austsaint

If Hoj was a horse he'd be swabbed for a vastly improved performance.

Hard to understand Boufal being subbed.

Hojbjerg a lot better; Clasie out of his skin. Like to see Boufal more central.

Good lad.

Calling Verlaine to the Forum.

Bit hard on Reed.

If you take reputation out of the equation, Yoshida has been at least the equal of Fonte this season.

It's good to watch - Bertrand, Clasie, Boufal and Yoshida all very good.

Reed is going OK; one mistimed pass.

Feisty game - what's wrong with Hoj today?

I wouldn't argue with your assessment that Reed can offer as much or more than Clasie. I'd go further and say he offers more than JWP can in central defensive midfield roles - and Hesketh or Sims offer more in attacking areas than JWP when he's played in more advanced attacking roles as he was against Stoke. Sunday against Bournmouth is a great time to throw Reed in for Romeu and start to test these theories out.

He looked a bit rusty the other day, I was wondering whether he could see properly!!

Good player with some silky skills. Very pleased.

Yes, I know he has had to bide his time behind the Wanyamas, Morgans and Romeus, but I've always seen a player in this lad. Also think he has a few more technical/expansive skills than Koeman's famous quote ever gave him credit for.

Can't we play someone else other than Ward-Prowse?

Frustrating night with the Boufal cross to J-Rod's missing left foot the critical moment - perhaps SB should have tucked it away himself. I found the central midfield set-up confusing tonight. Davis had a poor game; he seemed to be set up deeper tonight than normal, meaning the box-to-box runs he often makes were missing. JWP's brief seemed to be in a more advanced forward role; what we saw from him was no running with the ball, rather safe passes and then a run into the box as a de-facto centre forward or inside right!! I'm wondering why Hojbjerg wasn't given that role tonight - and Clasie who played so well on Sunday didn't get a look in either. Boufal and Bertrand were very good again and clearly our defence was rarely troubled. Ironically if Stoke had played all night with 11 we may have got the result. Long, Redmond and J-Rod all off the pace tonight - where has Sims got to? I'd like to see Reed, Hojbjerg and Clasie get the midfield spots v Bournmouth.

Davo did have an off night - he seemed to be asked to play a more defensive role most of the night; his through ball to Boufal should have resulted in the winning goal had Boufal shot or J-Rod used his left foot. Several people commented on how well JWP played - my frustration with him (obviously under instruction) was the mostly safe and sideways passing followed by a sprint into the box???

No left foot.

Prowsey seems to be playing in an advanced right side position, doesn't he? Tadic can do that.

Tadic on for JWP - Davis and Bertrand can handle corners and free kicks.

Davis has been poor tonight - maybe he's leaving the driving runs to JWP!!!!!

Is Prowse being played as an inside-right forward? Can't we have someone else on Mr Puel.

I'm starting to warm to your sense of humour.

I'm suggesting Glasgow adopts "Gall Blather" as his new non-de-plume. He will be instantly recognisable.

Where have you been? Went very quiet after all those ITK snippets petered to nothing.