austsaint

Deserved!!!

Cannot question Mane's commitment there. Saints pressing is impressive tonight.

He has played well - the covering of Fonte was committed and crucial.

We should be - but a great half of Football; special mention for Targett and midfield of Clasie, Davis and Romeu working well.

I hope you lot don't think the rest of us living in Oz are as wacky as the OP.

Quite agree with you about Jack Cork - Viafara comes to mind as another hard working midfielder without technical skills who did a job for the Club and added steel in front of a back four. Getting back to Reed, I don't think the U/21 set-up and fixture list is a barometer of whether he has kicked on or regressed. The point is, Reed has shown he has the goods at first team level - go back and watch the Everton and West Ham games from last season. His biggest problem this season is lack of opportunity not regression in his game. You're probably right about Targett, he's a long way off being a regular left back and I suspect he would find the Championship hard going at this stage too - let's hope we don't find ourselves down there any time soon.

Yes, I agree - most of the youngsters are not good enough and may never be. I feel a bit sorry for Ron in that his quote about the academy players might seem harsh in print, yet he is essentially correct. The Club cannot expect to churn out Bales, Shaws and Walcotts every season and the idea of getting to a point where 50% are academy products is fanciful. I am arguing that Harry Reed is an academy player who has shown he can play well at first team level and he's not getting the opportunity to build on what he's shown as an 18 and 19yo.

Disagree with you about Reed - he has done a lot more in several appearances than "running around a lot". Ever since RK commented (last season) in interview that he doesn't have technical skills, the lad hasn't been given the opportunity he deserves, while the other academy graduate who does have technical skills has largely squandered and floundered in 100 appearances and his opportunities continue. I also don't think Targett is as bad as you describe him, though he certainly is not good enough for regular starts.

Corky, sadly I don't think Sam is going to cut the mustard.

David, since you quote those statistics about Juanmi's playing time and lack of goals - perhaps you could apply the same forensic microscope to Prowsey; the minutes played would be rather prolific, many of them spent further forward than Juanmi has seen in his short cameos. The goal tally would be superior by how many again? Yes, one. Sometimes statistics are worthy of scrutiny, but often just watching players' minutes on the park are more instructive, and if you've watched Juanmi's time on the pitch you surely would have seen something worth following up on.

Joey Jordan could run the laps til 'Arry's knee's better.

Yes, of course - if Juanmi didn't travel to Norwich, he could hardly be drafted in, point taken. It begs the question then, why didn't he travel? And if he is on his way out, it seems a rough call since he has hardly been given a chance - he clearly has talent.

I thought Juanmi has shown enough to have been Mane's replacement on Saturday after the late-for-meeting fiasco, rather than JWP being shoehorned into an attacking role he has shown ample times previously he's not cut out for.

I don't think you can read a lot into the U/21 performances - the point being (albeit relying on memory) he has done well in the past when called on to fill in for Morgan or Vic, whether that was at the front of the diamond or in the traditional DM space I'm not sure. I also remember him getting forward a bit with some success at incisive passing which flies in the face of RK's quote post-Everton.

I'd argue your assessment - Clasie can press and tackle but he's not particularly quick. He is also showing the capacity to move the ball forward at speed and pick a pass out in dangerous areas. As for Ward-Prowse being a better tackler!!!!!!!!!

Amid the understandable teeth gnashing directed at Vic and Sadio, it was good to see Harry Reed get a short run out, belated though it was. I've always thought Ron was off the mark (I think it was after Reed's solid performance against Everton) when he commented in interview on Reed's technical limitations, which sounded like a "I don't rate you". Practically ever since a young mid-fielder with technical skills has featured week after week, and never really made a impact. Whether JWP continues to be picked at right wing, attacking mid or holding mid is obviously RK's call, but in the wake of Vic's ban, I hope Ron has the foresight to put Romeu and Reed together in the DM role, even if it's Reed subbed on for Clasie - it's not the solution to all our ills but giving him some sort of extended run gives the hope of Academy representation (beyond Ward-Prowse) and a chance for a good young player to challenge Ron's assessment of him.

I understand the anger at Wanyama - but at least he is capable of pulling out a performance like the Arsenal game. On the other hand week after week we have to watch James Ward-Prowse going through the motions, getting opportunity after opportunity and producing so little. I worry less about the players who are out of form or don't want to be here than a guy like Prowsey who says all the right things and tries hard but is never going to contribute much due to his limitations.

He is contributing much more than JWP, wouldn't you agree?

We are - if Ron isn't going to bring Mane on then it must be time to give Seager a chance - Ward-Prowse off, there are others who can take corners and free kicks.

Agree with posts 16 and 17 - he's a good all action holding midfielder who can pick a pass and has a decent shot in his kitbag. Hope he stays; a partnership with Clasie awaits.

Superb against Arsenal and has been at the heart of most creative things Saints have done this season. Mane will be in demand come the Summer and in my view 30 million will be a starting price several Clubs will be willing to meet. I hope he stays - he's a brilliant player; it's just a pity RK has switched him from right to left wing; attacking mid and striker to fill the gaps for most of the 19 games so far.

Never mind the platitudes, you've got Dalek in your corner, you'll be allright.

Yes; I'd like to see that line up. I thought it odd RK played Mane wide left today rather than more central and in turn Tadic wide right when his creative best seems to be on the other flank or in behind the striker.

Deflating stuff - why was Mane taken off I wonder.

I laughed Vectis - very good!