vectraman

Lots of possession, do very little with it. Just like against Inter first half. Boring football to watch, lack of urgency going forward, too much sideways/backwards 'easy' ball, no movement up front, we play like statues in the opponents half. No one wants to make a run, give a forward option. Best I have seen saints play for years was at home to Arsenal on Boxing Day, 30 odd % possession and 4 goals... Playing to a system, not to our strengths. We will be fine, but we could be better than we are currently - 442 is a much better formation than the diamond forces us to. Clasie offers little, never scored, never likely to. Lots of posters on here had concerns about our forward options for this season, sadly being proven correct so far. We are toothless, playing the system we are doesn't help either imo. Play Austin/Redmond as a pair playing off of each other, not as isolated entities. Just my thoughts...

Sometimes you come up against a better team and you lose. That was today. We haven't suddenly become rubbish with terrible players, we were outplayed by a better team, whose manager got it tactically spot on. The early goal was our undoing really, they didn't need to force the game after that. They were like last years Leicester only more capable! Yes we had possession, but it was mainly tippy tappy going nowhere dangerous peripheral stuff. We really did not look like breaking down their very able defensive lines. Inter will not be as stern a test as Chelsea, I just hope we put out a strong line up and go for it. Roll on Thursday!

Damn. Steven Davis gives the ball away cheaply and City score

A striker with a 50% chance to goal ratio We'd be top of the league

If we had a Defoe or similar up front we'd be out of sight by now. Putting the ball in the net is our Achilles heal...

Wouldn't disagree but I also thought Redmond played very well. Whole team did a great job on wham, excellent performance

Austin goal !!

Well done Saints. Good performance again, very satisfying. Let's keep the run going at Wham.

Just got back from the game, my thoughts: Decent performance, team were more cohesive, created some very good chances, 3-0 would not have flattered us. Nobody was poor, for me Tadic shaded m.o.m. Over Romeou and vvd. I think Redmond will be a very good player for us, out on the wing, using his pace. He is not, and does not look like a striker. The whole stadium can see that except Claude! Austin IS a goal scorer, however, to me, he did not look fit, certainly not fit enough to play a whole match. Subs were all successful, manager got them spot on. Martina proving versatile playing right midfield, I'm glad we kept him, he's decent cover. A solid 7.5/10 all round performance by the boys today, satisfying result, good for Fraser with two clean sheets this week. Promising.

We'll win both. That is the best outcome by far

100% agree. No point in doing all the hard work in getting to the group stages and then not taking it seriously. We won't go down, let's go for it. Let's go for it in all the cups. If not what is the point? I'm really looking forward to Thursday, my first ever European game, what's not to like!

If Arsenal score early on the heads will drop, 4-0. If we can battle away and keep it goalless until half time, we have a chance as the pressure will be on them. 0-0. Fingers crossed!

Hope the club are right...

Double posted - can't delete it!

1. Man City 2. Man U 3. Chelsea 4. Spurs 5 Liverpool 6 Arsenal Relegated - Hull, Burnley, Bournemouth Saints 14th if we persevere with the diamond Saints 8th if we throw the diamond in the bin!

I totally agree with your observations regarding playing the ball out short constantly from the 'keeper. It, when it worked was incredibly boring watching it go across the back four and back to the keeper, sometimes via a midfielder, who then played it backwards. My thought whilst watching us methodically plodding it across the pitch was this - what happens against a high pressing side who don't give you any time on the ball? What is the plan B going to look like then? Can't go long as the players are too small to win & keep the ball upfront. What then Claude? I think half decent teams will very quickly cotton on to our one dimensional system, and stop us playing keep ball. Several times against Sunderland Fraser played short balls out and we did not look at all comfortable dealing with it. Clearly it's the new system they are being instructed to play, but currently it looks so limited and limiting! Thoughts?

But 5 points down on the same three fixtures last season...

I'm at the game and I couldn't wait for half time. Puel needs to motivate this team for a big second half. Tap tap across the back, slowly inch forward, then back again. It's the formation that's to blame, not the players. Atmosphere dead, as there is nothing to cheer. Get Redmond wide right, tadic wide left and Austin in the middle. Some limited booing at ht, aimed I believe at the manager rather than the team. Has got to get better. Ps can we sign Defoe please, he is the best player on the pitch!

Anytime that England are playing in a tournament, the inevitable 1966 references start to be spouted out. Motty is the worst for this. For christ's sake it was 50 years ago, move on.

Hojbjerg may be 6'1" tall, but Vic was 6'1" wide... That's where his physical presence lay.

Apart from we'd lose probably every Europa game, making the whole excitement of making the group stage irrelevant. I want us to do well in the competition...

It would be nice to sign a couple of players who have proven Premier League quality. Gambling on cheaper foreign imports with no PL experience, just because they may be value added in a couple of years time, is, in my opinion getting more risky. How about YaYa Toure on loan - sorts DM out, Berahino up front - definite improved options up front. Both would be exciting too I know it won't happen, but I can dream... I think WBA signing Everton's Galloway on loan is good for them, he looked mustard against us at home last season. It is concerning how physically short our side has become this season. We'll be getting bullied in games constantly because we have no size or physical presence. I hope whoever we get in hits the ground running though, we sure do need an on field boost. Beat Sunderland on Saturday and things will seem so much better. Hopefully Puel will relent with the diamond obsession and get some wingers out wide , Austin and Long in the middle and get back to doing what we can do, crosses. Tadic left, Redmond right, happy days. Charlie Austin needs to play in the middle with Long off of him, so both can be allowed to do what they do well. Austin is a very good striker - if we play him in the right place! How many chances to start has he has since he joined us? Played in his best position he would be like a new striker, we must give him a decent run in the side I believe. I was genuinely excited when we signed him, I still believe he can do it for us.

He would be great. However Puel has ruled out signing a striker in an interview when he stated our striking options were fine, and we wouldn't be signing one. We will be looking at attacking midfielders, but not strikers.....

Blast from the '80's Five star System addict...

No goal threat. Didn't work their keeper at all