austsaint

It was Pellegrino he remonstrated with, but we get your drift. I love watching him play, despite the frustrations. Looks like he's going though.

I think it's also obvious that Smallbone isn't ready for Prem Football yet. You can't carry a player while he develops his game and fulfils potential. His only attribute at the moment is that he's tall and has an athletic build, though that athleticism doesn't translate to his play. I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions of WS.

Hope you are right about the extra option for midfield.....crucial! Disagree about the characterisation of Romeu struggling to keep up late in the game and resorting to fouls....that really is a lazy stereotype which needs challenging. When given the chance post-lockdown Romeu looked fit and played out games strongly....

It seems to me free speech is only acceptable when it's free of hate and discrimination.

Egg is right...Tella is nowhere near good enough and the jury is definitely still out with regard to Smallbone. If there's no replacement for PEH then trouble ahead.

Never a good idea to go the "early crow" but things are definitely better of late.

So do I. Once you get past the old beliefs that only blokes should commentate on Football or Cricket you realise how good the emerging talent and personality of Isa Guha and co are.

Having had a look at a few other sites.....eg Sotonians; I'm crossing everything in the hope things can come good here. Would be a huge loss.

Could not have put it better. Wish he had stayed..hope he does well at CC.

They've been moved aside because their commentary, tired phrases and attempts at humour have passed their use-by-date - its not about age, gender or race - well certainly not gender or race anyway.

You'd have to explain what you mean by positive racism. If you're trying to suggest replacing three middle-aged white guys with a fresher more representative group of pundits is somehow racist then I'm struggling to understand your thinking.

It's not so much that a few middle-aged white blokes having a laugh and watching Football has to be squashed. More the case that there's a lot of people watching and listening to all things Football who aren't white, middle-aged blokes and therefore it's a good idea to have a range of presenters/commentators who reflect the changing face of Football and Sports fans.

Really have to challenge that statement. Romeu started last season very well and finished off brilliantly. He wasn't selected for much of the middle period with Ralph preferring JWP and PEH. Romeu didn't play well in the Leicester debacle, but neither did JWP or PEH. There's been a lot of myth making about OR...."legs gone", "can't pass" etc. Having said all that, it will be a worry if next season starts and there's only JWP, Romeu, Smallbone, Slattery and Jancewitz as the midfield candidates.

I suppose after seeing 6 or so appearances I want to see a clear attribute or skill level from WS to lay a foundation for natural improvement, development, coaching, experience etc and I can't see that skill or attribute yet.

Of course Ralph is the best judge....but at this stage I don't see a good enough player in Slattery or Smallbone.

He really is; and his contract extension will be a great boost for the Club and most supporters.

Interesting observation. The games WS has played wide, he looked lost - he doesn't seem to have the quick feet or the guile for a 10 role. I suppose if you take JWP as an example, then maybe Smallbone will come good with time and maturity. I still feel that the Club missed a trick with Reed - perhaps with Morgan, Vic and a young JWP about the place the midfielder house was fairly crowded.

I know he is young, but I'm not seeing Smallbone as being ready/good enough to provide solid midfield cover - based on what I've seen of him. Could someone who has seen him in the u/23's describe the attributes he has. Very eager to see what Jankewitz can add at the higher level. I'd love Harry Reed to be part of the set up next season but it doesn't look likely. I believe a replacement for Hoj is needed.

I think he offloaded Lukaku too, early days.

Exactly. Gave Saints 4 pretty good years - and towards the end showed respect for the Club while the transfer process took place. Nothing like the wrench of Mane and Van Dijk leaving....or the Toby A. debacle.

Hope he's ok. I loved the guy; and he was a great player to watch.

I'll disagree with you there - a shite goalkeeper he was....and still is.

Toby, Fonte, Clyne and a youngish Bertrand were a fairly handy wall in front of the old FF, to be fair. Not to mention Big Vic and Morgan, both in their prime.

Good stuff....good analysis. One thing I'm fairly certain about though is the belief that FF is, and mostly always has been, a flawed keeper.

Fair enough....memory is a faulty thing!!! I wonder what did cause Koeman to lose faith with Boruc then; it certainly wasn't Forster's great form was it.