austsaint

Two big differences surely - Pelle had just scored 50 goals in the past season (Eredivise) and Koeman had a stack of credibility as a player and Manager prior to linking up with us.

I've got as many doubts about Jones as the next punter, but why would an underwhelming back up like Bree be starting ahead of a class act like KWP anytime soon.

I've always though that a taunt like Murphys is childish and out-of-line. By all means try and humiliate or belittle an opponent with skill or strength - but the prolonged waving off was poor. Caleta-Car showed good restraint. I'll be hoping Murphy gets clattered in the return leg.....as long as it doesn't draw a red card!

He was more than good enough tonight. Surprisingly so. A couple of wayward passes at the end of his shift, but he and Alcaraz were terrific in midfield. Would agree though, that overall in his Saints career he has not been good enough

Yes, that was a low act by Murphy. He's high up on my list of complete wankers.

Have to challenge you on that assessment. Diallo had a very good game - one of his best since joining the Club. Broke up play; tackled and harassed; carried the ball forward with pace and his passing was much better tonight. Even so, thought he was the second best Saints midfielder on the pitch as Alcaraz stamped himself as a talent - ready made attacking midfielder with run, good vision, touch and passing and clearly has an eye for goal. His performance was one of the positives from the defeat. Not so impressive was Orsic - I suppose he needs to be given time but looked all at sea - replacing him with Edozie was the right decision. Very pleased for Adam Armstrong tonight - was a handful wide right, with incisive runs and good link up play; a shame there was clear hand contact in the lead up to his goal. Newcastle just looked a superior attacking unit most of the night and the arrival of Saint-Maximin and Isak highlighted their edge. Good second half from Saints though - there's still a flicker of hope left in this season - especially if a long awaited/needed striker arrives

Agree with you. Look at the replay and you notice that things worked out perfectly for Watkins. He had an unchecked run at the cross, which came in perfectly for him; made strong contact from well inside the penalty spot - and to use a cricket expression, "yorked". Bazunu to his left hand side. Bazunu is making plenty of errors, and the Club's decision to put their faith in a young, inexperienced keeper is one of the reasons relegation is looming large. Yet he really did have little chance of saving that - I doubt the very good keeper at the other end would have kept it out.

Bringing Elyounoussi on at the hour mark was madness - and it showed what a nothing player he is. His two major/only contributions were the clumsy, unnecessary foul (even if it was doubtful) as our goal went in and bottling a clear chance on goal himself. Just as your doubts about Jones start to thaw, on comes Elyounoussi. The criticism over Diallo is fair - even though he did a lot of good intercept, disrupting work with Lavia, his habit of slack passing in dangerous areas is now a feature of his game.

Fair enough. My point is that he has had quite a bit of Prem Football with Saints under Ralph - and fallen short. If he was 19 or 20, I'd agree, give him a chance. MIght all be irrelevant anyway - Tella may get his chance with Burnley next season; let's hope SFC are in the top flight too.

I think you might be overrating Tella, although I haven't seen him playing for Burnley. He's 24 in the Summer and had quite a few Prem chances under Ralph - showed pace but disappointing touch, control and goal threat. My hope is Saints stay in the top level and sell Tella to Burnley.

Exactly - I still rate him very highly, and believe we have three of the best CB's in the Prem....with a solid back up in Lyanco. Just the same, if he isn't going to extend it would be timely to seek out the best deal in the Summer, even if we stay up.

Absorbing game where the technical skill of JWP and a slice of luck along the way provided those three precious points. A couple of things you have to say about our Manager....he's willing to make tactical and personnel changes when they're needed rather than when the clock ticks over to the hour mark or the 88th minute. It's also obvious he has buy-in from the players; those two differences from the last year or so of Ralph could be the difference the Club needs to stay up. My only criticism of him today was the starting set up. Playing a front four of Adams, Edozie, Elyounoussi and JWP meant that Adams was effectively isolated and the speed and run of Armstrong and Djenepo to support Mara v Man City changed to an unbalanced attack with the leaden footed Elyounoussi bogging things down. That changed immediately when Armstrong came on - leaving Elyounoussi on until the 85th minute was Jones only error today. Once again Caleta-Car appealed to me as our best, along with those two superb goals and work rate of JWP. Caleta-Car has the poise, positional sense and leadership the defence has needed. Lyanco did his job well again and Salisu's last 60 minutes were very good. I thought he handled left back well and then slotted into the three CB set up which was an excellent tactical change by Jones late in the game. Walker-Peters once again showed his class and versatility; Diallo wasn't as effective today and Lavia came in for attention from Everton's two class midfielders Onana and Gueye. Edozie provided a threat, and where was the VAR check today when he seemed to be pushed in the back inside the area? Adams showed his worth with strong hold up play and brought others into the play with off loads - he really needs a striking partner with a clinical finish. It's been a great week to be a Saint's supporter.

