austsaint

I find that guff from Jones a pass-the-buck insult. When you set up a team with three Cbs against a side who hadn't scored an away goal for so long - and compound it be having an attacking three of Elyounoussi, Adams and Mara you are inviting a shambles and that's what we got. There was no system, no cohesion - just high diagonal hoofs to a grateful Forest defence. Watching KWP (the only decent Saints player) become our sole attacking outlet was demoralising. That's the saddest night of Saint's watching I've seen since Redknapp's last days. It's probably too late now anyway - but Jones has to go.

No, I haven't seen him play since he went to Burnley, and I draw encouragement from your assessment of his improvement having watched him since linking up with Burnley....I agree with a lot of your comments about our players over the years; none more than your forthright comments about JWP. Just the same, I still doubt Tella is the answer to our immediate crisis, which is trying to stay in the Prem. I've never doubted his pace and run, but I find it hard to believe that his overall game has improved to the level required. My comment about Burnley being keen to keep him is simply an assumption given he's done well for them in the Championship. Don't forget players like Adam Armstrong racked up 30 goals in a Championship season - there is definitely a gulf between Prem and Championship Leagues. Toney has brought good Championship form to the Prem. Mitrovic has played well in both Leagues, yet most find the step up too difficult. Sir Ricky Lambert did ok too I suppose!

Immediate signings would be better.

Tella may have improved; what is he now....23? I think we saw enough of him under Ralph to see that he fell short against good Prem defences. He showed the speed and run, but his control, passing and striking was consistently below par. He would be an ideal player for us in the Championship, but no doubt Burnley will be keen to keep him if they swap Leagues with us come season's end.

Maybe the players have warmed to him, and an improved performance today points to that. There is however much to be critical about in the way Jones set up the team. Should have started four at the back from the off; showed too much respect for Mitrovic et al by playing 3 CB's. ABK and Salisu are more than capable of doing the job. This would have freed up an attacking player to assist an isolated Adams who can't play the lone striker role - especially with the very ineffective Aribo and the largely ineffective Elyounoussi providing little help. Stuart Armstrong's direct running immediately highlighted Jones oversight - it added another dimension to Edozie's willingness to run at the defence and create chances. If Lavia was fit enough for the bench, why wait until stoppage time with the game gone to bring him on? There's a flicker of hope for getting out of this mess; but just a flicker. Not-with-standing the urgency of several transfer market "ins" to bolster the side - Jones has to play with a back four (at the very least against middle to lower table opponents), abandon the Adams on his own tactic, get Lavia involved and recognise that the likes of Aribo, Djenepo and Elyounoussi are not up to standard. Better game from Ward-Prowse today and a superb free kick.

You should. the open gateway is our midfield (if Lavia doesn't play).

You've summed it up well - any two of Salisu, ABK and CC can easily take care of Mitrovic. It's in midfield where we are open and porous - unless Lavia makes an appearance. Most of all though, I look at Nathan Jones as our Manager and Silva as theirs!!!

Someone has to though, (put their hand up). The off ramp has to be a quick, decisive decision to get Jones out of the place. Crystal Palace did it a couple of seasons ago after four matches, and that was with a bloke who had a glittering record as a player and a better Coaching/Management background. Another month of this and there's probably no road back.

He is a big part of the dross. Time to stop making excuses for a bloke getting a 100k a week and delivering very little.

Agreed the squad is limited - yet it wasn't that long ago this side was beating Chelsea and looking like a low to middling Prem outfit. I disagree with your assessment of Elyounoussi - he flatters to deceive; goes missing for long periods and doesn't sustain the occasional contribution. He was completely ill-suited to the AM/floating striker role he started in yesterday. I would have expected Jones to start with Stuart Armstrong; although Maitland-Niles was gash against Lincoln, I would have started him in central-midfield as he has shown more in that role than Diallo. Playing a striker up front on his own has never worked for Saints in recent times - even Ings didn't play his best Football there - Broja likewise was better with a second attacker up front. Jones deserves the early criticism and the early signs of him being a dud appointment are unmistakeable.

