austsaint

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!

That Stephens goal was reminiscent of one Fonte scored a few seasons back - anyone remember it?

I'd have the three of them playing in the second half.

Really was a good save. C'mon Saints, press on and win it - then sack the Manager.

What a strike from a class player.

Yes, Lemina is head and shoulders the best player on the pitch so far.

Promes or Walcott on for JWP - surely even the biggest JWP fans must see he isn't a winger.

Get the mascot in.

Yes, I'd rather play Long in the position that JWP has been occupying - wide right. I'd rather have a better quality player (like Promes or Walcott out there) but in their absence I would have a pacey player like Long or Gabbiadini rather than Ward-Prowse, which I think is the point Derry was making. I know JWP has been doing "better" with his couple of goals and the occasional corner and free kick - but he is just not a wide attacking midfielder. THe lack of pace in our forward players is largely responsible for our turgid attack this season. That and a diabolical Manager.

I've thought for a long time Long's best position is wide right - pace and width with a reasonable cross. Those three with a Boufal 10 ing it would sharpen the attack straight away, particularly with a new Manager. I know there are a lot of people talking up JWP in that wide role, but he doesn't offer any direct running, pace or width - he comes infield, or rushes into the box, all of which loads up the pressure on Cedric and leaves us exposed on the counter attack.

Yes, your second point is the most damning criticism of Pellegrino's "management". How/why he hasn't been paid off weeks ago is the mystery I just can't accept.

Not with the current four attacking players my friend.

You know with Tadic playing badly, we virtually don't have an attacking player on the pitch.

I have the feeling Pellegrino could send only 9 players out on the pitch and Reed and Kreuger would support him.

I was just going on memory - as someone pointed out, J-Rod didn't sign until we were promoted.

Oh, yes....who was the other attacker in those days then? Had we got rid of Barnard by then? Was it Guly?....not a bad player.

One of the scary things is we appear to have a weaker attacking four now in Long, Davis, JWP and Tadic than back in the Championship days - Lambert, Lallana, Rodriguez and Puncheon!

Have Boufal and Lemina laughed at him at training?