Saint Pete

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

At the end of the day, JWP won us the 3 points today with that free kick. And for all those who who still say it's a myth that he is a dead ball specialist, please tell me all the prem players who have scored more free kicks than JWP in the last season or so. There must be loads as so many on here think JWP is ****e at taking them... Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Well done Saints today for keeping going. This could be a massive 3 points but still obviously a long way to go. Boufal very impressive when he came on. Time for him to start now. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

The impact of relegation on value of players is surely mostly down to whether clubs have to sell or not in order to survive. If other clubs know that a relegated club needs to sell their main assets, they will adjust their offers downwards accordingly. The championship players who go for a lot of money will generally be those belonging to clubs who don't have to sell and so can demand a higher price. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Just watched the highlights again. As bad as Cedric’s pass was, the worst miss for me was Djenepo’s second one after Boufal’s run. Genuinely don’t know how he managed to put that wide.

As gutted as I am that we failed to get the 3 points that our performance deserved today, it is encouraging that we were so much more on the front foot today and created so many chances to score. If we are going to get out of trouble this season (which I still believe is possible by the way), we have to keep playing in that positive way, as it's pointless playing defensively with our lack of quality at the back. Next week is obviously critical for us. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Time for you to FO. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

When we sold Targett I assumed it was a vote of confidence in Vokins or other young players coming through that they would be able to step up when Bertrand was unable to play. But if that was the plan it seems noone asked Ralph as he clearly doesn't think the young players are up to it, hence the playing all and sundry out of position at left back! Just another sign of the lack of coherent strategy at the club at present. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Don't think so. Assistant coach NOT assistant manager. Further down article it says Watson, Fleming and Davis are all also first team assistant coaches, so on same level as them, not a direct replacement for Rohl it seems. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk