Sheaf Saint

The only time I ever saw Hesketh play was against Beer Sheva, and he looked hopelessly out of his depth. It wouldn't surprise me if Ralph were to give him a run out to have a look at him, but I'm not sure he has a future at Saints TBH.

Has he really though? He never got any kind of run in the team under Puel due to being injured when we signed him. And then with Pellegrino's ultra-defensive tactics he was never really allowed off his leash in the games he did play. He was then shipped out because he fell out with Hughes, who seems to have made a life-long habit of rubbing people up the wrong way anyway. I firmly believe he would be a lot more effective in Ralph's system than he was ever able to show under previous managers.

With his direct running he could fit well into Ralph's system. He couldn't possibly be any worse than Elyounoussi anyway.

Three of those four things can be worked on with training and coaching, the only one that can't is speed. But plenty of players have managed to make a good career for themselves despite a lack of pace.

I can just picture him self-combusting the day that happens.

2-0 after 11 mins.

4-1 to Arsenal now. Just need Spurs to smash a few past Cardiff later and it will be a much better day for us than Saturday was.

Really? You didn't think the EFL cup final was a good game?

Well then Dave Merrington is an idiot who obviously wasn't watching the Cardiff game.

It's the way he thinks he can dribble past players effortlessly then just shrugs when he inevitably gets tackled that gets me. One moment on the second half today he got the ball in a good position with passing options available, but he just thought he could walk the ball past the City defenders to the edge of the box without any tricks or burst of pace. Just bizarre. At least with previous signings like Gaston or Boufal you could see the occasional glimpse that they might have some talent and come good, but not so with this fella.

Please excuse my ignorance here but how is it even possible for a player to make 29 passes while only managing 24 touches?

Always up against it today, but if the ref had rightly given that pen at 1-1 it would have been a different story. Then we concede straight afterwards, just as we have made a habit of doing after scoring or missing a great chance, and it's game over. I really don't see the point of Mo elyounoossi (?) He really is terrible - just an empty shirt that contributes nothing whatsoever. I think I can see the logic in the selection today - it's a game we aren't expected to win so let's rest some players for games where we have more of a chance, but too many players just not up to it out there today. Lemina pretty anonymous again. Romeu still very rusty. Best player on the pitch was PEH, then he loses his head and now we're without him for a few games. Stupid, stupid tackle to make when the game is already lost.

Unbelievably poor. Possibly one of our worst signings ever. Contributes nothing whatsoever. Might as well start with only ten men on the pitch.

I honestly wonder if having Ali Dia on the pitch would be more productive. Moi is just completely useless. Contributes nothing whatsoever.

Great. Now we're without PEH for the next 3 games then. Just what we needed.

Yep. We committed 4 players forward for a press and that was the result.

Just seen the replay of Aguero's goal before HT. F*ck me, McCarthy has to do better with that. He has been given a lot of goodwill on here on the basis that he isn't Forster, but he has been very questionable recently.

Oh Bedders. You can't do that FFS!

Commentator ripping Long for his goal record, saying you would be disappointed with that even as a CB!

At least Valery's was a genuine attempt to win the ball. FFS Targett. Way too pedestrian. Had time to do something with that but gets caught out.

Surely Sterling was offside though? Looked clear to me from the replay.

But isn't that because he's so lightweight? Regardless of how easily he went down, it's still a blatant push in the back and a foul.

I can't put into words how f*cking angry I am with this ref. He didn't hesitate in ruling out that pen and then smiled about it. Blatant push in the back. Maybe JWP went over a little easy bit it's still a penalty all day long FFS!

Game over

Oh FFS! Yet another ridiculous deflection costs us a goal. Why does that kind of sh*t never happen in our favour!?