austsaint

I can't go past the 3-2 win v Liverpool when Mane and Wanyama came on at half time and inspired the Koeman managed comeback. There was also a 3-1 win over City under Poch's watch where Luke Shaw really announced himself, and the whole side looked ready to take on any Prem opponent.

Yes, probably right. Leicester have been in decline for a season or two and Leeds, after such a long hiatus in the Championship look likely to return there surprisingly quickly. "Big name" Clubs though, capable of a big push by the time August comes around. As you say, the summer rebuild is crucial for all three relegated Clubs.

Definitely don't want them in the Championship with us. Bad enough that the calibre of Leicester and Leeds are the more likely to join us - makes the top two automatic places very difficult to achieve.

I'd be trying to keep Sulemana too.

Agree. I think they will both go on to be top drawer CBs. Salisu was mucked around by being asked to fill in at LB so much and ABK obviously held back by injury. Both capable of playing well in top level Clubs. ABK surely to the Bundesliga and Salisu to La Liga.

I think you're on the money. The only change to your scenario I see is City buying him back ad playing him in the 23/24 season. He's that good! Staying with us is a fantasy which won't happen.

Lavia's been the one bright spot during this wretched season. Even as the side has fallen away under Jones and Selles - he has given his all; played with great skill and work rate, and also been prepared to acknowledge the fans when others have scurried away to the sheds. Deserves a good move and how lucky is the Club that gets him next......Pochettino's Chelsea? And FFS....he's 19!!!

He is such a poor player. A damning reflection on Selles team selection.

Sick for the last few days apparently.

Yet he is much more effective than Elyounoussi wouldn't you say? Incredibly low bar admittedly.

I don't think fans want him to leave - but we're going to be in the Championship next season. Can you see JWP wanting to stay around for that at 28 or 29 years of age? The fee we get for him is the interesting part.

Yet there are people claiming Elyounoussi played well?? While it was true (as many have pointed out) that KWP and Perraud had their hands full containing Martinelli and Saka, neither of them got much help from Elyounoussi or Armstrong. I'll never understand the Selles faith in Elyounoussi; it's like a feeble concession to our prospects of commanding a game. One of many decisions by Selles that must disqualify him from continuing as Manager. Good luck with the pizza dough.

Pochettino would be a perfect manager/coach for Lavia. What makes his season with us so good is he's done it in a struggling side with a clapped out Ralph, a fraudulent Jones and not ready/may never be ready Selles. It's going to be a joy following his career - even if the next part of it is with Chelsea.

Glorious goal - sublimely weighted pass from Alcaraz and the neat Walcott finish. Downside was that the prospect of keeping Alcaraz next season probably diminished.

Not really a double edged sword. I think it's more he has a world class free kick technique but in open play he's a hard working, average midfielder. It will be interesting to see what sort of fee the Club gets for him in the Summer.

That Lavia substitution. That Elyounoussi non-substitution. Pack your bags Selles!

Get Sulemana on and the statue Elyounoussi off.

I like Sulemana - he's going to be a good player. You have identified the problem though - in our current set up, he's the lone ranger running at the defence and showing a bit of creativity, with a bit of help from KWP.

You're right, there's little or no fight, intent or penetration - yet, it's not a recent thing is it?. The wimpy, crab football has been a feature of Saints play for ages. If you watched a replay of every games since January last year, it's what you'd see, give or take the occasional performance. The main architect of the crab football is JWP; Bednarek an able deputy. Take out Lavia and KWP from that side today and there is very little class, creativity, speed or flair - perhaps the raw pace and dribbling of Sulemana. Today also highlighted the folly of the non-replacement of Ings - bad enough to have tried to make do with an Adams up front on his own; an out-of-his-depth A. Armstrong; a tyro like Mara or a lumbering Onuacho for so long but to start today without any form of striker seemed to sum up the decline and fall of the Club.

I wish you were the Manager. Something like that line up is what we needed v West Ham. All confidence in Selles is gone - but he must now show a bit of adventure and bravery with his team selection.

That's my main reflection on the game. Why did Selles start with Elyounoussi (again). It set the tone for a cautious, mostly inept display with little threat to the West Ham goal in a game we had to win. It left us with only Walker-Peters and Lavia to show/initiate any form of creativity, progressive run or passing. Why didn't he start with the likes of Sulemana and Alcaraz to try and take the game to WH? It looked like we were aiming for a 0-0. Not good enough Mr Selles - you lacked the courage and insight to start a team capable of taking it to their opponent in such a crucial game.

A-maized if we win against the grain.

I see young Lavia came on (for Belgium) at the 80 minute mark v Germany. He really is on his way, isn't he. In more ways than one!

So you think we'll keep ABK, Alcaraz and Sulemana if relegated ? Hope you're right, but I'd be surprised.

I take your point about continuity, system and tactics. However, I think Selles has erred by re-instating Bednarek, even if he hasn't done badly. Over a long period of time, he (Bednarek) has been part of the problem we've had at CB. There was a good reason he was loaned to Villa, and a reason he hardly featured. On the other hand Salisu has (after a slow start) shown himself to be genuine Prem level - it hasn't helped this season that he has often been asked to play LB and suffered an injury or two, but, over a period of time, he's shown strength, speed, aerial skill and defensive qualities. Salisu and ABK have worked as a pairing and in my mind if they had both been fit and available, would have been the best pairing with two specialist full backs, especially from the point of the Jones "tenure" where the spectre of relegation threat became so alarming. DCC is an odd case - prior to the sending off (was it the Newcastle Cup first leg?) he had showed himself to be a calm, composed, tight marking player, good in the air and with an eye for a pass. His red card looked to be a case of "taking one for the team" - yet, subsequently, he's been out of favour, notwithstanding the reported dust up with Jones - the narrative seems to have marked him down as one of our three best CBs which is how I've rated him, behind ABK and Salisu. A good indicator of the worth of our four CBs (excluding Lyanco) is what they are likely to fetch in a transfer window - I'm fairly confident ABK and Salisu would/will command a lot of interest and attract healthy fees (despite MS' contract situation), DCC more than likely the third most valuable asset to the market and then Bednarek. So, despite Selles having done well since taking over, I believe he has made a mistake in sticking with Bednarek, just as he has made a mistake in maintaining Elyounoussi as a regular starter. For all that, if Selles can mastermind the slim chance of survival he'll be a Club hero and his selections, systems, tactics and pairings will be acclaimed as brave and correct. Let's hope it happens!