saintsmike25

I'm starting to question coaching methods, and movement patterns. I believe the manager has coached players to focus only on possession and not to lose the ball, even when a dangerous pass could reap rewards - the first five minutes we dominated but whenever we got into advanced positions we passed it back leading to keep ball between Yoshida/Lemina/VVD. Secondly when players do move it's far too late, and what we miss is Cedric/Bertrand stretching teams - neither venture past the 18 yard box of their half, and when Redmond simply isn't moving and stays static on the touchline, it makes it even harder to get the neccessary movement. While Gabbi simply isn't involved and should be subbed, he lacks the neccessary workrate needed in a game like this - and he hasn't looked threatening either. I'm minded if I was the manager to stick on Boufal instead of Gabbi, play him centrally, flitting in and about creating space with his clever dribbling. Sure he'll make mistakes but he will be a threat and not afraid to shoot or try something to unlock the defence. The poor thing is we should be solid but one shot and one goal as always.. and when we had chances we failed to take them. Hopefully we can get it back in the second half as we're poor but so are Newcastle, we simply lack belief and ambition, and seem lost.

Redmond is awful and Tadic playing much better than in previous games...

Well Shane Long and Gab have barely had a touch. We are not finding Gabbi's feet and likewise he isn't finding space.

Everyone is calling for Pellegrino's head yet no-one can think of a suitable replacement. Even if he played 4-4-2 there would be no difference in results. This is the same crowd calling for Puel's head. If we drew 1-1, this reaction wouldn't have happened. The problem doesn't stem with the manager or the talent or the players it's the players attitude, the only ones really performing at the moment are Forster (yes I said it), Yoshida, Long (at least he works hard), Lemina and at times Romeu. There's no sense of togetherness and it really shows, and the lack of understanding is the issue, everyone is overplaying and too scared of making mistakes, we need our attacking players to shoot and cross, yet we always end up losing the ball around 25-yards out after promising breaks as we overplay it without any end product, this stems our movement as no players ever make the runs because they know they won't recieve the ball. And when we do find a striker or someone in behind there's a lack of support. Its not rocket science, it's clear that the players need to stick to a manager for more than a season to get back to good attacking patterns. Under Poch/Koeman/Adkins there was stability for more than a season, and I think under Puel we'd probably be playing alot better than we ended last season. It would be a mistake to get rid of the manager, but at the same time he needs to be brave and make some changes, Redmond/Tadic need some time on the sidelines. Bertrand has been awful so far compared to his previous form, I'd happily prefer Targett who will and has improved - until Bertrand sorts out his attitude, I'd also like to see more of Boufal and hopefully the return of Josh Sims means more competition for places and FFS start Gabbi!

We were lucky then - we keep shooting ourselves in the foot by overplaying. We have long just play into channels!

Nah the one at Wolves was just as bad..

You really think VVD wants to play with this shower? Even if he was back we would have lost that, the battle (if you can call it that) was lost in the midfield, once again against a pacy STRONG physical side we are second best. These aren't the games for powder puff Steven Davis and JWP, if you want to beat Watford you have to match them first. Not only that but Cedric/Bertrand were pegged back and our passing was abject - when we were put under pressure the players folded. Gabbiadini had no service whatsoever, even Romeu had a shocker. The one thing under Puel is that we were good defensivily but our football was tripe, now we're even worse at the back and the football we're serving up is a step backwards. My thoughts are that we should test out a 4-4-2 with Rom/Lem in the centre, and Tadic on the left and Redmond on the right with Yoshida/Hoelt at the back and the obvious wing backs being Bertrand and Cedric. Upfront I'd like to see Long and Gab together, forget Austin he won't do any pressuring or work. At least then we could potentially stretch defences. From what I've heard the players are unhappy at the club and its translating onto the pitch, I don't know what is up, just murmurs that there's discontent from the players/staff and I feel its translating into uninspired performances. Most of the decent players, Bertrand/Cedric/VVD/Tadic/Redmond are angling for a move away - and the new recruits from what I hear haven't settled easily. What is missing is a togetherness, it's not just the leadership on the pitch but a direction, at the moment you're looking at a bunch of lads who don't appear to fully trust each other or get on well, and it shows. My thinking is there was a HUGE split in the dressing room and the wounds are still there for all to see.

Our midfield is being absolutely ripped to shreds. I'm not usually negative because we usually have most of the play but this is pathetic today. JWP/Davis are useless, Lemina and Romeu are having shockers, the only player looking slightly positive is Boufal. Redmond is awful today as well. This is ten times worse than the dross served up against Wolves.

