austsaint

Calling St Benali, Bexy and Shance - got anything to say about Mane?

Penalty aside, we look a lot more dangerous with Mane on.

They've shredded us through midfield and been allowed time in dangerous positions to pick their spot in the back of the net - how many times have we seen Coutinho and Sturridge score goals like todays. 2-1 would flatter us greatly. Pelle has been abject; Tadic not much better; Clasie all at sea. Martina has shown up offensively but has left acres of space to exploit. We've been thoroughly tonked so far - he has to bring Mane and Wanyama on at H/T but I bet he doesn't.

Pelle and Tadic are lazy and ineffective; Clasie having a mare. The time and space Liverpool have is embarrassing. Has to be Vic and Mane on at H/T.

Are you sure you're not getting Davo and Ward-Prowse mixed up? After all it was Davis' corner which found Pelle's head v Stoke.

Agree with you about Martina. He really isn't a bad player. Highlights of his game yesterday included that inch perfect through ball for Long in the first half and an attacking foray where he stood up Pieters or Shawcross with great skill before whipping in the cross. He has not been a bad buy for 1 Mill. and is certainly a better alternative at right back than Maya or JWP.

Yeah, Costa has one red card and that intimidating stand over man and bully Sadio has two. Puzzling.

The other question about Lukaku is, what was the "special one" thinking in letting him slip away from Chelsea.

Well done to Pelle for his goals but the overall performance of VVD and his command of the air in that last 10 minutes was immense. Nonsense red card and a frustrating display from Tadic.

Has to be appealed and has to be rescinded.

Clinical stuff from Pelle; Long being Long, hang your head Dusan despite the assist. Davis had a great half as have Clasie, Romeu, VVD and Bertrand. Couple of impressive tackles from Targett. Anyone expect 2-0 at H/T? Thought not.

Andy; hang in there. Sure, dips in form and defeats like Bournmouth are hard to take, but the "bounce back within 24 hours" maxim is crucial. Cast your mind back a few years to 'Arry consigning us to League 1 and the dark days before Markus' arrival. Do not lose interest - you've got all Summer to do that!

Your final sentence really is a shower of nonsense - we are having the season which reflects our level......a bad run where we haven't played that badly then a really good run where we have had our share of luck. To claim we have missed out on Europa League through bad luck and Ronald's bad decisions is crazy. To lose interest as a supporter is also a bit naff.

Great to get the late equaliser. Not Saints best performance but Romeu in mid-field was superb and VVD outstanding all day. I thought Mane had a bright second half and can't understand the negative comments from posters about his game. Pelle on the other hand was awful - he should have made way for Yoshida, not Mane. Bertrand's first half was very good, and although Martina gave the ball away twice in dangerous areas he actually got down the line into attacking areas often; he's not that bad as a fill in for Cedric. The late point makes all the difference to the rest of the weekend.

You are not the only one - we should be 2/1 up and there has been some nice interplay with Davis, Bertrand, Tadic and Mane. Bertrand so much better at conventional LB with a licence to get forward. Clasie a little quiet in midfield but we have created three good chances and there should be more to come. Agree Pelle is poor today.

He really was. Just the same, the boy can play a bit.

A fairly hard report card Shance. I think it's fair to say SM has not produced his best since the game (Norwich?) he was dropped for being late - but I still see him doing good things and getting into good channels, but two things have worked against him; there have been so many long balls recently just belted up to the Austin, Long, Mane direction and when Mane has played he's been stuck out on the wing, with little service from midfield or wing back. IN the game against Bournmouth I noticed three times ( JWPx2 and Davisx1) hit a square pass hard out to his wing in a cramped part of the field with nothing on - I think, in part he is missing some of the interchange with Tadic, Davis at his best and even an inform Pelle, because without some of the on-the-carpet passes in and around the box some of our play lately has resembled a non-creative overly direct aerial bombardment.

Just as a matter of interest Tom, just what would you be expecting JWP to do up there in the forward line alongside Long? Or do you see him as a 10 role candidate, something he hasn't managed up till now.

There was zero creativity in mid-field last night - Romeu had too much holding work to do with Ward-Prowse along side and Davis had a really off night when he came on. The fact that Saints got few corners or attacking free kicks really showed up the shortcomings in the rest of Ward-Prowse's game. I felt a bit sorry for Mane, Long and Austin because there was no supply apart from hopeful long balls and square passes in midfield. It looked as though Tadic should have come on earlier but Bournmouth had such a head of steam up it was apparent nothing was going to turn the tide on the night. I'll bet Boruc enjoyed the night!!

He's been more involved than Long and Austin to be fair. There's just no delivery for our attacking three - I think Ron has to try Tadic or either Long/Austin or Ward-Prowse.

Great work by VVD - they have really out enthused us in the first half with their pressing and offensive running.

Missed defensive header from Prowse gifts the two B'mouth shots. Midfield has to be addressed at H/T.

We look light on in midfield - Maya or JWP off for either Clasie or Davis.

I have always thought the whole idea of a "team of the week" was a weak idea whether Crooks was the judge or not. I just can't believe that someone like Crooks watches every minute of every game before selecting his team, which you really would need to do before coming up with a final side. His capacity to then make the right choices are a different question again.

Yes, and it would be a nice circular wind down to his career - back to where it started. Has anyone got a clip of him missing the penalty?