Shroppie

According to Ralph in the press conference, yes. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

It makes you realise how important JWP has become this season if you think we could really do with three of him tomorrow: RB, DM and replacement for Armstrong. I think KWP must start (or just possibly Valery, but doubt it). Then it's a toss-up between starting Boufal and Djenepo which could equally well be exciting or a disjointed flop, or put JWP alongside Djenepo with Romeu at DM. Shame Smallbone is out, or I'd have gone for the second option with Smallbone instead of Romeu. But I still wonder if Ralph try something different, such as Adams as #10. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

As always, this thread has started early with a mixture of wild ambition, optimism, pessimism and desperate angst about the state of the team/club/finances/manager. I think we face an extremely difficult summer, with several problems. Firstly, we still have the likes of Hoedt, Forster, Elyounoussi, Lemina and Carillo on the books earning silly money with years left on their contracts and no great appeal to buyers. I'll be surprised if we move more than one or two of those out (even on frees), at best, and possibly none. Forster to Celtic is perhaps possible, except that gone are the days when players would take pay cuts to get game time and Celtic won't pay him what he's on with Saints. Even if he went on a free, the savings on transfer fee to a buying club would only pay him for a couple of years. He can earn more doing nothing at Saints. Much the same applies to the others in this category. Even if anyone wants them, they won't pay either a transfer fee or enough in wages. So the best we can hope for is more loans with a small percentage of wages saved. I can't see any of those accepting a pay cut to be in a position where they're playing. So that's a pretty big millstone still round the club's neck. Then we have our successes this season. I'm hoping for us to stay up, but without a strong finish drawing the attention of "top" clubs. I would put Stephens, McCarthy, JWP, Redmond and Ings in a list of players other clubs might want. And make offers for that I wouldn't trust our owners to turn down. And if any of those do go, it'll be very difficult to get replacements of equal or higher standard. That is because of the third problem, which is lack of money, both because we're paying out so much on dead contracts and our owners doesn't seems to have a potbto p!as in when it comes to actually putting funds in. Hojbjerg, Long and Cedric are out of contract. Looks like Long will stay on, Cedric's definitely off and who knows with Hojbjerg? If he does go, although I know some on here don't rate him, we won't be buying a big money upgrade and maybe none, hoping Romeu and Smallbone can do a job. I think this summer will also see the likes of Sims, Hesketh, McQueen and several more written off with us taking anything we can get. I hate to be pessimistic, and hope I'm wrong, but I'll be very surprised if we start next season with a stronger squad than we now have. I'm sure that won't stop page after page of incredible speculation devoid of realism[emoji2957][emoji849] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

No wonder Armstrong wasn't great against WHU if he played 88 mins with concussion.. That must mean JWP back in midfield with JWP/Valery at RB. Problem with Armstrong out. For me he's the intelligent and imaginative part of our attack. Guess that may mean Boufal and Djenepo but I'd be interested to see Adams tried in a slightly more withdrawn role. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

[emoji106] Unless he sticks with JWP at RB (hope not), team should pick itself. Please no messing around with Vestergaard. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Bad news for several northern-based Saints fans I know who fly down for games. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

And the ref in the City game was very keen to help them. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Agreed. Interesting that if we'd beaten Spurs (and Norwich) we'd have had home draws in every round. Chance missed. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Think Man City are lucky there's no VAR. Aguero very close to offside. BBC keep showing the still frame showing him offside and saying "just onside". [emoji2957] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Fairly unique. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

And the Bin Dippers heading for another loss. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yep. Broken their goal drought and now three up. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Looks like Newcastle got a strong team out tonight. Extra time, penalities, a red card or two and the odd injury (not too serious, just a week out) would all be good. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

But another factor is that the game was originally scheduled for TV, so will still be shown whenever rearranged. That makes a Euro night very unlikely. UEFA might tolerate a game on a European night, but not a televised one. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Thanks Glen. Always brightens up a dreary day. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Very comfortable for the Gunners. Skates had a couple of half chances in the first half but spent the whole if the second 45 chasing shadows. On the few occasions they actually touched the ball, their appalling lack of quality shone through. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Yes. And YES[emoji3][emoji3] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Tackles flying in from the fishy ones, apparently with impunity. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Can't believe some of the tackles that aren't getting punished. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

1-2 now. [emoji3525] Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Very dubious VAR decision at Goodison. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Think Ings should be back but rather doubt Djenepo will make it. Boufal has one more chance to step up. If that's not working, we need some sort of Plan B - maybe Long or Adams alongside Armstrong until Djenepo or Redmond is back. I agree that this is the game to get JWP back into midfield. Probably KWP to start. We need something from this, or alarm bells will start again. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

I'd say that's an exaggeration. Yes, JWP would have strengthened midfield but he did better defensive work than others and my guess is Valery or KWP could have been overrun. Romeu for Smallbone might have worked better, accepted. But Smallbone is the future and is more creative. We've gone from Boufal, Redmond and Djenepo competing for one place to no choice and that's damaging us. If Djenepo isn't back next week we may need a different approach. I think against Newcastle I'd agree with getting JWP back into midfield and playing KWP. On today's performance, maybe even Smallbone fir Boufal. But I don't think Vestergaard was desperation. Just trying something different instead of just throwing on another striker. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Not picking on you, Simo, but this is a typical post from someone happy to jump on the critical bandwagon without looking at facts. Why didn't Ings start? Clearly explained by Ralph that he had a knock from training and wasn't fully match fit. He was on the bench for emergencies but Ralph hoped to rest him. We have two right backs, neither of whom is match fit. Both, IMO, would have had a torrid time yesterday. JWP is probably our best midfielder but at the moment he's also our best RB. He can't play in both positions so the question is where do we have stronger cover? I agree with Ralph's assessment that Smallbone is better cover in midfield (he did have a pretty good game) than Valery or KWP would be at RB. McCarthy didn't punch the ball because he knew he should have made the catch. He was bullied off the catch and made a mistake. All players make mistakes: keepers' tend to have more immediate consequences. He hasn't made many recently and one mistake doesn't make him a bad keeper. Too many of the usual suspects on here only too keen to jump on a chance to criticise and undermine. As for the Vestergaard sub, it was clearly an attempt to change the shape to let JWP and Bertrand to get forward. There was space on the wings. You can argue that Adams should have come on but I didn't see it as a bad move. Would one more striker doing the same have made a difference? But overall, obviously a bad day at the office and the recurring theme of being bullied by a strong physical team is something we have to learn to deal with. Not looking forward to Watford! The twin problems yesterday weren't difficult to see. Firstly, with Ings, Djenepo and Redmond not starting, that's a big dent in our creativity. Add to that Armstrong getting battered early on didn't help: he didn't look sharp after that And secondly, if you let in three goals, you're not going to win many games. Our defence just didn't cope with their strong front four. Bowen was fired up for his debut and looks like he could be their saviour. Blue line. Move on. Would love three points next week: the sooner we get the last few we need, the better. But won't be easy. Hopeful Ralph will give them a rocket and we'll have intensity (and at least Ings) back for Newcastle. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

COYR!! Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk