Forester

Agree with this. Clean sheet and in all honesty Alex had only one save to make all game

Firstly the game. As many others have mentioned we looked set up to fail given high line and Spurs’ strength which Mourinho ruthlessly exploited in half time talk. It seems that Ralph is trying to adapt, but without a proper pre-season to practice and you have to question why you would want to change much from what was top four form after lockdown. Yesterday was identical team to that successful period bar Redmond for Djenepro, who I actually thought had a good attacking game but did not work as hard defensively as Redmond usually does. The big positive is that we created much more than the first two games and on another day could have scored five goals. So other than finishing not too much to tweak there. The irony is that if there is one team in the league where a high line makes clear sense it is Burnley, as you don’t want to be defending long balls at edge of your box. So let’s hope with a full uninterrupted weak of training Ralph sorts it out. If you look at the Ralph era as a whole it’s either been feast or famine, but with an overall trend of improvement so he has deserved backing and time to sort things out in my view.

Sluggish first half performance but I thought we were OK second half. Had any of the Redmond, Adams or Ings chances gone a few inches beyond the keeper’s dive we would have been saying a good start. Fine margins sometimes. Thought Vest was our best player second half, also impressed with Adams work rate and hold up play. Overall disappointing but it’s one game and Ralph will get into them I am sure. Definitely need to strengthen midfield squad options before deadline day.

Spot on

This is an intelligent comment that passes many of our fans by. Like everyone I don’t like seeing good players leave, and certainly not all in one go as happened a few years back. However the model works if you appoint good coaches, and you sell the club to ambitious young players that three good years or so at Saints may see them make a massive pay lift move in future. Take our current negotiations to sign a centre back. What do fans expect us to be saying, other than “come to us, help us get to Europe, enjoy that and then move to top club in Europe”? A live example, Clyne left, big money and we then got four good years out of Cedric. He moves for more money, we (hopefully) get KWP who looks younger and better.

For so many reasons there ends a quite incredible season. Agree with others that JWP, Redmond, Adams and Romeu the stars today. Our form as has been highlighted since November shows that the actual quality of performance is top six standard and we have every opportunity to push for this next season as it is clear that no one looks forward to facing a Saints team these days. Priorities for the break for me: - Right back, hopefully KWP - Centre back (sounds like signing imminent) as one of four for the season to compete with the three we have used in recent months - One replacement for PEH assuming he leaves, and two if we are not prepared to have Reed in the squad who has by all accounts been excellent at Fulham. We have been lucky with holding midfielder injuries this season and I worry that we could be really short of depth in this department

Fantastic defensive performance second half, but also don’t overlook how many turnovers we achieved on the break first half. An excellently coached performance, the type of game when you can see how a game plan has been prepared brilliantly by Ralph. 9 points out of 12, 5 points off a likely European slot and two of the teams just above us yet to play suggests it is not ludicrous to imagine we could just sneak eighth as the players look very hungry.

Shaky start, especially Valery, but from 15 mins on we were much the better side and got better and better as game progressed. Thought Redmond tormented them second half, with strong performances from both centre backs, Bertrand, JWP, Armstrong and Ings. Very much looking up the table and there could be some cheap points to pick up in remaining games. We looked so physically fit which is credit to Ralph.

I agree with this, having similar tough conversations with my parents who are late 70s but fit and active. The sad fact is that 80% of people will get it. The one thing we can do is manage the pace of that contagion. At its peak the modelling shows there will be six people needing every one ventilator and high dependency bed. If we can elongate the period it will reduce that ratio down and mean more over 70s live. Simple as that. In an age of online shopping, there really is very little that simply has to be done for a handful of months. Frankly even non urgent hospital appointments will get cancelled so I am not too sure what one needs an MOT for....

McCarthy KWP, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand Hoj, JWP, Boufal, Armstrong, Ings, Adams

This is pretty fair and accurate

Great workmanlike effort second half one man down which was appreciated by the noisy and supportive crowd. Total cluster%uck gifted them a winner. However it must be said that we were extremely lucky to still be in the game at halftime and if we defend like that against Arsenal and City at home we will be out to the sword. Walker-Peters must start at Narch. Hopefully Armstrong back for Moussa.