Much better second half so far, we're starting to find our feet.

Tadic and Romeu aren't playing well, Lemina is doing most of the work, Huddersfield high-intensity pressing is the issue, we can't seem to move the ball quick enough. Fair play they're playing well but we're hanging in there.

Huddersfield coming at us all guns blazing but they're leaving themselves open. Our left side is strong as ever with Redmond and Bertrand, Gabbi hasn't had a touch. Cedric struggling, Romeu/Lemina both battling but the direct play is putting Yoshi/Stevens under pressure and it's bypassing them. Steven Davis playing very well, a vital block and almost set up Redmond. Great game to watch - much better than the Wolves one!

The fact is, on the night, the better side and more motivated side won. Looking at the issues our players ARE better than Wolves, but collectivily there was lots of poor decisions and most worrying was the movement or lack of. And WHEN there is movement no players back themselves to make a pass. I hate to say it but when we went direct or tried to get in behind we caused more problems through just following up, when Boufal decided to be positive we looked good. But these are professional players - by now JWP should be stamping his authority on his games with his so-called technical ability and switching play and hitting 60 yard passes - that's what Morgan did, JWP ALWAYS plays the "easy ball" when others are running off him, for a player that can hit a stunning dead ball for him to lack the ability or confidence to open defences up is a real shame. Now moving on to Charlie Austin, his movement and mobility was poor. Of course he wasn't supplied well either, but he had a mare, their defenders had him in their pocket all game and he struggled to link with anyone. He did manage one good header, but for a Premiership striker, you'd expect him to be a threat even on a bad day - He wasn't. I think Lemina will be a vital buy this season, i'd much rather a box-to-box type with physical presence than a Prowse in the centre of the park. Wolves were a big side and we were bullied far too often today - especially JWP/Tadic - in fairness to Boufal he had a great spell in the first half where he outstrengthed their players he is stronger than he looks.

Absolutely stupid comment, we played badly yes, particularly in the first ten minutes and the second half was possibly the worst I've seen us play for a long time. However, the set up was all wrong and our movement was terrible all night and we were far too negative with 3 CB's and by the time it changed in the second half it was too late. Wolves played very well, they defended well and looked sharp all night and zippy when they decided to attack. Ward-Prowse and Tadic were useless all night with the way they slowed us down. Boufal had some bright flashes but too many times he was caught making poor decisions and his final ball was off. Austin - Useless all night and should have been red carded. He looks so off the pace it's untrue. Romeu - Played well at times but had a useless JWP next to him, so was often left doing the work of two men. Bedanek - Played okay, wasn't awful just average. Yoshida - Despite the scoreline he was by far and large our best player, very composed. Stephens - made some silly decisions, not his best game. Pied - Fairly poor all night, poor crossing and our right side was VERY weak, Tadic didn't cover him either. McQueen - Very good first half and made some nice crosses, but needs more confidence, his crossing was good tonight. Forster - Poor, should have saved the second goal. Subs: Redmond, Gab, Long - didn't do anything of note. The biggest issue was movement, we're far too slow to move the ball and one paced, we let the opposition set up and sit deep and when space opens up no-one has a shot. But it's an isolated poor performance, not one that I will get too fussed about, the team didn't look motivated and were set up wrong, MoPo's experiment failed and a good thing it did because I hope we never go to a back three again if our movement is that poor. Also, it shows you how important Bertrand/Cedric are to how we play. The worst player on the pitch was either Tadic/JWP, Jwp delivered some okay balls but as usual he was offering us nothing on the ball. Tadic looks a faded force, he's no longer the creative flair player that first joint us, he has lost his way and needs to be dropped for his own sake.

As for Alpine - given that Burnley just beat Chelsea, and Watford drew against Liverpool and Leicester nearly beat Arsenal, Huddersfield beat Palace etc - THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS as "home bankers". Anyone can beat anyone in this league, and we should never become too entitled, we had a bad day in front of goal but performance wise, it was good.

I'm happy with the performance, given we couldn't hit a barn door the pattern of play was much better and the problems mainly are to do with the fact we lack height on crosses, so we have far too many half chances but not clear-cut chances. Tadic despite his misses played well and did some lovely touches and almost scored a stunner. Cedric/Bertrand were excellent, Romeu was good, Davis was poor, JWP poor set pieces today, Redmond had flashes of excellence but also some hesistant play. Overall on another day it could have been 4-0, but they stuck 11-men behind the ball and it worked for Swansea. I'm optimistic we'll do well against some attacking sides.

