austsaint

Interesting observation. The games WS has played wide, he looked lost - he doesn't seem to have the quick feet or the guile for a 10 role. I suppose if you take JWP as an example, then maybe Smallbone will come good with time and maturity. I still feel that the Club missed a trick with Reed - perhaps with Morgan, Vic and a young JWP about the place the midfielder house was fairly crowded.

I know he is young, but I'm not seeing Smallbone as being ready/good enough to provide solid midfield cover - based on what I've seen of him. Could someone who has seen him in the u/23's describe the attributes he has. Very eager to see what Jankewitz can add at the higher level. I'd love Harry Reed to be part of the set up next season but it doesn't look likely. I believe a replacement for Hoj is needed.

I think he offloaded Lukaku too, early days.

Exactly. Gave Saints 4 pretty good years - and towards the end showed respect for the Club while the transfer process took place. Nothing like the wrench of Mane and Van Dijk leaving....or the Toby A. debacle.

Hope he's ok. I loved the guy; and he was a great player to watch.

I'll disagree with you there - a shite goalkeeper he was....and still is.

Toby, Fonte, Clyne and a youngish Bertrand were a fairly handy wall in front of the old FF, to be fair. Not to mention Big Vic and Morgan, both in their prime.

Good stuff....good analysis. One thing I'm fairly certain about though is the belief that FF is, and mostly always has been, a flawed keeper.

Fair enough....memory is a faulty thing!!! I wonder what did cause Koeman to lose faith with Boruc then; it certainly wasn't Forster's great form was it.

Boruc was very good for Saints (most of the time) - so much better than FF. Didn't Ronald react to an on field incident where Artur threw a water bottle at a gobby spectator? Seemed to be after that his card was marked by RK.

Look Jim, just stop trying to be some kind of insider...it's obvious you're not. All the best.

That's my feeling too. I think it was Verlaine who thought 20 million for PEH and 15 million for KWP might be the wash up....a 5 million net gain for a player in the last year of his contract and a FB who looks every bit a 15 million pond player - especially when compared to the money received for Matt Targett. So if it was 15m for PEH and 12m for KWP (add ons and back ended payments aside) would it be such a bad deal for Saints? I think not.

It was telling after the game to see Reed sitting disconsolately on the turf.......perhaps reflecting that there is uncertainty about where he will play next season. I would love to see him back playing for Saints but after what he has experienced tonight, and his obvious sense of "belonging" at Fulham, it would almost be cruel to prize him back after several seasons where, in my opinion, we haven't valued his talents enough.

Yep, add me to that argument. You can never compare the departures of Fonte and Sir Ricky with the low tactics of Lovren and Lallana. Fonte was shabbily treated by old Les, and then not replaced in a long line of bad decisions the Club made under Reed and the Canadian Hockey coach whose name escapes me.

Would that be such a bad deal? I think of Matt Targett fetching 13m a year ago - and KWP looks every inch a 15m player. That effectively would mean Spurs have stumped up 20m for Hojbjerg with less than 12 months remaining on his contract.

I can't believe the Club is going to be lumbered with Forster - that stinking contract extension FF has at SFC seems to be the attraction for him to "fight for his place". So many crap performances from him, and the prospect of him returning is truly abject.

Sadly, I think you are right - and if so I think this an academy player who has "got away" on the Club. Though a different style of player to JWP, who he tracked through the academy with, he has always shown the necessary skills and attitude to cut it at Prem level, and although we can applaud the season JWP has had to establish himself as a worthy Prem player, Reed was never given the time and opportunity that JWP has benefited from. I wish Fulham well, but I'd like to see Harry Reed back at Southampton - and given his chance......a better midfielder than PEH in my view.

BBC gave Che the MOM, but like you I thought Romeu was outstanding throughout; rock solid but also with an eye to linking attacks. Redmond very good and bright performances form Stephens, Ward-Prowse and KWP. Great credit to Ralph and the players - it's been a second half of the season right up there with the best of Pochettino and Koeman days.

Yes; incredible really that Ralph could absorb the Leicester debacle and stay true to his beliefs and methods. As you say, the aggressive out of possession style and the quick, positive movement upon winning the ball has been embraced by all our players......well maybe Obafemi needs to buy in a bit more.

I admit to being a long time critic of JWP - and until this season a lot of the criticism and frustration seemed justified. Fair play to him though; he has found a position in midfield, continued his high energy work rate and improved the quality of his pressing, tackling and interceptions. Much bolder with his passing and seems more confident in his own skin. Deserves all the praise he's getting this season.

Seems to be part of what's being called "post-truth" story telling. People express an opinion or belief which contradicts Science or factual evidence as a "my kind of truth is as good as yours" mentality. Modern day politicians (some) are masters at it. I've never met MLT but he strikes me as a person who'd be great to have a game of golf, pint or a chat about Football as long as the conversation didn't stray onto Covid 19, politics, climate change etc.

Is that you Glasgow?

Yes, I can see a player in Vokins; at this stage Smallbone doesn't inspire the same confidence - I can't see the early attributes or the potential in him yet.

Romeu has been very impressive since being re-instated and the side hasn't lost any midfield strength or skill with him replacing PEH. Some have said that Ralph lost trust in Romeu but I think RH just settled on a two man midfield and put JWP and PEH up as the preferred two - after all, they both played in the Leicester debacle too. I also question the "doesn't suit Ralph's system", "his legs are gone" and " can't pass" mantras which have been bandied around. Tonight he was head and shoulders the best midfielder on the pitch - strong, great interceptions, technical skill and a good range of passing. A well deserved point tonight and unlike the Man City result where we rode our luck a bit, this was a completely deserved point earned through hard work and a willingness to press, play high up the pitch and play brave counter attack Football. Armstrong, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ings and Redmond all good tonight and despite shipping two goals, McCarthy made several crucial saves. A pleasure to watch against a much improved United line up.

But Reed is - a "bust a gut" kind of player and is perfectly suited to a high tempo system. Remember the many claims on here that midfielders don't hit their stride until their mid twenties. That claim was often advanced about JWP, and I suppose it has been vindicated. I'd love to see Reed back here with Romeu, JWP and a player like Jankewitz or Smallbone.