qwertyell

He isn't. Romeu needs a proper partner, not a stop gap, if we're going to be moving forward with 4-2-3-1. Hojbjerg looks the obvious fit from within the squad - Clasie and Reed are too lightweight, in my opinion. I wouldn't mind if the club went after another Chelsea fringe player - as Romeu and Bertrand were - in Chalobah, in the summer to fill the role. Good all round defensive midfielder, versatile, young, English. And unlikely to get much action ahead of Kante, Matic and Fabregas.

I said this elsewhere, but at the moment he's playing like an outfielder forced into taking the gloves in an emergency. Sure, he can save the regulation shots straight at him - as you would expect anyone to do - but anything that requires a bit of specialist goalkeeping skill (diving, sweeping, coming for crosses) appears beyond his repertoire. When we signed him, I did the usual thing of searching youtubes for compilation videos of him in action, and the fact that there were barely any of him making more than two or three saves rang alarm bells. Much like when we signed Gazzaniga and the only video showcasing his ability was 90% of him kicking. In my opinion, Forster's reputation has been built upon being fantastically well protected from having to do anything. At Celtic, he'd go weeks without having to face a shot. And at Saints, before this season, our defensive solidarity was our great strength. He's being exposed as a very ordinary goalkeeper. There was a reason why he didn't progress beyond third choice at Newcastle and they were happy to let him go. And it certainly wasn't because Steve Harper and Tim Krull ahead of him were anything particularly special.

Rank Xerox inverse Ajax kit has always been what I consider the classic Saints look. Even though it's just because that's what they wore when I first started following them, and they've shown no inclination to go back to that design since the mid 80s.

It's a roll of the dice, trying to hang on to a player who is actively trying to leave. The more level headed, professional ones like Schneiderlin might knuckle down and get on with job, or you could end up with the likes of Lallana and Lovren leaking to the press all over the place trying to force their move. Or Fonte and Wanyama being so distracted that their performances drop off badly. And at the extreme end of the scale you've got Berahino at West Brom, who basically went into hibernation for two and a half years, killing his own career and pretty much denying the club both the use of his services and the whacking great transfer fee on offer at the beginning of the debacle. Realistically, if any player from any club - even Barcelona or Real Madrid - decides he's leaving, then that's the most likely outcome. By hook or by crook. Players hold all the power.

There's a lot of revisionism going on with those insisting we would've won if only Virgil and Fonte played. We lost 2-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season with both playing - in fact Ibrahimovic scored a not dissimilar header that day too. The defence did a sterling job today against a high calibre attack who'll score three or more against far better teams. In my opinion where we were undermined was with our midfield screen of Romeu and Davis. Romeu doesn't have the legs to do the screening job alone against the best teams and needs some help alongside him. Sadly, Davis isn't a natural in that role and goes AWOL too often. The free kick that lead to the first goal came from Romeu being stretched too thin and feeling like he had to make a desperate lunge. And on the second goal, Davis had switched off entirely and Romeu let Lingard run off him into acres of space. They were only a handful of lapses in an otherwise good performance, but we were punished ruthlessly by United for our mistakes. (The third goal was just a shambles borne of us not getting back into position quickly enough from our own corner.) The boys can hold their heads up high. They gave a great account of themselves and deserved better than they got, but that's football. Obviously the linesman dropped a testicle, but I thought the referee was all right. He might've sent off Lingard, but similarly, he might have gotten a bit excited and sent off Stephens for his wild lunge or Romeu for a flying arm when he was already on a booking. For me the only major negatives (aside from the result) were the goalkeeper's continued inability to save anything that isn't straight at him, and possibly the worst cameo since Ali Dia from our record signing Boufal - he was appalling. For what it's worth: Forster: 5 - he makes regulation stops you'd expect an outfielder playing as emergency keeper to make. And that's it. Inspires no confidence with his kicking or coming off his line. Cedric: 7 - kept Martial quiet and was up and down the right wing with conviction all day. Stephens: 6 - didn't let anyone down and wasn't overawed by the occasion. I think he's a decent prospect with a good head on his shoulders... one reckless lunge notwithstanding. Yoshida: 7 - like in the semi final against Liverpool, Yoshi came up big and seemed to be everywhere at times. One of our most improved players. Bertrand: 8 - solid in defence, a constant threat in attack. Brought his crossing A-game today. Romeu: 6 - fought well, but as I mentioned previously, I thought he was a bit exposed at times. Davis: 7 - busy, neat, Davis-y. His best moment was a lovely back heel to play in Cedric (I think). In my opinion he's more effective in those advanced positions than holding. Ward-Prowse: 8 - one of his best games. Used the ball well, his delivery from set pieces *****il Boufal bizarrely took over corner duties) and open play was top class, and he even won a few tackles. Tadic: 6 - never quite looked like it was going to be a Tadic kind of day. He's got great technical ability, but I think he struggles to get into fast paced, physical matches. Still had a great chance to score, but as is his wont, rather half heartedly hit the finish. Redmond: 7 - great work outside the box, but his "end product" still lets him down too often. The cut inside shank remains his signature move. Gabbiadini: 9 - he knows what he's doing. His runs off the ball are always so intelligent and beautifully timed. What more can you ask of your centre forward than a (should have been) hat trick? He had some lovely touches linking up the play too. Didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Subs: Not sure Long or Rodriguez touched the ball. Boufal touched it plenty of times - straight to the opposition with masterful frequency. Not the result any of us were hoping for, but I think we can be proud of our performance and that we had a right proper go (unlike the Arsenal cup final which, from memory, was a 1-0 procession). Safe journey to those traveling back.

Well deserved, that man. It's the hope that kills you... Come on, Claude, pull a rabbit out of the hat at half time. Boufal for Tadic - he's been predictably disappointing.

Useless keeper. All the agility of an oil tanker.

Don't they realise Cuco Martina's available on a free in the summer?

Great result - just the ticket. Now the boys can ride the feel good factor all the way up to the cup final, having found some attacking form, and put a 10 point buffer (11 if you include the goal difference) between us and the relegation zone. Pleased for Stephens, getting a clean sheet under his belt. Who knows if he'll make the grade ultimately, but I think people have been quick to write him off after barely a handful of games (which included wins and clean sheets against Leicester, Liverpool and now Sunderland). He's got a chance to play and learn on the job, so good luck to him. He'll never improve without having some kind of run in the side.

Good thing for him he's not being paid by the save.

Ake and Semedo for Fonte and Virgil? Or maybe we'll go back in for the dream pairing of Tasci and Jordi Amat...

I also think Jack Stephens could do an Eric Dier type job in the middle of the park too, if he's not yet trusted to play at the back regularly. Comfortable on the ball, plays it simple, and if I'm not mistaken, he played the holding role for Middlesbrough in a famous win at Old Trafford in the League Cup last season. (0 - 0 aet, Boro won on pens)

I would agree that Romeu can't do the screening job on his own. He just doesn't have the mobility for it. Whether it's Hojbjerg, Reed (has he ever been tried alongside Romeu instead of as a replacement for him?) or Clasie, someone needs to provide the legwork and the recovery pace to Romeu's physicality and positional strength. In theory that would give a greater platform for the front four to express themselves and the full backs to bomb on. - - - - - - - - - - Romeu - - - - Hojbjerg - - - - - - - - Redmond - - - Davis/Tadic/Prowse - - - Boufal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gabbiadini - - - - - - Something like that. Apologies for the formatting...

Only two of them will be missed.

Given that Jose Fonte has more than held his own for us for 7-8 years, I find it hard to believe anyone thinks a lack of pace is the be all and end all of a successful centre back. In any case, Stephens moves pretty well - far better than Fonte ever did - and has shown enough mobility to do a job at right back too. His reaction to danger might be slow - as evidenced with West Ham's first goal yesterday (not that the more experienced Yoshida reacted any better) - but I don't think Stephens' pace is going to be the attribute that makes or breaks him at this level. I thought he did all right yesterday - certainly not the worst player in a Saints shirt, in spite of being the least experienced.

Insipid in attack, weak in defence, plodding in midfield, a keeper who can't save anything - it was only a matter of time before the continual downgrading of the team caught up with us. Big half coming up, in the context of the season. We're sleepwalking towards catastrophe, but the powers that be appear in total denial.

I'm sure Claude will be watching West Ham's defence capitulate to pace, movement and decisive forward passing... and working out how to set us up to play exactly the opposite...

IIRC Reid is on crazy wages at West Ham. Way out of Saints' budget.

If John Stones had put in that kind of performance, the papers today would be frothing with "new Bobby Moore" hyperbole. Stephens stepped up magnificently. If he can push on from here, we could have another gem on our hands. I don't see why he shouldn't. He moves well, is calm and comfortable on the ball, reads the play and generally puts himself in good positions. There's plenty to work with. But, of course, it's difficult for teams at the top level to give experience to youngsters in key positions (like cb or gk) where a mistake almost always results in a goal. The stakes are usually too high. Good luck to him.

It was the best thing he did. He was pretty poor when he came on - I thought Clasie's extra experience and tenacity would've been a better bet. Can't make my mind up about Hojbjerg. Bags of enthusiasm, a few touches of class, but he really hasn't found a consistent level of play - some days, he's rank awful. And he's comically inept in front of goal.

It's got heartbreak written all over it - the better team, missing our chances again; we won't keep Liverpool out all game. Really good performance from the lads, though. Doing themselves proud. Redmond playing the best he ever has in a Saints shirt. Tadic is so half assed in everything he does - such a frustrating player. Right, back to the second half. I'll be behind the sofa if anyone needs me...

Wow, Hojbjerg is utterly woeful. Composure of a startled kitten.

Or perhaps teams have worked out if you place the ball even fractionally to the side of him instead of straight at him, he hasn't the mobility, agility or ability to do much about it...

He's shown some bright moments, but I think he's at Celtic on a two year loan in any case.

Most predictable result of the season, after a half decent performance in midweek.