striker

I bet if fans were asked if they would take a finish in the PL around #10, and a big run in the EFL Cup in making the finals, most would have signed up as a yes. The Saints have done this in spite of losing their top scorer (Austin), now their 2nd top scorer (Gabbi), their top defender (VVD), and assorted other good players. I don't see the case at all for anyone to want Puel out based on the results. Now if the players hate him, or management hates him, etc., then thats something else. However based on the results Puel stays.

Next season will be different. With target men Gabbi for a full year and Austin back, either together or rotating for each other, we should score a lot more. Its hard to get assists with the current team, and also having a target a man (men) upfront that the defense needs to focus on will open up the field for Tadic, etc.

Wow, poor half. I'll take the point, but we got lucky.

Agreed, I would like to see Long and Boufal in this half too.

If we play the same way this half we will win.

Gabbi or Austin would have had a goal by now

Smart move by Davis, great play

JRod over Long? Maybe Long is tired from his international play?

Exactly +2 Why do some feel they need to denigrate one player to promote the other? Both are capable and solid goal scorers in the PL. As stated, Austin has missed 3 months and is still our top scorer, he's not chopped liver. Gabbi is a more complete player for sure, Austin is better in the air though. I would ideally like to see a way to get them both on the field at the same time. They both score but have different strengths. However this would probably mean going to a more standard 4-4-2 (or the like).

Refs sucked for sure. In the end we played tough and hung in there. This was not a game any of us expected to win, so I am ok with the performance.

I would like Puel to figure out a way to get Gabbi and Austin on the field together. That would be a really good goal scoring tandem, especially supported by Tadic, Boufal, and Redmond. This would be our most prolific team.

I don't know why some need to say "Gabbi's good, Austin isn't" . Its not an either/or issue. They are both good and both have shown they can score 15-20 goals in the PL. Gabbi has more pace for sure, but then again Austin is better in the air. I think keeping them both gives us a really good 1-2 scoring punch. I have no problem starting with Gabbi (if we only use 1 striker), but I don't think its fair to dis on Austin. Frankly I think they can both play upfront together, and I think that would be a very potent way to go too.

Don't know how you can say Austin should have been on the bench. He's still our leading scorer even though he hasn't played in 2.5 months

Depends on the formation we use, but having Gabbi, Austin, and Long as the forwards give us a real good trio. If we play two of them each week its a very good rotation.

I'm pretty bullish about next season. We get our injured players back, plus we have a lot of other players getting quality time and growing because of the injuries. We should be a deep, strong squad.

This team has taken a 180 degree turn. We've gone from a defensive team hoping Austin scores a goal to an offensive team just trying to outscore the opposition.

Boy if Forster let those last two in we 'd be furious.

Good sub here.

Yesssss. Gomez is pretty bad.

Now get the defense sured up and get home. Sit back and defend.

Yess. Lousy play by the goalkeeper but I'll take it.

Uggh, but you saw it coming. Like the Boufal sub, now maybe Long? We need to get momentum back.

Is there any hope that VVD or Austin will be back this season?

I thought we played well. Yes we had defensive lapses, however MU is a tough team. In addition we were screwed out of a goal, it should have been 3-3. I am starting to see something in this team. Keep it together, and add back in VvD and Austin, then I think we may have something.

Lets go. It would be a shame to lose this, we are completely outplaying United (and the refs).