austsaint

Just not true. Ward-Prowse has played the last 3 -4 games in a wide right wing position and had very little influence. Trying to fit him into that position has upset our mid-field balance. One of either Hoj or Clasie should have been employed to partner Romeu freeing up Davis for less holding responsibility. Our midfield has been overrun in the past month.

Apart from the lack of quality on display, the unhappy appearance of Bertrand and lack of spirit across most of the team was the most worrying part of yesterdays game.

Apart from the last 20 minutes, that was the most abysmal Saints performance of the season. So little energy and intensity outside of Romeu, Davis and Stephens. Really worrying to see the bickering going on with Bertrand and Redmond - you get the feeling RB is on his way out.

Koeman did - but he had Mane, Wanyama and a fit VVD to pull some strings for him.

I'm surprised there haven't been more comments about the vulnerability of playing both Davis and JWP. Much has been made of Yoshida and Stephens being shaky at CB tonight, and at times they were - but the lightweight nature of our mid-field with Romeu asked to handle most of the work stands out as a weakness. Davis was busy but did lose the ball a lot, and while JWP's set pieces were good, he really didn't offer much else, did he - defensively or in attack. I thought Cedric was outstanding tonight.

It was JWP out-jumped by Alonso which led to Cahill's goal.

Boufal has played well.

We are suspect defensively tonight with Tadic, Boufal, Ward-Prowse and Davis all on the pitch.

Eh? Watching the game?

Boo boy Boufal doing very well tonight - picking his moments.

He was a lot better than both of them, on the day.

But Glasgow, you slagged MP off unmercifully during his time here.

Boufal needs a consistent run of games to get back to the stuff he was playing early in the season. Even yesterday during his mixed cameo, he found space in the box and provided an assist for Tadic who couldn't finish off. I'd rather a player like Boufal in the side who can create opportunities to win games than a collection of sideways passers and safety first(ers).

He was out sped (JWP) as well as bullied. I don't know what his best position is - but it's not wide right midfield, no run and penetration and no midfield cover and defence.

Wasn't in the squad today.

That's not true though; Gabbia clearly wasn't fit for 90 minutes and Ward-Prowse was anonymous - the subs were ok.

They have been way better than us - but we invited them in, right from the start. The days of midfield strength like Wanyama and Morgan seem a distant memory. Hojbjerg was poor today; Tadic was abysmal. Message for Mr Puel, JWP might be a good player but he is not a wide right/winger. Next season we have to offer better than Long and Rodriguez.

Puel has to change something at H/T. Tadic and Ward-Prowse luxury players today. Either move JWP more centrally and get him helping the midfield or replace him with Clasie. Cedric is all alone defensively down the right side. If we want to win the game rather than hang on for an unlikely scoreless draw, replace Tadic with Boufal. Davis, Cedric and Yoshida all good in an "away" style performance.

Sims is the player I'd like to see get much more game time as this season ends and certainly next season. Just think he's going to develop into a very good player.

I'd take Stephens over Stones and Redmond over Stirling. Roughly a 90 million pound valuation difference when you compare the amounts Man City paid out, which is another reason to admire Saints recruitment and academy policy. Like a lot of people I've been curious to have a look at Carceres play, but I applaud Puel's decision to stick with Stephens and Yoshida. Had one of them faltered badly, Carceres could have come in to steady the ship - but they've done the job and there's no reason to halt the development of Stephens nor not reward Yoshida for his good form.

Nervy at the end but a great away win. Best part for me was the performance of our midfield Clasie and Hojbjerg - both made a mockery of their limited recent game time with all action games. Yoshida and Stephens were solid and settle at CB, and in attack Redmond excelled and Tadic was good. Nice little cameo by Reed at the end helped shore things up. Forster's best game in goal for ages. Only Long disappointed - he was poor today.

Great half of Football; played them off the park without full reward on the goals tally. Redmond and Tadic once again at the heart of things. Bertrand providing plenty of run and dangerous crosses. Midfield of Hojbjerg and Clasie doing the job. Was that really Clasie's first League goal? Was the Arsenal screamer a cup game?

I'll bet his Mum found him a nightmare to get off to school on time.

The odd thing is, that Davis aside, most of Verlaine's posts are well constructed! Surely anyone who can't see the value of Davo to Saints is missing something quite fundamental.

Clearly Romeu is a big miss, but Clasie and Hoj can do the job despite lack of recent playing time. I'd be ok with Harry Reed in with Hoj. Reed seems to have paid a heavy price for one poor half. He has proved himself in games like this several times.