austsaint

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.

Romeu had a great game today apart from that one costly error.

Yoshida did have a very solid last 20 minutes - and unlucky not to score with thee bullet header.

The whole team cared and tried their guts out - that's the difference Ralph has made already. Hojbjerg magnificent today, Romeu very solid apart from his faux pas near the box. The three CBs all played well; Armstrong faded out of the game, Redmond good before his injury and Ings brace so good to watch. The personality and enthusiasm of RH clearly lifts the players and the crowd - such a great result.

Romeu looks back to his best, and Hoj good today too.

Is Lemina injured or omitted?

Good to read your comments. I've always liked RB, and at his top, sprinting down the flank, linking up with an attacking player and whipping a cross in there are few better in the modern game. I hope you are right - would love to see him back soon, working with Ralph and re-energising our squad. The new Manager needs players like Bertrand to launch the recovery from our plight.

Shame to read that; but it's very believable.

Fair enough - it's been obvious you haven't been on a wind up, and I take your point, that even in his pomp, Davis was at times poor defensively. It will be interesting to see if Armstrong fills that AM role consistently well which is where I thought Steven Davis was best placed.

It's strange how you write so much good stuff about Saints and the games we watch but have prosecuted this blinkered, negative view of Steven Davis - who is clearly now in decline but has been a tremendous asset for the Club and NI. Even now, he looks a better midfielder than JWP, yet your forensic eye has somehow missed our dead ball specialist.

Davis did play quite well v Spurs but Romeu was good v Cardiff - I'd be surprised if he isn't in RH's plans, with Lemina pushed further forward in that PEH, Romeu, Lemina midfield.

Yep, agree, if Targett wasn't an academy graduate it's hard to think he would be still part of the squad - should have been sold to Fulham, even Sam McQueen would have been a better retention, though he too is probably not good enough. One of the noticeable things at Cardiff was the lack of run, speed and width from both full backs,. made worse by Redmond appearing to play more central. Targett's playing days are numbered.

Disagree about Romeu - he played well, broke up attacks and distributed well.

Yet so many have argued it is a mid-table squad! Apart from the Vestergaard howler the two players who disappointed most were Targett and Armstrong who barely featured. Task for RH is huge.

Must be making it difficult - Cardiff have shown pace and threat on both flanks though. Haven't seen much from Armstrong or Redmond yet - Romeu, Lemina and Hojbjerg all looking ok.

I've got a feeling our new Manager is more than a good talker. One of the criteria I will be judging him against is whether he plays the dead ball specialist JWP or not. If he plays Ward-Prowse consistently up to and past the January transfer window, then there's reason to worry. I don't think he will.

I did - the Cup Final was a massive occasion ending in a cruel defeat and the Europa League was a great thing for the Club leading on from Koeman's second season - but the quality of Football and general direction of the Club has been in decline sine Koeman left and Ralph's appointment has turned around the malaise of the past 2 1/2 seasons, whether he can turn things round remains to be seen.

That's the thing - there is a sense of hope, excitement and anticipation again; not experienced since the Koeman, Mane, Pochettino, Vic, Morgan, Pelle, Toby, VVD days.

I'd love to know what your motivation is for posting these drivel stats. It's obvious you rate JWP mightily - anyone who has watched Saints games this season and last can see that Redmond is a much more effective attacking player.

Where's the poster who said this game would be the making of JWP? He has left Targett for dead tonight with his slack wide wandering - not that Targett has been much better.

The next fella could give himself a chance of success if he puts an early line through Austin, Long, Ward-Prowse, Hoedt, Bednarek.

It sounds like a great appointment, and a long overdue lift for long suffering fans. I just hope the new manager is given a bit of time to sort things out - there's still a lot of dross in this squad.

Let's hope so. The prospect of Kelvin in charge for very long is a grim prospect.