austsaint

Lyanco does have a way to go to be proven as decent, and he was, by any measure an underwhelming signing on face value. However that performance he produced v Chelsea stamped him as a very decent CB prospect - you can't fluke a performance like that.

Thoroughly enjoyable banter and wind up from you and the CB Fry character. The good news is that Lyanco looks like being more of a Fonte than a Forren (was that his name?). I'd like to think the Club "knew" that Salisu was going to blossom, like he has this season, making the punt on Lyanco less risky.

Agree with you. If it's Crocker who's responsible for the identification of Tino, Broja and Small...Simeu perhaps as well, he gets a big round of applause from me. If Small develops quickly as seems likely; will Saints ever have had such a young/youngish talent filled quartet of full backs than KWP, LIvramento, Perraud and Small?

Comparing them seems silly to me; their style of play is quite different - in a two up front system I see them as being complementary; more so than say Adams and Broja. Either way, we have three very competent strikers, and as each week passes the Ing's departure is looking less important.

Would be a win for the "calendar year record doesn't count brigade" wouldn't it? Not going to happen.

I'm sure that's right - the squad depth and lack of injuries must be a novelty for Ralph. Just the same, he has made a few clangers earlier in the season, but for the last three games or so he has got things right and proven moaners and critics (like me) wrong.

I thought Ralph's rationale was fine. S. Armstrong was not at his best tonight. We were under threat for the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, thus the timing and tactic of bringing on Lyanco was sound. We still had the attacking threat from our full backs, and the later subs of Diallo for a fading Elyounoussi and a fresh Broja for A.A. strengthened our defence but maintained a counter-attack balance.

I think he just had an off night. Let's hope so; would be crazy to shackle his attacking instincts. He clearly needs to work on defensive aspects of his game and positioning - but at 18, he's entitled to a quiet game. Tense second half, but the quality of that Armstrong strike deserved a winning result. There's so much more to his game starting to emerge - the deft touches and flicks; intelligent runs...plenty of pace. Adams did well and it took a great save to deny him. Once again KWP played well at LB. Romeu and JWP solid in midfield; CB's both good on the night. Well done to Ralph (again) for timely subs and tactical shifts. Replacing an out of sorts Armstrong with Lyanco beefed up the defence, yet with the pace and drive of the two full backs didn't kill off all attacking threat. Like wise, Diallo for Elyounoussi who had faded in the 2nd half was the right move and then the late injection of Broja maintained enough attacking threat to keep the Villa defence occupied.

Yes, any talk of Armstrong only being Championship quality should now finish. Sublime strike; lots of running channels and deft touches. We now have three strikers with quite different qualities. The Ings - Armstrong business with Broja on loan is looking better by the day.

I can see the argument for JWP looking the part in a better side - partly because he has technical skills, and because there would be less expectation, less need for him to take the game on, push progressive passes or drive forward with the ball - one thing I've noticed about him is he often seeks out the better players to pass to; when Mane was here, he was the player JWP would seek out; these days it's often Livramento. I can also remember early in Ralph's tenure, JWP spent a lot of time charging forward in and around the box, taking shots and generally getting into attacking positions - this seems to have changed - presumably under instruction. One can't question his durability over 9 seasons..his work rate and aerobic capacity are strengths of his game. When his time is done, he should be well satisfied with the games he's played, the money he has earned and the reputation he's created....I expect in 4 or 5 years time we will still be hearing the commentators reminding us of the quality of his dead ball delivery as he strides forward to take a corner or a free kick!

Look, I have to thank you for quite a detailed, sincere response about your background to my tongue-in-cheek post - and good on you for going back to education. Like a lot of us who fecked up at School the first time round there's often a chance to get it right down the track. If you go back to the early posts of this thread I think I wrote that the midfield of Romeu and Diallo offered something different during JWP's absence, and that during those three games we didn't really miss him; which is not the same as saying we are better without him in the side. I've written a lot about JWP on this site' most of it you would probably disagree with. I see his dead ball skills as first class - in the past few seasons he has added a bit of bite and tackling technique to an exceptional work rate. His first touch is good - but too often in my view, there's a safe pass or a failure to take the game on; run with the ball or look for a progressive pass which places his general play well below that exceptional dead ball delivery.

Don't tell me....you were a champion debater at School, before you joined the Navy.

I won't be disappointed to see Broja start - and I've thought for a while that he and Armstrong will be (if not now) our best striking combination. I'm not going to blow up at Ralph if he starts Adams and Armstrong though. I know the Adam's header miss was up there with Redmond's scuff the week before, but he worked hard, and his goal was superb. I'm thinking Broja on at half-time; not because he isn't good enough to start, he clearly is, but Adams scored the cracker goal and between he and Armstrong there were plenty of chances created....if not finished!!