Indeed. You could overlook many early concerns about Nathan Jones - lack of Management pedigree; nothing in his background to inspire, motivate or improve players at this level; an average looking collection of assistants he's brought along with him, but in two games he's played three centre backs against a League 1 side and yesterday played the serial disappointment Elyounoussi as a floating striker/AM; Lyanco in preference to an emerging young CB talent; resurrected Diallo into a midfield role which he has repeatedly failed at - especially along side an underperforming Ward-Prowse - and played Che Adams on his own up front. Much as I thought Ralph had to go, what the hell were they thinking in appointing this out-of-his-depth tyro?

You're wrong about Romeu. He'd improve a threadbare midfield (without Lavia) immediately. JWP has always needed good players around him to look like a Prem midfielder and his general play is exposed as mediocre without a Romeu, a Schneiderlin, Tadic, Mane etc etc. Romeu was crucial to our well being.

I'd rather sell Ward-Prowse to ever wants him - Lavia is the DMC with pace and power and if JWP is an attractive transfer target as some on here believe, we can fork out for the quality striker and attacking midfielder/winger you talk about. Definitely not Wood though - better quality than him needed!

which one?

Feels like the era of the telegram.

Cruel, but increasingly it seems that way for AA. Even a win on pens tonight would create a lift for everyone!

Which Armstrong?

I wish I could be that forgiving of Ralph. On that basis, Walcott must have shown something extraordinary at training to warrant the start v Newcastle. Elyounoussi must be a star at training, yet how many times do you have to watch his mostly poor match day output before you pull the pin, and at least try the positive signs and potential of someone like Edozie?

You make a good point. I suppose I'm seeing the obvious attacking skills and talent in Edozie from his cameo appearances thus far, compared to game after game of limited, stale play from the likes of Elyounoussi. On that basis, and given our lack of goals and attacking threat, I would have hoped Edozie would have featured more - he just looks like a special talent to me; much more than a few stepovers and nutmegs.

It was one of the many puzzling Ralph decisions - not playing Edozie more.

A convincing and troubling background post Sidney - and, in my eyes you have more credibility than those who are writing Jones up as a hidden gem appointment. FFS, send a copy of this to SR and Semmens, just in case it was him who has unearthed this underwhelming candidate.

We weren't as bad as the scoreline suggested, and for much of the game Saints matched the Geordies for effort and intensity, but not skills and clinical finishing. Elyounoussi's miss was inexplicable, as was Ralph's decision to leave him on for the full 94 minutes. Adams had time to take a touch, but chose a difficult first time volley. While we're on the subject of Ralph, his decision to start Walcott and leave him on for over an hour should be enough to ensure his dismissal - young Edozie did more in his first five minutes than Walcott showed in 63. There were some good performances - Perraud was great all game, Maitland-Niles is getting up to speed quickly and showed he is good cover at RB. Stuart Armstrong played well and looked our most dangerous attacking player while Salisu had good moments and his passing was much improved, including his assist for Perraud's goal. Ralph should be gone before the WC break....surely.

Hope you watch the game again. Caleta-Car was anything but a liability for the second week running - it's going to be interesting when ABK is available again, because we have 4 CBs who all have something about them compared to last year when we had just one, (plus Lyanco, who wasn't in the frame but probably should have been).

You've said it all - heads can be raised high after that effort starting at the 61st minute with Peraud's pass, Airibo's dummy, Elyounoussi's exquisite pass and Stu's cool finish. The whole side lifted thereafter with belief, fight and run. Lyanco, Caleta-Car and Salisu were great all day, particularly Lyanco. Perraud showed again he's a worth his place at LB - Bazunu is a rapidly improving goal keeper and Edozie showed in his cameo that he must be given more minutes. The midfield of JWP and Diallo lifted their game for the last 30 minutes and I'm happy to eat some humble pie with Elyounoussi putting in a shift late to complement his classy assist.

Bring him on for the anonymous Elyounoussi - or the "now-you-see-me-now-you-don't Aribo.