austsaint

Mark, please don't include Austin, Long, Stephens, Hoedt, Ward-Prowse as starters very often. Thank you.

It's not Hughes - it's the lack of quality. The two CBs are awful, Ward-Prowse can't run with the ball or make runs into space, Austin has no mobility - we virtually have only two attacking players on the pitch, hence the direct hoofing.

Absolutely right. I thought we ended up with just about the best combination of players on the pitch with a 4-4-2. A fit Cedric for Stephens and Yoshida for Hoedt would top things off. The attacking four of Moi, Ings, Gabbi and Redmond looked very promising. Lemina and Romeu very good in the second half; the new CB is going to be a fan favourite and McCarthy kept us in the game, especially 1st half. Ings will make such a difference.

I think they should both be regularly featuring on the bench for the first team instead of players like Long and Davis. Sims is ready and good enough to make an impact.

Great summary Bat........I haven't enjoyed pressers as much since Koeman.

Yes, if he has overcome the injuries we have a classy, proven striker who is an upgrade on Long, Gallagher and probably Austin. Would have preferred Welbeck but still a good signing even if the price paid seems high considering Pool payed 6.5 million for him.

Yes, fair enough - plenty of life down at Bondi, even on a Sunday night!

Lots of Pubs in Sydney show the game - but you can contact the Australian Telco "Optus" and buy a match pass for not much; they send you the app via an email link and you can stream it on to your computer.

Yep, I find it incredible many posters seem happy to shed Cedric, Lemina, Bertrand, Tadic, Boufal etc but are enthusiastic about keeping the likes of mediocre players like Long, Austin, Redmond, Bednarek, Hoedt and Ward-Prowse.

What happened to AR10 or was it AK10 - he set himself up as an in-house ITK but got just about every prediction wrong; got called out and quickly disappeared.

That side is clearly the best line up as things stand. Perhaps an argument for Romeu instead of Hoj. Still a desperate need for another striker and probably another wide attacking recruit. I don't want to see too much of Long, Austin, Redmond or Ward-Prowse in starting line ups this season.

Keep him and bring in a decent striker and winger.

Couldn't agree with you more. Sims has already shown the talent, speed and skill to make an impression at Prem level. He should be a regular this season.

True enough - it's early days but there is the legitimate worry that our new signings are a reserve goal keeper, a midfield upgrade of Stephen Davis, an unproven lump of a CB and a replacement of equal base to Tadic if we are lucky. And then there's the prospect of players like Long, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Stephens and Hoedt playing a lot of first team Football.

Of course we would miss him. Just consider the prospect of Gabbiadini/Lemina (latest rumours) leaving and players like Long/Ward-Prowse remaining. While its true the squad may be bloated the idea of reducing numbers and quality is ridiculous.

Sums it up beautifully...we need a new striker, but not this bloke. On another striker issue...are we really going to be stuck with Shane Long for another season?

You really are a miserable fecker

Your last sentence should read...."He is simply not good enough". I like Koeman but he has to take some of the blame being quick to banish Boruc in favour of FF. Beyond this though the decision (Reeds'?) to extend his contract is bordering on negligent. Forster won't be easy to offload.

Your last sentence is an odd one. A player like Yoshida can be well good enough to play well for an EPL side (which he is) even a top ten side and still not be signed by them. How many offers (from top 10 Clubs) have there been for any of our current crop of players? How many offers have there been for JWP from top ten Clubs? A player touted by many on here to be a future England Captain.

Yes, so do I. For those questioning his assist numbers; I don't have the stats but cast your mind back to the incredible control he showed before cutting back for Romeu to score. That was one of the best Saint's assists of the season. He is a ridiculously gifted player.

Same here - he was never as effective without Pelle and Mane around him. My favourite moment was the assist he provided for Clyne in his first game v LIverpool - I remember thinking at the time he was going to a huge upgrade on Lallana.

If you're going to be a ****e stirrer, get your spelling right. It's et cetera, hence etc - not the ect ect drivel you've written. #spellcheck

I'm sorry - JWP is not an above average PL player.

Many will disagree but the Blades are probably Sam's level.

I hoped Reed still had a future with Saints but the prospect of getting Maddison with HR as the sweetener would be great business. Maddison looks the attacking midfielder many thought Ward-Prowse would be.