Saint Pete

Good stuff down the left left so far!

No complaints with that starting lineup TBF.

I think where Saints have been complacent is in rewarding too many (at best) average players with longer contracts, which has helped cause a gradual degrading of the squad (along with worsening recruitment decisions to replace our better players who have left). Awarding your top players with contract extensions seems like a sensible move - but in last couple of years, we seem to have been dishing out longer contracts to players who were not even performing at their top level, who we ought to have been trying to improve on through recruitment. A classic example is Forster who had a pretty average last season and then inexplicably was given an even longer contract, when most of us were wondering whether the club would be looking to try and recruit an upgrade! Our choice of manager this season also obviously hasn't helped!

Does seem bizarre. But without inside knowledge it's hard to know the real reason why they are not being picked. For any of these players it could be:- - Manager doesn't rate them - Manager thinks their attitude is wrong or they are not putting the work in in training - Tactical decision by manager - Fitness concerns / rotation Ultimately, unless the players are really acting up, you have to blame the manager as he is clearly not getting the best out of the most talented members of the squad. And you have to blame Les Reed/Krueger as they are doing F all about it!

Do you think our squad is better or worse than Burnley’s?

I agree, it is Gao who is the one that needs to start kicking butts and put some proper accountability back in place. He is probably our only hope in getting shot of MP as Ralph has shown he is firmly head in sand. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

No mention of the French based player in that latest article that was meant to be close. Seems like we are primarily looking at loans as can't see us signing some of those permanently if they are now saying we will spend the VVD money over "several" windows. Don't see how they can really say it's available to invest if it's over that long a period. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

The scary thing is Krueger's interview suggests a total lack of recognition of what is going on. Rudderless. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Regarding comments about Pellegrino, there's very little meat on the bones of why exactly the club are so confident that he will turn things around. What is it about how he is coaching and selecting the team that makes Ralph so happy to back him? It reads like "everything is down to the Van Dijk situation, and hopefully it will all pan out alright from now on". I think making Van Dijk stay and his reaction to that have obviously been a challenge for MP to deal with that he could have done without, but I think WAY too much emphasis is being given to that as an excuse for how the team have performed to date this season.

Well, I say good luck to Kelvin. At least he is a man who clearly cares about the club as a few others have said. I suspect this is probably only a temporary appointment though while the club continues to dither over what to do about the manager. It seems inevitable that MP will be removed at some point over the next few weeks but for whatever reason those in charge seem determined to wait until we are actually in the bottom 3 before pulling the trigger! Once a new manager comes in, back room staff will change again no doubt.

My assumption is Tuchel is out of our range, and Michael O'Neill not experienced enough at this level. I would be happy with WGS or Martin O'Neill though as they would fit the bill as the kind of experienced heads we need in this situation. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Gabbiadini had a great start to his Saints career but unfortunately if you look at his career to date that patch of goalscoring form was untypical of him in general. I think he is being underused by MP and would rather see him up top than Long, but in my opinion he's never going to be a consistent scorer in the same way as Austin has been throughout his career. Also you talk about the team creating less chances earlier in the season when Gabbi was playing and Austin wasn't, but you don't make the connection that the increase in chances may actually be down to Austin and the positions he is taking up in the box! I do think when Austin is there certain players have produced better service on account of having a striker to aim at who has presence and is more likely to stick it in the net. I would personally like to see both in the team but that option seems off the table with MP in charge! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Seems a harsh sacking at Boro if that is what's happened. Only 3 points off play offs currently. I know they were aiming higher but not always easy to quickly turn around a relegated team who have got used to losing games. As their recent run is not too bad, perhaps something has gone on behind the scenes that explains it, eg row with chairman. I personally thought he did a good job at Swansea and had them playing some decent stuff. Think he got the boot prematurely as Swansea started getting big ideas that they should be permanently in top half. Also had Leeds moving in the right direction before deciding not to stay on. Probably not the right man for us right now though, as think we would be better off with an older head in charge to steady the ship for now. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Club statement says they have "parted company". It surely means he's off somewhere else? A return to Swansea? Or .....? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

The time to act is now. Today has made it crystal clear we are only moving in one direction with this manager and I don't see any point in delaying any longer. The approach MP takes in the games against the best teams makes it almost impossible to see us getting anything in next couple of games especially with no Austin. So may as well cut the cord now. Get someone with premier league experience in now and give them half a chance to work with the club to improve the squad and most importantly the morale around the existing squad in January. My vote would be Gordon Strachan until the end of the season. He's available, has experience, popular with the fans and capable of instilling some passion back into the club. Do it now! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Redmond has been poor this season but I can see some logic in playing him in this type of game where we are expected to be under pressure for long periods and will want to play on the break. He was quite effective in the Liverpool semi final games last season when we played that sort of game, so hopefully he can surprise us?

"On current form". Those are the key words here, and I totally agree that he has gone downhill in his performances since he left us, and seems to have been badly affected by his time at Man U. But for me, I would still be open to taking him back if the price was right and he was committed and keen to return. It seems like more of a mental issue with him at the moment rather than a physical one (as I can't recall him suffering major injuries), so I think with the right handling and used in the right way, there's no reason why he can't reproduce the kind of form he showed with us before. As they say, "Form is temporary, class is permanent" and that makes him potentially an upgrade on several of our other current midfield options - in my opinion of course.

Have to laugh at some of the statements being made about Hojbjerg on here after one decent performance against the current whipping boys of the premier league! Think he needs to provide a fair bit more evidence before you can start comparing him to Morgan's performances in a Saints shirt somehow. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep, this is what I would go with. Solid look about the midfield, which is the only way we will stand any chance in this one. Sensible to save Austin for Bournemouth, though if we are somehow still in the game, bring him on for last 15 to score the winner [emoji3] Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Not necessarily. I think given his injury record he would understand that the most important thing is not to risk another injury by pushing too hard just when he's coming back to form. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Good play Cedric, unlucky Austin.

Boufal has started on the left, Tadic No 10, JWP right.

Indeed. I don't understand why we don't consider pushing Van Dijk into midfield to give us more presence in that area, particularly without Romeu or Lemina. We have enough other options at centre back to cover that position. It would be nice to see a bit more imagination in selection to try and solve our all too predictable problems.

If Lemina is out, what about trying VVD in midfield? At least he has the physical presence we would be lacking without Lemina and Romeu, which is more than can be said for the other alternatives? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

To be fair, it looks like a more attacking lineup on paper, but let’s see if it plays like that! Centre midfield may be a weak area without Lemina - Romeu needs to play better than of late.