austsaint

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.

I agree that Long coming on for Austin didn't inspire confidence, yet Austin has just looked so slow and ineffective I suppose Hughes reasoned Long might put more pressure on the EFC defence in the search for an equaliser. Gabbiadini for Romeu was a positive change as we needed to chase the game and Armstrong who has looked lively as an attacking mid thus far was a fair replacement with 6 minutes to go for Ward-Prowse who hadn't been awful, just ineffective as an attacking midfielder/winger. The criticism of Hughes' changes just aren't supported by the evidence.

So you don't think taking off Romeu for Gabbiadini was an attempt at improving our attack, which up until then was effectively just Redmond and Ings? And replacing a totally ineffective Austin with an attacking player was a bad move? And bringing on Armstrong on for a static Ward-Prowse was also inept was it? You'll have to explain your argument a little more.

Are you JWP's Dad? Redmond has had two impressive games - Ward-Prowse played his usual game yesterday, efficient corners, a good free kick and neat and tidy passing...nothing more, nothing less. Yet you want him on the pitch over any other player??

Nick - Austin did have a clear header on goal he should have buried; that chance aside he wasn't in the game and looked off the pace and clumsy. JWP did put in a few good corners and a free kick that resulted in chances, including the goal which Lemina glanced on into the path of Ings; apart from that JWP did his normal quota of neat and tidy passes - but he played most of the game on the right wing and never made a run with the ball or ran into attacking areas...that was the problem; good dead ball delivery but as an attacking wide right, not much else and with Austin's lack of mobility we virtually had only two attacking players in the first half- Ings and Redmond, who for the second week in a row looked good. The second half was better - more intensity, a lift in midfield and the subs who offered more in attack.

Mark, please don't include Austin, Long, Stephens, Hoedt, Ward-Prowse as starters very often. Thank you.

It's not Hughes - it's the lack of quality. The two CBs are awful, Ward-Prowse can't run with the ball or make runs into space, Austin has no mobility - we virtually have only two attacking players on the pitch, hence the direct hoofing.

Absolutely right. I thought we ended up with just about the best combination of players on the pitch with a 4-4-2. A fit Cedric for Stephens and Yoshida for Hoedt would top things off. The attacking four of Moi, Ings, Gabbi and Redmond looked very promising. Lemina and Romeu very good in the second half; the new CB is going to be a fan favourite and McCarthy kept us in the game, especially 1st half. Ings will make such a difference.

I think they should both be regularly featuring on the bench for the first team instead of players like Long and Davis. Sims is ready and good enough to make an impact.

Great summary Bat........I haven't enjoyed pressers as much since Koeman.

Yes, if he has overcome the injuries we have a classy, proven striker who is an upgrade on Long, Gallagher and probably Austin. Would have preferred Welbeck but still a good signing even if the price paid seems high considering Pool payed 6.5 million for him.

Yes, fair enough - plenty of life down at Bondi, even on a Sunday night!

Lots of Pubs in Sydney show the game - but you can contact the Australian Telco "Optus" and buy a match pass for not much; they send you the app via an email link and you can stream it on to your computer.

Yep, I find it incredible many posters seem happy to shed Cedric, Lemina, Bertrand, Tadic, Boufal etc but are enthusiastic about keeping the likes of mediocre players like Long, Austin, Redmond, Bednarek, Hoedt and Ward-Prowse.

What happened to AR10 or was it AK10 - he set himself up as an in-house ITK but got just about every prediction wrong; got called out and quickly disappeared.

That side is clearly the best line up as things stand. Perhaps an argument for Romeu instead of Hoj. Still a desperate need for another striker and probably another wide attacking recruit. I don't want to see too much of Long, Austin, Redmond or Ward-Prowse in starting line ups this season.

Keep him and bring in a decent striker and winger.

Couldn't agree with you more. Sims has already shown the talent, speed and skill to make an impression at Prem level. He should be a regular this season.

True enough - it's early days but there is the legitimate worry that our new signings are a reserve goal keeper, a midfield upgrade of Stephen Davis, an unproven lump of a CB and a replacement of equal base to Tadic if we are lucky. And then there's the prospect of players like Long, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Stephens and Hoedt playing a lot of first team Football.

Of course we would miss him. Just consider the prospect of Gabbiadini/Lemina (latest rumours) leaving and players like Long/Ward-Prowse remaining. While its true the squad may be bloated the idea of reducing numbers and quality is ridiculous.

Sums it up beautifully...we need a new striker, but not this bloke. On another striker issue...are we really going to be stuck with Shane Long for another season?

You really are a miserable fecker