austsaint

Mane wasn't poor, far from it and Long wasn't magnificent! Second half performance was so much better with the introduction of Wanyama crucial. Thought Bertrand, Steve Davis, Morgan were great for most of the game - Vic very influential after the break; Long was busy and involved and much praise for Kelvin to come on and hold up the dangerous first half Burnley spell - whether he's up to the role until season's end is very debatable.

Think we need him - the back four looking exposed. Should probably be 2-2; well done Kelvin.

Looks like Artur will be returning to St Marys next season - for one game!

There really is a strong case for giving Roy the gold watch and wishing him well. If it's him who thinks JWP is good enough to play for England then maybe hold the watch and just wish him farewell.

Just the same I am worried a big Club is going to come in for Sadio. He really has a special factor about his game, and he's 22! We have to keep hold of him.

There is definitely a worry that a "big" club will recognise the talent of Sadio and lure him away. I would say he has doubled his value already. He really is a striker/attacking mid-fielder and winger rolled into one. Quite apart from his attacking runs on Sunday, some of his one touch passing and distribution was superb.

Would be a good destination for Morgan. What a game he had on Sunday - the way he covered the LB space for Bertrand if RB had tracked into attack was superb, keeping the dangerous Willian under control. Will remain a Saints legend long after his departure.

You have to admire the people who defend young Prowsey, week in, week out, pointing to his youth, technical ability, potential, dead ball delivery and the promise of so much to come in the future with a Captain's armband for England the glittering prize. Then you remind yourself of what you've mostly seen of him on the pitch in the last two or three seasons and the conclusion is something quite different. The lad's limitations leap out at you; lack of pace, slowness of decision making, no left foot to speak of; safety first passing, inability to advance with the ball or beat an opponent, defensively poor. It will be interesting to see how much longer RK and co. persist with the JWP project. If I was Harry Reed (yes I know they play a different style of game) I'd be tearing my short red hair out - the difference in opportunity these two have been given is bemusing - I can see the coaching staff's assessment of the side's best 18 players changing eventually to include players like Reed or even Hesketh at the expense of JWP. Hugely disappointing for a likeable young lad who continues to fall short of the required standards many have predicted for him.

I would be interested to read which part of Mane's game today you found infuriating. Thought he was top draw.

If only Tadic had taken the shot after clearing space for himself. Someone like Reed would have been the right sub (had he been in the squad) rather than JWP and Djuricic, who both looked shaky. Great games Morgan, FF and Mane - special mentions for Toby, Vic and Clyney.

Morgan's been good but surely Sadio has stood out above all.

Doesn't Mane look even more effective when not stuck out on the right. Davo not quite up to speed on the right, perhaps Djuricic to replace him.

I do remember many on here saying Jos H. was a better CB !! Yoshida has been mostly a very decent performer from day 1 and has definitely lifted a notch this season.

You're probably right, and who could begrudge him a move to a Champs League Club. He has served this Club well and is surely the only survivor of those L1 days. I just hold a fraction of hope he stays, but it's really his time to move on.

Wonder if the lads are able to have a few pale ales while listening to Longy doing Bob Marley?

Sorry to "out" him, but Simo might have been among the first to launch a thread slating Sadio - he got plenty of followers though!!!!

I would argue that Barkley, Wilshire, Ramsey etc are light years ahead of Ward-Prowse and were so when they were aged 20. Harry Reed after 3-4 games shows greater all round skill and quality than JWP after 70 appearances. I can see this lad still being hyped up after a hundred appearances and still demonstrating the same limitations.

Add Mane to your "should start every game from now on" list - agree on the others. Elia could add a lot of value off the bench from now on, and Djuricic looks a creative force who should sharpen up and improve.

Part of the problem is that in his 15 minutes on the pitch he also gave the ball away three times, two of which could easily have resulted in CP goals. He was also stood up twice by Punch resulting in dangerous crosses late in the game. Credit though to him for combining with Mane for such a crucial goal.

One positive thing to come out of the WBA game through my eyes was the decent dead ball delivery from corners and free kicks, courtesy of Morgan mainly with help from Tadic/Davis. I would be disappointed if JWP was recalled because the rest of his game just isn't up to scratch.

Three other observations - the referee in the second half was actually good, let the game flow, consistent with rulings. Yoshida once again a solid performer and the quality of our corners and free kicks yesterday showed that JWP should not be seen or selected as the only option for dead ball delivery.

Agree; WBA played like like the away team after the "worldy" volley from Berahino. The time wasting was incredible and their style of play to congest their area a predictable tactic very much like Stoke days under Pulis. Originally, I thought taking Vic off at half time for Davo was a mistake yet the little threat to our goal in the second half meant we didn't need him. Bertrand, Yoshida and Morgan had good games; the late miss from Pelle really sums up his malaise while Mane played out wide saw him out of the action and isolated from Pelle where he seems most dangerous.

Davis for Vic??????

Time wasting and spoiling from West Stoke Albion - what's all the booing about?

I'll give you that - uncontested.