Shroppie

Don't get me wrong. I'm constantly being disappointed, especially when, like around Christmas, we seem to have turned a corner but then slip backwards again. We know that, with everyone fit, we have a decent team. It's frustrating that, like all except the super-rich, we can't support two quality players in every position so we quickly struggle if we get injuries or suspensions. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

[emoji106] This would be a boring place without opinions. [emoji23][emoji23] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I'd rather them that than yours which seem to make everything black. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes, in terms of working hard for a ten man team and playing his part defensively. I'd agree his vision and passing in attack could be better. If you judge his performance on whether he makes a mazy run beating four players before smashing the ball in the net, no he didn't do that. But the ability to do that should be a small part of his game as he'll only succeed about 1% of the time. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I agree he couldn't handle Saint-Maximin, who had a very good game and would have troubled more experienced players But overall, I thought he was ok. You're probably right about match fitness especially after a nasty virus that would have sapped his stamina and energy. Interesting that Ralph picked him ahead of KWP. But I wouldn't be surprised to see JWP at RB again once Smallbone is back. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

They are both important. We had neither yesterday, and it showed. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Excellent post. Thank you. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

In the cold light of day, my thoughts on the game. Just my opinions: not sure if I can be bothered to answer the trolls but if I do it'll be elsewhere, except to answer the question of what I actually thought of recent games by suggesting the questioner tries reading my posts rather than just posting what he/she considers will be most critical and attract attention. A critical factor that doesn't seem to have been mentioned much is that we went into this game without Armstrong or Redmond, our best AM pairing. Together they give our attack variety and edge, running at opponents but also seeing and executing key passes. This is an element of Redmond's game that's seen him improve hugely. Redmond and Bertrand also work well together. Boufal and Djenepo are, in my opinion, better as impact players. They can make exciting runs, but don't have as much insight to unpick defences. So, starting with Boufal and Djenepo was something that wasn't ideal. Maybe the alternatives could have been JWP as AM with Romeu, but that would have been seen as very defensive, or even Adams in the 10 role. Smallbone's absence was also important. If he'd been available, JWP could have stayed at RB to counter Saint-Maximin or given us another option at AM. We made a dodgy start. Saint-Maximin was too much if a handful for Valery. But thanks to some great work by McCarthy and poor finishing by them, we rode the initial storm. But our attack was disjointed: two flair players doing their own thing but not linking well. We're badly missing Redmond (and Armstrong). Without them, Danny's goals have dried up. I've said elsewhere that I thought Djenepo was unlucky with the red. I won't repeat myself. But, down to ten men, our options became very limited. I actually think the red card and penalty worked in our favour in a way. The incidents fired up both the team and the crowd, who were great. And, in all honesty, Newcastle offered little in the second half. 60% possession but did little with it. Until Valery's awful misjudgement I was feeling reasonably confident we were going to hold on and even grab a famous win. Long had a decent shot saved and missed an opportunity to put Ings in. I'm feeling sorry for the whole team this morning, but especially for Djenepo and Valery. There was a great performance from McCarthy and good ones from plenty of others, especially Stephens, Boufal, Hojbjerg and Valery until his cock-up. Ings worked hard but was starved of chances. JWP didn't manage to impose himself on midfield. We could have done with him contributing more going forward but out of necessity most of his work was defensive. Long wasted our best chance and didn't have his best game but, down to ten men, the opportunities for pressing were few. I thought Bertrand looked off-colour and Bednarek lacked sharpness. I'm genuinely upset for Djenepo as I'm sure he'll be devastated at getting sent off. You could see there was absolutely no violent intent and it was accidental. After his sad loss, I hope he'll get all the support he needs. And I'm pretty angry at those writing Valery off as useless after one mistake. Until then he put in a good performance, including one of our few shots on target! I'm guessing that if we hadn't list Djenepo, he might have been subbed. He's had a very nasty virus which badly affected his stamina and fitness. Before yesterday he'd only had 60 mins with the U23s and fatigue may have been a factor in his error. He clearly thought he could chest the ball back before clearing, but was outmuscled and outpaced. But that didn't make him a bad player. So, another very disappointing blue line. On to Norwich which feels at least like a mustn't lose if not a must win. With Djenepo and Redmond out, just hope that Armstrong is back. Otherwise, we are going to be decidedly toothless. It's ironic that the position where we seemed to have cover - Redmond, Djenepo and Boufal for one spot - is now our problem. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

