austsaint

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?

Davis, Ward-Prowse and Long ???

Your last sentence is the thing.

Nothing much for the neutral then!

Quite funny....but with an ominous doomsday feel about it.

It really would be a disaster....which could easily have been avoided; even now with decisive action - which probably won't happen.

Sunderland scoreline a few seasons back at home comes to mind.

I think the majority of supporters are behind the team and well remember the days when relegation battles were common. The real (and in my view valid) complaint is that so much about our present position could have been avoided by decisive action to replace a poor manager and a proactive strengthening of the squad dating back to the non-replacement of Fonte.

I'm not making excuses for Pellegrino - he should have been binned 6 weeks ago. Boufal, Austin, Gabbiadini and possibly Tadic all good enough in attack, when played in their right positions and managed better. I'm saying Long and Redmond aren't good enough compared to the CP players I've mentioned and JWP played in that wide right position doesn't have enough pace, width and run to compensate for the few good crosses that come in. Carillo is too soon to call.