austsaint

Romeu's performamnce the equal of anything I've seen - he was a one man midfield today; protected the 3 CBs and tackled, harassed and passed well for 94 minutes - colossal. Heroic win, well organised and defended for their lives.

Will play a lot better and not be 2 up at half time. Even before Valery's dismissal we were being overrun in midfield - Romeu is basically on his own. oing to be a long second half.

Ok.....Sims in my view is a better winger/right sided attacking player than Elynoussi, or Long, who has been played there, or Ward-Prowse who has been played there. I'd rather Sims played as a support striker to Ings than the present versions of Austin and Long, particularly given Ralph's stated preference for a pressing style forward - Austin gives none of that quality and Long can only provide an attacking press and not much else. Reed is a better DM, CM option than Ward-Prowse in that his tackling, mobile pressing style is more effective and his distribution at least the equal of JWP's recycle, safe approach.

poorer than poor.

Sims and Reed are better players than at least 3-4 players in our current squad.

I'd rather Redmond up front with Armstrong and Sims - Long really isn't a start-the-game proposition. Is Lemina fit? If so, he should replace Ward-Prowse.

Would love QPR to pick up Austin; give them Long as well.

Well done Steven Davis - quality person and damn good player at his peak.

To be fair Ginge, a couple of years ago you accused me of a hate campaign against JWP because I expressed a different opinion about him - ie that I doubted he would become an England Captain at senior level, or become a top Prem player, or ever live up to the considerable hype he attracted at the time. I think my last reply to you was, "let's see where his career is in a couple of years time". Some of the comments about JWP from the people you are responding too are doubtless, a little over-the-top but the criticism of players like Ward-Prowse, Long, Austin over a period of time is now by any assessment, accurate.

Agree with your assessment. The only optimism I have is Ralph, who stands out as a quality manager and coach; surely those who argued the squad was top ten and too good to be relegated must see how bare the cupboard is. RH must see how awful Long and Austin are as attacking players; he must see how poor Hoedt, Targett, Vest, Stephens and Elynoussi are. He must see the limitations of Ward-Prowse. Whatever happens in this window, if Ralph keeps us up and is allowed to re-shape SFC we will all be in his debt.

Lemina is a very good midfielder. Enjoy him while he's still a Saint.

It is a bit hard to believe given Kreuger presided over a sinking ship for 2 years while defending the appointment of Pellegrino long after it was credible to do so. However, let's enjoy the Ralph H. era irrespective of whose idea his appointment was.

You have posted much bunkum Glasgow but you're on the money with this effort.

Perhaps not as scathing as you but I too have my doubts about Armstrong - thought he was lightweight and something of a passenger yesterday. I doubt he will make the grade now Ralph is on board. He strikes me as a poor man's Steven Davis when Davo was in his prime.

It's a very good question - hard to believe that Ralph K. has identified RH. Who is the person deserving of a very big tick?

He is not a rubbish player; but he is an extremely limited one, who has had more opportunities than most young players could dream of - all for very little impact. He must be moved on; he hasn't got the game to fit into Ralph's way of playing.

Yes, would love to see him back - playing where Armstrong is at the moment. Under Ralph I think we would see a much improved Boufal.

Redmond was very good, but I thought the first two players Ralph went to at F/T were the best on the pitch - Hoj and Romeu,absolutely controlled the midfield and provided the pivot for quick counter attacking. Yoshida and Vestergaard played well. Targett and Armstrong were both disappointing; Armstrong might get better but Targett is not going to be a consistent Prem LB. Valery showed some promise but we will be so much stronger with Bertrand and Cedric back. Ralph's subs were spot on - Obafemi to provide the speed forward as Ings had picked up a knock; Lemina for a largely ineffectual Armstrong and Stephens for Valery to stabilise the defence. The intensity, spirit, organisation and strategy Ralph has brought to this side is amazing. He has also very quickly summed up the wheat from the chaff - he can see Long and Austin aren't starters; he sees the weaknesses of Hoedt, the underwhelming impact of Moi and of course our academy poster boy Ward-Prowse who must surely now be moved on.

Great first half - Romeu and Hoj running things in midfield; Yoshida and Vest both commanding - Redmond very lively. Only two disappointments are Armstrong who isn't involved at all and Targett looks shaky at LB. I'd replace Armstrong with Lemina and play him advanced left side. The energy and some of the passing from Saints has been great to watch.

Have to agree. I don't think it will take Ralph long to work out that Austin and Long are "impact" subs these days, not starters.

Scarily good - L'Pool.

Lemina is our best player; and for most of this season has shown himself to be up there with the best box-to-box midfielders. If Carillo was worth 20 million to us, a player like Lemina is easily worth 30. I hope we keep him - Lemina, Hoj and Romeu at his best are an impressive midfield

Agree with this - Hesketh and Sims are two I'd like to see Ralph put a bit of spit-and-polish on - both have the pace, skill and pressing to do well in a new system. I'd be happy to see them replace Moi and Ward-Prowse in the squad.

Valery might end up being a good player; so far he has shown good defensive instincts, a reasonable first touch and pass together with a few effective crosses - not a lot of overlapping runs or speed down the flanks yet, maybe that will come. As things stand Cedric is streets ahead and has to be first choice, particularly while the relegation threat remains.

Can't believe how many people were not impressed with Romeu's game. He broke up so much of Arsenal's midfield play, hassled and harried, picked out good passes and got forward to press several times. Only that dithering moment on the ball which led to the deflected goal marred his performance. I hope Ralph uses Lemina, Hoj and Romeu together in some games and reverts to a back four, with Lemina given licence to push forward.