striker

I really am confused about why PEH did that. He seemed to be through and could've been first to the ball in the box, yet he decided to dive instead of just playing the ball. He could have got it and then shot, or played it into the center (since we had Austin and someone else close). I don't get it. That changed everything

Two major defensive mistakes by Cedric and Vestergaard, plus PEH being an idiot, is all it took. The Saints did this to themselves today.

Vestergaard missed it

Got to be kidding

Truth be told that the ref should have called fouls before then on Austin and Long, both of who were fouled

PEH has been terrible

Would've brought Austin on for Long, not Ings

Wow that was close. We were lucky there

Somehow I Just knew

Nice shot

We look pretty good, but toothless up front. Long really isn't a striker, his best plays are running wide and getting the ball in space. Around the box there's nothing. Ings looks ok though, as does the midfield and defence. We're getting plenty of possession and crosses. I bet we see Austin pretty quickly for Long, and see if he can get on the end of those crosses into the box

I agree Long is weird, but Hughes is just trying different combinations to see what works. Remember we have scored ONE goal so far. Also just what has Gabbi done that has been so impressive people here are clamoring for him? He's been on the pitch in both matches so far and been utterly invisible.

Big V Yoshi Then it really doesn't matter the order

I didn't think we were that bad either. The big issue is our cb's, which unfortunately was hurt by Big V being sick. I thought our attack was good all day. We created a number of good chances and were unlucky not to score more.

Hughes going for it. with out defenders why not try to just outscore them

Its like we are playing a 0-5-5

Boy our defending sucks

There we go. We are creating chances, I think the attack we have out there looks fine

Our defence (including the defending midfield) is poor. No communication and we just look lazy. I think our attacking side looks good though (again including the mid). We have created 4 or 5 very good chances, and are just a bit unlucky so far.

Awful defending there. Uncontested dribbling into the box, then beaten for a header. 15 year olds know better

We've created 3 pretty good chances

Ings got beat there

3-1 Saints. Austin, Ings, and Armstrong score

Some managers keep it positive for social media, but tell the team exactly what they think. I think Hughes is this type of coach. Its probably a better way to go than just bashing players publicly.

If by lower league football you mean the PL in 2015 where he got 18 goals, then I agree. He is still the far and away leader for us in goals / time played, and its not even close. Without a good dose of revisionist history, a person can not say he isn't the prolific striker we have. Sure if our midfield is getting abused like normal, and the strikers have to come out to the center of hte pitch just to get touches, then yes Ings/Gabbi/even Long are better, since they are basically playing midfield then. If thats happening we are in big trouble anyway. I've always said for a counter attack setup, against someone like ManCity where we are going to sit back and take an occasional shot on long balls, that Gabbi is the guy not Austin. However when its a game where we have possession, and can work into attacking positions in our offensive 1/3, then Austin is the best we have. From what I have seen Hughes see's it this way too.