austsaint

When you're not slagging off Davis you talk a lot of sense. Central attacking midfield is the spot for Boufal.

Do you understand why the Manager is not playing him more? I don't. If it's the not physical enough; not tracking back enough argument - where does that leave Redmond, Tadic, Austin...even Ward-Prowse. None of them contribute much in those areas of the game either.

You didn't miss anything. Yoshida was once again very good, it's just that many were saying Van Diik couldn't be assed and wasn't pushing himself so his performance, which was like the player pre-injury/tantrum, stood out as committed and excellent.

Duck - you make a lot of good points in your posts but it's time to cut your losses with Boufal and change tack. Boufal represents some quality in a side very light on in that area. It's not true to say he's done nothing to warrant a place until yesterday. Did you miss the game against Newcastle? He strikes me as improved this season - fitter, faster and more determined. I'm sure he will continue to frustrate at times with turnovers or trying to beat one defender too many, but he has got the run and the skills to create chances for himself and others.

Yep, both he and Bertrand were switched on today and gave lie to the claims that they aren't giving their best - Bertrand was top shelf today and Van Diik was back to his best.

Agree, the midfield was excellent yesterday, and Romeu had his best game of the season - the combination of he and Lemina are so effectice defensively and in breaking up play that it frees up Lemina to be more adventurous, especially against the non top 6 sides. Even Romeu showed he is willing and capable of driving forward into attacking areas - this freed up Davis to play with freedom and a linking role. So much better than pre-Lemina days.

No doubt; central attacking is his best spot; he actually has a good eye for threading a pass, as well as the running trickery. Boufal will frustrate at times, but it's a different frustration than that you get from Tadic, Redmond, Long - he's got that flair and lack of fear to produce something, he doesn't dither and bottle it like Tadic and Redmond do so often. Overall, Saints made all the running and an 0-0 would have been so frustrating. Thought our only poor players were Cedric, Tadic and Long, although Forster once again looked very shaky. Good games from Lemina, Bertrand, Romeu; both centre backs and Gabbiadini did well with his movement and touch. An improved perfrmance against a negative, spoiling opponent.

Class act. Exactly what we cry out for in most games - creativity and moments of quality. Yes, he will lose the ball some times and frustrate - but he tries things - you have to win games of Football, not play on your knees. Boufal is everything the likes of Redmond, Tadic, Ward-Prowse etc will never be.

Yes, he dithers when he has a chance to shoot. Overall a good half by Saints without the goal the play deserved against a bus parking opposition. Bertrand's been good today; Gabbiadini's movement and touch very good; midfield doing well and we are very solid at the back. Baggies have had one touch inside the area!!!! Long looks poor again; I'd have Boufal on for Long earlier than later.

Maybe Mrs Koeman has punted him to the park bench following the infidelity stories.

Glasgow, you've got zero credibility in your assessment of Managers. You derided Pochettino as a clown and no hoper....you shot your trolling bolt then and even a name change hasn't improved your form.

The same used to be said about Kelvin - and his gaffs and shortcomings were ignored for far too long.

Is the Mr Plod you refer to JWP? One of the few things I give credit to Pellegrino for has been his willingness to drop Ward-Prowse out of the team for form/merit reasons. He needs to go further and make similar decisions with players like Forster, Redmond, Tadic, Austin. The apparent poor attitudes of VVD and Bertrand are different issues, in that they have the talent and skills but may not commit them to Saints any time soon. In that sense, MP has a difficult task in front of him; how to turn things round with a significant mixture of mediocre or unmotivated players in his squad. Provided we aren't staring down the barrel of relegation threat, I hope he tries to promote players like Sims, Hesketh (when back to full fitness) and Slattery to positions currently held by the likes of Redmond and Tadic.

That really was a bad miss by Tadic - not that he's noted for his aerial skills. His all round game wasn't bad today though.

Yes, but to be fair, it looked as obvious a second yellow as you'll see - sliding in with studs up.

I'd go with that - the owner deserves better for his 200 million.

Both made a difference - prior we had no midfield connection with our strikers and too many floated crosses. Boufal in particular able to make three incisive passes inside the box - one resulting in a penalty and the other bringing a great cross from Bertrand. Gabbiadini is such a class act and surely has cemented his place. I thought Long was limited with his poor touch and control - we need better than him. No doubt there will be plenty who will defend Forster but he is as close to a Footballing liability as you'll see; a very mediocre goalkeeper. How did Yedlin not get a second yellow? In the end it was a relief to get a point but the lack of attacking/creative talent in this side outside of Gabbiadini and Boufal/Tadic is very worrying.

Bunkum. Blind Freddy can see the lad's a good player. He may not make the grade as a regular Prem player but Boufal has much more attacking nous and creative skills than most of our incumbents.....Redmond, Long, Ward-Prowse, Austin.

Mirrors how I feel about Saints Football in the last season or two. I'll go further and name the one or two I actively dislike.....Tadic and Redmond; not team players, moan and whinge on the pitch and don't put in when things get difficult. Those that underwhelm and leave you cold....Forster, Ward-Prowse, Long, Austin, and as he ages Davis begins to underwhelm too. With Van Diik on his way out it leaves Lemina as the player to enjoy and get you out of your seat now and again. And then the next group of solid, talented players - some more consistent than others.....Romeu, Bertrand, Cedric, Hoedt, Boufal and Gabbiadini.

Did they have a major injury crisis at the back though? Zouma and Wimmer looked not to shabby to be fair. Stoke aren't a bad side; a few roughnuts with a sprinkling of quality like Choupo-Moting and Shaqiri.

Come on Duck..Boufal has a few flaws in his game, but the skill, touch and killer pass he has in his locker is what we are crying out for. He has to be given a run in the side.

There is a lot of what you write I agree with, but a couple of points I'd argue with. Stephen Davis is no coward; his game is showing signs of decline as you would probably expect in a 32 yo. Davis is still a valuable player but rightly will be benched or used as a sub as the season (s) go on. Redmond isn't a coward, but there's no doubt about his limitations and non-team approach to go with his strengths of speed and ability to beat a defender. As much as I like Shane Long, he is never going to deliver as a starting striker, particularly when played up front on his own - at best he has a role as an impact sub, or perhaps played wide. Agree with you about Lemina/Romeu and the Defence - that is sorted but the attack side of things is alarmingly weak.

Sums it up well for me. Pep, Jose and Conte would have trouble getting results and goals with the attacking personnel Saints find themselves with. While the recruitment of Lemina and Hoedt have been first class, the current group of attacking players are an indictment on Reed and the Board. MP might not be the answer but it's folly to think that Long, Redmond, Tadic, Jwp, Davis (at 32) and Austin could be transformed by a higher profile Manager.

Nope, Virgil was very good; Redmond was awful and Lemina, while nothing like as good as last week still played well.

Tom; keep your own counsel, is a piece of advice I've always found useful.