austsaint

Indeed, looking forward to Small being given a chance. Can't see Targett coming back here, can you? Perraud is more than ok and KWP is very impressive, even out of position at LB.

I think you're right. Too early to label Broja a champions league level player - especially since we're all hoping he stays with us 🙂. It's hard not to get a bit carried away by him though - I can't remember a 20 year old striker with his range of skills and attributes popping up too often! He could well be a 40m player sooner than later.....which would probably rule us out, but let's hope the new ownership commits to a decent attempt to keep this young man a Saint.

Doubt that he is....in any case Im confident that Small is better than both.

Like you, I'm an Armstrong fan, I think he will settle into Prem Football in time, and be a consistent contributor alongside Adams and hopefully Broja. Your assessment of Broja though is diminishing your credibility as a forthright, thoughtful poster - Broja is a talent in the here-and-now, and he will only improve barring serious injury or adverse life events. Just accept that he's good, very good. We've all made mistakes in our assessments of players - Verlaine insisted that Steven Davis was ordinary; many questioned Sadio Mane; I thought JWP was barely worth his place in the squad pre Ralph. I accept that he is now a top class dead ball exponent with a solid all round game.

That midfield trio were superb, completely shut down the Brentford midfield and set alight many attacking moves. That pass from Romeu leading to Broja's well taken goal was pure. Must have been a joy to be at the ground tonight - watching on it felt like a return to the (best of) Koeman days; the misery of seasons under Hughes, Pellegrino and even Puel seemed to be expunged tonight. I know we aren't going to win 4-1 every home game, but the promise of the new ownership, and the feeling that our best players won't be sold automatically; that some more quality will be drafted in and the side having a clearer more expansive identity suggest optimistic times ahead. Quite a long list of players to commend beyond Romeu, JWP and Diallo. Broja once again underlined what a gem he is - it's all been said but the Club must move mountains to at least secure a second loan season. Good to see Bednarek and Lyanco giving their all in what looked to be a battle to become Salisu's CB partner in a different set up. Tella did well in his hybrid spot, was it RB, RWB or wide attacker? Perraud was heavily involved; Redmond busy if a little erratic in possession. The Adams goal beautifully taken and Forster in goal was good tonight. Happy days.

I'm confident about Armstrong - he just needs the time, support and the belief gained from confidence in his own game to establish himself at Saints. I really like our strike force of he, Adams and Broja - each add something different. A.A. has the speed, touch and two-footedness to provide and score his fair share. I see a bit of anxiety in his game so far; playing an unfamiliar role and being played out of position aren't helping, nor the lack of a "Tadic" style attacking mid. - he certainly isn't an option for a sole, hold up striking role as Adams and Broja are, yet as a trio they cover most bases you'd want from a strike force for a mid-table side.

I've got a feeling that when Small is fit and well he will be pushing (metaphorically) Perraud to the sidelines.

Past players ok? Roy Keane and Joey Barton.

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.