austsaint

Sims has shown the ability consistently every time he has played to my eye. Just think he is a homegrown gem who has been overlooked - and its taken Ralph a while to get the message too.

You would have to say he is - a beautifully taken strike. Thought Ralph's half-time decision to belatedly give Josh Sims his chance turned the game - his movement, touch and runs turned Spurs around, brought Redmond into the game and took the pressure off our CBs. Sims has to stay in the squad - Ings, Redmond, Sims with cameos from Armstrong is the attack which can keep us up - not Austin and Long. Sensational comeback - great to watch that second half.

It has been hard to watch - Spurs outclassing us. Ralph has to try something different....4 at the back, Armstrong, even Sims on to try and put them under some pressure. Saints look like a poor Championship side today and Spurs look like a Champions League outfit.

The "don't give a toss" Lemina theorists are way off the mark. The man has been injured - fit, he's a cut above any other player we have.

Even though Fulham were poor and some luck went our way, it was a deserved win. For those arguing for Targett over Bertrand, tonight illustrated why a fit Bertrand must always be the choice - a true attacking full back/wing back who injected width, pace and telling crosses most of the night; special mention to Valery who improves each match. Bednarek very impressive in defence and Yoshida calm and composed. Three midfielders all had good games - PEH full of energy and bite; Romeu swept and snuffed out so much and that left foot half volley was crucial. Ward-Prowse worked hard all night and his effort to get to the spilled save for the second goal was testament to his work rate - he is still massively over hyped but he earned his pay tonight. Redmond's touch and decision making poor at times, but he made great runs into space and made defenders jittery. A great night of relief, and the hope of survival lives on.

JWP seems undroppable now, which is odd, Ralph seems to think he's an attacking midfielder - Armstrong can count himself unlucky. I'm disappointed Sims hasn't been given a place to liven up what is an attack lacking pace and movement. Do we really need 3 CB's at home against a side like Fulham?

It is a 50 - 50 game and the scary bit is Fulham look a better attacking side than us.

Good call - Redmond, Armstrong and Sims involved with Austin as a sub if needed. Four at the back including Bertrand and Yoshida. No Long, no Elynoussi, a long rest for Stephens and no start for Austin.

The trouble with your "if Redmond scores" and "Stephens wasn't playing" theory is the 3 or 4 easy goal opportunities Arsenal squandered and their complete "foot off the pedal" approach to the second half - let's face it; we were blown away by a far superior attacking unit. When we went 2 down it was hard to see where a goal was coming from with just Redmond and Armstrong advanced - and five at the back with three non-attacking midfielders. In taking Armstrong off (who looked quite threatening) we lost much of the limited attack we had - with little drive from midfield and no service to a threadbare attack it was apparent we would never get back in the game.

Back 4 Yes....sad thing is we don't have the players to "go for it".

Someone said we look dazed and confused - and we do. The poor defending is obvious; but the midfield has been totally overrun - is Ward-Prowse playing in mid-field? And we look to have only Armstrong and Redmond as attacking players - feeble and embarrassing so far.

He should be in the senior squad ahead of Long and Elynoussi.

Every day of the week - obviously RB "needed the run" yesterday, but his first half was good; plenty of runs and quality crosses. I also think the "can't play with Redmond" claim is a myth - particularly with Redmond now having a roaming, central role rather than being stuck on the wing.

Is it complacency? More like tight ar$ed naivety - the Kreuger, Wilson, Gao team of ignorance and cost cutting.

Yes, Valery was really the one positive thing today; Bertrand had a good first half.

I was surprised he played three CB's at home against a side like Cardiff. Starting Long was also a strange decision given how dire he's been for some time. I also thought a player like Sims - on the bench last week, out altogether this, could have added something to our threadbare attack. It's hard not to see the January window as a hammer blow to our chances of staying up and highlights the thin quality in the squad.

Bertrand's return has been impressive - very little else has been. Has to replace Long; I'd rather Austin at H/T, or even Elynoussi. Awful half of Football.

I must say, some of your ideas about Stephen Davis used to baffle me, but on most other topics, including Shane Long you are right on the mark. It is bewildering the Club has kept such a limited player for so long. Tolerable perhaps if we had a couple of fit, talented strikers and a good wide player or two; but when someone like Long is almost your only option along with Austin, then it's hard not to be scathing of the Club's recruitment and scouting.

Thought Slattery was awful today! Misplaced passes and lacked mobility - he and Long and Armstrong (1st half) were liabilities.

It's not great to be critical, but the performances, or non-performances of Long and Slattery today were breathtaking. What was wrong with Long? It looked like he couldn't run! And could someone who has seen a lot of U/23 Football tell me what Slattery's attributes are? It should have been JWP partnering Romeu and Valery starting. On a positive note Redmond's goal was the quality moment of the day and Romeu, Vestergaard and Targett were all good. It's going to be a long limp to the finishing line with the thin squad Ralph has.

As turgid a half as you are likely to see. Such little quality with Saints today - Romeu on his own in midfield; if JWP should be in the team it's not right back or wing back - if Valery isn't good enough, why wasn't a replacement RB secured? Now that Ings is injured there is so little creativity, width or speed. Armstrong very sloppy at times. If Ralph wants to win a game like this, he really has to bring on someone like Sims. Not seeing the value of Slattery at this point. Given we should be a goal down it looks like a long second half to get a scoreless draw!

When you think about it the Club has fecked around with the RB spot for years - after Chambers was sold and Clyne was injured, players like Yoshida, Stephens, JWP were played there as fill ins. Never very successfully. When you add the thin quality of CBs and strikers in recent times it's obvious the Club have gambled on its Prem Status for some time.

You're a strange cove, Glasgow.

Says it all really -got to be happy with a point, given the performance. Can't believe Hodgson was so negative in the 2nd half. Well taken goal again by Ward-Prowse who wasn't effective tonight in midfield but did well when switched to RB/wing-back - great assist from Targett who was otherwise very average. Thought Romeu was once again our best by a long margin. What a prat was Zaha - such a good player; such a stupid reaction.

That's the tale of the tape - our FB's have been skinned by their three attacking players who look a more cohesive unit than Ings, Redmond and JWP. Stephens lucky to still be on the pitch.