I don't know about that - I'm a Broja fan, but Adams and Armstrong were effective today; the great finish from Adams and the movement and creativity of Armstrong even if they could have collected 2-3 other goals from gilt-edged chances. Another uplifting performance and win with a continuation of the recent fast, free-flowing play balanced with a tight, well organised defence which highlighted three of the best performers on the pitch - KWP, Livramento and Salisu. Both FB's played like wing-backs with marauding runs and good crosses, and the combination of Redmond and KWP worked very well. KWP gets player of the match from me because he also excelled defensively and had the presence of mind to clear off the line in a crucial play. Livramento looks more and more like a wing back, attacking midfielder to me and while I'd rather see KWP and he playing on the right hand side, as long as Walker-Peters is getting regular starts and game time we have two outstanding full backs who ignite so much attacking threat. Mentions to McCarthy and Romeu. McCarthy justified his retention and continued his solid season and once again Romeu underlined how important his midfield role is. He also demonstrated with a succession of progressive attacking passes and movement how under-appreciated his passing game is. Salisu has made such a difference and is majorly responsible for the tighter defence. His speed, anticipation, blocks and tackles are stand outs, while the quality of his passing is improving rapidly. Well done to Ralph today - picked a decent side, and made good, timely decisions about substitutions - including the rewarding of recent performances from Diallo and Lyanco with game time today.

Great summary. Cup tie or not, that was an outstanding game of Football - high tempo; intensely contested; end-to-end movement; great crowd involvement with plenty of Saints support. Just about every Saint's supporter would have been interested in Lyanco's game - he was outstanding. Noticeable how well he read the game as Salisu does too. He showed good speed, timed his tackles well, ok in the air, kept his cool in tight situations and in the second half took the ball forward high up the pitch and then nearly won the game with a bullet header from a Smallbone corner. The best CB combination at the Club became apparent tonight! KWP was very good again tonight - it's pointless to keep banging the play KWP and Tino on the right drum, but it will be a great shame if one our best players (KWP) is not starting regularly. Diallo once again did well; manages to get high up the pitch but still be diligent with defensive duties - he really has an instinct for quick ball movement and I hope upon JWP's return that style of play continues. Forster certainly put himself in the shop window; Adam Armstrong looks on the cusp of another goal and there's more to his all round game than Che. Hoping the A.Armstrong/Broja combination will get an opportunity soon. Felt a bit sorry for Theo, but he shouldn't be getting much game time from this point. And if that was a Shane Long finale he did ok, including the rolled in pen. Super game, let's hope it can be backed up at Watford.

Diallo poor v Burnley? Watch the replay...he was good again. Agree that JWP will return but Diallo is going to be very unlucky.

He was outstanding tonight, Lyanco. In a game played at a fast tempo all night, he was strong, composed, read the play well and was good in the air. How fitting if that top shelf header from a Smallbone corner had gone in - we'd have had an instant cult hero. On that performance, Ralph has to consider Salisu/Lyanco as his first choice pairing.

Looking forward to seeing Small play; I get the feeling he could soon be putting pressure on Perraud for first choice LB. Also hoping that Lycano can show us some quality soon so that there's an alternative to Bednarek and Stephens.

Prior to that he was given 15 minutes against West Ham and was magnificent. What's your point?

Yep, good way of putting it..."they're as surprised as we are when things comes off". I can see why the "nearly" brigade get game time, particularly Redmond - his game against Leeds was a cracker. How many times though have we seen the follow up flop.

I think it was S. Clarke who described Redmond as an "almost, but not quite" player. I think Elyounoussi fits that description too.

That was the most frustrating part of an otherwise absorbing game. Why did Walcott start the game, and why was he not replaced earlier. It's decisions like that by Ralph and the timing of his subs and tactics which call into question whether he's up to the task. That aside, hard not to enjoy the contest - just as you thought Walcott's miss was inexplicable, Redmond trumps it...how did that happen? Redmond otherwise played quite well, but clearly there were outstanding performances from Livramento, Salisu, Broja, Diallo and Romeu. Surprised more people haven't praised Romeu's game; his inclination to drive play forward and the quality of his passing today was exceptional - Diallo also good at speeding up movement of the ball and with an eye for progressive passing. Question marks still in my mind about Elyounoussi; involved and pressed well but his touch and passing were at times substandard. Perraud also yet to convince me he is nailing down the LB spot or that playing a naturally right footed player like KWP at LB isn't a better idea. I don't understand the rejection of the idea that Ralph should try LIvramento further forward (where Walcott was masquerading today) and reinstate KWP to RB. Just as Ralph was wrong to label Broja as an impact sub not a starter; he may well be wrong about Livramento's capacity to be equally as effective playing in front of KWP who was outstanding for Saints last season and is in the top bracket of RBs in the Country (in my view). He was never 4th choice RB at Spurs as someone offered; it was yet another example of Mourhino's hasty and ill judged assessment of a young player with quality.....there's been many others.

Let's hope the Cornet doesn't play properly; the Cork gets stuck and crumbles and Wood gets nailed by Salisu.

Redmond did play well - so did Elynoussi, and Djenepo had his moments. Broja was outstanding. Someone is going to be unlucky in the front four with both Armstrongs pushing for a place, a fit again Adams and Tella and Walcott on the fringes. Maybe Redmond will be shifted to Djenepo's spot allowing Armstrong A. to partner Broja leaving Moi and Armstrong S to vie for a wide right spot. Then there's the problem of KWP sitting on the bench. I thought Ralph could have replaced Livramento with twenty minutes left - Perraud did well enough; just lacks that bit of acceleration which Bertrand had at his peak. Good to have the competition for places!

I know your question wasn't directed at me, but I'd argue Armstrong A. and Broja is our best striking combination....and that will be increasingly apparent as the season draws on. As an atheist, I'm already praying the Club gets at least another season beyond this one from Broja. He's going to be some player!