austsaint

I like him; his interviews are worth listening to - he has instilled some fire into a side which was cooked. Whichever division we are in next season I hope he is offered the job.

Yes, the criticism of Romeu this season has been hard to understand. He may not have stood out like he did during Puel's time when he had to marshal the DM role by himself, but he continues to be at the heart of the intercepting, tackling, harassing role the side has needed. And he has done that with a weaker CB pairing behind him.

Tadic, McCarthy and Lemina...all superb.

Yep, McCarthy the match saver, Tadic the match winner and Lemina more than a match for any other midfielder on the pitch. Hope lives on another week!!

Yet this article confirms his ineptitude, doesn't it?

There's no plausible explanation for your first sentence and a rock solid certainty about your second.

Glasgow, what are you going to do for a ****e stir when we're in the Championship and no one gives a toss about your weak wind ups?

I've posed this question many times and never read a plausible answer. How can you play someone like Ward-Prowse as a wing back or wide right attacker when he doesn't/cannot run with the ball at his feet judged on what we have seen in 200 or so appearances?

While I agree, one of the reasons we are facing the drop is we have too few players like Boufal who can score some "nice goals and assists". Hard working and "committed to the team" will only take you so far.

Agree. Lemina was actually very good in the second half. Personally I'd rather have at least some players in the side who have genuine skills and abilities, and who can turn games, even if their mental application isn't always good. Better that, than a team full of players who are "fully committed", but fall well short on skill, pace, creativity.

I thought his second half was very good! Who would you have selected instead? The thing that stood out in the game was our lack of creativity, speed and run; the finish of Giroud and the heavy touch of Long was another stark difference. You couldn't fault the second half effort by Saints but the cumulative effect of two years of poor coaching, management and board decision making, together with a whittling away of the squad's better players has been laid bare today, and for that matter all season.

No, of course not, but even a week or so ago there was some hope; now there is none, and the betting market reflects the hopeless position we're in.

When did you see this? As of 17th April - it's WBA too short to quote; Stoke $1:08 for every dollar invested, and us at $1:45........Swansea $4:50 and Huddersfield $5:00. (Relegation odds down under).

$1:45 for every dollar down under today. WBA not quoted, and Stoke at $1:08 - seems cut and dried; Swansea at $4:50 and Huddersfield $5:00. We are deep in it, aren't we.

I did the same. But I kept a small flannel...just in case.

Good point - I'm hoping someone like Romeu might hang round next season he'd match up well with someone like Reed.

Agree with a lot of your posts Clarkey, but not this one. Reed will be more than good enough for Saints in the Championship. I still rate him a better player than the guy who has just racked up 200 appearances for us with his training ground honed free kicks, corners and neat but ineffectual passing; he really is just a decent squad player.

I think you speak for the many, Toon.

Did you see the game on Saturday? Bertrand was among our best and gave his all.

To be fair Bertrand tried his guts out today and provided much of our attacking opportunities along with Tadic (first half) and Long.

Crushing defeat - how often has Giroud broken our hearts over the years. Well played Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand and Long, Tadic first half. I thought Hughes should have made changes earlier, even at 2-0; Tadic had drifted out of the game, Ward-Prowse offering nothing in attack and a liability in defence. Too much was left to Long to provide any attacking, counter-attacking play as we dropped deeper and deeper in defence resulting in the inevitable collapse.

Three man midfield with Hoedt and Yoshida covering at CB.

We are fighting hard and showing a lot of intensity. Need another goal though and the sitting deep tactic is inviting trouble - I'd be inclined to bring Lemina and Sims on for Bednarek and JWP.

Bench looks good - apart from Forster. Long, Tadic, Ward-Prowse up front !!! The writing's on the wall.

He didn't have an excellent game. His corners and two free kicks were average. We will probably go down with people still perpetuating the Ward-Prowse myth.