Saint Pete

I definitely like that as a principle to set to the players on day 1. In reality, it will be very interesting to see how that plays out. It is often easier to say you want players out than to make it happen in the modern world, eg Forster. He's going to need strong backing from the board to make things happen the way he wants to in January. But really excited by what he is saying. People just might need to be realistic about how quickly he can solve some of our issues! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

That first goal summed up our defending this season perfectly. Early corner when we should be fully switched on. But we allow an easy short corner with absolutely no pressure on Eriksson giving him total freedom to pick someone out. Marking of Kane their biggest threat non existent and no one from our side attacking the ball a couple of yards from our goal. To call it schoolboy defending is insulting to schoolboys. A decent defensive coach should be able to improve things to some extent, at least coming up with a more solid plan for defending set pieces. But my suspicion is a few of our defenders will still continue making basic errors because they just aren't very good and switch off time and again! The other concerning thing is that we continued to allow easy short corners throughout the rest of the first half! To me that shows a lack of leadership on the pitch, no senior players demanding better organisation. If we can sign a real defensive leader in January, someone in the Cahill mould, then we may be OK, but with the current set, I think Ralph has got quite a job to do! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

This is going to be really tough given all the injuries and suspensions. Could get ugly. Real shame about Obafemi’s injury, thought he did well yesterday and his pace and willingness would have been a good outlet for us in this one. Any chance of Ings making it in time?

It says a lot about our failure in recruitment of centre backs if our best options now are genuinely Stephens, Bednarek and Yoshida! But I fear you are correct on this occasion. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Exactly. Fair play to Hughes, this is a brave line up choice. I hope it comes off as will be good to see the youngsters. Not much he can do about Cedric on the left with both left backs out.

Worth pointing out that things went downhill somewhat after that article was written for Sousa at Fiorentina. They finished up 5th in his first season and 8th in his second. Compared with 4 4th placed finishes in a row under previous manager Montella. Reckon he would be something of a gamble particularly given previous failures in this country albeit a fair while ago. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Sounds like genuinely unlucky today. The clean sheet is encouraging at least. Will Hughes stick with that formation and the same centre backs for Man U? I think he should. For those who watched the stream, how did Valery look? And Vestergaard? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

They may try to go with more of a 3-4-3 with the 4 being Valery Hoj Lemina Target? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

He really needs to look at his own part in Fulham's goals and recognise that before criticising anyone else. He may have been exposed because of lack of tracking back by other players, but he is a defender and he needs to defend better than he did in that game. Unfortunately the club saw fit not to sign a senior back up right back in the summer so he probably sees himself as untouchable. I would still leave him out and play a youngster like Valery who will play for the shirt.

Doubt it. They will say they will make a decision after the "pivotal" following fixtures. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yeah, it was a bouncing ball and he just snatched at it a bit rather than setting himself more to keep it down. Understandable if for such a young player, but as you say he looked lively and I’d like to see how he gets on as a starter if Ings remains out.

From what I have seen I don’t agree Vestergaard is worse. Less mobile I agree, but Hoedt is just an appalling defender, he just doesn’t have the instincts to play the position. His attitude also seems to be poor, always looking to blame others for his own mistakes, not a team player. It’s Hughes’s worst failure in my opinion that he has kept picking him rather than at least exploring other combinations.

Just watched the highlights on the OS. I would say the 2 Obafemi efforts were half chances really. Whereas Gabbiadini has GOT to score that chance in the first half. Really poor from him.

The obvious team selection really. Think the only one you can really disagree with is Austin up front. I would have preferred Obafemi to get at Fulham with pace. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Don't think we can play him in the league because he didn't make our 25 man squad and is too old to count as a youth player. If Ings isn't fit I would give Obafemi a chance and keep Gabbi on the right after his decent showing against Watford. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

But why make it public knowledge through Wilson? We never used to do this. If the intention was to strengthen our hand in some way, it clearly didn't work! More likely to alert other clubs. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yes, I must have missed that Ross is now Director of Football Operations. That's a new development isn't it? Thought he was head of scouting and recruitment before? Stealthily promoted whilst putting out that we are "considering" approaching Mitchell? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

And Ings scored from a through ball at Palace.

We seem to like putting out names of who we are "considering" approaching nowadays don't we? Via Jeremy Wilson of course. Last week it was the Norwich guy (not mentioned at all in this article), now it's Mitchell. We saw the same in the summer transfer window with players and ended up not delivering the big names that were bandied about, so I would rather we just got on with it rather than flagging names that we might approach in this way personally! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

That match was unrecognisable from the boring substitution fests that international friendlies were before this competition. Fair play to uefa, a good idea for once! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep reckon so, as Webber is apparently out in Florida currently with Norwich squad on a break. Telegraph piece said we were considering approach "later in the month" so can't see anything happening for a bit. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Agree with you about lack of confidence and decision making - some of that can be put down to the coaches and manager, but I think a lot is about players taking responsibility for their own actions on the pitch in those critical moments of the match. So many matches are won and lost based on what happens in the last 15 minutes. We don't have enough leaders on the pitch who can keep us playing calmly and producing our best football in that critical period, and too many who go into headless chicken mode and stop picking their passes and being brave in possession. When you are in front with 15 mins to go, there should be opportunities to pick off the opposition who are coming on to you, but you need to have players who are calm and brave enough to get their heads up and use the spaces that are opening up at that stage of the game. And you need players with the mentality at the other end of the pitch to step up and take the chances to kill the game. We just don't seem to have players with those qualities right now, and that's not all down to the manager.

The only thing that can be concluded from that interview is that there will be no significant improvement at Saints until Krueger is removed. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

This had to be done and should have happened at the end of last season. But what worries me is that Krueger is presumably responsible for choosing a replacement [emoji51] Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Probably won't happen but I would consider starting him against Watford. The team is in desperate need of freshening up somehow and at least it would give the home crowd a boost to see a youngster with some enthusiasm rather than continuing to plug away with the tried and untrusted likes of Long or Austin? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk