leeham_69

utterly static in defence and attack ... barely a 50/50 or contested header won all game ... no end product from any of davis, redmond, JWP, Tadic, Cedric ... bertrand playing like he's in a rush to get home ... ack I don't mean to be such a sad sack but that was not very enjoyable. I have changed my view of the VvD situation - we should sell to fund 2 serious, key attacking midfield players ASAP. lemina had an excellent game while he was on. the defence is just about solid enough - but so much of that game was played in the wrong half. long - for all his faults - improved the side today when he came on with his willing movement. jack stephens might be our best playmaker? i'm a mess.

I completely understand the frustration with Tadic because of how good he could be - but the fact is for me, nothing much seems likely to happen goal-wise without him being involved. Obviously not our most consistent player, but hard to argue against the fact he's the most likely to actually create an opening I reckon.

WAS a fab player, yes. Whatever the fallout, reckon his WH performances show we did the right thing shipping him out. His neck-high grapple on Davis was classless if we're using that word! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If it's another 0-0 surely it's time to start calling the boss Puellegrino? I reckon once we get the first one in and break the hoodoo we'll score a hatful.

Hooiveld popping up with a few goals in the second half of our championship worth a shout too - I remember post match he likened himself to a bird of prey or something similar, made me laugh! Was good for us for that year at that level and seemed well liked. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Someone at wikipedia seems confident he's the man:

i have this somewhere! Also, all through the 90's my dad diligently recorded the saints highlights from the weekly 1-hour PL review we got here in Australia and compiled his OWN season review. Should put 'em on youtube!

If only we could co-ordinate this level of teamwork on the pitch. exceptional work gents.

why does everyone call him pellegrino?! is it a joke i don't get?! is he made of refreshing italian springwater?! note: it's obviously also manuel. i never thought a message board could incite insecurities about my own idiocy.

Agree. It's easy to forget the number of games Le Tiss trotted around WITHOUT influencing games with the benefit of hindsight. Not to suggest Tadic is anywhere near that standard or anything but you can't expect creative players to succeed in every single attempt. Imagine our build up play without him this season!

Reckon they'll be securing his replacement prior to giving him the sack a la Nigel - if he is going. Means the delay may not be the decision itself, but the replacement, which makes sense: sacking him is all good well and good IF you have a superior replacement! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice to know J-Rod has easy access around the ground too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The commentator on the stream I was watching said that before that one he had 5/7 - now 5/8.

Right, I get all that ... but my point is this: If he isn't going to attract big name suitors... but he is deemed good enough to play for us if required (ahead of Gardos) ... but he's not good enough to be even considered longer term... then where does that leave him? There would have been no point signing him if he wasn't considered an upgrade on Gardos - and if he's an upgrade on Gardos, and nobody else wants him... then why not? That's what I mean - our targets must be of a higher calibre than him, and our confidence in landing them equally high.

I obviously agree that while we have not much else to play for Stephens should get game time for experience ... But what I -don't- get is, if we all agree we'll need a new CB and Caceres is so good, why aren't we making him our priority? 30 is not old for a CB - certainly it's 4 years younger than the man he's replacing, which is a very long time in football terms. AND if they ARE considering signing him permanently given the above, surely it makes sense to test him out in at least a game, or half a game, or something? I guess my point is, the club will want some pretty good CB targets and be very confident of getting them if we're willing to let Caceres go without a minute spent on the pitch. The conspiracy theorist in me says they're not playing him to reduce the chances of big-club suitors come the window....

Exactly what I came here to say - suggests he's aware of what needs improving, that he's working on it, and willing to put himself on the line and risk a bit of personal embarrassment in order to improve.

Japan in the Asian Cup, surely? They've won that comp more than anyone else (so sayeth wiki)

Well the first fellow is obviously keanu reeves

Those cod piece shorts are rippers, let's get some of those for next season. Do metal studs fall within the rules?

I'm sure i remember a stat from the time that Beattie had scored more goals that season than all the other forwards in the squad combined? Something along those lines.

and maybe that means he's after the Liverpool job!

Just a musing given the lack of activity since the final... what do you think Puel's plans for our formation and lineup are next year? He obviously abandoned the midfield diamond, but with Gab and Boufal in + a full pre season, it's not beyond the realms of reason that it will make a comeback. I personally prefer the 4-2-3-1 as do many others - evidenced by the goals we score when we shape up that way - but that is not without its flaws too. It uses only one of our 3/4 strikers (assuming fitness), and we don't really have an ideal partner for Romeu in the DM positions. Reverting to to the diamond doesn't solve this, but it does remove a position with no specialist (DM) and adds a specialist (FWD) elsewhere instead. Two good goalscorers up front together is a combination not seen for a fairly long time at Saints and they could form a fairly lethal combination. I am a big Austin fan and don't want to see him frozen out of the squad - and from one point of view using the formation that gets as many of your best players on the pitch makes a lot of sense. In the perfect world I'd rather see investment in a really dynamic central midfielder to improve the 5-man midfield but could go either way for me. thoughts?

i have enjoyed his runs off the ball as much as his work on it - one of the signs of a really good striker I reckon. when we move forward, even if he doesn't actually get the ball his movement opens gaps, takes defenders out of play and brings midfielders into the game. Agree with much of the above - he has so much of what the others lack. It's been a joy to watch us actually work the ball into the final third rather than get to the edge of the box and pass it sideways or lose it. exciting times ahead.

Official club statement about the sacking is pretty nicely worded actually. Something had to give. Like many others, would have liked to see a bit more faith in him but that is the way these days - so much money comes from just being in the premier league and it really is getting to the pointy end of the season. The board will not have wanted to wonder "what if" had they gone down.

she'll forget it in a few weeks. he never will.