austsaint

One of the things that was clear last season in addition to Puel's shortcomings was the lack of quality in the squad - especially in midfield (both defensive and attacking), centre-back and dare I say it, GK. If that's not addressed soon I think it will become obvious that Puel wasn't the only problem.

As usual you are spot on - Forster has many limitations as a GK and often it's his bulk and height which does the job, rather than reflex and agility. Niemi was different class; it's a while since we had a quality keeper, although Boruc was pretty damn good before Koeman took a dislike to him. Chez, about the only time I can recall having disagreement with your opinions/reviews etc was when you rated Hoiveld as a better CB than Fonte - remember that? Keep up the good work.

You certainly are a consistently big wrap for the lad. One of the first names on the teamsheet is a bit of a stretch ie VVD, Gabbiadini, Romeu, Bertrand, Cedric. Hojbjerg is a good player in the making - no need to dream for his future.

Yes, that's a good call. Definitely not DM and being posted wide right really stagnates the team's movement. Perhaps that more advanced role Davis has played in the past in front of Vic and Morgan - although to take that role needs a driving, shuttling run game - has he got that capacity?

But he's not going to be able to do that Suhari - he hasn't got the type of game to handle DM. And therein lies the problem with this lad; successive managers try and find a spot to shoehorn him into - the latest being the wide right spot where an overlapping Cedric or the like would tee him up for one of those right-to-left crosses. In so doing the side is unbalanced and either lacks the defensive midfield cover or the speed and movement out wide.

One of the great days to be a Saint's fan, seeing Cuco blast in like that v the Arsenal - 4-0 in the end wasn't it? Thanks Cuco.

Glasgow; I'll pay you a rare compliment if you change your compliment to complement. Get out a bit and enjoy the Summer.

Yep, without additions to our midfield I think we are going to struggle. Davis has been a great servant to the Club but is surely in decline; Clasie has been mostly underwhelming; PEH has something about him but tailed off noticeably last season and poster 8575 talks about JWP as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder....Kreist, how is that going to happen??? Romeu needs some quality around him but there's no indication it's going to happen.

Is Vietto capable of playing in a wide/wing position? Saint's lacked a genuine fast, tricky wide player last season - apart from Redmond and perhaps Sims. JWP may have had an improved season but he didn't look effective played wide right.

I'm with you - good player, who hasn't had the chance of first team continuity. I'll be seriously disappointed if the only midfield partners for Romeu this season are the ageing Davis, Ward-Prowse and Clasie.

Yes, quite right. Claude P. had to go, but one of his positive legacies is the development of Jack Stephens - really not inferior at all to a player like Stones.

Cannot agree with your assessment - I thought had an excellent season, combining courage and solid defence with adventurous runs and decent crossing. With Cedric and Pied I think we're sorted at RB.

Are you Delldays - Glasgow S.- Heisenberg? Give it a rest - sounds like a very good appointment to me.

Let's hope it's a case of pilgrim's progress!

Thanks for the scoop

Serious respect for you Ryan Bertrand.

Yes, I can see why the push to play JWP happens; he has improved and has good dead ball skills and good passing technique when he's not under pressure - but playing him forward seems to stagnate wide movement and playing him CM makes us vulnerable defensively. Then there's Davis who plays better with an attacking midfield role, but on the downside is at an age where a decline in his performance is likely. If the shortcomings of Clasie are factored in then we badly need midfield reinforcement this summer.

You could be describing at least one other midfielder in Saint's squad - it will be interesting to see how the new Manager rates Clasie and JWP.

Yes, in an era of egotists and prima donnas, we have Steven Davis, model pro, decent bloke and a damn good player.

But surely not Van Gaal!! Ageing, blunt, tactically inflexible and egotistical - where's the upside????

I wouldn't hold the use of defensive tactics against Barca as a reason not to appoint Pellegrino. Both Chelsea and Man City have had to adopt a similar style in recent CL games during Mourhino and Pellegrini tenures. Anyone know what Pellegrino's command of English is like?

Yes, quite so. And I'd take another 2 years or so of the benefits a high profile manager like Tuchel would bring, Let's hope Les thinks so too. Perhaps the whole idea of "managerial stability" is a fanciful dream of the past - just like the notion of the "loyal" player is more likely a player without any better offers.

Les and co. might be wary of a Tuchel appointment if they are looking for managerial stability since a Poch/Koeman stepping stone outcome would be likely.

To be fair, your use of "is seemingly on his way" is ambiguous, in that it could be read as an incoming or outgoing player. Have a walk round the block; you'll feel better.

I'd like to think we could accumulate more than 46 points next season.