austsaint

Suggesting that he was being sold cheap, as many did, was received with ridicule by many on this forum. From what I've seen of Pool this season Mane is the ignition for most of their attacking play, just as he was for us. If we can keep him quiet Saints are a chance.

It could be - the Trump threats to put up the tariff shutters against Chinese exports might be the death knell of this takeover.

On the Beeb website it has a picture of Sadio in a Saint's shirt as nominee for African player of the year. Might even things up a bit.

That really is good news. I'm hoping Mane has a quiet day - he has lifted Pool to another level.

I reckon some of the "big boys" have Dembele's card marked already.

Isn't there an older Men's Shed or Workshop open in Glasgow where you could keep yourself occupied for a while GS.

Yes, but looking at the goals scored statistic in isolation is often misleading. How many of Austin's goals are penalties? With Mane, it wasn't just the goals he scored but the speed with which he attacked and turned round defences - and his incisive passing and assists. Boufal looks like a top player to me, but he's a different player to Mane - he's more a hybrid of Tadic and Lallana.

Lallana's headed goal tonight was a cracker; I still don't like him, but that was some goal, and he is playing well for Club and Country at the minute.

He wasn't always honest and upfront (while at SFC) though, was he. I do remember him saying something similar about Mane, 12 months ago, along the lines of enjoy the skills of Mane while he is still here.

Why don't you turn your forensic attention to JWP and get off Davo's back.

I thought Boufal showed more creativity and flair in his 20 minutes than any other player on the pitch. He was one of the positive things about today.

Who to be fair (Surman) has had a pretty fair career. No doubt JWP has improved a bit this season, but posts 43 and 44 sum it up for me. Hojbjerg has so much more in his locker.

No they didn't - you have to call a spade a spade. JWP has shown improvement this season but his game was abject last night - go back and watch a replay if you need convincing. Reed and Hojbjerg were very good in a poor scrappy game - but JWP did not play his part. I know people want him to live up to the hype and this is probably his best season for Saints so far, but he was extremely poor last night.

Yes, I meant Isgrove - poor lad is not going to make it at Saints.

Agreed. Yoshida, Reed, Hojbjerg, McQueen and Fonte all good tonight and of course the Boufal moment was pure magic. There were a few poor performances on the night - Stephens, Hesketh and Ward-Prowse were ineffective. Great cameo from Redmond - his speed is exceptional; thought Olamola was a brave change by Puel and he showed enough to keep himself in the frame.

He won't come back of course, but there would be a place for him. Romeu is going brilliantly, but a lot is being asked of him, and accompanied by Davis and Clasie; Davis and Hojbjerg, or even with JWP, there is a defensive frailty involving Romeu having to do too much.

He won't come back of course, but there would be a place for him. Romeu is going brilliantly, but a lot is being asked of him, and accompanied by Davis and Clasie; Davis and Hojbjerg, or even with JWP, there is a defensive frailty involving Romeu having to do too much.

Well deserved point - gritty defending and some good counter attacks. Romeu clearly the best on the ground, Fonte and VVD immense.

That's a good call; Clasie got the ball; Fernadinho got Charlie's calf.

Romeu great again today, as is VVD. McQueen a little shaky at LB. It's going to be long second half - not that Clasie is bad today but perhaps Hojbjerg to replace him, and I'd be tempted to replace Sam with Yoshida.

No doubt about it. As it stands we have three very good left backs, and two of them are young Academy products - the other is an England International...happy days.

Smash and grab job by the locals. How many chances did we have that on another night would have resulted in a comfortable win. We look to be short of a good striker; Romeu excellent but had too much to do with Hojbjerg having a poor game and JWP neat and tidy but nothing more. Both full backs heavily involved and it was good to see Boufal up and running. A cruel defeat.

I can see why they loathe Icardi.

Or a Mane. Young McQueen really can play can't he.

Those three look the ones to replace if Puel wants to win this - for Austin, Boufal and Davo.