Vancouver Saint

So what has the window told us so far? Looks like the directive from the owners is we have to sell before we can buy. Who is in demand from our squad? SOLD Davis - gone, good deal both ways wish him luck Gabbi - gone, bit of a shame for us but fresh start for him and understandable SALEABLE Redmond - hopefully won't be sold Lemina - mixed feelings on this forum but I think he is class, needs fitness and better management - would we be able to replace equal or better for the money we'd get? - I doubt it McCarthy - good not great, likely to go IMO Cedric - on the block for sure Bertrand - still a possibility someone may come in for him despite the lack of a 'for sale' sign...if they did, we'd probably sell him Hoj - don't see many interested parties and better value staying Yoshida - possible some Asian club will go for him after the Asian cup...would be a loss IMO Romeu - don't see targeted interest...people would take him off our hands if if was a bargain sale...better keeping as still has a lot to offer us IMO JWP - maybe...he gets talked-up by commentators THE REST I've probably missed one or two, but pretty much all the rest I don't see the demand for. Point being we are going to be limited in who we can realistically sell. Can't believe Ralph doesn't have his eye on one or two players from the Bundesliga and perhaps Christian Gross from Brighton - and that having some cash to play with in January wasn't agreed when he signed. If we are keeping investment money up our sleeves is it smart waiting until the end of the January window? - surely the worst of all times to get value for money. We need to do some buying now.

This. Only saw the second half with no commentary - bit of an overreaction here - always want us to win but wasn't too bothered how this game went tbh. Ralph using this to continue finding out more / confirming what he already knows about the squad. He will have reconfirmed Redmond is the only true class player on the pitch today - also that nobody else in our team today is indispensable and some are must move outs with Long and Moi top of that list. Bit underwhelmed by our attacking subs...in particular Barnes who did nothing and looked slow.

This. Well deserved. Hasenhutl will have learned more about his squad too...Yoshida class, Redmond has class needs polishing, Gunn better than McCarthy, Vestergard can play well when paired with a fast CB partner, Romeu solid, Bednarak capable will improve - Valery needs more bite / confidence, Cedric...hmm, has fight but too easily beaten for high balls and no end cross / shot 'up or out...Long - we need more than a willing runner...Austin, has guts and attitude, possible impact sub when we need to play hoof ball into the area, otherwise not PL....JWP just not adding enough (criminal waste of our best dead ball chance - shouldn't happen at this level)

Unfortunately we seem to get teams when they are bouncing back or have their top players returning. I expected a 'full court press' for Chelsea away...low expectations so let our strongest team have a free run at it - thought we'd be good for a draw hitting them on the break and playing with intensity. With PEH out (stupid lah) I'm not so sure.

This. Very obvious from line-up and pre-match interview Ralph had no expectation of getting points from this game and was using it to learn more about the players he has and possible saving something for Chelsea. Is Lemina our poor man's Pogba? He has amazing talent but only seems to use it sporadically - is it an attitude thing with him or is he not 100% fit? I believe Hasenhutl already has players in mind to bring in from the Bundesliga and elsewhere and is using these 'bonus' games in the early weeks to shape up for a long-term solution not quick fixes. Bad results for us this weekend but I think we will see gradual and increasing improvement from us. Shame we have such a tough run of games in January as I think we could go into February still at or near the bottom. We will need to keep faith and patience much much longer than many of the short-term reactionists on here are prepared to give.

Just listened to post-game show - ex ref Dermott wassisname says with VAR their second goal would have been cancelled and it would have been called back for a penalty to us! ...also that our first goal would not have stood for a handball...

Can't complain about the result - West Ham the better team for anybody with a vaguely objective perspective. We looked tired. Vestergard and Armstrong played well. Lemina had a shocker. Puzzled Ings was taken off so early. Anybody else think McCarthy's positioning on their first goal dodgy? The next couple of games will show just how much we need to strengthen the team in January.

Good to see this - he needs to be rejuvinated - hopefully will be under Hasenhutl

No home win for eight months. No win over a top six team forever. No headed goal this season. Arsenal 22 undefeated us 14 without a win. A win. Long and Austin combo. What odds? C'mon down Ralph Hasnehutl! Feels so good to win a game. So happy.

No. We will buy a CB and a fast, goal-scoring forward. We will get fitter. We will reduce the number of individual defensive errors. We will finish more of the chances we create. Confidence will pick up. We will stay up. Keep the faith. Hasenhutl proves to be a lion.

A) Arsenal play their strongest team for some fun / target practice / improve their goal difference...we play like we did today 0-6 B) Arsenal play their B team expecting a stroll, HH works his magic in a week, players show up and gel...2-0 shock win for Saints breaking /Arsenal's run or... C) We play well...hit the underside of the bar three times...two blatant penalties denied...a winner at the death denied for a wrong-call offside...Arsenal breakaway and score in the third minute of extra time ...0-1 You just know it's not B)

So true.

