austsaint

It's got a stench to it; this decision. Impossible not to be piss#d off with the Geordies and the governing body.

Agree with you. Quite bizarre (in a good way) the Club has two top quality RBs a very competent LB and a young LB in Small rapidly putting himself into the frame.

I'm not stepping up to the plate for Charlie - first half Perraud was quite poor with some embarrassing moments, but he improved greatly second half in the same way that Diallo did. Perraud's problem is he has a quality player like KWP taking his spot to accomodate Livramento at RB and what looks to be a star player of the future in Thierry Small not far away from staking his claim.

He always looked fired up from the off didn't he. Yet in the first half the whole side played with an intensity and an aggression not seen for some time - it was inspiring stuff for the long suffering supporter. I just interpreted Salisu's ill timed tackle as a desperation to deny an almost certain goal...clumsy and ultimately costly, but he is a player on the up and long may we keep him. The second half was as gutsy and committed as the first half was intense and aggressive. So many impressive performances from "unusual" suspects. Bednarek, Valery, Perraud (second half), Diallo (second half), Armstrong A. ran all day playing a different role, even Shane Long made a contribution from his diminishing bag of tricks. KWP showed what a classy RB he is; and he dug in and showed courage with multiple clearances and blocks late on. JWP's sweet strike was a sublime moment and his all round game an example others followed, especially Diallo as the game wore on.

Easy for a punter like me to say I know - but if a new owner is imminent, then their first bit of business should be offering the 40m pounds or so for Broja if he was gettable on a permanent deal.

Great signing; seems to be a good lad, plays with a smile on his face, prepared to get his hands dirty when required. It's going to be interesting if Small develops quickly as many expect. Should always start (KWP).

.Can we dream about keeping him? That was a "feel good" win" - unexpected, edge of seat, monkey-off-back performance. Thought both full backs, Salisu, JWP, Redmond and Broja were immense

I'd call him a bargain at 20m, wouldn't you? I agree though, we haven't had a striker in his mould since Pelle. Broja is much more mobile than Pelle and a decade younger. Somehow it seems a faint hope that he stays - surely Chelsea will want him back or another Club stumps more than the 20m you mention.

Thought so too - rollicking end-to-end match with mistakes thrown in and two quality goals from Broja and WP. I can understand why Ralph replaced Broja and Tella with Long and Walcott (saving them for Saturday) - but once he did, you had the feeling that holding on for a draw was our only hope. I've been a bit meh with Tella, but he grew on me tonight, great pace, tenacious in defence and the press, just lacking that first touch and end product. Livramento was better tonight though it is still frustrating to see a quality RB (KWP) being forced to play out of position.

Your comments would be improved by putting a brake on the "bit dim" and "stupid" characterisations. Quite a few of us disagree with some of Duck's comments yet he's a colourful poster who adds some Football wisdom from the "older generation".

I'm taking your comments to be complimentary of A. Armstrong - and I agree. I'm still confident the wastefulness will give way to goals. His cause would be greatly improved by better attacking midfielders.

Yet he's being paid in excess of 100k a week and is undroppable in Ralph's eyes. Ward-Prowse needs quality players around him, and runners to compensate for those limitations you mention. Even his dead ball "magic" seems to have deserted him.

Bertrand was such a good player for us until the last 12 - 18 months - but his decline came quickly and it was a surprise when Leicester re-ignited their interest in him. At his top those pacy, marauding runs, crosses and link up play were at the highest level.

Given Caballero's age age maybe Kelvin will be filling the bench to avoid any generation gaps.

Maybe. Either way I lost some respect for Ralph deciding to throw McCarthy under the bus. It wasn't very professional of his Captain to play that bizarre pass which resulted in the free kick and equaliser but I don't hear any criticism from the Manager - and nor should I. Ralph should address his concerns with the players and during team meetings, not hang them out to dry. It just sounded like scapegoating.

No, I don't see that comparison at all. If anything, Nathan Tella's touch and technique more closely resembles that of Shane Long. I'm hoping, and believing Armstrong will be likened more to a Kevin Phillips than a Shane Long as time goes on. There's no doubt he is struggling to make an impact and is lacking composure and confidence at the moment - give him time. A good creative attacking midfielder would help his cause - even a Stuart Armstrong type of direct runner is more likely to bring him into the game.

Someone likened Adam Armstrong to Shane Long, but I'm seeing a lot of Long's traits in Tella. The lad has a ton of pace and tries his heart out in the press and defensively but his touch, control, passing and decision making in and around the box seems consistently poor to me. The stark difference in the second half was Leicester's ability to move the ball quickly releasing their many quality attacking players and having an AM like Maddison to pull the strings - how Saint's could use a creative midfielder like him. Ward-Prowse and Romeu were good in midfield; Salisu our best defender along with KWP (apart from that feck up in the second half). It really is time to take Livramento out of the firing line in favour of KWP at right back. Even if you didn't think young Livramento was a bit cooked physically and mentally, KWP should be reclaiming that spot on merit. I thought Ralph was again slow to make a change when Leicester were dominating the game in the second half - as another poster noted, he seems to have a pre-conceived plan for subs rather than re-acting to what's happening on the pitch. Got to be happy with a point in the end. I was shocked to hear that each time Bednarek has scored we have gone on to lose the game 2-3!!! Have to be happy that Vardy fluffed his lines....that would have been a nauseating outcome.

I'm still confident Armstrong will make the grade. Don't disagree with you and S. Clarke re the rushed, slightly hectic style of play - but I disagree (with Clarkey) about him resembling a young Shane Long - he's much better than that; and the composure and refinement will come.

It will be a hide behind the sofa type of game and if by some chance we're leading or drawing, well into the second half, it will be time to watch sitting on the edge of the sofa biting your nails.

He hasn't really, and the Norwich game was just about it for me - but will it be enough for Ralph? Could easily have been replaced at half-time.

Great archive HarvSFC - and go get him Artur.....he was shabbily treated by Ronald K parading around with his emperor's new clothes on!

Just wanted to add my tick to your comments about Romeu. Absolute myth (David In Sweden) to go criticising his passing which is technically fine and often progressive ; his pace is adequate - he's no slower than JWP (who had a good game at Norwich) and he's as good a controlled-hard-man as there is in the Prem. - while he get's a few yellow cards, many of which are "for-the-team, he has never attracted a second yellow in any senior form of Football. The Club has a more urgent need for a creative attacking midfielder ....in the Tadic mould. Romeu's been the bargain of all bargains at 5 million pounds.

Seemed like Boruc had a falling out with Koeman from memory. Like you say with AB, and certainly with Niemi you had that feeling of safety that near side post clangers and the like wouldn't happen which you didn't, don't get with McCarthy, Forster, Kelvin, Bialkowski etc. There was that embarrassing goal at Stoke though when Boruc misjudged the wind from his opposite number's goal kick. 🥴

Apart from a brief spell from Artur Boruc, Saints haven't had a quality keeper since Niemi.

Really did miss that trio you mention. As much as I like Diallo, he was played out of position, and it showed. With Elyounoussi playing poorly it meant our front pair had to work off scraps or long balls in, especially since both our FBs were less effective today. There's no way round it, McCarthy was poor today, with both those near post goals very saveable....shades of Kelvin Davis. It was inexplicable that Walcott was brought on instead of someone like Tella. Romeu coming off was also questionable, though I don't think Ralph should be criticised too much. Norwich were much the more intense, high pressure team in the 2nd half - a draw would have been a fair result.