austsaint

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.

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.