Random question....how many times have we ever played on Feb 29th? Can’t be many

This is an old argument and we will all never agree on this (VVD injured, Mane and Pelle sold, 50 match season etc etc etc). But points total and league position is also a reflection on where else across the League points have gone. There is no doubt that finishing eight and a cup final (that we would have won with VAR) was a decent achievement (especially now looking back) and, significantly, was followed by two appalling seasons where we escaped relegation by one or two places and failed to get even 40 points. I would bite you arm off to finish in top eight without a cup final this season regardless of how few points it needs. It could well mean European football given City debacle if we do.

It may be that we need to find a way of getting an extra flair player in the side and go 4231. We will inevitably have more possession against those teams and so need to isolate their back line with more movement in front of them and between the lines. Today’s 4222 works a treat when you can hurry sides like Villa and punish their errors in building up from the back

Really pleased how well we started. We overwhelmed Villa in those early stages, and would like to see us do this more often when at home as our approach to away games is generally spot on. However it’s important people understand how different it is to play against Burnley, who don’t allow you to press and harass them because they are happy to hoof the ball sixty yards upfield. I don’t say that as criticism, as Dyche does a great job, but sides like Villa who attempt to play out from the back suit our style down to the ground. Thought that McCarthy, both centre backs, Bertrand and Djenepo all excellent, as was Adams when he came on. Very promising debut by Smallbone who has excellent distribution.

No. Two years ago then yes, albeit holding our nose. But not at 32 and doubtless expecting top dollar wages. This is a signing made for Wet Spam.....

Gunn Valley, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand JWP, PEH Boufal, Redmond Obafemi, Adams Think the front two will not be popular with many, but it worked at at Chelsea and I think Ralph will go for fresh legs to get after Sours. Ings, Long and Moussa to come off the bench at some point with extra time and pens a possibility

Appreciate this may have been tongue in cheek, but nothing about yesterday makes me less confident of a top half finish. We were the better team first half in my opinion (from what I could see from an awful view at the back of the stand, note to others to next get a seat at the back there again!) and so while disappointing result in the end not an unpredictable one. However bigger picture is we are five points off fifth place, and unlike most other sides no longer need to play Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, Spurs or Wolves who are going to win more than they lose. So if anything I think it’s genuinely on the table to push for top seven and who knows Europa League slot if the cups get won by the right people. Our next few fixtures should yield plenty of points if we play the way we have been. That is a big if of course, but let’s go for it.

Sorry must have had a brain freeze, omitting Redmond! This but Redmond for Obafemi.

I think Ralph May switch to three at the back for this one. Would always have been an option at Liverpool, but the right back situation may make that an easier decision and play JWP at right wing back. So I think it could be: Alex Stephens, Yoshida, Bednarek JWP, Romeu, PEH, Bertrand Boufal Ings, Obafemi

Think the key question here is, assuming we would have an option to buy in the summer, who is the better bet to replace Cedric from next season? Valery or KWP? I haven’t given up hope that our recent progress may persuade Cedric to sign an extension by the way. But the last we heard he is off and so for me it’s less about this season and more about next.

Good cup tie, still fancy our chances at their place. Shout out for Gunn, both centre backs, Redmond (outstanding today again) and in my opinion Obafemi’s best performance so far. He has obviously been watching how much movement off the ball Long and Ings achieve and this is making him a far better player. I think we are entitled to 15% of the tickets so if we really wanted to we could take 9000 up there!

Or even Koeman!

I think the league table is, if anything, under stating how strong our position is. We have played five teams for the second time, and at the time of playing them all five were in the top half of the table. And we have won four of the five. So, by definition, we have the entire bottom half of the table yet to play and only four teams in the top half. Many of our opponents will have a much tougher run in than us. And so it is by no means stupid to think about finishing in that top seven and, dependent on cup winners, a European spot. We also have only one of our squad injured (possibly two after last night) which again contrasts greatly with many others. We already have more points at this stage than the season under Konkani when we finished sixth. So dare to dream....