macca155

Dead right on Salisu, good player no doubt on that, but he's 21 and still learning. The Bendarek/ Vestergaard partnership is the most solid at the moment. Ralph has to find a consistent team, at the moment they are strangers to one another.

I was being kind. He had a terrible game but I don't think slagging our players helps. Doubt you'll get many disagreements.

Relative really weakened as they left out 3 regulars but certainly not weak i agree.

Now that's a very good point. I am obviously assuming some sort of change of ownership. Otherwise .......

Bendarek at RB will never work, Ralph has to find a better solution. The horrible truth is that Ancelloti knew we were weak and sent out a weakened team. It worked, he has fresher players next week. Armstrong excellent, Redmond just shot of confidence. Tella can play in his position, that should be the change. Blue line, move on, Ramsey at RB for Utd. All about survival now and then rebuild for next year.

This it is madness, Everton will crack that at some point.

Oh don't please some of us where there.

Players are mentally shattered, they desperately need a goal. Tella for Redmond please

We'll all watch, we are mainline football addicts. Try not watching or checking the score. Imagine not watching and missing a storming win. It is like going to the dentist, horrible experience but worse if you don't.

Forster won't play, they want rid of his wages so guaranteed he won't be given any encouragement

Blimey that sets our stall out somewhat. I doubt he'd put Jankowitz in a 2 man midfield, far too exposed for a second game. Although the first at 2 minutes hardly counts. Ramsey is all over the club media so he is clearly starting as you surmised. I think it will be McCarthy Ramsey Salisu Vestergaard Bertrand Moussa JWP Janko Armstrong Ings Redmond

He'd already had 2 loans, he wanted 1st team football.

Became too good to keep as a back up, but not good enough to replace Bertrand. Right decision but annoying.

This,that decision is incomprehensible. He had experience, knew the drill and by now would be established in the team. Certainly better than the current shambles.

We really shouldn't be debating about Stephens. He is experienced, certainly not useless, and he is needed. That doesn't mean he is the chosen one, far from it. I've always liked his attitude but something is amiss this year, we can all see that. If he does get a chance at RB, then it is going to be last chance saloon. Playing him in midfield is very risky, it could work, but I don't think he has the pace for that position. He would be a strong enforcer there so it isn't without merits. However, Jankewitz has to be given another chance. He is the future. We'll probably lose so make it a low key game for Alex. Chance for him to establish himself. Whatever happens, it needs to be a step towards a season long solution. No more patchwork.

Need whatever experience we have left on the pitch. These are desperate times. I'd go Stephens at RB and give Jankewitz another chance in midfield. If he's struggling Stephens can move into midfield. Jack may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he has more good Prem games under his belt than bad. We need him at the moment. For me Forster Stephens Vestergaard Salisu Bertrand Djenepo JWP Jankewitz Armstrong Adams Ings Keeping Redmond as impact sub (all we have) It will be a variation on that unless KWP is back. Everton are 11/10 to win. Those are cracking odds. However betting on the opposition is going down a bad road. There lies ruin.

Look i was trying to find some small bit of comfort, sadly you are right.

For all our moaning about VAR and the Ref's decisions. Leeds needed no help from either to slot away three good goals. There is the difference sadly. They absorbed our early assault, put the midfield under pressure, exposed our gaps, and weaker players. Just as every team has done recently. Ralph has to review his tactics.

JWP apparent drop in form has probably got more to do with midfield being over run time and time again. He's a very good player but football is a team game. One player cannot compensate for the number of gaps the team has. He is run ragged.

Marriner is one of the better refs. He got both decisions right .... just. I hate VAR just the officials decide and then we can shout at them. Tella doing well, let's have a decent 2nd half please.

Sorry but he really wasn't, he gave the ball away a lot today. Whether that was just Chelsea pressing well or something amiss I guess we'll never know.

Spot on, Redmond played Ralph's game for 93 minutes and did a good job. Ings and Minamino drifted in and out of the game. However when you score great goals you're allowed to do that. Romeu had a very iffy game, he is clearly nursing an injury. Late to the tackle and frequently gave the ball away, which is unusual. Bendarek struggled at RB but put a shift in, Stephens may possibly (I said possibly before you all start) be an option there. Salisu is 21 for goodness sake, Saints have a winner there.

Well it's him or Ramsey and in our current predicament I'd take experience every time. He is ok, certainly doesn't deserve the ridiculous nonsense some fans throw at him. He can do a job there and that's what is required now. In fairness the defence looks a little stronger now that we have Salisu in contention. My major point was that it doesn't matter who you have at the back, if you keep giving the ball away in midfield and have players committed upfield, you will concede goals. Every team (including Saints) have predatory attackers who only need a few sniffs at goal. The Premier league is all about keeping attackers away from goal scoring opportunities. If they do venture into danger zone, zonal marking is employed to snuff out any threat. That's why the football is so boring these days. A back 4 of KWP, Bendarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, guarded by JWP, Armstrong, Diallo, and Romeu can play that game as well as anyone. However add in injuries and fitness issues, it is no surprise that the team ships goals. I'm so looking forward to the Chelsea game.

21 points from 15 games, 12 really as 3 of those are against top 4. Can't see 7 wins but once the players get over this slump. There should be a few wins to enjoy.

Stephens at RB is the best option. I'm guessing KWP is out for the majority of the remaining matches so someone needs to slot in and be a regular. Not perfect obviously, but won't be a disaster. He'll need Redmond or Armstrong in front of him because he doesn't have the attacking prowness of a regular full back. Nevertheless he is an experienced defender and that's what we need right now. Bigger issue for me is adapting the game plan to ensure the midfield can last the game. That is where the problems all start. Fatigue sets in, possession lost, players out of position, defence under pressure. It seems to happen every game. Take a hard fought draw on this one.