Saint Pete

That is good news. Was almost certain JWP wouldn't make it for this one. On balance though would do us a favour if this did get called off as conditions must surely suit Burnley more than us. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I think you're right. We all know his weaknesses but there is no player in the team who fits Ralph's way of playing as well as Long, and he's a very good option to have available in the squad. There's no doubt our attacking play has improved since he has come back in as a starter this season. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

This will be a good test for us to see if we can bounce back after tonight's disappointment after playing so well, and also against the type of team we normally struggle with. Will need a whole hearted fully committed performance to win so could certainly do with having JWP available in midfield. How we fare in this one could set the tone for what kind of end to the season it's likely to be? Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Agree with all you have said except I don't think you can blame Gunn for 2nd goal, well placed shot right in the corner. I actually think he hesitated slightly in coming out for the last goal though, if he'd have been quicker he would have got there before Son. I agree it's daft not picking your No1 keeper for a game like this. Both Tottenham's late goals were far too easy the way they cut through the middle of our midfield. Romeu and Hojbjerg definitely should do better, and Vestergaard predictably couldn't then cope with Moura running at him for the 2nd. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yes it seemed like we worked so hard throughout the match to get in front, dominating for much of the time really. But once we were in front, it looked like we stopped doing what we had done so well defensively up til then. At the end of the day we are still frail at the back and need more quality and know how. Spurs upped their game just a bit when they went behind and defensively we couldn't handle it. Annoying as we should have won this game comfortably based on performances of the 2 sides. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Brilliant goal from Oxford!!

Andy Carroll (obviously fails the good player part of the question though) Going back a bit further, Alan Smith and Lee Bowyer of Leeds. And Craig Bellamy was a detestable little ****, although I did quite admire his ability to wind everyone up, often even his own team mates! Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

In that case it’s unacceptable really. It would certainly have been at least reviewed had it been the other way around and decision most likely reversed. Shows that VAR, whilst an improvement in terms of getting the right decisions, still provides enough wriggle room for the officials usual bias towards the favoured teams.

Seriously, we ought to make an official objection next time he is selected to ref us. At least that would make them think twice about giving him our games in future after that. Does anyone know definitively whether VAR did review the penalty on Ings or not? Was this referred to in post match interviews?

In fairness on the BBC website live reporting, it said that VAR did review it. No idea if that was accurate though.

Yep I don’t think he will be unhappy with the performance, just maybe we need to be more clinical in games against top teams when we get chances. But general performance still good and we need to continue that on Wednesday.

Some recognition at least from Jermaine Jenas on BT that the score is a travesty; “weirdest 4 nil I’ve ever seen”.

So what you are saying is that now we are in sight of safety, we're prepared to step off the pedal and drift to the end of the season, rather than push on and try to achieve a higher place? So ambitious! Don't get me wrong, I think you are quite correct in your assessment! Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

It's baffling that posters find it disappointing that Saints haven't used the transfer window to address our weaknesses and improve our squad? OK. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I don't blame him for having ambition, but the guy is a complete ****. There's no excuse for the way he acted in order to try and force a move, completely unprofessional and disrespectful to the club who gave him a 6 year deal and made him captain. No doubt he'll end up doing the same to Liverpool one day when the wind changes and someone else offers him more cash. I hope Danny Ings embarrasses him tomorrow. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/virgil-van-dijk-reflects-forcing-21396617 I would ****ing love it if we could beat them... Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

The downgrade, false economy philosophy?

Whilst Cedric is far from perfect, you would have thought that our performances and defensive record this season when he has played versus when he hasn't would make some on here a bit more appreciative of his efforts. Also worth remembering that in his first couple of seasons at Saints he was a regular in a pretty strong Saints defence, probably one of the strongest defences I can remember as a Saints fan. So not quite as bad as some like to make out. I don't really get what we are achieving here by loaning in an untested young RB and loaning out Cedric for a minimal fee. Would rather we kept Cedric on til end of season, and most likely increased our chances of a higher league place. Bit of a joke that OS is making out this is strengthening our full back positions when it actually seems the opposite! Classic Saints transfer window approach though I guess. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yeah, only a matter of time before FA Cup replays are scrapped altogether to keep the champions league clubs happy, who don't give a stuff about the competition. Maybe the time has come to allow them to not enter if they care so little about the cup? That way, the rules can be set to suit the clubs who want to play in it rather than those that don't. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Redmond and Long instead of Boufal and Obafemi and you may be onto something there. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

If we can dump Spurs out, great chance to make the quarters. Happy enough with that. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Eh? We went 2 goals ahead, does that not suggest we DID break them down? Problem was our defence reverted to type, went to pieces and allowed Wolves 3 goals in the second half. A timely reminder really to the club that a temporary run of a few games does not suddenly change the fact that we have an extremely leaky defence and lack leaders and know how on the pitch when games start to turn. It's not just the defence, we could also do with more steel in central midfield. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

At the start of this window, I feared that our improvement in form would result in the club putting back attempts to improve the squad at Ralph's disposal again and it looks like that is going to be the case. It seems as long as Gao and the board are confident we have enough to get our 16th/17th place spot in the league they are not going to sanction spending money unnecessarily (in their view). Pretty short sighted and complacent in my opinion. Ralph is performing minor miracles with what he has at the moment, but as great as our current form is, surely noone is under any illusions that improvements must be made to our squad if we are to progress longer term? I think we have been fortunate this season so far with injuries but that will not last forever and looking at how threadbare we are in terms of quality in defence and midfield, just a few injuries in vulnerable positions are likely to affect us badly. I accept that January is not the easiest time to get players in, but I think Ralph would have expectations that he would be backed with some help by the club and if that doesn't happen, it's only a matter of time before he will be off to a club who will give him backing to bring in the players he needs (no matter what he may say in public). Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

To be honest if KWP is signed now as a loan with option to buy, it would make more sense to let Cedric leave now (assuming Cedric is still committed to leaving at end of season anyway). That way Ralph will see enough of him in action to decide whether to sign permanently. Obviously also depends what's going on with Valery's fitness. From a selfish short term fan view, I would prefer if Cedric stayed as we seem to have finally sorted the defence for now. But probably makes more sense strategically to plan ahead if he's off. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I know this seems to be a popular view in the game from managers and players but I disagree to be honest. I think if the ref has to trot over every time and review what the VAR has already looked at, it's just going to make the delays from VAR much worse. Also, I can't help feeling that managers and players, especially of the top teams, want this so they can try to "influence" the decision making process more (like they did before VAR)! If anything maybe refs should be able to communicate more with the VAR about for example the impact of pitch conditions on a red card decision (eg Bertrand Vs Leicester). But in general I prefer the idea of VAR making rulings in a more independent way from being influenced. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk