redkeith

I didn't have Redmond down as a Guardian reader, but he must have read that article. He was very good last night, working bacl with Clyne and getting on the end of those 4 chances, as well has what should have been an assist for Cedric. In all the meltdown after the 3 late Everton goals, it was easy to forget that Redmond had 2 headed chances, a=on cut in and shot form the left and the chance set up by JayRod. I realise that he didn't score any of those chances, but it is encouraging that he is getting into those positions.

Folly for me. Looked brilliant as a holding midfielder. Then the next Season Sturrock tried to make him into a box to box player, and he was never the same.

I watched the Everton Highlights again today, and Blackmore did mention that Ralph addressed the players on the pitch before the game, which is unusual to say the least. It could have been noticed by others and lead to the story above. The Bertrand thing as strange, if he was ill then he should not have been on the bench. If he was ill bit had 20 minutes in him, then he should have come on with 20 to go to give more cover for McQueen. If they were not listening to the bench, then Fonte should have ordered JWP or Redmond to pick up Coleman in the last 20, when everyone could see that he was the danger.

Before the first goal they kept getting Coleman in space. Japanese or red,on needed to start marking him, or the coaches needed to bring on a sub who could. Stephens looked ok, so sell cup and put the money towards a man sized box to box midfielder. until valencia came on, we were the best team.

He made the right changes, especially taking off Martina. Our midfield had nothing at all going forward. In the first half we had 3 good crosses in the box with no midfield runners. 2nd Half it took Davies 3 touches to decide to pass the ball to Long, by whch time he had 3 players on him. Poor ref, Kanu had to go for a smack on the head, although we need to learn to be more cynical in these situations. Defending for both goals was awful, and the keeping was too slow. However, sarcasm when he clears the ball or comes for a cross is not on. Anyone doing this should have someone over their shoulder at work all week shouting "Your ****" every time you make a typo. We need an attacking midfield option and a forward who can win the ball his back to goal.

- Jay Rod is finished as a top flight player - Puel's substitutions don't work - People shpud show a bit more patience Only one of the above seems to be true. Great performance, even from Hojdberg who was terrible for the first 20 minutes. Very pleased for Jay, lets hope he can show us what a difference confidence makes to a striker.

Well, ... you can prove anything with facts!

We all see the game differently, I thought Pierre was our best palyer on the night, others thought he was terrible. However, for the goal, Davis runs away from the scorer back towards his own goal , picking up no-one. I'm not sure if it would have made much difference if he had gone towards the goalscorer, but he waqs the only threat and Davies ran away from him.

I thought Davis was poor last night, one run back to win the ball by our corner flag, and a run into box for the Sims cross aside. Redmond started ok, but makes the wrong decisions, and stops to think about it and Bertrand was poor as well. As a result, we had nothing going on on the left side in the 2nd half. I know there is good sports science beind the rotation, but some players seem to need to play every game or they lose their form. Romeou seems to have got worse lately after being rested. The next 3 games are crucial. If Long and Rodriguez can't register a goal between them while Austin is out I can't see how the club can sit idley by in January.

I didn't realise, until it was mentioned by the commentators in the Prague game, that Saints have hardly ever scored in the away legs in European competition. I have seen them score at Limerick, and in Arhnhem, but have drawn a blank in Hamburg, Bucharest and Milan. Have any other posters seen more goals ? ( I known my brother saw the score draw at the Veledrome in 76 ) ?

Could be a good fit for the squad, I don't think we have an academy right back who is ready yet. We could give him some games instead of Martina.

I think it was all post mcMenemy, and maybe even towards the end of Chris Nicholls time as manager. Higgins was dismissed by Saints and took pretty much all of his young players out of the Saints Youth set up and got them to other clubs. I think Higgins may also have advised Rod Wallace to leave as well.

Feared the worst when the Soccer Saturday team all backed us, and then when the commentator mentioned that they hadn't kept a clean sheet, and that that benteke hadn't scored at home. Still, we looked slightly the better side until that Forster howler, and then we don't mpick up at set peices again. Huffed and puffed, with everything coming through Boufal, who then gets taken off. How Redmond stayed on is a mystery, the same goes for Ward Prowse. Our midfiedl was awful today. No forward runs, and slow passing. Palace were on a bad run last December until they played us. Long Austin and Boufal to start on Thursday please.

Shearer had already come on a a sub at Oxford in a league game, and put one chance over the stand. Bale did not make his debut at Derby, but played twice towards the end of the season before. Steve Moran scor3ed with his first touch as a sub against Man City, so that's not bad, but for a debut, and a first start how about Graham Baker at home to Blackpool.

