VectisSaint

Sometimes you wonder on here if some people can actually identify some of our players. Stephens has his faults, but not being able to pass ain't one of them.

Would be very surprised if anyone could prise Ingsy away from Southampton. Don't think some of these commentators understand about playing for your home town club, he's achieved his ambition. Might be different if we go down, but can't see any scenario where he might think Everton would be the place to be.

They do actually.

Yes, but it's ridiculous that we got him to work set pieces because he was rubbish at Goalkeeping coaching, when it would have been better to have employed someone who specialised in that area in the first place. Bit like SKD, determined to find something he is good at. Jobs for the boys instead of getting the best available.

As has just about every other CB in the PL.

There were a lot of things PEH messed up in the game, but to be fair if he had got in the waynofnGrealish's shot it would probably have taken his head off, still I suppose that would have made him more headless chicken like.

Says it all really, Goalkeeping coach maybe doing set pieces some good. Suppose he had to be good at something. If only we employed people with expertise in the areas needed rather than fit square pegs into round holes. Here's another thought, perhaps we are beginning to see some impact from Kitsbichler. He has been very low key since he arrived but things are beginning to look a bit better, the defence is better organised and there is more purpose to our attacking play. Ralph has someone to work with again maybe.

Villa were not awful, not in the way Norwich or Watford were. They weren't very good, they have very poor central defence and lack anything up front, but their general play was quite decent. To some extent we made them look poor although I don't actually think we played that well, just that we were unusually ruthless. We also had less players off their game yesterday, only Hojbjerg again was poor (though better than last week).

You just don't rest an in form striker. The worst thing you could do. Ings' fitness is not an issue, the type of injury he has had in the past could happen anytime. Probably more likely to score away at Chelski than at home anyway. We desparately need someone else to start scoring some goals though (an attacking player not Stephens) if only it was not Long forming a decent pairing with Ings, because he is getting plenty of chances.

Equaliser? ?

Ja k is Cornish

Stephens header surely not.

And a firth ?

Could do worse, almost anyone would be a step up on Hojbjerg and JWP. But why is Joe being touted to PL clubs?

Not sure there woud be much to lose if China decided to stop showing Saints. They might actually get increased TV audiences. I sure as hell find it difficult to watch them at the moment.

An average team would be great at the moment. We do not have an average team. We have a hopeless team, with only one or two players who can justifiably hold their heads high; Ings and ... OK, now I'm struggling. We also have a manager who cannot manage the defensive side of the team.

Down to a total lack of movement by our midfield. McCarthy had the same problem, no one showing for it. Stephens' frustration showed a couple of times when he went forward with some purpose and tried to make things happen. Unfortunately when he does it leaves us horribly exposed because our same midfield cannot do anything to cover. Our midfield today were hopeless, absolutely ****ing hopeless *****il Romeu came on). Until we get some decent midfield players we are well and truly ****ed.

It was quite clear where we were weakntoday, CM. PEH and JWP absolutely hopeless, at least Romeu made things better. Our CBs weren't great today, Bednarek especially was woeful, but they weren't the cause of our failing to score and losing. We desparately need to improve midfield, average CBs can be good enough if there is talent in front of them. A decent keeper would help as well.

Probably won't be long before this bunch would be doing that. Whatever happens, and it's odds on we will get relegated, we need to completely clear out this bunch of hopeless ****s at the end of the season. Only Ings, Romeu and possibly Djenepo (who was a passenger first half) really should escape. Everyone else can **** right off.

Some players just incompetent, Mccarthy in added time.

Hojbjerg continues to be absolutely hopeless. Runs around like a headless chicken and gives the ball away whenever he gets it. His shooting is also shocking.

Hojbjerg is absolutely awful today, our whole midfield incapable of making a pass. We look really **** at the moment.

Chelmsford City, not Cheltenham Town. Couldn't make it at a Level 6 club. ?

Not remembered with much fondness I know but Bald Eagle has died. Chatted to him in the lift at St Mary's just as the Norwich games was kicking off the year we went down, I was late and was surprised he was not down on the Bench. Tainted by Redkrapp association, but well respected in the game.

They did, but to be fair the U18s aren't doing too badly this season, there is a group of 4 teams (including West Ham) who are so much better than anyone else in the Division, but Saints are currently at least best of the rest, hugely inconsistent it seems.