don't allow a top six club offer to pass them by without putting pressure on the club to sell. The top six haven't come in for any of those players. Lemina and possibly Bertrand apart they wont this summer either. No doubt you will say Cedric has been chased by Barca. My reply would be, has he ****. That's simply his agent placing stories to help get a bumper new contract for his client.

the fact he was deemed not fit enough by Klopp to play for them straight away shows how little effort he put in during the last few months.

Always looks good to me. Has he had many bad games?

Good player attracts eye of bigger club. No shock there. Shame we don't have a few more of his talent. The lack of links to other players just shows the quality of our squad.

that night got even cold when bloody Jamie ward scored. We woz proper robbed. Photo from earlier in the day:

That Elm park game was in 1997 and that has to be the coldest for me too. Never seen a pitch as unfit as that to play on. An ice rink would have been easier to play on. I recall two Saints fans having a right good punch up in the away end, probably just to prevent the onset of frostbite. The terrace was lethal, effectively you spent two hours standing on ice blocks. If I recall correctly Saints had two men sent off and Souness tried to take Graham Poll's head off after the game after we were knocked out of the cup, going down 3-1.

Too subtle for you. My point was that MP didn't offer a 'woeful display' yesterday. He didn't play.

after a crushing defeat against Liverpool its good see that we have shown the necessary fight to come back after going behind against WBA and Burnley. I still think relegation looks ominous because we haven't picked up the points we need against the poorer teams and have so many good teams to play in the run in.

In your opinion. Puel couldn't get a tune out of them and our form at the end of last season was very much relegation form. Average keeper, little competition at full back (which is an issue when the first choice are performing as Cedric isnt), lightweight centre backs, very very average attacking midfielders and not a great striker amongst them. MP hasn't got the best out of them, no doubt about that, but world beaters they aint.

which player are you talking about?

Burnley gave us no time at all, especially in the first half. Cork did what Cork always has done, got a foot in, got the ball back and given it to someone better. In the second they gave us more room, but we didn't do enough with it. Ive been moaning about how slow JWP is for about five years now. Pace isn't everything, but offensively without it a wide role is tough. Defensively he simply just doesn't get anywhere near an opponent...ever. He's like the opposite of Cork. He never ever gets a foot in, turn the ball over or put them under pressure.

Not a chance Puel or MP are forced to play a system from above. Not. A. Chance. Pretty much all Managers/coaches are responsible these days is for training, selection, formation and tactics, plus a/final say on transfers.

I'd suggest he put a team out to control the game, create chances and try and win the game. It's up to the players once they enter the field of play. Dyche didn't change it either in the first 67 minutes and he had two strikers on the bench. Was he playing for a 0-0 too?

I like to have a go at defending the indefensible every now and then. Football and posting on here is meant to be fun. By the way You will find that I haven't attacked MP all season. I don't think he has the tools to work with. Puel proved that. I also think that fans suggesting he played for a 0-0 are disingenuous. He tried to win, but maybe went about it in the wrong way.

not sure I know what the 10 position is, because Gabi isn't one I'd play in the hole? He's a striker, that plays on the shoulder of defenders.

Boufal and Tadic in the same team doesn't seem to work. Gabi on his own up front hasn't worked. With all due respect, apart from Sims you seem to be selecting guys/positions that have failed this season

fair point and I think you are right. I am guessing you'd pick Gabi and Sims, as a three up front?

cant argue with Dyche doing well with his limited squad, but on this single occasion he failed. If the roles were reversed we would moan that MP did not react to the changes and maybe bring an extra centre back on Or fresh legs for the last five minutes.

I actually thought that 15 minute period of 70% possession was with saints, but just shows how my memory os going as Saints age me. Surprised at the 50:50 stat I have to say.

you don't pick Tadic to protect a game, but in JWP perhaps you do. Would you go 442 or stick with the formation but go for Sims, Tadic and Boufal

I doubt Burnley fans are giving Dyche any stick, and after getting that squad to 7th you'd have to be mad to do so, but his side played the same formation as us, hardly touched the ball in the second half, got a fortunate goal but failed to hang on. MP changed it, we started to cause a few problems, added an extra striker and yet Dyche did nothing. Didn't change their shape, didn't bring on fresh legs or an extra defender. Poor management, Clueless perhaps? Because that's what MP would have been called if the shoe had been on the other foot yesterday. Again, I'm not trying to say MP is a good manager or Dyche a bad one, thei records speak for themselves, just trying to show how game management and substitutions are not easy decisions or things done particularly well by good managers all the time.