austsaint

To be fair, he looked pretty average in the first half being played on the right. Much better second half and grew in confidence.

I was thinking the same thing watching young Sims and even McQueen and Harry Reed (yes I know he's a DM, and a good one too) - would you really want that pair back on their massive wages and over inflated egos?

Agree with this, but you must include Davis among the best on the ground. All action running all night and brilliant incisive passing to players in dangerous positions, plus the lovely back heel to Sims was a touch of class. Davis' game tonight what someone like JWP has to aspire to. Special mention too for Reed - that tackle which led to his injury was skill and courage in equal measure. Haven't the Club got a good one on their hands with Sims?

I'd rather take one of the big ones out

That's very funny.

The only let down of the night so far is Long - his touch is just awful. Why not Sims? McQueen looks all-at-sea in an unfamiliar role - he would be the other change. Boufal's been magical at times; Davis very good with attacking passes and runs; Harrison Reed very solid; I hope Koeman is watching Reed's game. Yoshida and VVD, Bertrand all solid and Martina hasn't let anyone down so far.

It's a good question. I think a lot of us bought into Koeman's assessment of the Academy running dry of talent, but the emergence of McQueen and Sims and the re-emergence of Reed and Hesketh remind us of the short term thinking Koeman has and his post-match interview just highlights that.

No, that's ok; I was thinking of Shaw's first Prem appearance - can't remember the opposition, but he was really good - I take your point about the Cup game being his first Saint's senior start.

I acknowledge I'm not a fan of JWP's Football, and I may have become a bit blinkered about the lad - but to claim that he has been superb this season and starting to dictate games is a bit of a stretch!!!! There's definitely some improvement in his game but he looks a long way off justifying some of the ongoing praise.

Too far back to remember Bale's first Prem game; Luke Shaw looked pretty good on debut but young Sims showed speed; impressive running into space, good touch and a willingness to mix it from the off. Has to retain his place v Palace doesn't he?

I suppose if there is any truth in the rumour of J-Rod to Hull or WBA, he needs to be kept in the shop window. Maybe Long up front; it looks like Tadic may not be ready yet. Looking ahead to the Palace game you'd think young Sims would start again with Chaz.

That midfield would be picked apart; and J-Rod would be a risky pick.

No way is Davis "becoming a reserve very rapidly". He was ill today, otherwise he would have started instead of JWP.

I thought Cedric played like one of the best RBs in the game today and VVD proved again he is among the most commanding CBs in world Football. I hadn't seem much of Simms previously but his speed, control and willingness to run channels was impressive. I note many positive comments about Prowsey's performance - I was once again frustrated with his play - often charging into attack, fluffing his lines and leaving acres of space for counters or not really providing much defensively in CM; largely safe and predictable with his passing - I must be missing something and comments about us looking better with JWP than Davis in the side leave me puzzled. On the other hand Romeu and Hojbjerg in midfield were brilliant - Romeu the rock and Hojbjerg the attacking box-to-box force. Such a good win to greet RK.

It really might be winnable - and beating that sour puss Wenger would be nearly as satisfying as putting one over Ronald.

Sweet win - so good to see young Sims put in a performance like that. Full backs great on the day, along with VVD, Romeu and Hjobjerg. Bit nervy at the end.

Gave me a laugh Gunnery - could be frighteningly accurate. The only bit you left out was the likelihood of Lukaku scoring - he scored against us when he was with WBA and regularly for the Toffees. I'm hoping for a Boufal inspired win.

It was me who called Martina, Classie, J-Rod, JWP, Long and Redmond mediocre. And I stand by the comment - they are mediocre at Prem level and are the principal reason our squad depth falls away so quickly after the top 11 or 12. I wish it was different; but let's revisit this subject at season's end and see who's judgement has stood.

Get off Puel's back and take a close look at the players we have in the squad beyond the best 11 - who cannot play every game. It's not Puel's doing that we have players like Martina, J-Rod, Long, Clasie, Ward-Prowse and even Redmond who I suspect Uncle Les had signed up before Puel arrived. Those six are frankly mediocre footballers and better players like VVD, Romeu, Boufal and Hojbjerg can't carry so much deadwood in important games. If you're arguing that Puel should have played our best eleven to secure knockout stage at the expense of Sunday's match v Everton then maybe you've got a case, but the more significant issue of blunt attacking force, lightweight mid-field and poor RB options have little to do with Puel.

More like 35 million. Hojbjerg is a good player who will make the grade even if his form has tapered recently.

Long was good last season because he had a player like Mane to play off and with - and to an extent Pelle as well. I don't think it's the changes so much as the lack of quality with so many on the pitch tonight ie Martina, J-Rod, JWP, Clasie, Long, Redmond (as a striker).

All of the players you mention, except Hojbjerg, are simply not good enough; they really aren't. Long has been lost since the departure of Mane and Pelle; Rodriguez was never and will never get back to his best. Clasie has had his second season and ample opportunity but falls short and then there's Ward-Prowse, who neither holds or attacks from mid-field but continues to be "talked up".

These guys lack talent not motivation.

It's not Puel's fault we have attackers like Long and Rodriguez and midfielders like Clasie and Ward-Prowse and a RB like Martina.

It's someone like Sturridge's quality we desperately need.