macca155

He certainly wasn't rubbish and would be a cert for our team. Worked hard, had time on the ball and was a threat. However has Maddison and Ali in front of him. Anyway not a Saints player so who cares. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

It is no surprise that our upturn in fortunes has coincided with Stephens and Bendarek forming a solid (ish) partnership. Both have played well in recent games but Stephens's distribution and drive is the difference. A wholehearted club player who is developing. CH's mature later as they draw on experience. An England call up ...... ! Who let his mum on here. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Good performance today enjoyed that. Nice to have a stress free afternoon for once. Well almost until Grealish decided to be MLT for a while. Hell of a player surely worth an England call up. I thought Ings, and Stephens will get the plaudits today but the whole team were on their game. Only weakness was Cedric and occasionally Holberg. Bertie was a bit off in the first half. However a wiser head pointed out that he is an older player now and clearly manages his body during the game. Plays intelligently and we need that. Halfway to 36 points which should be enough. Now kick on. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Excellent post and a good summary. I totally agree the two full backs are an issue, partly physical limitations, part complacency, and partly poor strategic instructions. I thought Stephens actually had an ok game, he was horrendously exposed by our 'no midfield' tactic and full backs who went AWOL. The lack of movement is clearly frustrating those players who care. I rarely see JWP berate his fellow players but he is one of our few players who actually pushes forward and tries to make a pass. However so often he has no one to pass to, que a sideways or backwards ball, which frustrates us all. He is looking to recycle the ball quickly but when it inevitably goes to PEH, Redmond, or Bertrand they seem to lose the ball. It was noticeable that with Romeu and Armstrong on the pitch they supported JWP and the ball started to be drilled forward more and suddenly Ings was causing problems. Ings was so frustrated at one point he went on a run that saw him take on the whole West Ham team, nearly did it as well, that was pure frustration. Another time Stephens had the ball and with no outlet just kept on running, eventually near their penalty area he did a pass and go with Ings (I think) and suddenly he was clear in the box. That's forbidden territory for CHs and his shot showed why. However once again just pure frustration. He got some applause for that from the Kingsland and the look he gave us said it all. It is hard to see what can be done, put it down as a bad at the office (lot of those recently) and hope things improve next week. 15 points is disastrous and a win against Villa next week will push us near 20 points. There is always hope but boy do we need a change of tactics because the current system as Derry points out, just isn't working. My biggest worry is whether RH has lost the dressing room as much as that actually happens. If we are confused by his tactics then what on earth do the players think.

Good post but Ori has really gone off the boil and his wrecking ball routine is too easily bypassed these days. Clearly we need to buy some decent midfield players and perm 4 from JWP Armstrong Lemina (I rate him) Slattery, and hopefully a new defensive midfielder. Romeu and PEH on the subs bench as impact players. Maybe even Stephen's in midfield but he is at last starting to cement himself into the defence. Captain us easy Ings or Stephen's. Players who care and show leadership. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Probably worth remembering that not everyone on here is a genuine Saints fan. No surprise that agitators pick on a player from the Portsmouth area. People are entitled to a view but the abuse is out of order and unnecessary. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Strange that those who really do know about football keep picking him. We won just enjoy it Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

How on earth do you come to that conclusion. JWP in the context of a poor performance he was one of our better players. He tackles passes and immediately makes himself available. He does that all game.... never stops. He has to often pass back as he has no one in front to pass to. I just don't get the hate he gives his all. What more do you want. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

All game JWP was tackle, retrieve, give move to be available from 1st minute to 96th minute. When he passes back or sideways to retain procession as there is absolute no bugger available to pass to. He is a good player not world class but pretty much the best we have in that position at the moment. I share your frustration but Romeu is far worse for slowing the game down and PEH cannot hold the ball long enough to make an impact. Stephens is a difficult one. Yes he makes mistakes but I can live with that to have a courageous player prepared to put himself on the line one of the few leaders we have. All of the issues are rooted in having 4 attackers on the field. With no midfield the errors you allude to were constantly emphasised. Well that's what I think Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Horrifically bad for 60 minutes. Only JWP Stephens and Ings seemed remotely interested but average at best. Daft team selection with no midfield ridiculous. Defence and what passed for a midfield constantly had to pass back as there was no outlet. Who plays with 4 strikers for goodness sake. Bring on talent and you win games. Boufel and a bit of effort from Long changed the game. Stretched the game and gave JWP, and PEH some space and an outlet at last. Boufel was on fire and I love to see players try stuff like that. The state we are in I don't care how ugly we win.... just win. In the end two good goals. Saints probably just about edged it, but I don't think anyone is fooling themselves about any sort of dramatic improvement. However confidence is important so onward and hopefully upward. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

I think you will find that in part it is. Clearly some non Saints fans on here just slagging off our players. JWP had a good game, tried hard to push forward. Passed well and did his best in tackles and scored. Yet on here he's slagged off by usual suspects. Those of us who were there all pretty much agree it was a good performance. Just need to repeat that at home. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