That's my perspective too, on both incidents. The handball was marginal. Yes, he moved towards the ball to control it with his shoulder, but was nudged and the contact was probably upper arm. But it was close enough to be doubtful in the ref's eyes. Not a clear and obvious error. My main argument with it is consistency. In almost all cases like this VAR hasn't seen enough to overrule, but I got the feeling yesterday that the VAR ref was on a mission. On the red card, nowhere near as clear cut as many are suggesting. In real time, Djenepo was marginally late in trying to block the ball. The defender slid in and just got the ball with his leg horizontal. Djenepo was committed and landed on the leg. In my opinion, definitely no intent and not violent conduct. In slow motion, looked very different and you could see from MOTD that the ref only looked at slow motion on his monitor. I thought that was contrary to the protocol. Slow motion gave the impression that Djenepo had time to choose where his foot landed. He didn't. So I can understand the red on the basis of what the was shown on the monitor, but feel that the yellow given on the basis of his own eyesight in real time was correct. Once again, VAR ref on a mission? And again, it irks me that I've seen several incidents over the season where a stamp on an ankle is a clear, second, deliberate movement, and cases of kicking out, that have been brushed aside. No consistency. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I take that to mean that those who don't build their existence around aggressive, insulting (and in effect, bullying) behaviour seeking to belittle others are somehow inferior and lacking. Seems to be the way of the world now. Dominate and impose your over-inflated and flawed ego at all costs. Never respect. Never consider others' views. But, as we all know, you have no intelligent contributions to make and you're only on here to get reactions. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

He was unlucky in that I've seen at least half a dozen tackles like that this season (including one today on Bertrand) that either haven't even been looked at by VAR or ignored if the VAR ref doesn't want to overrule the on-field ref. I think the relative standings of the two refs us a serious issue. Where the VAR ref is more experienced or wanting to make a name for himself, we see intervention. If it's the other way round, the VAR ref tends to be very cautious and usually defers. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yep. Go for the insults. At least you're admitting you only come in here to criticise, wind up, insult and revel in any Saints failings. Sad. This forum was once an intelligent discussion. Now it's badly polluted with individuals whose only interest is trolling. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

He was unlucky to be sent off and, with ten men, we were as good as their eleven. One mistake lost it. I'm pretty sure that with a full team, we would have won. Please stop your pathetic negative bleating. But then you enjoy it too much, don't you? Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes, I disagree, because you're wrong Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Well beaten? [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Please stop being ludicrous. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

The same as me. His assessment is very accurate. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Thank you. A bit of unbiased sanity. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

The fans were brilliant today in their support. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I'll post tomorrow when I'm not so angry (not with the team) and the infestation of gloating skates and negative non-thinking whingers has thinned out a bit. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Shock. Liverpool don't get a VAR decision. 0-1. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

If we did go three at the back, which we won't, it would be Vestergaard, not Danso. Pretty sure Djenepo will start and we need KWP at RB. The question is whether to put JWP in his normal position with Hojbjerg and Boufal or someone else (Adams?) with Djenepo, or bring in Romeu and push JWP forwards to replace Armstrong. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Ant & bloody Dec Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I've done it occasionally from Shropshire when the trains are in a mess. My house to Southampton Central is pretty well the same time as train. Can be cheaper. But a friend who lives near Manchester Airport flies all the time. Good option for him. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I was deliberately pessimistic about our results and generous to the other bottom teams. We finish 15th on 38. Still easily safe, but I think we'll do better than that. It's mainly down to Brighton and Bournemouth being desperate against us and getting results. West Ham, Villa and Norwich go down. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk