Baird of the land

Poor half by saints. Some decent play by hojberg/lemina but attacking we’ve been awful against a very poor palace side missing their star player. Their midfielder’s almost own goal header was probably the only moment of the half. Really don’t have a clue why Hughes wants to play Shane long when you hav3 gallagher/gabbi who can’t make the squad and we have a poacher like Austin on the bench.

Agree regarding ref consistency regarding benteke dive vs last week.

Depressing lineup again. Only bright spot is that oppo are missing their best player. Gallagher makes strong impression off the bench midweek. Doesn't even make the bench whilst goal drought long continues to somehow start.

Which four because puel developed mcqueen into a left back, threw sims in against Everton, hesketh impressed in Cup and then was started in Europe, played Stephens over the loan signing, played reed in cups

The Targett decision i get. If Bertrand moves on that'll be the point where we see if they have any courage in regards him being first choice left back. However the wider approach to youth is rather disheartening. There doesn't much chance for progression. We are lumbered with a bloated senior squad so even in the league cup there were none of the U23 squad getting a chance to impress. I agree with the sentiment querying why Long is getting chance after chance despite 2 years of failure. Gallagher,now a 22 year old, 5 years after his initial bright start under potch and 2 reasonably successful championship loans has so far had to make do with a 20 minute cameo in the league cup. If Hughes really rates him like he says he does he should bite the bullet and give him starts. Reminds me of the time when Chris Baird was ignored during the relegation season & following first half of the season by saggy chops for not having experience.

Glad to see hesketh go out as was clear he wasn’t fancied by Hughes. Hope Clough can get the best out of what imo is a player with a lot of talent.

I want it to be Gallagher I'd take it being Austin & Gabbi I fear it'll be Austin by himself or Austin supplemented with Long

Makes sense given he's third choice left back but you do wonder how much he'll play at middlesborough. Hopefully Hesketh is next out.

McCarthy Cedric vestergaard yoshi Bertrand Romeu Lemina Davis Redmond Gallagher Ings Subs Gunn, bednarek, Armstrong, elyounessi, Austin, gabbi, targett

A win’s a win I suppose. Hardly sounded at all impressive. At least sounded like gallagher made an impression. Will Hughes be brave enough to play him in the league. Also good to see yoshi playing.

Get gallagher on.

When saints(that’s supposed to be youth focused) get to the stage that opposition playing u23’s in league cup is seen as a sign of weakness you know we’ve lost our way.

Nothing to do with hindsight. Potchettino was brilliant in hindsight. Bielsa is a world famous coach known for the attractive attacking football, inspiring the likes of potch. Yes things may yet go south at Leeds because he’s certainly on the madness/genius Line but Leeds fans are going to be far more entertained than they have been in years of stagnating averageness. I’d happily see saints take a punt over horrid scraping survival football.

Annoying that gallagher is only on the bench. Hope hesketh complete absence means he’s in loan discussions somewhere.

Would have loved to seen Bielsa shaking up our squad. Instead we are lumbered with Hughes https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/28/marcelo-bielsa-leeds-united-myth-assembled-real-time

Yet these players we buy look average creating a bloated squad. Why not offload all the junk we have bought first. The younger players have suffered from the club failing to back up their pr spin about development pathway with real opportunities. Gallagher broke through under a manager (potch) who valued youth development. Give them the opportunities the likes of long etc have been given first I say before deciding their only value is to be flogged.

Gunn Cedric vestergaard yoshi targett Romeu lemina Redmond Armstrong jwp Gallagher Subs McCarthy, Stephens, Davis, hesketh, gabbi, Bertrand, Elyounoussi

Terrible start to the season continues. Bizarre selections, basic mistakes, poor football.

Terrible start to the season continues. Bizarre selections, basic mistakes, poor football.

The only bright side of this atrocious ness is that it will eventually lead to horrid Hughes getting the sack.

Odd lineup. Annoyed long is still getting picked whilst gabbi & gallagher don’t even make the bench. Equally can’t quite see what hoedt’s doing in training to justify his selection. Also surprised that Elyounoussi is starting given all the noise regarding his fitness. Happy hojberg is back in as thought he was one of the better players last season.

Being played out of position is often the lot of loan players by the very nature of the impermanence. Also it could equally mean they considered him the best option for right back, not necessarily that they considered him not good enough for midfield. I still think it's crazy both as a NI fan and a saints one(for different reasons) that Davis is being kept as 6th choice centre mid rather than being loaned out.

Didn't he start something like 36 games for Norwich last year. That seems a majority.

Agree. I’d be interested to see Stephens alongside someone like vestergaard partnership might work at some point.

Yeah i do find it odd what some count as having had his chance.