jabei

Ha...it's hilarious and shows all supporters are the same I guess. "Worst performance in 50 years" was one comment. I remember watching City in the early 2000's before the money came in. They were routinely beaten by loads of clubs...including us.

Under Ronald, not one of these would make the team.

Interesting to see our exceptionally strong and influential captain is escaping all criticism again.

Although Theo is now everyone’s favourite scapegoat, he has created more in 10 minutes or so than JWP with his crosses and corners in the whole game

Totally agree. I don't consider JWP a very good player, even at his best, but I don't consider him a whipping boy. He just needs to be dropped for a while. At his best, he's a decent back-up...just like Koeman used him. I don't question his effort, he's just not very good.It's not his fault that the club, inexplicably, made him the highest paid player or that supporters went a bit nuts because he scored a few goals last season....or, that Ralph seems to have his name first on every team sheet. There are others who did become whipping boys for no apparent reason...McCarthy & Redmond for sure couldn't do anything right in the fan's eyes. I would love to have Redmond back even if his creativity only shone through a couple of times a game, it was more than we have now.

Exactly that. My memory is that Ings got very little service from the midfield. He seemed to be able to conjure a goal from nothing.

That's not the question...the question is why do we persist with JWP.....full stop. Diallo or Lavia and Maitland-Niles all the way. JWP only fit for the bench.

Not often we get the chance to applaud the ref. He deserves credit, he got most things right...Theo's dive included. Thought he possibly could've gone red for Lyanco at the end. It was definitely a headbutt. If it had made contact with any part of the Arsenal player, it would definitely have been red. After all the praise I'm afraid I don't have a clue who the ref was.

Exactly...Memories on this forum appear to last a couple of games. I don't get why everyone thinks West Ham was in any way an easily winnable game. They are a good outfit. I'm very happy with a draw. Blackmore is spot on.

Rose tinted glasses here. Romeu and JWP was not a formidable partnership in any way. JWP just had is first (and only?) semi-decent season. By that I mean he scored and assisted a few goals. His general play is, and always has been, weak as hell.

Why? He wasn't very good last season.

Totally different. We would likely have 6 more points and Ralph would be touted to take over from Klopp soon as general performance levels come a long way below results when assessing a manager. Small margins between success and failure.

BK, MN, CC and Aribo look massive to me. Every single JWP corner yesterday, as every other game, went straight to a defender. When Redmond took a few last season, they looked infinitely more dangerous.

I’m one who doesn’t accept it. I can’t disagree with statistics obviously but I see what I see with my eyes. he had a decent season last season but in nobody’s world is he one of the best in the division. When he plays his best (which is very rarely) he’s an average player. I’ve been watching long enough (maybe too long) to be a bit non plussed as to who we suddenly seem elevate to club greatness. Yesterday we had some decent pressure after their second goal but there seemed little response from the crowd when we forced a corner because we just knew nothing would come of it with JWP taking. He can take direct free kicks and occasionally he can put in a good cross from open play. I think it was his cross for the CC chance right at the end of the game. But, for the love of God, take him off corners.

Or alternatively drop him. Doesn't seem to be in anyone's thinking as apparently "he's our best player". Made me laugh when the commentator said "Villa can't afford to be giving Ward Prowse corners and free kicks". Surely clubs have worked out that a nicely hit cross that lands straight on a defender's head isn't the worst thing in the world.

Not by anyone except Saints fans, commentators & Gareth Southgate. If he was half as good as those lot make out, he wouldn't be here.

How bad does Elyonoussi have to be to start getting the abuse Redmond got?

Much like Redmond when he plays and then gets destroyed by fans. We'll miss his assists when he's gone. In no world is Ely a better choice than Redders.

Main issue was Bazunu was tested in the first half. Their keeper wasn't. Stats say we had more shots but none of them anywhere near the goal.

No problem...We were absolutely abysmal for 70 mins of the game. Maybe it's a turning point. If so, great. It doesn't take much for fans and media to turn 180 degrees. If we win the next 2 games it will be all about Ralph taking over from Ten Haag.

Maybe he's smart enough to know it was a lucky escape that may or may not have been forced on him by his staff. I stopped watching after the second Leeds goal because I thought we were absolutely abysmal. For the first time I was saying Ralph out. There seemed no way on Earth we could get anything out of the game. I don't take it as a huge positive that we did unless he learns from it. If he reverts to his 4-2-2-2 preference and we start watching some decent football again, I'll be happy. If he carries on with the 5 at the back next week he doesn't deserve to keep the job.

I thought they didn't get out of second gear....however, I thought we were actually playing okay for a while before the OG. Ralph is right that killed the game. At that point what you need is a strong leader on the pitch...Someone to make sure heads don't drop and the team continue fighting. We don't have that. Usually it's the captain. I know it's not the done thing to even think about criticising JWP's application or talent so I won't, but I certainly don't think he's an effective captain.

Surprised absolutely nothing being said about the two Spurs horror tackles. I know it wouldn't make any difference to the result but both were pretty bad....especially the one that didn't even get a booking.

Who is after JWP? I've not heard anything

Ricardo Fuller didn't get much love at St.Marys. He's the only one that really stands out as getting a real hard time from his own fans in my time watching.