washsaint

FFS....what bloody awful defending again.

Ha Ha Ha ....... shows what I know (nothing)! Great header from Long

We sit so deep that even when we have the chance of a break (Hoj) there is not a single Saints player anywhere near the play - they are all sat back. Tadic has been woeful so far and I would bring Sims on for him at HT

Pretty awful game so far. WBA happy to sit back and stifle us and, Boufal apart, we don't have the quality to cause them any issues in areas that really matter.

For once, I would agree with Shurlock. Boufal is a class apart and as well as having a silky touch works hard too.

Really Ottawa? You happy that 3 times now we have pulled decent balls back into dangerous areas and we have 1 , at most 2, players in the box and no-one attacking those decent pull backs? Its glaringly obvious this is a real weakness yet it is the same every single game. We are playing pretty well until the final third - propaganda football as WGS used to say.

And again - just 2 players in the box when a decent cross comes in. When are we going to actually attack with purpose?

Just not enough numbers in the box.

We just don't have any attacking threat at all....very predictable and no cutting edge.

Tadic very, very poor so far

Once again we are in a dangerous position and we only have 1 player in the box and then long plays it behind Boufal. We have to get more bodies forward.

I would be amazed at this. We have enough non-scoring forwards without paying good money for another one. he has 3 goals in 17 this season (I am guessing mainly a sub for Napoli which again would raise the question of why we would even be interested). Reckon this must be his agent trying to drum up some interest in him.

While not ready to throw in the towel on Puel yet, many of the performances this season have been unacceptable. Gutless, defensive rubbish. I would much rather we threw caution to the wind and attacked with numbers (we have the players to do this) than try and eke out 1-0 wins, 0-0 draws, etc. There is no doubt we need an AMC - although you could argue Boufal could do this as I personally think he looks dangerous just behind the forward. I think he is wasted out on the wing where he is isolated with little support. As Turkish has said over on the UI we should go back to a 4-2-3-1 formation and get numbers forward to support attacks. Our midfield is too lightweight and I would argue players like Hojberg need a run of games to get into rhythm as opposed to being rotated almost every game. Rotation, while maybe necessary during busy periods, seems to be affecting the fluency (or lack of) of our play. Hopefully 3 points against WBA and a much improved performance although no doubt there will be 5 or 6 changes again.

Sorry, but you could have Costa up front for us and it would make no difference. We don't get enough players forward and whoever plays up front is isolated. We have Boufal and Tadic who are real talents but seem obsessed with crop circles (shades of Fabrice Fernandes) and we are too defensive to get numbers forward. We put crosses in and most times we have 1 or sometimes 2 or 3 players in the box. Compare that to Spurs tonight who would consistently have 5 or 6 players in the box when the ball came in.

Spot on. And that is what makes us so dull - 11 men behind the ball and wait for a counter. We looked really good pressing and attacking and then, as you say, decided to sit really deep and invite Spurs on to us. Madness, utter madness. Not quite sure how, with all this bloody rotation, Redmond (who has been abysmal) seems to start every game.

yes we are in the semis of the LC and 8th in the Prem. But, my god - the style of football we have been subjected to this season (couple of games aside) has been truly awful. Dull, boring and no threat to the opposition. Like playing for a 0 - 0 against Hapoel (home and away). I am truly bored to tears watching Saints this season. Really don't know if Puel is the man for us or not. His style of play and defensive setup has us so predictable and certainly no fun to watch. I hope 2nd half of the season he has an epiphany and looks to play a far more expansive attacking brand of football

I certainly hope there is a reaction on Saturday. This is simply not good enough. Yet again, no attacking threat and a dull, boring, insipid style of play after 15 minutes of high energy where we, for once, actually looked dangerous. I am so 'meh' about Puel and his dull, boring style of play. No threat at all.

OMG......Long has looked like a pub player since he came on.

What a shame.....we were great for 10-15 minutes and have been absolute rubbish since. Puel doesn't half like to play a very conservative style......poor Jay had 0 service all night and no-one getting forward to support him. I really despise this 'style' of football and runs counter to what we have typically been about. Getting 11 behind the ball and having no drive to get forward makes for awful viewing. Yet it was totally different against Bournemouth. Why?

Very poor from Saints after a great start. We're sitting so deep and ceding possession in scary positions so when we get it back there is no 'out' ball. Forster's kicking abysmal (what jackoffs think he could have done anything about the goal and the massive deflection - and no way on thi splanet could he have come and claimed the cross) and the hate for JWP is ridiculous. Batman and Heisens**t being complete tools as ever. One simple, one windup merchant. T**ts. Fonte and Boufal have been very very poor.

Lot of humble pie to be eaten by many, many posters on here. Will they admit that today (and hasn't been the case all season) Puel got it spot on? We looked way fresher than Bompey after the first 15 minutes, Yoshi was outstanding and has the pace that Fonte no longer has and JRod take a bow. That second goal was sheer class and all game (just like last time he started) he was making runs in behind, hassling from the front, etc. - something we have been sorely missing even with a fit Austin. We were outstanding second half but, again, Redmond was awful bar one or two touches. Despite not being at our best this season we are still semis of LC and 7th in the League (for now). IF JRod can stay fit then maybe, just maybe, we will have a good second half. Boufal will be an amazing player for us. Well done Saints and now a good break before the next game.

Very mixed first half. Yoshi - outstanding: more than proving Puel right playing him over Bertie Big ****** Fonte Clasie - outstanding Boufal - going to be some player Bertrand - excellent However, PEH has been a disaster and our attacking play is so slow. Everyone blames Redmond but if you look at the game, there are no options. Most times there are 0 midfielders in the picture when we attack and this means Redmond has to hold play up to wait for options. Our attacking is not good and JRod has had 0 service bar one cross. We've really got to sort out our attacking play - it is far too slow and ponderous and Boufal has 3 players on hm every time he has the ball because of lack of options. Hopefully we will come out strong 2nd half.

PEH having a complete mare

Seriously cack. I really feel sorry for everyone that is paying good money to go and watch a dull, lifeless, boring, toothless team week in week out. Puel has them playing some seriously dull football. Sidewards, backwards, cross to a team of midgets and don't get players in the box. Enough of this defensive s***e - take some chances and play attacking, entertaining football. This season, bar a couple of games, has been soporific. JRod, Long and Redmond are woeful. We desperately need a striker and even getting one we should recall Gallagher because our strike force is a f*****g disgrace and could not hit a barn door from 3 yards out.

I actually thought that JRod played better up top than anyone else that has played there this season. He gave it his all and was very unlucky not to score. We are still not exciting to watch but 2nd half was so much better than the 1st. I would hate to watch Boro every week. On a separate note, what a talent Boufal looks and can't wait until he is firing on all cyclinders. Surprise at just how good his English is too listening to his interview on the official site.