austsaint

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.

It's inevitable though isn't it? A player with his precocious talent is hardly going to go unrecognised - think back to Bale, Shaw, even Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain. We've just got to enjoy him while he's here and also give credit to Crocker et al who did a great bit of business with CFC.

Hope it was a Fiat X19 Steve Williams had, the TR7's were complete lemons.

All the best to you Trousers. My eldest daughter is a Doctor and sees many Crohn's patients. Best of luck to Josh Sims to - be a shame if his undoubted talent is spoiled by health issues.

Interesting views. I'm favouring your middle option..."he might cost a little more". Or, Chelsea won't want to sell.

Don't disagree yet there's so much more to come from Broja, and if you're right about Chelsea being willing to take 15 million pounds I think Martin Semmens should be writing the cheque now. The good thing is that Adams is definitely upping his game and Armstrong is only going to get better as well.

Probably both - getting a lot of chances and missing a lot, but the getting a lot of chances is very encouraging. I think Armstrong's technique is already up to the job and while Che's left foot is a weakness, his overall game is building well. The other thing I like about this strike force is that in Broja (although not our player) there's a great option with his height, strength, aerial ability and a decent eye for goal. Just about the most complementary set of strikers the Clubs had for a while. The missing piece is someone like Tadic to keep the supply line ticking.

Yep, and while none of those five you mention have anything like the individual talent of Mane, the sum of their parts is at least the equal of that very good attacking line under Koeman.

I think you're on to something there. An extended time out of management and he could fall into obscurity. At least with Norwich he has a very outside chance of keeping them up and if he doesn't, they have a strong pedigree of bouncing back up from the Championship. I'm not saying it's right but Smith doesn't have the marketability of an Eddie Howe nor the reputation (yet) for rescuing relegation threatened Clubs like the older types....Big Sam, Warnock, Pulis, Pardew etc.

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.