Wasn't that bothered about the first half, the game was even and we should have been ahead. However the second half was diabolical. Simply put, the shape and the way we pressed was terrible and we looked too scared to put in a tackle. Two goals from set pieces (one was second phase) and two from NO closing down in our own half! A few things to take from this, without Romeu, neither Clasie or Holberg look like they will be anything more than average. And I used to like Hol, but he's simply an average player who lets games pass him by. He may be young but he's not technically gifted enough or confident enough. JWP was our best player, he gambled and was on the end of things, unlucky not to score. Pied was shocking, some tackles but he's awful at closing down space. Austin/Gabbi - both didn't get a touch most of the time. Bedanek - NOT ready or close to ready. McQueen - bang average, always will be. Redmond, one nice shot but simply looking for a move you can tell. I'll say this, the VVD situation has spread to our better players, the likes of Redmond/Tadic/Bertrand are all itching to move you can tell and the whole situation is toxic. I'm beyond caring where he goes, but simply put we need 11 men and a squad that fights even in friendlies. Not one that couldn't give a crap what the result is. When fans turn up in the rain to watch you - put some effort in at least. We need that £60m from the sale of VVD to reinvest in the squad, we're fine on strikers, but badly need new blood at CB/CM, and I hope we can get rid of Clasie and unless Hol improves dramatically he's a goner too. My issue with Saints now is that we have no match winners anymore and with our team being so average in most positions other than Tadic/Gabbi/Austin/Romeu/Bertrand - Then we are far too light.

You get bad performances in league games and friendlies, let's not overreact. I think it's needed to see where the weaknesses are and what needs improving. In fairness the game has been very even but we didn't take our chances and got punished for it. It's a poor performance in terms of movement and silly mistakes. But by no means should it mean a meltdown on here.

We are very very sloppy tonight - would rather this type of performance in pre-season. First goal we didn't close down the shot, second one we didn't clear the lines and had a lapse in concerntration. However, some positives are Targett looks much better as does JWP in terms of getting forward and gambling. Redmond looks off the pace, and Holberg is really letting the game pass him by. Shane Long isn't a winger, Austin looks like he slows us down and struggling against a well drilled defence. Game needs Boufal, Tadic and Gab.

He comes across well. I think a player like Boufal is easily our most talented players, he builds up the other players well with encouragement from what I could see. If you played in the same side as him, he'd infuriate you for the reason that he's so technically brilliant and shows flashes of genius, but gets into strops and gives up too easy when things aren't going his way. He could be a star if we can get him to get his mentality right, he seemed eager to come off after 60 mins in a few games when it wasn't working for him, but what you want to see is him working hard - and BEING annoyed at coming off (like Alexei Sanchez). Saying that, he looks like he'll fit in alot more this season and be a key player this season. He has the talent to score 10 goals a season, but just needs the confidence to have a blast from long range and do the unexpected. We as fans shouldn't get on his back, especially when he starts to get down if he makes a mistake. Hopefully we can come up with a song or two, and make him feel more at home and he'll thrive with a bit more confidence.

Players I'd like to see leave this summer or we should sell. Being honest. VVD (I love the guy) but he's FAR too good for us and we can get £40m for him. Tadic - Had some good seasons with us, but he looks more unconvincing every game and slows us down, also he is now very predictable (£10-15m) Cedric - Again, let's cash in on him, we can get someone similiar who is a bit taller and sell him for £15m Long - Very hard working striker, but I think age is catching up with him (£6m) - he won't want to be third/fourth fiddle Jay Rod - cash in on him when he can, he's not happy and not good enough after that injury Forster - Liability this season (£10m) That's a fair amount of money to rebuild with. What we need is a direct pacy winger who is happy to shoot/cut inside A commanding CM to play with Oriel. New right back. A quality defender (black box will find one) Biggest pluses this season are, Stephens, Oriel Romeu, JWP (had a very good season), Redmond has been superb at times, Yoshida.

On the bright side Puel will be gone soon, and this rather timid style of play will be a thing of the past.

I'd like us to shoot more, we have tonnes of space we need to start testing the keeper and making them commit. Trying to score the perfect goal or a nice move means Stoke are reading some of the runs, if Redmond cuts inside he has a clear shot on. He needs to unleash one.

Yoshida and Stephens... both committed far too early.

When there's a clear ball in the box Redmond's lack of any confidence means he plays it back and we lose all momentum. He is so negative on the ball it is frustrating to see.

Once again a solid defensive set up but Redmond and Tadic struggling to influence anything, both look lacklustre tonight.