austsaint

This is it...in a nutshell. Awful Manager and players like Tadic, Redmond, Carillo, Hoedt and the biggest dud of all, James Ward-Prowse whose dead ball skills BS hype has helped suck the life out of the side's attacking force. The decline of our Club's on-field performance in the past 2 seasons has been a sad thing to watch.

Yes, but what the feck is the mysterious reason for keeping him? His dismissal has been the plainest, most logical decision to make since Leicester at home.

I've developed a hatred for Pellegrino, I can no longer listen or read anything he says; yet he's clearly not a detestable person. It's just his ineptitude and its effect on SFC. If he isn't immediately replaced I'll have loathing left over for Reed and Kreuger too!

It is completely meaningless, given that we would have zero chance against the remaining big teams should we sneak past Wigan. The chance of staying up should be the only focus; and belatedly getting rid of Pellegrino is the urgent first step.

Well done for making the effort; you deserved better! Just one thing though - JWP played the whole game; I thought the game passed him by - completely ineffective when played out wide and overrun when placed in CM. I thought Sims was again the one bright attacking player.

Sims is a bright note on a dark, dark day.

This is the depressing truth isn't it. Our midfield are making Shelvey look a world beater too.

Lemina off but Ward-Prowse stays on....ha ha ha ha ha.

But it's not that. Just ponder our front four...Carillo, Tadic, Ward-Prowse and Redmond on the left side!!!! That's the problem; and we've seen it before and it results in the same slow, static build ups and huge let downs.

Get Tadic and Ward-Prowse off the park.

Of course it is.

No attack, no run, no threat. Sims, Boufal, Gabbiadini should have been starters today.

But Sims played an outstanding attacking game last week - dropped for the plodding Ward-Prowse. Tadic awful last week - keeps his place!!!!

If Pellegrino was sacked tonight - we won't be relegated.

They weren't that bad - JWP's would have improved things but we got much more run and directness from Sims and Redmond in open play than you ever get with W-P.

Tadic was kept on too long - a much better second half with Redmond doing well; Lemina the midfield powerhouse and Sims very lively and direct, proving that players like he and Redmond/Boufal should always be played there rather than the slow moving Ward-Prowse. Definitely two points dropped - the positive bit was the belated attacking intent.

Yep, Tadic has been awful, Redmond not much better, even if they are being played on the wrong side of the pitch. Has to be Gabbiadini and Boufal for those two. Sims has had some bright moments showing the value of direct run and movement. Awful game - awful Manager.

Lemina is a classy player - you just needed to see a game or two to realise that. He will be sought out by various Clubs, whatever our fate. I'll guarantee you though that James Ward-Prowse will not be chased after by Liverpool or any other decent Prem Club; and if we continue to shoehorn him in to that right wing spot where he does feck all while we wait for the world class corner or free kick, we will be staring relegation up close. Get runners and direct players in that spot - Sims, Boufal, even Redmond.

Maybe, but Gabbiadini hasn't often had the benefit of two "proper" wingers or a 10 who can track his runs or run directly to create space before crossing or passing. It's struck me that Tadic has seen Boufal as his rival for a spot in the team and often he almost seems to ignore Boufal or take an option not involving SB. I think Boufal is a better 10 than Tadic; Tadic perhaps the better wide player left although Boufal's partnership with Bertrand this season has often been superb.

I'd have Sims wide right, Tadic left, Boufal at 10 and Gabbiadini or Carillo up front depending on the opposition. That would leave Redmond, Hesketh even Hojbjerg as an attacking midfield option; or JWP if the dead ball delivery to Carillo/a fit Austin was seen as a strategy. The option for two up front should always be there depending on the circumstances of the game. We haven't "got at" the opposition from the off this season have we? The Manager sets the tone for that with his selections and set-up.

But our changes were so obvious; and so belated. Burnley didn't have the same spark to bring on; only Chris Wood returning from injury. They actually had a ton of possession all game, and on paper their squad looks grossly inferior, yet they were close to three points. I put that down to Dyche; an much superior Manager to our own!

No, I'm talking about Sims, Boufal and Gabbiadini coming on to the park - I think Sims was the first at the 67 minute mark; yes, I think all three should have been on earlier - a front four of Carillo, Ward-Prowse, Tadic and Redmond was just too slow and ponderous, although Redmond had some good moments. I say Pellegrino picked the wrong attacking formation and waited far too long to change things - at least one of those changes should have been at half time. The Manager just has to set up to win games, not protect them. That's the most infuriating part about his inept period in charge.

Indeed, which is why we need the Sims, Boufals, Leminas and even Redmond and Tadic being the players with the responsibility to take the game on in attack. The Manager was at fault for maintaining a static attack for over an hour before bringing on the three obvious replacements.

I'd be interested to hear from those fans of JWP. In my view he has to be removed from that right side attacking position, and therefore the starting side. The difference in attack when Sims came on, together with Boufal and Gabbiadini was dramatic. If we are to stay up the attacking force has to be a mix of Gabbiadini, Carillo, Austin when fit, Tadic, Redmond, Boufal and Sims.

Sims is a far better wide right attacker than Ward-Prowse - anyone argue with that?