We are unbelievably ****e. Vestergard criminal negligence in defence...but only one of an incredible number of punishable mistakes made by just about everyone. Lemina showed his class. Austin terrible as usual. Defence totally shambolic. Only positive for me is Hasenhutl will have seen just how devoid we are of both defence and attack.

Think we'll win 1-0. Shame we don't have the speed up front we need to be able to counter-attack with Obafemi gone. With no Ings, Gabbi in the toilet and Austin slow we are really short of threat up-front. Lemina to score.

Well I'm really excited about this guy Hassenhuttl. Wasn't on my radar (which is mostly switched off anyway) but sounds exactly like who we need to revitalise the team, get the best out of what we've got and attract some decent signings/ make needed changes in the next couple of transfer windows. Just the belief we might play some decent attacking football again - and maybe even win a game goodness! Credit where credit is due...if this all happens...the board will have made some bold and significant moves in time to salvage the season and build for next.

I really don't get this - Redmond was the best player on the park - ran everywhere, had pace, takes on defenders, dribbled the ball well...yes, the last pass wasn't there - but to be fair, neither were clear options for him - Obafemi was a target when he was on, Gabbi is lacking match-fitness and it showed. Yes, it's frustrating when there's no finish - but he's the spark creating the danger time and again - he's playing really well this season and let's be fair.

Well I liked the formation. Shame Obafemi looks like he's done his hamstring. If we played like that with some confidence against bottom half teams we'd stand a chance. Played well today. Lemina a beast. Redmond great at dribbling past his man...just a terrible last ball. Armstrong good. I like Cedric playing higher up...Valery good. Would put Bednarek in for Vesterguard

C'mon Saints let's get some luck and stick a winner in...

Don't know why but I think we'll win this one. Crazy I know. A lucky 1-0 or 1-2 with a penalty call going our way. Unfortunately will give the board the excuse they need to give Hughes a stay of execution.

Whatever football gods we have offended we must go to the temple and pray for forgiveness. How we managed to lose that game is astonishing. Underside of the bar twice, a disallowed goal (didn't get to see a replay so can't tell if it was good or not), a fluffed open net chance for Obafemi. We should have won that easily. Will have done the opposite of build confidence for our strikers. Gunn is no penalty-saver either...wasn't close to any one of them. Saints supporters sounded good at the end.

1. It's an admission that our ambitions have been reduced to emergency survival desperation based around 'parking the bus, eking out turgid defensive stalemates and building a team of largely journeymen 'big body' hardmen whose primary goal is not to lose...and to break other teams best players legs 2. It would be a lost opportunity to get us moving in the right direction for the long term...hopefully with a young, inspiring manager who can rebuild our squad building on the four of rive decent players we have 3. It means the end at any attempts of creative, entertaining football...if he were hired and he did keep us up...what next? Would we keep playing the Allardyce way and resign ourselves to incredibly dull mid-table mediocrity at best 4. He's the past not the future...we've got to move forward 5. He's a crook 6. I can't stand his chewing on gum the whole time Of course I don't want to us to get relegated...but I'd rather have a season in the Championship rebuilding an exciting, attacking team with spirit and playing entertaining football than desperately clinging on in the premiership as the most hated team in the league

Allardyce?!!!!! - I'd rather get relegated than have that tosser involved with our club

I agree with you Bexy 100%. It was right to give Hughes a chance after keeping us up (we should also send Swansea a big thank you) - but even then we knew he was not the right long-term answer for us. I said give him 10 games - more than enough time to get the best out of the squad we have and prove himself - he's now had 13 and it's blindingly obvious he is not the right manager for us (worst stats of any Southampton Manager - what more do the board need?). It must be clear to the board too - but they do not want to admit to their own mistake giving him a 3-year fat contract they'll have to pay off - instead they are back into wishful thinking territory. Disastrous! Have we not learnt anything from our lucky escape last season? If we don't get the 'he's gone' news tomorrow (Monday) I will be disappointed. The only slack I'd cut the board is if they have a quality DOF appointment in the wings whom they want to give a say in the new managerial appointment...having written off the next two league games anyway.

Good post. Am done with excuses for Hughes. We're already way past the point at which we know what we've got with him. No defence, no attack, no goals, no resilience, no fitness, no confidence, no chance. We need to move quickly to get a change of fortune before Christmas...although I agree with whoever it was who said they'll probably give him the next two games as write-offs - which would be a mistake IMO. We need a regime change.

Sad state of affairs when I really don't care if we score an equaliser because I don't want to give Hughes even a thread of a lifeline to cling on to.