austsaint

Agree with Stan. Pep wouldn't be able to get more from the many average players we have in the squad - namely Long, Rodriguez, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Martina and probably Austin and Clasie. The loss of Mane in particular has exposed the lack of attacking force.

Tough day. Will someone kindly remind me what it is about Ward-Prowse that is so "good"?

Probably the absence of Austin and Ward-Prowse increased our zippiness too.

No denying this quote. I remember thinking Lovren was fairly special, and then Alderweireld who seemed a step up again, but Virgil Van Diik is almost your complete CB. My hope (forlorn) is we get one more season after this........he has to be a 50 million pound transfer, at least - notwithstanding Stones homegrown status, VVD is so much the better player - from what I've seen Joel Matip is the next best CB in the Prem.

Yoshida is a genuine Prem CB and he was among the best players on the park tonight; not for the first time this season.

Completely agree about Reed. Any word about his foot injury - caused by the fantastic tackle which stopped Iwobi in his tracks.

You called Puel a clown before kick off - now you're delighted with him. You're the master revisionist.

I think what the OP might have been getting at is the present day players Ox and Theo may not offer much more (were they hypothetically back with us) than the early skills and potential of players like Sims and McQueen....throw in Hesketh etc.

To be fair, he looked pretty average in the first half being played on the right. Much better second half and grew in confidence.

I was thinking the same thing watching young Sims and even McQueen and Harry Reed (yes I know he's a DM, and a good one too) - would you really want that pair back on their massive wages and over inflated egos?

Agree with this, but you must include Davis among the best on the ground. All action running all night and brilliant incisive passing to players in dangerous positions, plus the lovely back heel to Sims was a touch of class. Davis' game tonight what someone like JWP has to aspire to. Special mention too for Reed - that tackle which led to his injury was skill and courage in equal measure. Haven't the Club got a good one on their hands with Sims?

I'd rather take one of the big ones out

That's very funny.

The only let down of the night so far is Long - his touch is just awful. Why not Sims? McQueen looks all-at-sea in an unfamiliar role - he would be the other change. Boufal's been magical at times; Davis very good with attacking passes and runs; Harrison Reed very solid; I hope Koeman is watching Reed's game. Yoshida and VVD, Bertrand all solid and Martina hasn't let anyone down so far.

It's a good question. I think a lot of us bought into Koeman's assessment of the Academy running dry of talent, but the emergence of McQueen and Sims and the re-emergence of Reed and Hesketh remind us of the short term thinking Koeman has and his post-match interview just highlights that.

No, that's ok; I was thinking of Shaw's first Prem appearance - can't remember the opposition, but he was really good - I take your point about the Cup game being his first Saint's senior start.

I acknowledge I'm not a fan of JWP's Football, and I may have become a bit blinkered about the lad - but to claim that he has been superb this season and starting to dictate games is a bit of a stretch!!!! There's definitely some improvement in his game but he looks a long way off justifying some of the ongoing praise.

Too far back to remember Bale's first Prem game; Luke Shaw looked pretty good on debut but young Sims showed speed; impressive running into space, good touch and a willingness to mix it from the off. Has to retain his place v Palace doesn't he?

I suppose if there is any truth in the rumour of J-Rod to Hull or WBA, he needs to be kept in the shop window. Maybe Long up front; it looks like Tadic may not be ready yet. Looking ahead to the Palace game you'd think young Sims would start again with Chaz.

That midfield would be picked apart; and J-Rod would be a risky pick.

No way is Davis "becoming a reserve very rapidly". He was ill today, otherwise he would have started instead of JWP.

I thought Cedric played like one of the best RBs in the game today and VVD proved again he is among the most commanding CBs in world Football. I hadn't seem much of Simms previously but his speed, control and willingness to run channels was impressive. I note many positive comments about Prowsey's performance - I was once again frustrated with his play - often charging into attack, fluffing his lines and leaving acres of space for counters or not really providing much defensively in CM; largely safe and predictable with his passing - I must be missing something and comments about us looking better with JWP than Davis in the side leave me puzzled. On the other hand Romeu and Hojbjerg in midfield were brilliant - Romeu the rock and Hojbjerg the attacking box-to-box force. Such a good win to greet RK.

It really might be winnable - and beating that sour puss Wenger would be nearly as satisfying as putting one over Ronald.

Sweet win - so good to see young Sims put in a performance like that. Full backs great on the day, along with VVD, Romeu and Hjobjerg. Bit nervy at the end.

Gave me a laugh Gunnery - could be frighteningly accurate. The only bit you left out was the likelihood of Lukaku scoring - he scored against us when he was with WBA and regularly for the Toffees. I'm hoping for a Boufal inspired win.