austsaint

GK is probably Saint's strongest suit at the moment - funny really given how weak we've been in that department for so long.

The three posts immediately above in response to Pilchard's post, are the gold standard in debunking the "our players are good enough/it must be the Manager" belief. Most of our players are average....they haven't been coached to become average. Reed, Wilson and Kreuger are the architects of our mediocre recruitment and squad management, and should be held to account.

Wolves did have a strong bench and later in the game had 4-5 quality attacking players on the park; we seemed to lack any! It's the lack of quality in our side which is becoming most alarming. When Redmond appears to be your most dangerous player (and he hasn't had a bad season so far) you just know the Club has been stripped bare of talent.

This is the real problem - we have a mostly awful squad of players. Today it was Austin, Hoedt, Elynoussi, Armstrong, Vestgaard and even Redmond, Ings and Lemina who were so average or below average.

He has to replace Austin - with Armstrong or Gabbiadini. Hojbjerg has been good again. Have a seen quite a bit of Hoedt now and he looks very shaky.

Yes, this. I would change your last sentence to........."It feels like the owner knows Jack Schitt about Football, and Reed is his own boss". If ever a Club needed an overhaul of Reed, Kreuger and Wilson's positions, it's Saints.

You're setting a high bar there. Looks almost certain we will be somewhere between 12th and 17th after 12 games. Would be giving the Hughes' hating OP a free kick and more ammunition to ignore the elephant in the room - the side isn't that great!

Your assessment is correct for anyone who has seen the majority of his 200 plus appearances. I really believe it it would be a good move for Ward-Prowse and a very good move for SFC if he was to play at another Club. However, I can't see another Prem. Club wanting him. The Club is stuck with several mediocre players who other Clubs aren't interested in and JWP is one of them.

Yet their performances over several seasons do not support your high vote of confidence.

You make a fair point, although I remember many calling for Koeman's head after 10 games or so without a win. Koeman had Mane, Pelle, Clyne, Tadic, Morgan, Toby, Fonte and Vic at his disposal.....bit of a difference.

Thanks for making your view clear at last. Mark Hughes may not be the best Manager on the planet - but, U. Jeff, do you really believe that someone like Pep G. would have this group of players performing much better? Do you really think someone like Pep would get more out of Long, Austin, Ward-Prowse, Stephens, Davis, Hoedt, Forster?

Hasn't shown a lot yet. Strong and has a good first touch - but seems to lack pace and his attacking runs and passes ineffective so far. Definite downgrade on Tadic, but must be given more time. Should have buried a header tonight.

But you will see him again - that was his 78th sub appearance; is it 7 seasons now? Why was someone like Romeu not on the bench to shore up things instead of Ward-Prowse? Long also has to be left out of the side - the platitudes of Long's hard work and Ward-Prowse's dead ball deliveries are wearing very thin. Brighton upped their game but Saint's familiar deep retreat just invited the pressure and the predictable result. Well played Hojbjerg, and good first half performances from Lemina and Redmond.

Yes, absolutely, Lallana was one of the few creative mid-fielders the Club has had from Pardew on. I wasn't suggesting Davis at his best was the equal of those higher calibre players, but he had an incisive pass, flick and touch in his kit bag - not many of our midfielders could claim.

While SD is clearly in decline at 33; your description of "sideways and backward" passing is just wrong. At his best, Davis produced many attacking passes, touches and flicks leading to something worthwhile inside the box - more so than most midfielders we've had in the past 6-7 years. Exceptions, Wanyama (yes, he could pass), Morgan and Lemina.

The article is a bit over-the-top, but it has some truth about it. Surely after the near relegation it was the perfect time to move Reed, Kreuger and Ross W. on - rejuvenate the Chairman, Director of Football and Head of Recruitment positions and give Hughes an opportunity to lift the squad from the last two years of mediocrity. As it is, we have improved the squad marginally but have the same Board, Executive and Recruitment people all overseen by an unknown and passive ownership. Until that changes the main message of the 365 article remains likely.

You're well named, Jeff.

What a relief to get that first win. It was "edge-of-seat stuff" from the time Austin missed the pen until PEH slotted home the settling second - I'm still trying to work out why that 20 minutes or so was such a struggle? Sure, Palace lifted, we sat deeper and looked a bit panicky. For some time now Saints seem to try and protect a 1-0 lead by sitting deeper which then encourages the opposition to press forward with attacking/midfield subs. Very impressed with Hojbjerg and Lemina - both full backs were good; Hoedt was better, Vest ok. Redmond had a good first half; I couldn't see the performance some saw in Moi, let's hope he settles into that wide attacking role. McCarthy was outstanding. Only Austin disappointed with uncharacteristic misses and characteristic immobility.

Thanks for clearing that up Saint Fan Cam.

Eh? I was responding to Mosin's claim that Redmond "didn't do much" against Leicester, not judging the merit of Hoj's misdemeanours.

Although he did fire in several quality crosses with his left foot - particularly in the first half. Not as effective in the second half when he seemed to switch to the right wing. I thought Lemina was quality for most of the game; Bertrand good as well.

Vest had a free header and put it wide - all other corners were well delivered, but carry on.

Have to agree - it felt very meh to see Austin and Long on the pitch even though it was the defensive gaffs of Cedric and Vest together with Hojbjergs brain snap which cost us today. Well played Redmond and Lemina - Bertrand good also. Looks like a long season.

Got to replace Long and perhaps Armstrong for Hojbjerg. Great half from Redmond; Lemina very good, Bertrand and Moi showing up too.

This is my frustration with the decision too. Sims offers a pacy, direct running game wide right and in attack which is something we have little of. He has had so little opportunity and those he has gained have been eye catching. I like Hughes but I think he is wrong on this one.