mrfahaji

It's insufferable, isn't it?!

That has crossed my mind. But how do you tell a late-developer from a non-developer? And how late is late? Too late?! I'll answer my own question by saying that if you list the positives that we have seen from Pellegrino since he has been here the list isn't very long at all. That to me points to him not being up to it rather than things just not clicking yet.

Are they the beans that come with the bucket? Schoolboy error to leave them to the end if so.

It was third behind them, or joint third with them? If the latter, that begs the question, what are 1 and 2?! I actually preferred the semi final at Villa Park in 03 to the final. I'd put the 2-0 v Everton (Pahars) in 99 and Le Tissier's last goal at the Dell up there too. That Le Tissier goal was the greatest moment in life, never mind football.

He's the best at nearly scoring free kicks?

True, we definitely looked tired too.

My hope is that the idea of relegation hadn't crossed the players' minds earlier in the season, hence why they couldn't muster the same level of enthusiasm/performance against the lesser teams. Now that we are in the bottom three maybe they won't be under such illusions now. But then, it's the hope that kills you!

Think that was particularly true in the second half, but possibly a product of us sitting so deep. Almost like, because the defence was so shaky first half, we made our last line of defence better but in the process allowed them much more space to carry the ball from defence to attack.

If he ends up as half the player Chris Marsden was, JWP will be nearly as good as Messi.

Bizarre that when he first joined he did that all the time but doesn't any more.

Thought he played ok first half. Reminded me a little of his performance vs Chelsea first half where he had some good touches, made some good runs but wasn't found (although this time it was a case of defenders cutting out the pass rather than no-one spotting the runs). I missed the first few minutes and therefore think I missed his early chance. Second half was poor no doubt, but we did also start sitting deeper and he was isolated. I don't know if he lacks fitness or loses interest, either way it's concerning that he doesn't put a shift in for the whole game.

Definitely think the RM slot is his best position and he should work on improving there. Strangely, his lack of pace seems to hinder him more in the middle than it does out wide, even though as a rule you don't need to be quick to play centrally but as a wide player it really helps! Centrally he just seems to struggle to get to that second ball, which is then compounded (or maybe this is the real issue) by his lack of strength to hold people off in the way that Romeu and Lemina do. I always think he plays like the piggy in the middle, always chasing down the ball but never quite getting to it, whereas out wide it helps him having less to do.

Funny that we beat Everton last time of the 'big' protest and this time out got a draw with Spurs. Maybe we should plan one every week?!

The same could be said of Fabrice Fernandes, the worst headerer (is that a word?) of a football I've ever seen. Thing is, he was a winger, not a centre back. If you were a centre back too, I've no doubt your inability to head the ball would have halted your progress.

Stephens is a good footballer. He is comfortable on the ball, and as a defender he puts his body on the line, makes good blocks, and stands up to even the very best strikers in one-on-one situations very well. Unfortunately he is very weak in the air and has poor positional sense. He was ball watching for the goal, for example. He lost Kane in the same way that he lost Ibrahimovic in the EFL Cup final. Yes, they are top players, but he gets found out by them. What I don't understand though, is that heading is a skill that can be coached and practised. I realise that footballers are only contracted to work 2 hours a day or whatever it is, but if Southampton or Stephens himself have ambitions for him to be a good PL centre back, he needs to be better at heading. You'd think, if they're not doing it already (which I highly doubt), he would be doing extra sessions to get better. I have heard (maybe from someone on here) that players NEVER practise heading, because of the health implications. Understandable in some ways, but too bad if you're rubbish at it and it's going to stop you having a top career.

It was odd that we were dropping deeper and playing more defensive yet ended up taking off two defensively stronger players. But, there was a hint that Hojbjerg was carrying a knock, and certainly Lemina was clattered a short while before his substitution. I'm tempted not to give Pellegrino the benefit of the doubt because of his ineptitude so far this season, but I think that might be a little unfair. Also, Tadic was playing really well! I thought the error was switching him to RW when he plays so much better on the left. BUT, having said that, he created the chances for Obafemi and Boufal from that position so wasn't all bad. My main concern with our tactics was how deep we dropped yet again second half, and of course the fact that we are horrendous at defending set pieces. But when Jack Stephens is one of your strongest players in the air, you know you're going to have issues regardless of the manager! Edit: Sorry just seen you replied to others who raised similar points.

Because he's been taking tips from Tadic...? Edit: Having seen it again I don't think taking the touch was as criminal as it first seemed, it was like the goal was gaping.

Oops

If nothing else I think/hope Obafemi will run himself into the ground and keep the defenders on their toes. Not sure we're playing with enough ambition to think he might get a chance to score...

So we're playing deeper and more defensive yet have made two subs where we've taken off defensively stronger players...

Ridiculous. I'm not sure what it is about Boufal's game that means he HAS to play on the left...?

Hmmm, I can't see Russia recruiting stewards from other countries.

We know that Poch has no Plan B. Unfortunately Pellegrino's plan B is "go out and play worse second half, lads", so he might not need one.

Huh? Spurs have changed things around to combat our threat down the left? Is making tactical changes mid-match allowed?

Time to recall Clasie from his loan.