Charlie Wayman

I agree with you, it is not rocket science that physical tiredness leads directly to lapses in concentration. The fast pass and move technique that Puel employs requires 100% concentration all the time. The mind controls the body not the other way around. In extreme cases ball watching happens whilst players compute how to respond, it all happens in nano-seconds but becomes obvious to watchers with mis-placed passes, not being in exactly the right position to receive the ball, not timing jumps or tackles correctly lack of awareness of who's around you and so on. The only remedy is rest and the lads don't get much of that with the long list of injuries that we seem to have had this season - which likely has come from players being over-stretched physically.

Is he playing tonight then, haven't seen the teams?

The whole style of play looked very Saints-esque to me and just think if Targett had been fit... are we the only club in England with a decent Academy or is it that we are the only club focused on English talent? Just a question probably rhetorical but when ever will JWP actually be able to tackle a player staying on his feet and simply taking the ball off him without committing a clumsy foul? What is wrong with the lad, surely it cannot be that difficult when even Sam McQueen can do that after 3 games. How many games is it now James 170-odd?

What utter rubbish! You are talking about players who have either suffered long-term injuries and making their way back to full fitness or are being asked to play sometimes three games per week. How can you possibly link any perceived changes in their form with Puel?

I'll miss you too but don't get too cut up about it, I'll phone them in the morning and make sure they carry on regardless. :-)

It would make me gut-wretchingley sad to see such a talented player - and one of our own indeed - play for such an amateurish outfit as Palace. If he goes out on loan at all for heaven's sake (AND I AM LOOKING AT YOU LES REED) bring him back to St Mary's.

Nope, it doesn't appeal. Be in the gym instead.

Maybe he isn't good enough, he's not played at this level before and not every import makes the grade in the PL as we have seen in the past? Maybe he is not strong enough physically and they are building up his strength, stamina and speed before giving him too much exposure?

How the hell did we throw that away. Charlie Austin should be shot for all the chances he had and couldn't convert. Only one team in it and they lost? This must be some horrible sort of nightmare.

He might have improved a bit since then ;-) Don't rule out three at the back in a 3-4-3

You really do have a downer on this lad don't you? Every one of our players has a stinker every third game or so and if you like to be realistic about our other midfielders. Prowse can't tackle to save his life and Holberg hits about 4 out of every 10 passes wildly. Clasie can tackle, and can hit accurate passes. He lacks stamina and maybe his effectiveness becomes less as the game moves on but there are plenty in that category including Tadic, Redmond and Austin that you seem to ignore, which is a main reason we find it so difficult to score from open play. May I respectfully suggest you stop demonising Clasie and study what he actually does during a match and then maybe you will understand why Puel and quite a few others on this forum do not agree with you and find your eternal carping about him irksome and mindless.

This is what happens when they ban alcohol, lots of noise from the fans and no queues in the Bog and great to have dry feet for once, what's not to like. The footie? Oh, we won that as well. Captain Marvel at it again, move over Fonte! Good to hear a bit of vocal supporting Yoshi, what a star that man is never complaining just doing what he is asked to do and doing it very well indeed. Loads of clubs would love to have him that's for sure. Can Bertie play right back and pair him with Super Sam on Sunday?

Be nice to have a decent stir fry before a match instead of crappy hot dogs. Surely all we cynics cannot have been right in the summer?

Neither Clasie or Hojberg are world class midfielders which is why they are playing for Saints and not Real Madrid. They both have good games and bad games as you would expect but a section of our so-called fans never have a good word to say about the Dutch lad whereas to them Hojberg can do no wrong. Very strange that Puel seems not to agree with them isn't it. In football people see only what they want to see.

Yep, noticed that as mentioned earlier. Also not all seemed well down there on the front bench. Dave Watson seemed to be ignored by Puel & Black, Dave is usually very active in the technical area but didn't show much at all yesterday whilst SG seemed to be calling the shots on subs as well. It was much the same the other night against the Wearsiders. Hope that's not trouble brewing.

