Vancouver Saint

First goal changed the game completely. Lots of over-reaction today. We were the better footballing team first half - by far the better in the first 20 minutes. Honestly, how many of us saw 3-0 for Burnley at half time? Heads went totally down after that first goal...on a mistake (wind took it looked like?)...then very well-struck, but I'm in the 'Gunn could have done better camp'. Second goal started from a ridiculous pass to non-one from Bertrand who I thought was poor today. If Adam's first minute chance had gone in...if Pope hadn't pulled off a world class save from Redmond the first goal would have been ours and the whole story different. That said - our defence is crap. Heads went down way too easily. So predictable that any shot on target = a goal against. Last two goals from Bertrand errors. Gunn doesn't 'command his box' and instil confidence. Adams...hmm...didn't do enough for me to feel he's going to be a difference-maker...Ings invisible, predictable substitution...Romeu only real solid player for us today. Bednarek did nothing wrong. Agree Yoshida should be in. Redmond still our best player potentially. Shows how much we miss the flair and bit of a motivated, in-form Lemina. Hope he comes back somehow. Onwards

Well, I think it's a shame. I thought he was one of the genuine class players we had. Don't like his attitude and arrogance, but let's separate that from his footballing ability - and who can deny we've been completely ****e for the bulk of his two years under the clown and Hughes? He's hardly had the best of times. It does concern me that we can't motivate our better players to stay on for a 'new era' under Ralph. Explains the reluctance to play him. Why would anyone play a player who doesn't want to play for you? Watch him 'do a Tadic' wherever he goes...

Not sure when you guys saw it but only saw the BBC article referring to this two days ago...

Bloody brilliant. If our football next season is as creative as this we will win the title! Hats off to all involved - I have been in the creative industry most of my professional life and know just how difficult it is to get work like this from concept to reality - have a cocktail or two on that island on me! https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48310994

Well that was a suitably underwhelming performance to end the season. Very disappointing last couple of games. Ralph the highlight of the season. We have to build a defence and get some fast strikers who can score in the summer. Just an aside - why no Lemina today? Game was screaming for a creative midfielder.

Thanks but can't get either of those streams to work - any others? No surprise there's not much coverage for us today!`

Which players are 'must keeps' to start the rebuilding process for next season. Let's try to limit it to your top six. For me: Redmond, Lemina, Hoj, Romeu, JWP, Bednarek

Don't understand Ralph's thinking behind the line-up for the West Ham game and the 'exhausted after staying up' excuse was a weak attempt to protect the players. Forster, Stephens and Moi starting was a huge mistake if we were serious about taking points from that game. If it was a shop-window thing it back-fired badly. With Brighton's unlikely point against Arsenal (that also screws up the Burnley-Arsenal game next weekend now Arsenal have no 4th place to play for) he will put everything into a convincing win against Huddersfield. Send the fans home happy with a dominant home display and a 4-0 win for the first time this season. Major re-work in the summer around Redmond, Hoj, Lemina, Romeu, JWP, Bednarek

Well, if this was an attempt to put Forster in the shop window it has backfired spectacularly - and predictably - we will now have to pay someone to take him.

This. Can only imagine RH needed to demonstrate to someone just how ****e we are. Although started the second half much better it only needs one weak link to unravel everything...Forster duly obliges. Now 3-0 so predictable. I am annoyed getting up early to watch this...I'd be furious if I'd paid good money to see this.

RH clearly not taking this game seriously - I find that frustrating personally. This is just an exercise to confirm just how bad Southampton B is (we know the A-team isn't that great either) before the summer clear-out. I would have preferred a serious attempt to get the points but I guess he knows what he needs to do and in the bigger scheme of things this game doesn't matter.

Working so had to PVR the game...a friend texted me Go Southampton!...so I guessed we'd scored...texted back no spoiler alerts...watched it when we got home when of course we score after 8 seconds and then sat through the rest of the game convinced we were going to win even after missing a hatful of chances for 2-0. So was incredibly ****ed off when yet again we conceded late. I thought the subs weakened us. Sims doesn't have the physique for this level...running fast is an asset, but he can't hold on to the ball or even get close to it half the time...lacks composure when we need it. I thought Ings for Long was the call - a role-reversal with Ings with something to prove with his running up front. I love Lemina, but Romeu was on top of his game and an important blocker...yes, yes, on a yellow I understand...and Valery...looked a bit flaky. We have to learn that sitting deep and punting the ball up field to nobody only results in it coming right back at you again. We have to learn how to play it out of the back in the last 5-10 minutes of games...that means having options in front of you when we get the ball on our own 18 yard box. Anyway, a point we'd all have taken beforehand - just feels like another two points lost rather than one won.

Working so had to PVR the game...a friend texted me Go Southampton!...so I guessed we'd scored...texted back no spoiler alerts...watched it when we got home when of course we score after 8 seconds and then sat through the rest of the game convinced we were going to win even after missing a hatful of chances for 2-0. So was incredibly ****ed off when yet again we conceded late. I thought the subs weakened us. Sims doesn't have the physique for this level...running fast is an asset, but he can't hold on to the ball or even close to it half the time...lacks composure when we need it. I thought Ings for Long was the call - a role-reversal with Ings with something to prove with his running up front. I love Lemina, but Romeu was on top of his game and an important blocker...yes, yes, on a yellow I understand...and Valery...looked a bit flaky. We have to learn that sitting deep and punting the ball up field to nobody only results in it coming right back at you again. We have to learn how to play it out of the back in the last 5-10 minutes of games...that means having options in front of you when we get the ball on our own 18 yard box. Anyway, a point we'd all have taken beforehand - just feels like another lost two points rather than one won.