That is good to hear maybe it is just confidence and some decent support alongside him. Hope so we need that PEH Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Just back and whilst the equaliser was sickening, the point was the least Saints deserved. Our club is broken at the moment. The fans struggled to raise any enthusiasm, a defeat was expected. The warm up was decidedly average (no decent coaches starting to tell). The players looked a bit nervous and lacklustre, to be expected I guess. However a much better performance all round, and should give a much needed confidence boost for the upcoming vital matches. We all know this team isn't very good. Reasonable up front but weak elsewhere. However collectively as a team they can play well and it showed today. Just need more of that against Watford, West Ham, and Norwich. Stephens played well and is showing leadership, 4 at the back was an improvement, JWP was better in a central role, and Bertrand looked committed. Boufel was fab he needs longer on the pitch. The negative for me was Holberg. Huge commitment , love that, big team player, but he seems to have become a weak part of the midfield. The ball seems to move away from him at the moment. He has played better so maybe this is a symptom of the missing coaches. Its early days and a few wins will do wonders. I will actually watch MOTD tonight. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

I get the feeling that some of Ralph's bizarre selections are down pressure from the owner. Not playing obvious people in their positions, or the better player, seems to indicate that they are being sold in January to reduce the wage bill. How else could the omission of McCarthy, Cedric, Bertrand, Leminna (who we need) be explained. Our defence is weak but has zero support from midfield. The team is nervous, slow, and bereft of ideas. Armstrong and Lemina were exactly what we needed. Fast forward looking players. One is played at RB the other is loaned out..... ridiculous. If you have problems at the back stabilise and sort it out professionally. Stephen's is clearly a DM, yes he'll be a bit slow but he has the edge on Romeo. My team would be. McCarthy Cedric Danso Vestergaard Bertrand Holberg Stephens Armstrong Lemina Boufel Ings Redmond And hope the ref can't count. That team would not concede the number of goals we are currently shipping. Principally because the ball would be pushed forward faster and the opposition will be on the back foot. It's interesting reading the whole thread as there seems to be a consistent view. Need to hold on to that. We aren't 't relegated yet, long way from it, a bit of fight stability,courage, and a couple of wins and things will look a lot better. Carry on with the same nonsense and Saints are down.

He has a point, stakes are high for us negliable for them. Could be an uncomfortable night. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Not the best of games but a workmanlike performance. Saints were finding their way a bit in the 1st half but had surrendered midfield so struggled to create chances. 2nd half much better, goal was well taken and and some unbelievable misses from Ings, Long and Romeo. JWP had three free kicks on the right hand side which he struggles with. When Boufel finally won a free kick on the left hand side at perfect JWP distance we all expected a 2nd goal. I even had my video out. For some inexplicable reason Boufel took it himself .... straight at the wall. JWP was absolutely fuming, that must not happen again, you don't get many chances like that. Difficult to judge the defence as Fulham offered nothing but Dansu was very good and totally bossed everything. He can actually head a ball that is going to make a difference. Cedric was Cedric some nice touches but he gave the ball away pretty frequently and they targetted him with high balls. Twice Dansu came across to rescue him. I though PEH did very well at LB but he doesn't get forward as he doesn't have the pace but defensively none shall pass. I thought Romeu had a quite game, he seems to get caught in possession quite often and his passes never seem to reach their intended target as they should. The injuries meant we didn't see Armstrong who I expected to come on as he has looked very bright recently. A win is a win and breeds confidence so onwards we go.

I thought he made quite an impact when he came on Saturday. Yes Liverpool were tiring but he pushed Robertson back and he was their danger man (along with 8 others). Defo worth a run in the team

Don't underestimate the weather, really grim. Reminded me of Cardiff last year. There are some battered Saints fans on the last train out of Dodge city. Burnley played better and we gifted them three goals. Simple as that. Stephens was ok, don't get all the hate but Vestergaard was woeful. How does he let the ball bounce over him.... twice. Completely beaten in midfield and they had Cork who did nothing. The attack will score goals when they see the ball quicker and more often. The defence will concede less when they aren't under such constant pressure. Now how on earth are we getting home. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

"Carrillo our worst ever signing?" I'm just going to put Saul and Dixon on the table and leave them there smelling

All round to yours then on 14th September[emoji3] Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Absolutely somebody to rival Romeo for cards and to protect our academy fledglings, Case was so important to the development of our youngsters. I noticed Dale Stephens at Brighton had a bit of that about him but I suspect we cannot afford him.

It's illegal to show actual footage of the game

Forster looking much better err that's about it. I don't think Mo is having a bad game, he loves all the twists and moves and can deliver a good cross but he is just too slow. That's relative of course, in the flesh he'll be pretty quick, but in the Premier league if you are fractionally late to the breakdown or with a pass then the opposition will punish you. Look how effective Long and Redmond are at interceptions and closing down, that is all down to pace. Overall Saints just look weaker and off the pace, so looking forward to the 2nd half!

Saints aren't going down, forget that. Much easier run in and a better side than Cardiff, Burnley, or Brighton. Last 20 mins was hard work yesterday. Squeaky bum time as Brighton threw everything at us. That was always going to happen, as they are fighting for survival now. I thought Stephens did well when he came on. Quite a few important interceptions. He has had a rough few months so good to rebuild his confidence. We are an injury away from needing him. Armstrong had a great game as did all the midfielders. Romeo put his body on the line in every tackle. Unsung hero. Gallagher was told to be a nuisance and he was. I rate Dale Stephens and he actually had to do some work for the last 15 mins. However standout for me was Sims. Only on the pitch for a short while but he looked the business, and was causing a lot of problems. So next year buy Dale Stephens (or similar) one or two strikers, a back up RB and we are sorted. Maybe RH will take a look at Carillo. I feel a lot better than a few weeks ago. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Doh wishful thinking, i meant Barnes Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk