NewYorkSaint

I love the new adventure in Saints play. We're making some give-aways, but I think it's largely a result of greater desire to move the ball quickly. Some of the one-touch build up has been divine. Hoj, JWP and Armstrong are in danger of turning into a really powerful engine room. Dje, Ings and Redmond can be genuinely exciting. And the defense is gaining stature with each game. As we grow in confidence I feel like best is to come. But... Spurs looking dangerous, and i'm pretty sure we'll need at least one more goal.

Plus hit the woodwork at least twice. To my eyes he's been incredibly unlucky. There were some great touches today...

I wouldn't settle for a point. I think Saints have finally broken through to a new level. We have players playing in position. A defense rapidly growing in confidence: bravo to you Jack Stephens. In our midfield, JWP and Armstrong have broken through to a whole new level of authority. Redmond and Boufal (and Djen) can be game-winners. Our high-press has become more sophisticated and is scaring opponents. And then there's the amazingness of Danny Ings and the feeling that both Obafemi and Adams are getting close to prime time. In short: we're safer at the back, more vibrant midfield, and we're scoring goals. I think we'll finally bring greater confidence to St Mary's and deliver a convincing home performance. Main wild-card is how the two teams react to the ridiculously short turn-round time. But I think there's strong evidence that we belong above mid-table, and this is a game we can confidently plan to win.

Need Armstrong and Romeo on. Prob for Djen and Hoj.... This has been ugly.

this.

The piece that people miss about JWP is how often he helps win back the ball. In that central role today I counted at least 5 times when his aggression, and reading of the game, helped pressure Watford into mistakes. He's def not a flashy player in the general run of play, but he's a combination of honest work-horse coupled with occasional game-winning touches of magic from set pieces. I think he's really important player for us. Armstrong is similar. We really missed him today. If they can sort the confidence thing, and reduce the number of mistakes, there's signs of a really strong team building here. Boufal and Djenepo are game-changers. Rate them both above Redmond based on recent form. Really good to see the back four starting to come together, though I'd have Valery over Cedric. Ings form is great bonus compared to how many of us were imagining this season would play out. I think we'll finish mid-table.

It is bizarre how Ralph seems to think full back positions can be shuffled at random. That's the single biggest question mark for me about his management. You'd think after yet another demo of how wrong that is, he could learn. I'll be shocked if Cedric still on left in 2nd half.

Armstrong is under-rated here. His runs are often really imaginative. Think he brings a good dimension. Wish Redmond was better w his decision making. He gets into incredible positions, but rarely finds the incisive final pass. JWP. He's showed his value today. not just the goal, but his constant industry. He reads the game well and is often the cause of our winning back possession. Valery has been fantastic today. And you could imagine that Stephens and Vest are actually quite good! Ah... it's the hope that kills you.

Danso can be exciting player. Just having someone with a genuinely long throw turns a bunch of throw-ins into corners. And yes, let's give Che Adams another run. I think he's going to deliver sooner rather than later. I think they got just enough from this to come out fighting a little harder Sat.

I'd love to see che adams given a chance here. I think he's a strong player. was so unlucky not to score in the matches he started. A goal here cd really kickstart his confidence. And he honestly can't be worse than Shane, much as I love him...

At some point, friends, a sense of humour has to kick in. And after we've stopped laughing/crying into our beer, the crumbs of consolation are: ...ok, I can't really think of any. Except that this WILL lead to some kind of response. Has to. Personally, I think there is plenty of quality at the club to be mid-table prem league side. But we have a real problem for some reason managing psychology. Once we're a goal or two down, heads drop and things can quickly get worse. I'm not yet ready to call for Ralph to go. But in the next couple of weeks we will see what he and the players are made of.

so far, we're looking the better team....

This forum is ridiculously negative. For the first 15 mins of the game we were matching or exceeding a champions league finalist. Overall bednarek and yoshi have been superb. we got hit with an incredibly unlucky goal. Gunn has usually been super-impressive. A powerful shot right at you that's slightly deflected can make any goalkeeper look foolish. And he is not the goalkeeper who really looked foolish this half. Go back to back four, and let's win this.

This. I think Armstrong can also provide injection of energy against 10-men later on. We should still be able to win this.

In a desperate hunt for good narrative here... on the evidence of second half -- i.e. with a basic defense in place -- we're a much better team than Bournemouth. Who are third in the premiership. Boufal has come alive so beautifully. Romeu is an incredible player. As is Bednarek. With Moussa back we're going to play amazing, exciting football. Hopefully Ralph learned today some key lessons, and we can build from here.

The one thing that's been impressive is the number of times we've stolen possession from them. Romeu is usually the key. Bring on Bertrand, move Cedric back to right and keep the aggression up... You never know. Next goal crucial.

Excited to see Danso again. C'mon saints. (Great to see live in the US. Odd that you need to travel a few thousand miles to get free live coverage.)

Adams' promise really clear. So unlucky not to have scored. He really looks the business. Djenepero and Boufal are exciting going forward. vestergard some alarming let-offs how is this 0-0..?

worth remembering: it's really hot there. that a) part explains the slight lethargy of saints and b) shd mean that 10-man brighton really tire second half. we do need boufal or dejenepo on. Ings has had a decent half. Need him to show leadership this season.

This where the £ advantage of the top teams really shows. Adams looks really strong. But Mane a class above. His market value now >£50m. We don't have that to spend. That comparison apart we won the first half. Exciting to watch, and I love our midfield. Bertrand, Redmond, Adams also exciting in combo. We'll be a team to reckon w this season. Just not top 4.

Burnley playing beautifully against Arsenal. Makes me feel a little, just a little, bit better about last week.

I hope this doesn't happen... like JWP a lot.

Excited by the pace of our play. Here we are nearly 80th min, still high press. Boufal, Hoj, Valery all looking strong...

A few positives today. Redmond... spectacular. Ings, some promising touches and constantly fighting to win the ball... just not clinical in front of goal. But given we're stuck w him, I felt a little happier at what i saw today. Long also some great interplay, just not in the penalty area. Valery, a couple of glorious moments. I like our midfield. And when our defense is healthy, Bednarek, Vest, and Yosh are a strong base. So... i don't think the rebuilding project is quite as hard as some make out. The main thing we need: a striker with killer instinct.

Presumably Yoshida injured. Him in for Stephens and that's our strongest line-up currently. Personally prefer 4 at the back w stronger midfield. Just maybe not those four. But with hoj, romeu, lemina, jwp, we should really dominate midfield and there are strong options up front. I'm going 4-2 Saints!