Watford owe us a couple of jammy extra-time handball or offside goals. Think we'll sneak this one that way. 0-1 to the Saints. Would take a point though. Need to take Delafou (sp) out of the game early...not very sporting, but hey this is about safety and survival.

I really hope we get to see Lemina play under Hasenhutl too...unfortunately he's been out so long I doubt he'll be match-fit enough to impress instantly as this forum demands - but I think he's one of the few truly class players we have that could be a huge difference-maker for us next season.

Steady on Bexy, Sunny Scunny is not the cultural hub of the universe for sure but it's got feelings too! My dad was the local surgeon there for 20 years and had to operate on some of the Scunny players...I used to watch the odd game at Glanford Park and got to know a few of the people linked to the club. Good honest folks. Trying to keep a dying steel industry and suffering town alive let alone a football club. We shouldn't forget our Scunny heritage either...Kevin Keegan and Nigel Adkins... If you want architecture it's not your place - but if you're okay with an honest pint with down-to-earth people you won't go wrong. Been centuries since I was there so can't give you a recommendation on a good pub - I'd have kept out of the town centre though. The Berkeley Hotel is a stones throw away from the ground - unpretentious red brick building with lots of space - probably still there and will welcome you i'm sure.

Being honest, at 2-1 up before we made the substitutions we were under the cosh and I was telling myself I'd take a draw (also that we had to change it up before the inevitable equaliser). Ralph duly obliged - a fantastic result and set of results for us. Redmond outstanding. Romeu showed why we need him. Bednarek quietly efficient. Yoshida great. Sims added value. JWP better after being moved forward. After being quick to criticise Long - fair dues - he changed the game for us, providing an outlet and scoring the critical third goal - also running his guts off backwards to cover for defenders who'd gone forward. Good job. Think a draw or better at Newcastle will secure safety mathematically as Brighton will not lose to Cardiff.

Hmmm. For Krueger, dignity, loyalty, sincerity, heart in the right place and with the club...and at least the appearance of calm amidst the storm. Against Krueger, lack of a ruthless streak to get rid of the Clown waaaay earlier, not to give Hughes a long-term contract without proving himself early in the season and allowing Les Reed to stay too long. My concern is the owner. They clearly have no money. The control of the club is not clear and I expect we will be the target of a sale / takeover in the summer. If the Chinese government have a significant stake in us (enough to have power of veto) that could make things very difficult. Time we had our own Netflix show so us poor fans could get a better understanding of what's really going on. Any ITK's on this post?

Must win or mustn't lose - what do you think Hasenhutl will be saying? (I think the latter...a draw means Cardiff have to get points from at least three of their remaining six games (five if they lose against Burnley)...I think we'll set up to defend five at the back to attempt to stop their speedy attackers...0-0 or 1-1...obviously I'd rather we won)

Some really angry posts on this. I'd love us to win this but would be happy with a draw. Think if we can survive the early onslaught without conceding and possibly score ourselves it's possible. Think Liverpool are not playing their best and are under pressure to win. The longer we remain on level terms the easier it'll get for us. No Gallagher please. Sims before Austin, although the long punt into the box might just work if VVD goes off injured. Don't think VVD, Lallana or Lovren will relish coming back here - they were all scum-bags in the way they left the club IMO. Mane is different. Lambert was cheered. It is different for different players. We'll win by supporting our players more than bringing Liverpool's down.

Fantastic win. Got some luck that we deserved. Were by far the better team for 70 minutes. We look so much better going forward than backward though. Couldn't string three passes together in the last 20 minutes. Was steadying myself for a late equaliser that thankfully never came. Armstrong our best player, Redmond class again, great finish and industry from Hoj, Yoshida strong...some wobbly performances elsewhere...Valery off the pace, Ings too, even Bednarek had some miscues...Gallagher a liability, could have cost us the game at the end with a crazy giveaway and looked exhausted after 15 mins. We still look vulnerable in the last 10 minutes defending a lead. Still, I think we got the points we deserved.

Accept your point Mosin - and acknowledge that players coming back after such a long absence tend to be rusty and not match fit. My point is more for the longer -term, not the next match - as meatball post#100 above suggests. Lemina is a more natural creative midfielder than Hoj, JWP and certainly Romeu IMO...he has natural attacking instinct and creative flair to beat his man in midfield and play the ball forward, not sideways or backwards. Properly fit and under RH I think he could be pivotal to our future as one of, if not the best player we have in the squad.

Lemina is a great player. Genuine flair and creativity. Has never been fit under RH. Needs to score more goals. Must be given a fair chance. Probably our best player when fit and committed IMHO

We should soooo have beaten them at home...I kinda feel the reverse is going to happen there...we are typically crap after a long break, they are finally winning again...much as though I would love to see us beat them 4-0 or more, I think this is going to be 1-1 draw with us snatching a late equaliser after Murray scores early. Hope I'm wrong and we tank 'em.

Yessssss! C'mon you beauty! Now hold on PLEEEAASE!