macca155

Didn't take long for this year's basket case clubs to find themselves in a little league of their own. Hope it finishes something like this. Everton Wolves Brentford West Ham Aston Villa Southampton Nottingham Forest Leicester Bournemouth You can easily perm any 3 from that lot. Going to be a difficult season, that's for sure.

We knew we had to be patient with these new (young) players, so up and down games are no surprise. However that was beyond down, 2 weeks prep, no game next week, they should have been a lot better than that. Ralph got the set up and team selection wrong. Villa were terrible and that defeat may come back to haunt us next year. Negatives first. Elyounoussi had a poor game aa did Diallo and JWP. Does that make them bad players? Of course not, Opposition managers know that our game ticks through JWP, so they ensure he is swamped, harried and pushed back. He needs a minder, in the absence of Romeu and Lavia, I would have put Lyanco on in that role. Not perfect obviously, but it would have at least sorted out McGinn. That would have at least given a chance of the ball going forward. Positives .... well the defence looked way better. Villa pushed for that goal and got lucky. I thought Djenepo looked good, put in a real shift as did Adam Armstrong, but both were defensively minded. Moussa lost his way in the 2nd half a bit but that is what subs are for. Lariosl ooked handy raw but talented. The attack didn't stand a chance without the ball so can't be judged imo. Even I, a uber don't sack the manager merchant, am starting to think Ralph's time is done. If he would just give us a chance it would help. Everton will fancy their chances now. Let's hope they push at Saints more than Villa. That will help our counter attack setup.

Salisu played it to them

Villa are terrible and they are 1 0 up! Mo just not up to it. Midfield being overrun. We all knew that woukd happen when the team was announced. Come on Ralph sort this out.

Grisly game yesterday. Wolves looked pretty weak to me, and Saints seemed be on the front foot for many periods. However credit to Wolves, they identified a weakness at left back and put Perraud under pressure. It bought them a vital goal. Maybe Djenepo would have been better there, he does seem to be growing into that role. Despite that Saints should have grabbed a draw. Che needs to take his time with the chances he gets that was a horror miss. We are going to have to be patient with these players. Not in anyway the finished product, but pretty exciting when they click. Mara in particular looks impressive, I want to see more of him. Young Edozie will give a few defenders sleepless nights. I love the way he beat three defenders inside out, then didn't have a clue what to do with it. None of our players were anywhere near him. Next time he did that, he got taken out. Hope he has strong shins that will happen a lot. Brentford game should be a cracker.

Too early for Dibling, he'll need careful handling but agree on Ballard. Strikers start young, making the best use of pace and confidence. Telling he hasn't gone on loan, hopefully that means he'll be in Ralph's plans.

Oh and I would cut Bendarek a bit of slack. Stupid thing to say obviously, no need to wind your old fans up, but he has taken some unnecessary flack recently. However, he has been very publicly sidelined. He is now Villas back up, hardly a great move for him. I bet their OG ratio will go up now. He always gave 100% so I am happy to thank him for his service. Personally I think it is the right time to move. I Guess we'll now find out whether he was a factor in our defensive woes, or a innocent victim.

Cracking window in my opinion Saints had more trouble conceding goals than scoring them last year. The defence is sorted now. Just need Mara to fill the gap Broja left. The club have clearly kept their powder dry for January which will come round soon enough. The other factor is young Ballard. He needs to see a route through to the first team. Daft to be buying talent and not use our own. Still going to be a tough season, but definitely better placed than last year.

Well I was at Reading in the 70s and must have missed the Hells Angels act. I remember lots of drugs openly on sale (pretty much Tesco Express for dopeheads). Toilets to be avoided at all cost. Hippy shit all over the place, lots of nudity, crap sound, but lots of cool bands. From what I can remember it was all pretty chilled out. I reckon the aggro is a modern phenomenon. Very different crowd these days. In contrast football was a regular warzone in the 70s. Have to say Victorious this year was all very civilised.

No that was Lyanco, its his party trick. What a night, best since Arsenal on boxing day. Something to build on.

Good result for Saturday's game, stop any over confidence from Saints players and fans. Takes the edge of Utd. Won't be such a must win game. They won't be as desperate, pressure will be on them and they'll be facing a team that runs as much as them, for hopefully longer. No way will our midfield give them such an easy run. Henderson and Milner were never going to hold that lot at bay. Don't get me wrong they are packed with talent, and remain a very good side. They should win, but this does at least make it a more normal game. Usual game plan, defend resolutely, get in their faces, and take the few chances that present themselves.

Simeu would be my choice as well. He's played at Cambridge's level so it shouldn't be a problem. He is clearly our future, the sooner he is brought into the first team the better. However I still think Stephens has a lot to offer. I wouldn't be so quick to dispose of him. Whilst he is here he will need game time. We are an 8njury away from needing him. Tricky one, that's what Ralph is paid the big bucks for.

Need to give players a run out and rest those with knocks. Mccarthy Valery Stephens Lyanco Vokins Romeu Diallo Redmond Walcott Mara Bailey I'd like to see Simeu play but Stephens and Lyanco need game time.

Nice one Che

Blast and I actually looked that up. Looked at the right spelling and promptly typed the idiot version. Must do better.

Both Stephens and Valery have experience of playing RB. It isn't perfect but it maintains a balance. I'd go Bazuna Stephens AWB Salisu KWP JWP Lavia Aribo Djenepo Adams Armstrong Case to be made for S Armstrong instead of Djenepo, Redmond could also feature. Mara on in 2nd half

Very much this, talented young player but needs to be given a low pressure start. He'll score soon and then all hell will break lose in the media.

Good comeback and credit to the players and management for changing things. Leeds need to work on their fitness,they were struggling at the end and it was good to see Saints going after them. However the team that started just wasn't good enough, or set up correctly. I'm left with mixed feelings. Hopefully we can build on that.

Seems a strange line up, although better than last week I'd imagine Aribo is being kept back as an early sub. Very hot today so that might make sense.

The water situation was ridiculous. Obviously they keep water to a minimum to make you buy their beer, but almost impossible to get served. Go to America, in older stadiums, and if you want a drink, they'll happily take your dollars a damm sight quicker. Just part of the usual crappy experience football fans have to put up with. You never get this in Rugby or cricket.

Didn't really learn a great deal, but body language said a lot. As we all know, the clock is ticking on Ralph. No way did he want to be there.

I think we are all desperate for Armstrong succeed, no issues with him being picked. It was playing him alone that was the issue.

I think at the moment morale is so low, a defeat against the old enemy would have a significant impact on everybody. Not sure are of them but happy to avoid

Well that would be refreshing, but I think since then he has tended to put in 5 or 6 occasional players in. West Ham this year as an example. That game imo wrecked our season. Pure conjecture but I think he pissed a lot of 1st teasers off. We were on a roll (of sorts) and it seem to stop it in its tracks.

Yep exactly the same experience for me living in PO territory. They didn't expect to win and quite rightly brushed it off. Same as we did when they dicked us 4 1 in the cup. I'd give them a wide swerve thus time around. They've improved and Saints are looking increasingly vulnerable. It will be our B as well. Avoid stakes are too high, we've enough to deal with this year. Let them play Brighton.