saintant

This is what happens when you reward players for getting knocked out of the FA Cup by giving them time off! Should have spent the two week gap training harder than ever but no, RK decides he and the team deserve a holiday. You couldn't make it up and it wouldn't happen in any other job. They are paid enough don't pamper them by giving them extra holidays for failure.

Good battling victory with some immense displays at the back notably VVD and Fonte plus FF. Having said that I'm with those who question RK for persisting with Pelle whenever he's fit. Recently, with no big man up front we were causing havoc to opposition defences with the tireless running of Mane and Long - a bit like Leicester play and it works for them. With those two we were creating lots of chances and scoring more goals. Yesterday RK shoe-horned Pelle into the side and we were much worse for that decision and I do appreciate the fact that we got the three points. I just think we look better balanced, have more shape and carry more threat with Long and Mane playing furthest forward and an extra midfielder to replace Pelle.

You know they'll bring on Carroll at half time whereas we won't change anything.

Take off Pelle and bring on Romeu - push Long and Mane forward.

Don't see how anyone would want to change the current strike force which is Long and Mane up front. Three games played, three games won. Why change what is clearly working. We do much better with two mobile quick strong guys given licence to roam up front. Change to one up top and we become predictable, slow in build up, one dimensional and create far fewer chances. Hard to see how RK can change things at the moment no matter what the options.

Can't believe Smalling got away with all that blatant shirt tugging on VVD in the penalty area - he was doing it every time we had a corner or free kick into their box.

Austin powers in the winner! £4 million - what's not to like. Bring on the Gunners.

Play Shane Lone correctly ie as one of a pair of quick strikers with licence to roam and he is as good as most - the only negative is that his finishing is not always as clinical as it should be. However, the problems he causes opposition defenders and the pressure he puts on them makes space and chances for others. Unfortunately RK is too often happy to stick him on the wing where he is far less effective. If Spurs or Liverpool do get him he will be a great loss - I hope he stays and that RK continues to plays him in his best role.

Watched a weakened Leicester side today who were very unlucky to only draw against Spurs. I saw much to be admired in them and a lot of that used to apply to us. They were on their toes for the whole game, not one of them stopped moving and to a man they knew their exact jobs. They chased and harried, hassled and closed down for the whole game and never once let up the tempo. They intercepted, tackled broke quickly and with numbers in support. They got forward quickly and then regrouped and held their shape when Spurs had the ball. They must be around 30% fitter than our players and that's being kind to our plodders. The only thing that stopped them achieving a deserved victory was a quite ludicrous penalty given to Spurs in the dying minutes for an accidental handball by Nathan Dyer who clearly had no idea where the ball was when it brushed his had without even diverting it from its natural course. As I say, so much to admire and many of the qualities we showed until recently. How far we have fallen below those standards and I accept we lost some very good players but it's the complete lack of energy, pressing, organisation and spirit that is hard to accept. Much can be accomplished with a fit, committed and well drilled squad of lower standard players - Strachan did it, Pochetino did it but I'm not sure the current coaching staff buy into this method. I think laziness has crept back into the camp and there can be no excuses for that when one considers how much players and coaches earn these days. Saints are hard to watch and get enthused about now I'm afraid.

Just seen the goals. Why on earth didn't Steklenberg just tip that over for a corner? Absolute madness to push it out.

My advice is for people to seriously lower their expectations of this team because then you are not so gutted when they lose as they inevitably will more often than not. I'm afraid this squad of players is no where near good enough and will be the underdogs in most games from now until the end of the season. There is no magic formula - the players we have are simply not good enough and the danger is that we will slide headlong into relegation. We are in freefall and only some astute business in the January window will arrest that in my opinion.

Those two tackles looked to me like the action of a player who wants to get out of playing in our next game so he is not cup-tied.

Disappointing result after taking the lead. However, if you'd offered me three points from the two Xmas games and an improvement of three on our goal difference I'd have snatched your hand off.

We have stopped doing what all good footballing teams do and that is playing between the lines. To compound matters we then allow our opponents to do exactly that because our midfield is generally too far away from our back four and too immobile. Klopp spotted this and once Liverpool started to get players in between our lines we were in big trouble and the result was devastating. They simply cut though us like a knife through butter. Unfortunately Morgan helped by Victor formed a very effective shield in front of our back four and made it difficult for opponents to play between the lines. Now, with Morgan gone any opposition manager worth his salt will spot and expose this huge weakness.

VVD has settled in very quickly and is turning in some quality performances. I would like to see him bring the ball out of defence more like he did for Celtic. It can be risky but if he chooses the right moments this could provide a great attacking option and help cause a bit of panic in opposition defences. Others can drop in to cover when they see him make a forward burst. He's so good on the ball that I think we are not utilising all his talents yet and would like to see him marauding forward particularly during home games.

We really must learn to react when teams clearly change their strategy at half time and that is the job of the manager and coaching staff. Bournemouth stuck two wide men right on the touchlines and then squeezed and pressed us hard through the centre. Result, we panicked in possession, missplaced passes and generally played hoofball to nobody in particular. When they had the ball we failed to press or mark tightly so they were able to play between the lines at will. It surely can't be that difficult to counteract a tactical change and make one of your own. Having said that we played tremendously in the first half and scored a couple of quality goals. We just need to expect these tactical changes and have a plan B or this will carry on happening. Sort it out Ronald.

With all this talk of Romeu and his bookings it would be nice to see JWP pick up a few cards. Unlikely though as he never gets close enough to an opponent to put in a tackle.

Currently we have a team that does everything far too slowly with players who take the less brave option of a short sideways or backward pass. As a result it is very easy for opponents to organise defensively and prevent us creating many clear cut chances. I'd say we put far too much emphasis on possession football and the way we play it does not hurt the opposition as they are happy for us to have the ball so long as we are not creating chances. Having watched both Leicester and West Ham this weekend I enjoy the way they play. Both sides have plenty of pace and skill and don't tend to make a lot of pointless passes that get nowhere. They attack quickly and in numbers which seems to allow them to make many chances. I'm afraid we are beginning to look very sterile and predictable making us boring to watch. I accept that we have had a few injuries but would like to see us adopt a much more attacking style with greater tempo right from the first minute.

JWP only ok against 10 men when he is given time and space.

Need Mane and Romeu on at half time.

Absolute madness to drop Romeu who was our best player against Norwich. Don't understand this at all.

Virgil looks almost too good to be playing centre back. With his skill he would be very comfortable in midfield and it will be interesting to see if we use him in other positions. I hope he is given licence to keep making runs forward like he was doing for Celtic as that should free up space and help us launch attacks. He's got goals in him too so certainly a very exciting signing. Well done to the club in getting this one over the line.

No pace and no power - two of the key ingredients to compete in the Premiership.

If Wanyama has indeed stated that he doesn't want to play presumably he has volunteered to forego his hefty pay packet this week. I sincerely hope the club will fine him at least one week's wages. This sort of attitude does untold damage to the morale of the whole team and should not be tolerated. If you don't want to play don't expect to be paid.

Baffled, why would anyone pick JWP? Might as well start with ten men.