You're probably right - Adams probably doesn't make that run and convert with the first time strike. Could be a different game at Goodison though where Che's hold up play and strength is vital. If he does start, he needs support from an A. Armstrong, Mara or Orsic. Mara certainly deserves to be starting - but I won't slag off Jones if he opts for Adams.

Yes, he really has to start with the same lineup if performance is to be rewarded. Djenepo, Diallo and A. Armstrong deserve to keep their starting places as keen as Orsic and Alcaraz must be to get started. Having said that I'd be happy with Adams to replace Mara, whose goal was superbly taken yet that was his only real contribution on the night. Proviso being that Adams isn't isolated....Armstrong in a wide roving forward role supporting him.

As someone noted - Jones doesn't need to be our pal. It helps if you can warm to a Manager, but their competence is more important. I don't warm to him, and I still doubt him but if he keeps Saints in the Prem he's a folk hero....of sorts.

He used to cut in from the right wing to open up that trusty left foot - didn't he?

I was thinking the same thing. Although Mane was older than Lavia when he arrived under Koeman, and is a different style of player too. Sometimes a player's star quality shows itself immediately, and Lavia is one of those players.

He didn't have a lot to do, but he left his line decisively several times to snuff out dangerous through balls - one in particular from De Bruyne to the advancing Haaland. He will take confidence from tonight. He also benefited from an outstanding game from Caleta Car ably supported by Lyanco and Salisu.

Yes, Diallo was one of the many surprise packets tonight wasn't he. As S. Clarke commented - three midfielders, especially with Lavia as the lynchpin makes us a different side. There's room for JWP to have a roving commission; less pressure on Diallo defensively and allows the aggressive attacking side of his game to flourish. The three man midfield also allowed flexibility for a back 4 or a back 5 with Djenepo slotting back in the first half and a more fixed back 5 for much of the second half with Perraud and KWP at FB. So much to like about the performances of every player - but Caleta-Car (along with Lavia) was my stand out, calm, composed, great distribution and looked dangerous at corners and set pieces. Mara's finish; Djenepo's worldy (does he score any other type?), Adam Armstrong's 80 minutes were outstanding and showed he's an asset in that pressing, wide attacking role. So pleased for Bazunu's clean sheet - how much confidence will he take from that. It was a perfect stage for Lyanco's fired up aggression - he gives everything and tonight kept mistakes to a minimum - Salisu was committed and effective too. And then there's KWP. I can't believe so many see him as expendable - I've long thought he is every inch the RB that Walker, TAA, Cancelo etc are and tonight he showed it again. I'm a Jones doubter; still am - but tonight he deserves plenty of praise. Set the team up well; good tactical changes and subs, and changed formation in the second half to counter the arrival of De Bruyne and Haaland. Let's hope the effort, skill and courage of tonight travels up to Goodison Park on Saturday.

By far and away our best player. A good lad too, who plays with a smile on his face. Will obviously leave if we go down. Hope he stays if survival is reached.

I think it's the replacing of rubbish (which wasn't always rubbish) with rubbish (which is likely to remain rubbish) that is central to most complaints.

I'm awarding this post of 2023, (at this stage). Can someone enlighten me with a reason we need a CB like Keane when ABK, C.C. and Salisu with back up from Lyanco appears well good enough. Especially if we see more of a 4-2-4 set up and the midfield is strengthened along with Lavia's return to full fitness. Other areas seem much more important to me.

Ankersen and co. must realise they've made a dud appointment. There would be a lot of goodwill from most supporters if Jones was removed without delay.

Yes, you only had to watch a couple of Jones "led" games to see he wasn't up to the task, was out of his depth, and to cap it off, quickly defaulted to the Redknapp strategy of distancing himself from responsibility, and the use of "they" and "I". But now we are getting a body of evidence trickling through which confirms many people's doubts. The interview with a very credible Paul Doswell and a surprisingly candid Blackmore was damning indeed.

Maybe not appalling at every level, but clearly appalling at this level. And would likely be appalling at Championship level too, which is where he is taking us.