austsaint

At Invergargill....deep south of the South Island.

I wish; most of us wish - but it's wishful thinking, isn't it?

I'd have two, Kane and Mane (or Salah).

The Guardian is a good read - but how you could say we had a comfortable win is stretching it mightily! Baggies could easily have had 2-3 goals in the second half. It wasn't a comfortable win.

Looks a player right on the cusp of lower Prem. to higher Championship. Poor mans' Pelle (at this stage).

I watched on TV (ESPN) - it did look like two poor teams today. First half our passing game was neater and tidier but without much threat. I thought Redmond had a few good moments; Lemina was once again good; Bertrand, Soares likewise. I still don't get the JWP "wide right" thing; I've never seen a player played in attack without the capability to run with the ball at his feet; a couple of good corners, but mostly safe, backward passes and then a run infield into the box as though he's a clinical finisher. Sims, Boufal, even Redmond much better choices for wide attacking roles. McCarthy looks so much more assured and competent in the basics of goalkeeping compared to Forster. The Baggies look in a lot of trouble, don't they.

All true - yet if Gabbiadini's perfectly valid goal had been awarded and Romeu's header had been an inch lower we're holding the Cup aloft! Funny old game.

Your incredulity at Pellegrino still being the SFC Manager is shared by thousands - but seemingly not by the 2-3 buffoons in charge of the Club. The ineptitude of Reed and Kreuger angers me only slightly less than the incumbency of Trump across the Atlantic ditch.

They will take Lemina first - but a top Club will gladly take Boufal - he's being wasted in our set up.

It's just inexplicable the Board can ignore the groundswell of discontent with Pellegrino. On any measure Pellegrino comes up short, and I can't think of any other Prem or Championship Club who would have allowed such an abject situation to drag on without action. It's fecking infuriating!!

Yes, that's where we are now, a mid to lower midtable side. Our only genuinely good players are Lemina, Bertrand and perhaps Boufal. The rest are mid to lower midtable players.

Leicester?

Quite right. What's the latest stage of the season a Prem Club has replaced a Manager? If Reed and co. act in the next 24 hours, it's not too late to steady the ship - if Pellegrino is left to muddle through the next 3 or 4 Prem games it probably will be (too late).

I think it's fairly obvious to most that though Puel had his limitations, there was a mediocrity to the playing squad brought on by high profile sales and marginal replacements (or no replacements). This season, the mediocrity in the squad has been parlayed by an out-of-his-depth Manager - throw in the ownership saga and the points and table position are a fair reflection. Anyone who wouldn't take Mark Hughes in a flash over MP, even at this eleventh hour is either incredibly optimistic or not paying attention.

Yes, agreed - I was referring to yesterdays game - in particular our lack of speed/penetration in attack; in that sense both Tadic and JWP were poor.

I understand the frustration with Boufal, but he's got the talent and skills and run that most of our attacking players lack. He was injured or not ready for most of last season and in this one has been mismanaged by our out-of-his-depth Manager.

A bit tough on Boufal, who admittedly didn't/couldn't get into the game when he came on. Yet, Tadic and Ward-Prowse were completely ineffective in their wide positions but escape your scrutiny.

You can't play an attacking four comprising Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Carillo and Hojbjerg and expect to create anything against a top side - no pace, little guile and not much fight. Midfield did reasonably well, especially Lemina before he became ill. Hoedt and Stephens found out today and we were hopelessly exposed on the counter with no sign of Tadic or Ward-Prowse helping the FBs.

The lack of speed and guile in our attack today - Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Carillo and Hojbjerg v Mane, Salah, Firminio and AOC is the clear mismatch. Given there's no Sims, our esteemed Manager must take a chance by putting Long and Boufal on the wings to put some pressure on their defence. The limitations of our CBs, particularly Hoedt is alarming. Lemina is our bright spot today and you just know Klopp will be noting his class. Another thing, you can't expect Cedric and Bertrand to provide the only width and run when neither Tadic or Ward-Prowse are fast enough to provide defensive cover.

He so reminds me of Hoiveldt! Sadly the BBC preview got it right; sold too many good players, recruited too many poor ones. These are the games where the likes of Tadic, Ward-Prowse become invisible.

Mane is world class, and certainly not inconsistent. Let's hope he and Salah have "inconsistent" performances Sunday.

Agree - Long's best use these days is as a sub around the hour mark when we need fresh legs to unsettle defenders and offer some speed. If he starts alone up front it will be a picnic for the ex-Saints defender(s).

Yes, he's both a holding and attacking midfielder - if only we had some pace in the team there would be more goal scoring chances. Didn't Redmond look hacked off when he came on?

I'm with him - They still have to toss Pellegrino out. Had forgotten what winning a game felt like. Lemina man-of-the-match by the length of the straight and for those criticising Romeu, he was immense again. Stephens good, Hoedt wobbly at times, both full backs good today and a slick free kick goal from JWP.

Time to drive the bus - without the Manager on board!