austsaint

I agree with you. Tadic has done some great things at the Club, particularly when Pelle and Mane were team mates - but he has often gone missing in games against top six teams and his prima donna behaviour with feigned fouls and injuries leave a bad impression too. I think Puel is trying to find a way to get Boufal up to speed and increase his playing time; for good reason, as Boufal has the cut through creativity and impact to win games for Saints. It's a nonsense for Tadic to think he's been subbed unfairly; he consistently fades out of a game and his being replaced is often justified, though I think someone like Boufal could just as easily be given time playing wide in place of Ward-Prowse or even Redmond.

Stephens has done a pretty good job, and Yoshida has been mostly excellent. The problem rests with the change of midfield shape, with Romeu essentially left to do the lot; Davis out of position in the DM role and JWP being played as a wide right. Good teams midfields have motored through.

He was pushed out of the wall by Herrera actually; but don't let that stop your blinkered bias.

But Tadic wasn't playing well - and at least Boufal tried a few things and ran at the defence; he's shown enough to be very influential with a consisten run in the team. Much, much better 2nd half - I thought Redmond and Bertrand had good games but Romeu was clearly our best - some of his tussles with Vic were great to watch.

That's the problem - he isn't suited to the DM role, but has been forced to assume it with the positioning of JWP wide right. Looks much better (Davis) when he's allowed to play an attacking role which he did 2nd half. The side's midfield has been unbalanced by trying to fit JWP into the team, wide right - Romeu is being forced to mop up everything - which he did alone in the 2nd half - massive performance by OR - but our midfield at present has problems which an in-form Hojbjerg could help solve.

He's not the problem - it's MIDFIELD.....Romeu on his own while Davis and JWP get overrun.

They're better all over the park. We are being slaughtered in mid-field and sadly without Gabbi - zero attacking threat; surely Boufal offers more than Tadic or Ward-Prowse - bring him on.

Thanks for the report - hoping Carceras get's a call up for the Spurs game. Sorry to hear about the Boufal spat dummy. I can understand his frustration in not nailing down a spot given who we are playing on the right wing/inside right at present. If we want to beat Spurs, Boufal needs to be involved.

Henri Camara - gave us a sniff of staying up in that awful season.

Good, but so is Boufal.

Cannot agree about Boufal - he provided attacking spark straight away; it was his shot turned in by Gabbi and then he threaded through and hit the side netting.

Don't disagree about PEH/Clasie being drafted in to help Romeu. Davis is being played out of position lately and can't really handle the support holding role. The situation in midfield has been brought about in part with the switch of JWP to a wing/inside right position, which seems to leave us exposed defensively.

Time to give Stephens a rest; Yoshida carried him today. The other area of weakness was midfield where once again, Romeu was asked to do much of the DM work alone. Hope we see more of Boufal from now on; he makes things happen. Cedric was great again today, but Bertrand unusually quiet - Tadic and Redmond stood out.

Anfield celebration from Claude.

I'm warming to Redmond.

Boufal for Mr Ward-Prowse anyone?

Bertrand has been unusually quiet so far.

Our midfield is wide open with WP played as a winger and Davis trying to lend Romeu a hand in a role which he is unsuited to.

Fake forensics.

I would like to disagree with this. But I can't - he really is an average goalkeeper.

I think we've already got a better player than him in our ranks - Josh Sims. J-Rod, Martina, Isgrove, Forster (I know it won't happen, but it should) out - new CB, CM and versatile defender in.

A really good post - as is post 409; both posts capture the essence of what the game meant to most Southampton fans; great disappointment and heartbreak at the result, but incredible consolation with the performance, skill and spirit of Saint's players. Wes, just to take your comments about Gabbiadini a step further; it's just not his goal tally that's impressive - his movement, turns, touch and eye for a pass are incredible. What I like about him compared to Pelle is that his movement and skill have resulted in more crosses and passes coming in and around the box on the deck, rather than lumped in. The result is a quicker style of play, suiting Cedric, Bertrand and even Tadic - though I'd like to see more of Boufal just behind Gabbi - could be an interesting end to the season.

If it was just the isolated co*k up by Forster no one would be questioning him; but it's been a recurring theme for quite a while. Puel has to show some ticker and drop him.

Yes, Redmond - who had such a good match, particularly first half - could have put Lingard's role in the game to the test had he gone over in a crumpled heap as so many others would have...well done to the lad for his decision to keep going. One afterthought I have about the game is a belief that someone like Sims, with his run and pace might have been the right sort of sub to have had on the bench to try and win the game late on, rather than Rodriguez or even Long.

Davis wasn't poor; it was JWP who lost the ball immediately prior to their second goal - he wasn't poor either; probably his most important game in a Saints shirt. Our only poor player on the day, and for some time now was Forster. It's going to be interesting to see whether Claude has the bottle to drop him.