austsaint

I think you speak for the many, Toon.

Did you see the game on Saturday? Bertrand was among our best and gave his all.

To be fair Bertrand tried his guts out today and provided much of our attacking opportunities along with Tadic (first half) and Long.

Crushing defeat - how often has Giroud broken our hearts over the years. Well played Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand and Long, Tadic first half. I thought Hughes should have made changes earlier, even at 2-0; Tadic had drifted out of the game, Ward-Prowse offering nothing in attack and a liability in defence. Too much was left to Long to provide any attacking, counter-attacking play as we dropped deeper and deeper in defence resulting in the inevitable collapse.

Three man midfield with Hoedt and Yoshida covering at CB.

We are fighting hard and showing a lot of intensity. Need another goal though and the sitting deep tactic is inviting trouble - I'd be inclined to bring Lemina and Sims on for Bednarek and JWP.

Bench looks good - apart from Forster. Long, Tadic, Ward-Prowse up front !!! The writing's on the wall.

He didn't have an excellent game. His corners and two free kicks were average. We will probably go down with people still perpetuating the Ward-Prowse myth.

Sims on, yes; but Tadic has been good today - surely it would be Ward-Prowse coming off. Have to get someone on who can run at the defence - Sims it is.

WE look like a Championship side; but not a particularly good one. It's a sad situation Saints are in.

One of your best Duck.

Sorry Andy - that front three would only hasten our demise - you can't be serious?

If we do use Ward-Prowse the game is definitely up. We are not going to survive the precipice by scoring from corners and the occasional set piece. The pace of Sims; the guile of Boufal; Lemina further forward - Tadic, Redmond out.......three midfielders....Romeu and Hojbjerg holding with Lemina forward of them.......Austin and Gabbiadini in the frame.....Yoshida back in for either Stephens or Hoedt.

Let's take Shaqiri and give them Prowsey.

FFS, we are scrapping to stay afloat.....it's 50/50 at best. Let's wait until or if we flop over the line before we go seeking out Promes, Shaquiri and co. !!!

Mane, Vic and VVD

Redmond's a frustrating player and has been much inferior this season compared to last. I'd much rather have Sims or Boufal playing ahead of him. You get the impression Hughes probably rates Redmond on what he's seen in the past, similarly with Tadic. He probably hasn't seen a lot of Sims; I hope that doesn't mean Sims won't play much of a part in the crucial last 8 games.

Indeed, and with Carillo so ineffective a better return from the two was never likely and presented the midfield space for Wigan, in the first half. Long made a difference, but against a side like Chelsea there will be a case for Romeu, Lemina and Hojbjerg. Likewise, Yoshida for Stephens is about the only option to tighten up the CB pairing; a real weakness as things stand - how we could do with a player like Sakho to shore things up.

Second half so much better and the win is a great platform to take to West Ham. I've nearly seen enough of Carillo and I thought Tadic was lucky not to be subbed, he was poor again. Despite the two misses, Gabbiadini made many good runs into dangerous areas. Hoedt and Stephens looked a it wobbly - our lack of depth at CB is a worry. Good to see Hughes on the field and congratulating players - why Pellegrino was kept so long will always be a mystery.

Carillo and Tadic off - Sims and Romeu or Redmond on. Saints look unsettled and second best - Wigan waltzing through our midfield and Stephens and Hoedt look like they don't know each other. Tadic is such a disappointment - Gabbiadini making some good runs - Cedric's been poor

Good line up - Sims a great option for more pace when needed. Pleased to see Ward-Prowse out of that wide right spot.

The other thing is Palace look to have too many class/impact players to be relegated, so Huddersfield are probably more realistic to hope for. Zaha, Benteke, Sakho at the back, even Townsend are match winners and savers - an area in which we are lacking.

He does, and I think he will. I also hope he goes for speed and guile with Sims, Boufal and I expect he will play Redmond. Lemina, Romeu and Hoj are musts as regular midfielders. He should leave Ward-Prowse on the bench,

I agree with you - take out Lemina, Bertrand, Romeu and perhaps Cedric, Boufal and Gabbiadini - Sims for promise and our squad is definitely bottom 5. Just the same, I'm glad Hughes is here - he gives us a sniff of staying up.

I thought his interview was good - straight-up, hopeful, realistic and genuine. Given our circumstances, Hughes is a really good appointment; he has been given a big task - but there is some hope now, a week ago there wasn't.