VVD had a poor game, needless free-kick given away for the goal and missed our best chance. McQueen was our best player, linked well with Redmond until Sparta shifted across and made us go down the right with Martina. I have seen Steve Baker have better games than Martina tonight. He often gets into a good postion, but his first touch kills momentum dead, and often makes him go backwards. He did the same in the 2nfd half at Inter, where he had so much space to attack. Not that that mattered in the end, as his crosssing was appalling. We reaally do need another right back in January. Apart from Yoshida, McQueen and Forster, I don't think anyone else can look themserlves in the mirror this morning. JayRod and Long need to play for the U23's to try and get some confidence. Long had a good run of scoring last season, but it turns out he was using all his goes at once. I saw him at the Euros where he looked clueless and out of his depth, and he looks the same ever since.

Careful. Referencing your own thread could set up a loop in the Saints Web Database, and make a hole in the Matrix.

No the Villa goal was his first goal , May 15th 1980, just checked Ducan's book. Good excuse to watch the West Brom goal again, as if you need one.

What about Ivan Golac, at home to Villa. Hammered from just outside the box, into the far top corner. It wasn't on TV, so you will have to take my word for it, but it was a genuine thunderbastard !

Got to the airport early just in case, but my flight to Bordeaux was on time. Getting off the plane a lady asked me if I had been to the game. Turns out that they had too, and the lived about 10km from our house in the middle of France. Got home before my train was due to leave Bordeaux, and even got a partial refund on my ticket!

Trains planes and automobiles for me. Being dropped off at Angouleme station, TGV to Bordeaux, bus to the airport, Easyjet to Milan (£48 return) and then train in from Maplense. The whole trip is still cheaper than coming back for a home game.

I lost interest in the england team after Keegan retired as a player. Since then I have been unable to relate to it because if the rejection of good players at unfashioanable clubs in favour of the likes of John Barnes, Ray Wilkins and the like who contribute nothing( John Barnes got something like 90 caps, on the back of that goal in Brazil, and 2 crosses in the defaet to Argentina. The times when I have got more investedhave been the tournaments when the shoe in's have got injured and the team has suddenly improved. In Mexico Hodge, Ried and Bracewell came in for Wilkins and Robson and England got to the QTR's. In Italy, John Barnes injury lead to a change in formation and then the Semi's. Since then, nothing, although I did wan't them to lose after the way Venables and Hoddle ignored Le Tiss. I did get excited when Rickie scored against Scotland, but that was still tempered by the way that Roy wouldn't put Lallana and Lambert on the pitch at the same time, despite thier understanding of each other's game. For Euro 2016 only 3 CD's were included in the squad, none of whom would get in the Saints defence. The latest squad includes a 30 plus Man Utd substitute as Captain, and Lingard, another forward who has managed to look very average in a mediocre Man United team. This obsession with the big 6 has not worked in the past 30 years. I would much prefer to see players like Davies at Hull, who has put in a season and a bit of good performances in a struggling team, but Smalling and Cahill are picked instead.

Saints played a low energy game, never pressing that much, just keeping their shape. Going forward, Targett was not pressing forward like Bertrand does, and Martina had a shocker on the other flank, 2 seconf half crosses aside. Redmond was ananymous and Long had a shocker. His confidence is so low at the moment that he seemed to be hiding from any half chances. His touch just on the final whistle summed him up to day, playing the ball behind himself, to the two men he was trying to beat. The midfield was solid though, Romeou was MOM by a mile, and Claiise was good too. Yoshida did ok, bar hsi casual cleareance that was belted wide, and VD was good, apart from missing an early sitter. All in all a decent point.

MOM the whole lot of them. Great performance allround, good team shape. Two DM's is so last year !

Thre is a greaqt podcast interview with Rudd Guillit on the Guardian recently plugging his knew book about football tactics . In ther interview he said that there are really two types of 4-3-3. The midfield is always a V shape, and it depends on wether the v faces one way, with 2 defensive midfield and one attacking, or the other way, with only one DM. According to him, the second way is more attacking, as more players are able to get forwards. Makes sense to me.

Missed the first 40 minutes, as I didn't realise the kick-off time I saw was local time, not GMT. DOH! Played really well, great movement and should have scored more. I was a bit worried about the rotation, but it seemd to work. If we are playing twice a week for 2 months, then you have to let the sports science guys have some input into the team selection. No point in playing someone who is in the red zone and putting him out for 2 months. Proper strickers finish from Charlie, and a good substitution at the end, to provide more help against Montero .