Saint Pete

Yes, it worries me that the very unexpected but welcome improvement in our form will result in the familiar complacent attitude that the club have employed in previous windows. Whilst it's great that Stephens and Bednarek have put in some decent performances in the last few weeks, we surely mustn't believe that we don't still need to improve that area of the team? There have been a few rumours about Vestergaard so maybe the plan could be to move him on so that we can replace with someone better if available? But suspect we will still have issues with finding clubs who will match the wages in his contract. The other obvious issues are with full back cover. I would be happy enough to see Cedric stay, but it may make sense for him to move now if (and only if!) we can secure his replacement now. Left back cover also required if youth options are not considered good enough by Ralph. Ideally, it would also be great to get a defensive midfielder in as we could be really exposed there with just an injury or two. Attacking wise, I think we are OK for now, not a priority compared with the defensive side of the team. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yes there would still be the same marginal calls, but shifting the lines would have some advantage in my opinion, because it gives more leeway to the attacking side. It would mean that all the ones in last few days where the attacker was essentially level with last defender to the naked eye would be goals, which to me seems fairer than what is happening with VAR currently. If the attackers are still caught offside, their would be less complaints with that amended rule IMO. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Some of these offsides being given by VAR are an absolute joke and not in the spirit of what the offside law is intended for. Application of rule needs changing to favour the attacking side in some way. Possibly as just suggested by Souness, flipping it to say if any part of body is onside, it's OK, instead of the other way round. Too many goals being ruled out where the attacker is basically level with current rules. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

McCarthy Cedric Stephens Bednarek Bertrand Armstrong JWP Hojbjerg Djenepo Obafemi Ings Gunn Yoshida Vestergaard Romeu Boufal Redmond Adams / Long

This type of thing really ****es me off. Is it general incompetence on the club’s part or are they deliberately trying to limit the away support numbers for some unfathomable reason? As said above, the Villa ticket sales show the support is there, it just needs the ticket office to do their job and communicate what they are doing properly with the fans.

Got to be pretty happy with a point overall today. 2 very committed teams, fair result over the 90 minutes. Neither side really got going first half, but Palace probably just about edged it and we got a bit of fortune from the VAR call. Second half was much more entertaining. Disappointed to concede from a set piece but it was a clever one from a Palace perspective with everyone expecting a shot. We kept going though and the subs gave us a real lift, especially Djenepo who had the beating of the Palace right side straight away. Ings became much more of a threat once Palace had to worry about Djenepo raiding down the wing. Could have won it towards the end but happy with a point overall and good to see us defend a few corners in injury time without making any howlers! JWP a clear man of the match for me with an all action performance, never seen him make so many tackles and win so many headers all over the pitch, even in first half when rest of the team were slow to get going. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Suspect it's purely down to condition of players. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Unpredictable game this given the tight turnaround between games. I reckon Ralph would like to play same team as Chelsea game except Ings in for Obafemi. But will depend on how players have recovered so may see Boufal or Romeu getting a start if some are viewed as too fatigued. Redmond could be a key man today I think. Confidence is key for him so that goal in last game should give him a big boost for this one. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Saints quite rightly getting lots of plaudits for the superb second goal, a class team goal. But watching it on the highlights got me thinking about what the reaction would be to that patient build up in a game at St Mary's? There were several occasions early in the move where players could have played hopeful balls into the box but instead kept the ball and waited for a better opportunity. Suspect there would have been howls of "get it in the effing box" if they played some of those sideways or backwards passes at home! Possibly an example of why the players seem to prefer away games. Also interesting that all of our 3 clean sheets this season have been in away games. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

United really do look poor. Surely they will move for Pochettino soon. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Great stuff, massive 3 points for us. Out of the bottom 3 and back on the tails of Bournemouth, Brighton and Everton after their results today. Thank fook for Danny Ings, we must keep that man fit! Merry Christmas one and all :

It must surely be tempting to keep him fresh for games to come when he’s in this mood.

Danny Ings. Wow. The man is on fire.

Good stuff so far! We definitely need to push on for a third though. In fact another 3 for us and I’ll be pretty confident we can hang on for at least a point

Pellegrino clearly must have played a part in identifying Carillo but ultimately it was Les Reed and the board who signed off on paying £19m for him! Absolutely bat**** mental to pay that much over the odds on a player with distinctly average record so clearly wedded to a manager who everyone knew that the board were already very close to replacing! Crazy stuff and indicative of how the club had completely lost its way in its decision making.

What was terrible about bringing Boufal on for Djenepo? Seemed pretty logical at a time when we wanted to continue pushing for the win. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I tend to agree with this. It's massively frustrating to lose this type of game, but it is positive that our performances have definitely picked up in the last four games. I personally think what we need to focus on to turn this type of game into points is being more clinical with the chances we get. Our problems at the other end can't really be fixed until we can change the personnel at the back in my opinion. This set of players just don't have the skills to see out games with a 1 goal lead. So we need to put teams away by taking more of our chances. I think this can be done with a small improvement in confidence and performance from the likes of Redmond and Djenepo who are both capable of getting goals at this level. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Same old same old. Can't put enough of our chances away when on top, always liable to concede at the back. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Agree completely. I think Long is generally actually more effective in away games than home so after a good home performance from him, it would be mad to drop him. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

In fairness, suspect Boufal or Armstrong would have started if either had been fully fit. It's good news Boufal has at least made the bench again. I am a bit surprised Cedric has stayed in, although Valery not on bench so maybe he has a knock as well? Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I really don't get how that rule got passed. It makes no sense that different rules should apply just because a goal has been scored, the rules on handball should be standard at all times. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I agree. The club have become too obsessed with its "model" of only signing young players with the aim of maximising sell on value. That is fine as a general strategy to aim for but you need to maintain a balance within the squad and recognise that sometimes you need more experience and know how in key positions to get wins in the premier league. We clearly haven't done that and have allowed serious weaknesses in our team to develop unchecked, most notably at centre back. Whether Cahill was the right man I don't know, but we definitely needed (and still need) someone in that more experienced mould with the know how to help the younger players while they develop. We still haven't really replaced Fonte in that regard in my opinion! Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

So cruel on Everton that. But good for us [emoji3] Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

The only thing I would say to that is I still don't get what Stephens is doing in the team, he is Championship level at best and always will be. Yoshida is far from perfect but is considerably better than Stephens so should be playing. I agree with your general point though that there is a limited amount any manager can do with some of these players. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Indeed he does. Shame so many Saints fans seem reluctant to give him that credit. As for the corners, don't think they were great today on his part, but as a rule I think our problem from corners is we don't have players who attack the high balls well. That goes for corners at both ends of the pitch. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk