Saint in NZ

Can't see this being good news. How could he have picked up yet another injury in that short time? Is he made of glass? I like JRod but this is getting b....... ridiculous.

If posters on here get their way and Palace field a side similar to the above, it sounds like we don't want to go any further in this Cup. That'll put a smile on Alan Pardew's face.

Much more fluid performance today. Finishing still a major problem though. Shocking miss by Redmond. Whichever way you look at it, only 4 goals scored in 5 games! Charlie the only recognised striker in the team (as it was today) and questions rage about his fitness. Rather than debate if he should start or come on as a sub, isn't the main concern about why, when he's had so long to work on it, he still isn't at peak fitness? Think the club owe it to the fans to be more upfront on the fitness of all its players, Rodriguez, Boufal etc. You guys pay for the tickets, I get to watch from a distance at a fraction of the cost. There should be an outlet for fans to question the officials directly.

Is that an ITK or hearsay?

It can be argued that the problem is still a lack of a recognised goal-scorer. Looking at Premier League goals only, Long has 43 in 206, JRod has 22 in 82, Austin has 19 in 45 to compare with Pelle with 23 in 68 and Mane with 23 in 70. Austin appears to be the only one with a half-way acceptable level. However, the Saints made up for the shortfall last season by many players chipping in. Not sure that we are any worse off than last season so just need all the team to start believing they can repeat it. It may be that Austin and JRod aren't fit enough to start this game but would like to see them given a chance.

Watched on TV (of course) in NZ and was quite impressed with some of the first half movement and slick passing. Felt it faltered a bit in the second. Having said that, still a lot of sloppy passes and being caught on the ball. Impressed by VVD (as usual), Austin, Martina, Hojbjerg, Romeu (although he was caught on the ball quite a few times), Yoshida (except for the mandatory back-pass) and what a well-taken goal from JRod. Very pleased for him. Not impressed by Long. Didn't seem to be with it at all. Talking of not being with it. The cameras picked up Boufal in the crowd with his head buried in his phone. The commentator said "despite the stop in play, there's someone who's obviously not interested in the game". Hope that's not an omen! Also, caught an interview with Fonte the other day and he said how proud he would be to lead the team out in the first Europa Group Stage round. Hmm....! Morale-boosting win anyway and hopefully some pressure of the manager and players.

What about VVD? He's consistently a colossus and would be welcomed into any PL defence.

I see no-one commented on my post. Starting to feel I shouldn't have bothered coming on here. I've been a Saints supporter for over 60 years and witnessed many changes over that time but still never written a side off after just four league matches. Some people need a little patience and not put pressure on a team that hasn't had much chance to develop yet. Keep the faith!

Here's the way I see it. The Saints will never be able to compete long term with the 7 big-named clubs as, in the end, money talks. Add Leicester and, perhaps, West Ham and a top ten finish (best of the rest) is the best we can hope for. We will only ever spend, or less than, what we have received for players in the transfer market. Fans have to live with that. Last few seasons were the exception rather than the rule. Let's make the best of Europe, and the Cups, because we're not likely to be back there for many years to come. Put out strong sides and enjoy a run. Les Reed was dreaming when said the club has aspirations for the Champions League. Never realistic! Also, must say that the money spent in the transfer market, plus wages to players, is nothing short of obscene. Having said all that, a few wins in the next games would see a different attitude on here.

Sorry, meant to say that if the Saints had conceded in the 70th minute but not in the same circumstances. Think most would have thought that the result was probably fair on the run of play. I believe that they put up a good fight and we now have hope here that we will beat a lot of the other lesser teams this season. Still worried who will score the goals though and gutted we lost the way we did today.

I'd be interested to know what posters would have felt if the Saints had conceded the second goal in the 70th minute. Think the discussions would be somewhat different. Having said that, since when has the rule change about head injuries? Thought the game MUST be stopped as soon as a head injury occurs, especially in the goalmouth area. What was the idiot ref thinking about? Let alone awarding a debatable penalty. Lets face it, teams like Arsenal will always contrive a result, with or without the help of the officials. They are a "big-name" team and will always get the benefit of the doubt. Some positives though. Thought the Saints looked cohesive and constructive for a lot of the match. Big negative is lack of firepower. The Saints have missed the boat in not signing a recognised striker, whilst selling two others. Think it will come back to haunt!

It's bad enough that we buy players and they are injured for long periods i.e. JRod, Gardos (where is he by the way?), Forster, Austin, Bertrand etc. but buying one already injured is almost laughable. If he becomes our miracle player all well and good but how long before we get to see him? Hopefully before the "horse bolts". Hope he can stand the pressure of expectation being heaped on him!

On paper it looks like a heavy defeat but how often in the PL has that gone awry. It all depends on the belief of the players. The manager can only do so much. A bit off to write off Puel yet. We might get a pleasant surprise yet!

It was September 17th 1988, incidentally.....

I was there, all the way from NZ, and couldn't believe it when I think it was something like 9 minutes that was added. An appalling display of bias if ever I have seen it. Saints deserved to win that day but the ref had other ideas!

Am very concerned about the lack of firepower. Goals win games, not possession. We have lost Pelle and Mane, our prime goalscorers, and haven't replaced them with a recognised striker. OK, we have Austin and JRod but with large question marks over them. Can't understand why this wasn't addressed in the transfer window. Having said all of that, a win at Arsenal would turn everything around. Not likely but who knows in the PL? Feel the best we can hope for is MTM (mid table mediocrity) this season but would love to be proved wrong. Come on Saints do just that!

Agree. It's been another ho hum final closing day with ridiculous amounts spent over the past few weeks. Think we have spent OK but the dearth of a recognised goal-scorer could come back to haunt us. Holding on to JRod was good but it seemed to be on the basis of his goal scored last weekend. Even he would admit that probably should have been saved. Look at his body language. Also, Boufal looks like a future signing rather than one for the moment. He's not due to play for several weeks, which could turn into months. Let's hope that the "horse hasn't bolted" by then.

Agree totally. When are people going to understand that Saints are not a BIG named club and most players are going to leave at the first opportunity to chase higher wages and the kudos of playing for a BIGGER club. Sadly, the Saints are not, and are never likely to be, in that category. Most players are not a MLT! Much as he was a God at Saints, he suffered by staying, both financially and from lack of international recognition. Fans just have to suck it up! Do believe, though, that the "powers that be" should at least spend all the money that's received from the sales on replacements, otherwise it will be a downward slippery slope.

"Thank god we have an international break for transfers and training." Won't that mean that a lot of the players will be away for the internationals? Not much chance to develop the team structure.

Will they seriously think of letting him go out on loan when the team is lacking firepower as evidenced once again today? The formation seriously needs sorting out before the team dig themselves into a hole they will struggle to get out of, early days or not.

Hello, I'm a newly signed up member from the other side of the world. Have been a Saints fan for over 60 years and thanks to modern technology am able to watch every match from a distance. Have been following these threads with great interest for years now but think it will be good to have my say now. I may have missed this in some fans' comments but does anyone share my feelings that JRod has never really been given enough game time since his return? The odd 10 minutes at the end of a game is never going to give him a chance to get any rhythm. Why haven't the Managers given him a start to more realistically assess his potential contribution?