saintwbu

Don’t see how anyone can say he’s gone backwards. Last year it felt like playing with 10 at times, this year I get excited when he’s on the ball as he seems to beat his man almost every time he gets the ball - last year he wouldn’t even try to, he’d jockey and drop a shoulder and then turn back and pass it to a teammate. His final ball is lacking at times still, but sometimes his options are extremely limited. Improving but needs to improve further is how i’d class him this season. Definitely worth his place.

Valery should come in for Cedric imo, he’s bigger, better in the air and stronger. Cedric was so poor last night again, after an improved performance against United. Cardiff will have a field day just chipping it to the back post for someone to tower over Cedric.

JWP played a great first time pass round the defence for Gabbi last night in the first half, probably our clearest opportunity created from open play? thought he had a good game personally, and we should’ve scored twice from his deliveries.

Agree completely, forced his way into the team the last two seasons under managers that didn't fancy him to begin with - and without him and his goals we'd have been relegated in both the two previous seasons. Amazing how quickly a fanbase can forget stuff.

Could've scored 5 or 6 goals, conceded 3 very soft goals. Pretty much the summary of our season, so good that Ralph got to see it in the flesh I guess. Tighten up that defence and we're on our way, how he does that I don't know but he's paid the money so fingers crossed he knows a way.

Ralph Hasenhuttl he is the one for meeeee (Yannick Bolasie runs down the wing for me)

I rang them for a similar situation at Leicester last week and they just said they’d reserve it at the King Power for me. Give them a call first thing tomorrow.

I’m sure he got paid handsomely but I wouldn’t wish his arrival on any new player. The most negative point in our recent history and a complete unknown quantity in himself, was up against it from day one. Really wish him all the best, whether it’s with us or not.

I’d imagine if we are interested, we’d be keen to play it down at the moment, especially as just the mention of it yesterday by Wilson got everyone on social media going crazy. Not really our style to tout publicly, and also probably wouldn’t be a good thing for him either.

I know what you mean, but my theory is releasing it today or yesterday would raise questions as to why he’s not taking control vs Spurs tomorrow. ‘Signing’ on the day would make it more acceptable to not take control that night. But as it’s Saints I do have a similar fear at the back of my mind too!

I like him! tend to think we’re better when he starts, never hides from the ball like some do and very rarely gives it away. I realise he hasn’t justified my opinion in his sub appearances this season but when he has a run in the side I really like him.

I like him! tend to think we’re better when he starts, never hides from the ball like some do and very rarely gives it away. I realise he hasn’t justified my opinion in his sub appearances this season but when he has a run in the side I really like him.

A lot of people talking about Long getting binned. Evidently missing the point of a high press system and that Long is one of the few players genuinely suited to that system! Also regarding ‘so and so is not good enough’ I think we saw enough before and after Poch to show that sometimes systems like this value the team more than the individual, plenty of players have played well for us and Spurs who before or after Poch were deemed not very good, his system brings out the best in them. Danny Rose and Schneiderlin are two cases that spring to mind.

If he’s into playing youngsters and likes a high energy press, could well see a few shifted out and a few of the youngsters recalled from their loans i’d imagine. Sims and Reed in particular would be very suited to a high energy game.

Say what you want about Puel but to suggest players were getting worse under him is completely ridiculous. Ward-Prowse and Redmond both got their first England caps under him, Hesketh and Sims burst on the scene initially, Van Dijk was an animal before his injury that season and Romeu had probably the best season of his entire career. All of those players (barring Virg) have spent the past 2 seasons on a huge downward trajectory.

The last left field appointment who came in after a 2-2 draw against one of the big 6 didn’t work out too badly

Surely if it is him, we have a DoF involved somewhere along the line? Where would we expect a left-field name like this to come from otherwise?

Presumably a lot of the price fluctuation is down to Wilson name dropping Hussenhuttl, can’t decide whether to add more on Flores now he is drifting out!

He seemed to. And then I always find that most of what Wilson writes in terms of who we’re buying or appointing normally never happens despite his closeness to the club. So is this the case here?

Jeremy Wilson article saying Ralph Hussenhuttl is preferred choice..

Sanchez Flores did a great job at Watford in their first season in the Prem, were sitting around 8th at one point, but was sacked for taking his foot off the pedal once they were safe. He’s more than welcome to take his foot off the pedal once we’re safe here.

Yeah I agree, just like when he turned up against Leicester's second string on Tuesday night in front of half a stadium, only turns up for the big games!!! Our best player, and normally shows it in every game he plays.

I have no problem with Long either, I completely understand why he gets game time and I think it's more a reflection of how bad our recruitment has been that he can still be vital for us at times. His pace is a huge asset, even if his technical ability can sometimes be a limitation. Again, he leaves everything out on the pitch so I appreciate his effort for the team.

End product or no end product, I feel he leaves everything out on the pitch and is trying his utmost to create something, and for me that's all I ask. I was a huge critic last season I thought he was a waste of a place, and that he bottled it every time he had a chance to do something. This season he's picking the ball up, driving at defence's and driving the team forward with him, he looks a completely different player. The end product will come, and I'm really pleased for him that he's getting a lot of plaudits from most fans. Long may it continue and hopefully the results follow.

Rom & Davis in as above, and Bertrand if he's fit for Cedric, Ings or Gabbi for Obafemi (sadly). Go again. A bit defeatist but I would rather Hoj and Lemina were suspended for this game and had a rest for Cardiff, than picking up yellows in the Spurs game and missing that one. Set up tight, see what happens.