SonicBoom

Didn't we take the Brentford owners? Bet they're loving that.

If u think that then you don't understand their new financial muscle.

Well either that or the press are linking them with the world and his wife.

Very odd management by Ralph. KWP was probably our best player last year. Livramento arrives and he's immediately dropped. He also didn't get back in when Livramento's form dipped. He was shipped to left back. Now he's fighting for that spot with Perraud. Right now he should be first choice on the right and Livramento will have to fight for his place. Every game he's on the bench I think we're weaker for it. Ralph needs to find a way to get our best players on the pitch. If KWP left it really would be a huge mistake on Ralph's part.

There is a link to the independent report on this thread on the Ugly. The report states that a Headmaster had raised concerns about the behaviour of Higgins directly to Bates. No action was taken. The report says that this might have been in order to protect the clubs reputation and not Higgins. Either way nothing was done. The report also says it is unrealistic to imagine Bates didn't discuss this at board level although there are no records if it ever being discussed. So basically the conclusion was that concerns were reported to the club through Bates but that no action was taken.

Worth watching just for JWP's goal. Unbelievable

And there it is. People being nice about forster recently but there is his total lack of command in the box. Completely in no man's land for a ball he should have claimed and then watched it over his head making zero effort. Might as well have had no goalkeeper at all. Utterly useless.

Salisu's long throws are, errrr, not actually very long are they.

Only Shane would be unselfish enough to be clean through on goal but decide to try and chip it to someone else.

That was my point earlier. With one more player we totally dominate. Lose one player and suddenly we can't keep the ball for 5 passes.

Funny how with 11 we totally dominate - yet with 10 they dominate possession.

Apparently Newcastle and one other PL club are interested. I wondered if it might be us as we are looking for a number 10. He looked a great prospect but doesn't seem to have trained on. He's had his own issues at Norwich with perceived lack of effort, being left out and some niggling injuries but there does seem to be a player in there. I'm not convinced he's the type of player Newcastle need right now, but then again they have the money to just buy whoever they want now and not worry about it. I could see him at Saints if he has the right attitude but I think he'd be a risk. Could be fantastic, could be another Djenepo.

But....but... Ralph cried!!

Listen I've been doing my bit by bonking everyone I possibly can, but I'm afraid all the kids were crap at football.

Hes been here what, two years ? When he arrived he was definitely raw but he played with a certain freedom and we saw several great goals and assists. I get the feeling the club wanted him to have more discipline positionally and I think they got that. He is a prime example of our ethos of keeping the ball at all costs. He was always a risk taker with the ball, he'd often lose it, but occasionally create something. Now he gets to the edge of the box and turns back or passes it inside. Now maybe Saints need to do that. We can't concede if we have the ball and maybe Djenepo is now "doing a job". But the cost appears to be that the creative spark is stifled. To me it was that unpredictability that was so nice to watch. Now he is slowly turning into another water carrier and we have enough of those in our midfield.

I'd take Jones. He had some long term injuries , fair enough but I think he's been fit for a while now but can't get back into the united side so he's not getting the chance to do anything. Obviously he needs to be fit enough to play but if he is then I think he'd be a great signing. Fergie always rated him extremely highly and he was a regular for England. I agree with some others that he might go the West Ham route and get paid a hundred grand a week, but if we are prepared to take a chance we could be a good fit. I'm sure he'd have a beneficial effect on the entire squad not just the CB position. And he's free....

To be fair to Diallo he is still a very young kid. He moved to a different country and culture and may not have known anyone. He had a lot to adjust to, not least of all PL football. At his age there is every reason to hope that his confidence and physique will grow. I don't remember Schneiderlin being particularly brilliant the moment he arrived from Le Havre although he was a bit younger at the time. Don't underestimate how much time it takes to feel like you fit and are at home in unfamiliar surroundings. I think Diallo could fill out and be a really good player for us this year. The talent is there. I'm not quite sure where he plays yet. I've seen him playas the DM and that seems most natural. He's also played further forward and he does have an eye for a pass but his shooting left something to be desired. My point being that it's easy for fans to write off a player as not being up to it, but he's had a lot to deal with and there is certainly a player in there.

Our clearing header - Stephens was it? Drops 4 yards outside the box straight to a Liverpool player with no Saints player anywhere near. Two passes later and it's in our net. FFS. We look so weak at times. We start next season anything like we've finished this season and we will be f ucked.

Tella is in and playing in front of Stephens which does worry me. Now don't go nuts , it's just an innocent question but what is it that Tella does? I've seen him several times now, and people seem to think he has what it takes. I've heard comments that he's very quick but what sort of player is he? I genuinely haven't seen him produce anything so far other than snatching at a couple of good chances. Is he a winger or going to be a central striker? I should caveat this with the fact I know he's a young player and finding his feet. Im not having a go, I'm just wondering what his strengths are?

Moura and Son both stood on the penalty spot unmarked. Shambolic.

Why on earth would Ralph think that Redmond should start up front ahead of Adams. If I were Adams I'd be furious.

This team is drilled to keep the ball. Unfortunately that's at the cost of actually taking risks and creating something. Retention is more important apparently.

Walcott working on the principle that he can't do anything wrong if he does nothing at all.

We are at home against the second worse team in the division. We really should be beating this lot if we put in a half decent performance. Ralph needs to send them out fired up and not lethargic in the first half.

Thats the point. We can moan about pens all we like but if we are incapable of kicking the ball at their goal we aren't going to win are we.