austsaint

I get where you're coming from; some of the academy lad contract extensions are a bit meh. But not this lad; looks right up to speed as a creative attacking player, and I'm sure he will improve with time.

Wayne Thomas.

Yes, the whole midfield were outstanding, particularly in the first half. Not so effective in the second half when Leicester dropped the diamond formation.

Commentators were saying it was just a knock and he'll be fine, but it looked like a decent twist/sprain of the ankle - the odds must be agin him getting up for Wednesday.

Agree with this - I'm not his biggest fan either,but JWP had a superb first half, getting involved, passing quickly, pressing and delivering that sumptuous goal to kick things off. Other than he, Romeu, Cedric, Maya, Tadic and PEH all had their moments.

On the contrary, he is very fast around the pitch and strong in the challenge. I think his weakness can be heading under pressure at times. Agree with others; we do still need to replace Fonte.

He had an outstanding first half; not so prominent second half. Great three points - Cedric, Tadic, Yoshida and Romeu all very good.

Best half of Football I've seen JWP play. I've been a critic, but if he sustains performances like that, I'll be admitting I was wrong. Well deserved lead and a commanding team performance against a poor Leicester side.

And by the way Gingel. - I don't know him; have nothing against him and agree he seems like a smart, likeable young man. It's just that he's a very limited player, and after five seasons with such little return I feel frustrated the Club isn't recognising this and looking for better.

And so are you mate. Tell me why I'm wrong in doubting the continued selection of Ward-Prowse who offers so little to the team. TEll me what he brings to the side other than average corners and free kicks.

One has always been poor, and it's not Hojbjerg. Prowse's continued selection baffles me.

Must feel like a curtain raiser. I won't/cannot be there but I'd be looking forward to a good breakfast and then a good session from mid afternoon on after the game. Let's hope for a good result today.

I take Jose's message to Saints fans on face value. It appears genuine, warm and at times quite funny. Who knows what the exact reasons were to bring it to this - Fonte was a constant for the Club through a golden period and I wish him no ill.

I don't think it's any coincidence that their dip in form is during Mane's absence - He has lit them up this season, just as he mostly did for us. Is he definitely out of Wednesday's game?

I feel your pain Corky. Maybe Gabiadinni and Sakho are not the right recruits in this window and there is the nagging doubt that the Club has abandoned the pursuit of quality players, but as things stand I think the average fan would like any "name" signing at present to give a lift to the season.

Pample, have you read Pollyanna?

Same team that beat Norwich?? You've been out in the Brisbane sun too long.

Clasie has certainly been a disappointment given his status and reputation when Koeman signed him. Just the same your description in the first part of your post could equally apply to Ward-Prowse ie nothing much in defence or attack, slow across the ground, woeful in the air etc. There have been games where Clasie has got stuck in defensively and produced attacking passes but as you say overall he hasn't lived up to expectation. One of the things that does my head in with JWP is the recent pattern of squaring a nothing pass and then sprinting into the box as if he's Austin or Pelle??? Hojbjerg on the other hand has shown that he can be the box-to-box midfielder we need, with the capacity to make driving runs with the ball and contribute defensively - it's just that he's gone backwards in the last month or so with the Bournmouth game an example....shocking first half but a much better second stanza. What we are left with though is a midfield relying too much on Romeu and the ageing legs of Davis. The midfield deficiencies plus the threadbare striker ranks well explain this season's mediocrity, irrespective of Puel's role.

Agree about the limitations of last nights midfield, but I think you've missed the main culprit having criticised Reed and Clasie.

Good call; though there are players other than Yoshida starting regularly who need to be improved upon as well. If the Fonte move to WH for 9 million is true then it's probably the right call by the Club. Similar to Lambert situation in a way; long standing Club stalwart, in decline, evokes calls of "no loyalty" from Club and/or player but in truth, the players who stay are either happy with their contract or not attracting interest elsewhere.

The players aren't free of blame for poor performances. There does seem to be too many players in our squad who are free of quality! That's the saving grace for Puel; until he gets the chance to put more quality on the park, it's unfair to write him off.

Anxious last 30 seconds.

Gotta laugh.

Sims and McQueen having bright games by the sound of it.

Really? Post 97 sums it up nicely for me - this season, Prowsey is getting plenty of game time and his performances, which honestly are mostly quite pedestrian, don't really matter because his rotation will come up again regularly. He was carried by the Wanyamas, Manes etc but when the talent pool around him thins out his limitations are laid bare. I still cannot see how Puel can afford to play him - he can't play a holding midfield role and he hasn't got the skills to play an attacking mid-field position - Sims would have been such a better option in the position JWP occupied against Burnley.