Our lack of quality in depth is beginning to show but so to is the toll of three games every week which has defeated far better teams than us over the years. This has been the main reason for calls for a 16 club Premier League over the years so that our top clubs can compete competitions without being also-rans. Injuries are inevitable but it is difficult for any club let alone Saints to buy top quality players just to sit on the bench to cover injuries and the like. The challenge of course is not to spot our deficiencies - any old fool can do that - but to put them right and that is not easy at all. Puel only has the cards dealt him in his hands and can't work miracles with them. Maybe we'll see some Puel inspired moves in and out in January so that he has a few more players of his own choosing and style at his disposal.

Chelsea came with a game plan and executed it perfectly, get the early goal and then play nine behind the ball, absorb Saints attacks and hit us on the break for the second. We were second best today and never looked like breaking them down. Hands up, we were well beaten. I thought we looked jaded today as well, even during the warm up there was no zip and sharpness that usually tells you that we're up for it. We seemed not to be today. Puel was not really being honest with himself in the video interview, guess he hates losing but needs to be realistic, Chelsea have much better players than us with far more control and authority in possession. A wake up call to the whole Club really, we are good but not THAT good.

Is it too much to hope that we can get Morgan back in on loan in January from ManUre where he is ageing rapidly and going nowhere career-wise, what with our new French connection. I'm sure Puel will know him, maybe even discovered him and how about Eden Hazard as a long shot transfer target Monsieur since he was one of your lads.

Wanyama was never asked to play for Chelsea. Romeu looks to be rather special if he stays fit we have pulled off a massive coup... and... and he gives every impression of liking it at our Club, seems to be becoming the life and should of our party. Get him on a ten year contract Les! What a change from The Incredible Sulk.

Real dilemma for Puel, if he starts Bertrand he will have to allow for the possibility of him breaking down and McQueen coming on as sub yet ideally as he is allowed only three subs, he'll not want to waste one sub on a full back. Normally he would want to sub 2 strikers and a mid-fielder or two midfielders and a striker depending upon how the match is going. Don't be surprised if he feels it's a gamble not worth taking. Almost certainly he'll want to use Boufal and Hojberg (you know who I mean) at some stage in the second half and Rodrigues's pace up front. There's the dilemma, which option will he have to ditch if a plan A with Ryan fails. This one gives me a good feeling and sense we might even win at a canter... 3-1 for me.

Totally agree, very odd team selection for a man who claimed that the EFL Cup was important to him? What a squalid, bad tempered affair this turned out to be and it even Puel was moaning all night. Yoshi outstanding and a mature performance from Sam McQueen who looked every inch a regular PL footballer, his calmness and authority were unbelievable from a guy who has made only two starts - it seems we have ourselves a star in the making and on this showing will push Targets into third choice. Felt sorry for Stephens to be asked to play his first team debut in an unfamiliar position. He looked unsettled all night. Isgrove blew what may prove to have been his last chance. Pretty sure Rodrigues had concussion from his earlier head clash from reactions of medics on the touchline in front of me.

Strange thought to be having first thing in the morning, one can only wonder how empty your life is ;-) Who bothers to sing or chant anything except OWTS and "The referee's a tanker!" anyway.

Not sure that is entirely true as the top 8 right now are the usual top 8 suspects. Class shows even early on. Inconsistency plagued us under Koeman, good streaks followed by bad streaks but he usually managed to turn things around and it ended well. Everton will be there or thereabouts all season and a thorn in our sides.

Will be sad if fans don't bother to turn up this evening, Jose has sent out a rallying call so don't let our lads down people. 20k+ essential to show we care especially as 7K went to Milan the other night. No excuses acceptable!

Not sure the youngsters will have learned much from that one-sided encounter. Too many of our regular lads out on loan so club needs to sort out it's priorities, is this competition important to us or is it just a stepping stone for the better lads to gain match experience? Not much quality on show tonight in red & white, sadly.