austsaint

I'm a fan of Davis, you are right though, his game is just starting to decline. What annoys me about the Verlaine/Sceptical Stan attack on Davis over the past 3 or 4 seasons is it overlooks the quality and cohesion he has brought to the side over a long period. One thing the Club has done well this summer is to bring Lemina in to partner Romeu - what's lacking now, particularly with Davis' game beginning to decline is the absence of a creative, attacking mid-fielder; and that player isn't and never will be JWP.

Lemina was quite impressive. He is the midfielder we have lacked since losing Wanyama and Morgan - and importantly, along with Gabbiadini, Bertrand, Romeu and possibly Hoedt and Boufal represents a bit of quality quality in a squad which is light on in that area.

He really is a great pro. I love his commitment and he really knows how to time a tackle. We see quite a lot of the Japan national team out here and he plays the same way in a very talented line up.

Yep, has to be the team for me - except I'd play Maya instead of Jack.

No mention of JWP's performance tonight. Can someone summarise where he played and how?

Wins a win. We looked better when they had 11 on the pitch.

The goal resulted from the sub JWP allowing Cresswell too much time and space - poor decision by Pellegrino.

Set up Gabbiadini and won the penalty - give it up.

Eh? Yoshida's had a blinder. It was Romeu who got turned by Antonio leading to the goal - otherwise they haven't had a sniff.

Agree. He's a likeable, tenacious, fast forward - but his control, touch and finishing are not good enough. Hope he goes to Reading.

I suppose the Chinese owners would be banking on expanded future TV deals into Asia and India to provide profit on their investment. The Liebherr family are legendary figures who have provided eight memorable years to all who care about SFC. Katharina has been such a class act; principled, dignified and trustworthy - remember how she took a bit of stick from the media when Cortese departed - kept her own counsel and steadied the ship - reassured staff and has delivered in a steady, measured way.

No, no and no. My feeling is Stephens is a rapidly improving young CB, not far behind other highly rated English CBs like Stones and Gibson. But our Dutch wantaway is different class - and doesn't lack Footballing intelligence.

My point is I don't think it should be Tadic and Ward-Prowse getting on the end of things in the box - neither of them have a shred of clinical finish, particularly Ward-Prowse who doesn't play the wide right, attacking mid or 10 role with any conviction. We need Gabbiadini getting on the end of things in the box, (or Austin) from passes and movement from the FBs, Tadic, Boufal, Redmond or even JWP.

Pete, as a matter of interest - are there any circumstance - eg JWP's second half display yesterday - where you wouldn't include him in you starting eleven?

No, be fair. At the moment it's a case of "meet the new boss" with much the same players as "the old boss".

Gabbiadini just didn't get much service from players like Tadic, Redmond and the overlapping full backs. Another thing which seemed to hinder him was JWP (obviously under instruction) often hurtling into the box to take up a "de-facto" striker's position, which had the effect of crowding out Gabbi's space. I think Gabbiadini will be fine once things settle and he will score a bag of goals.

While Tadic missed a sitter he actually played quite well. If it had been a boxing match it was unanimous, Saints win, but the near things, lack of a clinical finish and a bit of bad luck worked against us. Thought Bertrand and Cedric were good; Romeu and Davis hard working; Redmond busy and a nice little cameo from Boufal.

All looks a bit familiar to last season. Swansea look quite poor - plenty of tempo and movement by the FBs and Redmond. Boufal needed to unlock things.

That's enough for me.

Foul mouthed fake

JWP as the 10 - as part of a team that "picks itself" ........you've seen something I haven't!

Made me chuckle. Good news signing - everyone needed a lift after the "Coq au Van Diik" saga and Mr Mario Lemina looks like the midfielder we've needed for ages. Let's hope he can play!

Ha, ha....same here. He does sound like the midfielder we've needed since Vic and Morgan departed. Watching Romeu hold things together on his own last season was hard going.

Indeed. Nice lad, and a more than reasonable LB/wing-back, but unlikely to really ever crack it in the Prem.