austsaint

Indeed. You could overlook many early concerns about Nathan Jones - lack of Management pedigree; nothing in his background to inspire, motivate or improve players at this level; an average looking collection of assistants he's brought along with him, but in two games he's played three centre backs against a League 1 side and yesterday played the serial disappointment Elyounoussi as a floating striker/AM; Lyanco in preference to an emerging young CB talent; resurrected Diallo into a midfield role which he has repeatedly failed at - especially along side an underperforming Ward-Prowse - and played Che Adams on his own up front. Much as I thought Ralph had to go, what the hell were they thinking in appointing this out-of-his-depth tyro?

You're wrong about Romeu. He'd improve a threadbare midfield (without Lavia) immediately. JWP has always needed good players around him to look like a Prem midfielder and his general play is exposed as mediocre without a Romeu, a Schneiderlin, Tadic, Mane etc etc. Romeu was crucial to our well being.

I'd rather sell Ward-Prowse to ever wants him - Lavia is the DMC with pace and power and if JWP is an attractive transfer target as some on here believe, we can fork out for the quality striker and attacking midfielder/winger you talk about. Definitely not Wood though - better quality than him needed!

which one?

Feels like the era of the telegram.

Cruel, but increasingly it seems that way for AA. Even a win on pens tonight would create a lift for everyone!

Which Armstrong?

I wish I could be that forgiving of Ralph. On that basis, Walcott must have shown something extraordinary at training to warrant the start v Newcastle. Elyounoussi must be a star at training, yet how many times do you have to watch his mostly poor match day output before you pull the pin, and at least try the positive signs and potential of someone like Edozie?

You make a good point. I suppose I'm seeing the obvious attacking skills and talent in Edozie from his cameo appearances thus far, compared to game after game of limited, stale play from the likes of Elyounoussi. On that basis, and given our lack of goals and attacking threat, I would have hoped Edozie would have featured more - he just looks like a special talent to me; much more than a few stepovers and nutmegs.

It was one of the many puzzling Ralph decisions - not playing Edozie more.

A convincing and troubling background post Sidney - and, in my eyes you have more credibility than those who are writing Jones up as a hidden gem appointment. FFS, send a copy of this to SR and Semmens, just in case it was him who has unearthed this underwhelming candidate.

We weren't as bad as the scoreline suggested, and for much of the game Saints matched the Geordies for effort and intensity, but not skills and clinical finishing. Elyounoussi's miss was inexplicable, as was Ralph's decision to leave him on for the full 94 minutes. Adams had time to take a touch, but chose a difficult first time volley. While we're on the subject of Ralph, his decision to start Walcott and leave him on for over an hour should be enough to ensure his dismissal - young Edozie did more in his first five minutes than Walcott showed in 63. There were some good performances - Perraud was great all game, Maitland-Niles is getting up to speed quickly and showed he is good cover at RB. Stuart Armstrong played well and looked our most dangerous attacking player while Salisu had good moments and his passing was much improved, including his assist for Perraud's goal. Ralph should be gone before the WC break....surely.

Hope you watch the game again. Caleta-Car was anything but a liability for the second week running - it's going to be interesting when ABK is available again, because we have 4 CBs who all have something about them compared to last year when we had just one, (plus Lyanco, who wasn't in the frame but probably should have been).

You've said it all - heads can be raised high after that effort starting at the 61st minute with Peraud's pass, Airibo's dummy, Elyounoussi's exquisite pass and Stu's cool finish. The whole side lifted thereafter with belief, fight and run. Lyanco, Caleta-Car and Salisu were great all day, particularly Lyanco. Perraud showed again he's a worth his place at LB - Bazunu is a rapidly improving goal keeper and Edozie showed in his cameo that he must be given more minutes. The midfield of JWP and Diallo lifted their game for the last 30 minutes and I'm happy to eat some humble pie with Elyounoussi putting in a shift late to complement his classy assist.

Bring him on for the anonymous Elyounoussi - or the "now-you-see-me-now-you-don't Aribo.

And so am I - but I think he should get off the fence and tell us whether Ralph should stay on as Manager or not!

I like that team. The other Armstrong for Elyounoussi aside.

Yes, and when you've got the likes of Elyounoussi and Aribo who "vanish" from the game regularly, the grit and hard work Perraud brings is vital even if his running speed is average. The quality of his crosses are consistently good and he has a sweet strike in his kit bag too. I wouldn't be discarding him anytime soon while also hoping Larios develops quickly to provide genuine competition.

I feel the same way. When the final whistle sounded it was a feeling of sheer relief to get over the line after spending most of the second half dropping deeper and deeper while trying to protect the 1-0 lead. The only reason there wasn't an equaliser or worse came down to Bournmouth not having a Benhrama or a Rice - plus a graft and determination from the likes of Salisu, Caleta-Car, Adams and Perraud. What happened to the side which reasonably recently continued playing with an eye for a second or third goal? Yes, the side lacks a clinical striker, and a creative midfielder, and a solid, mobile central midfield, but the difference could be seen when Stuart Armstrong came on with some direct, powerful running and even the cameo from Diallo showed a different way to close out a game apart from retreating with all players behind the ball. It leaves me thinking this win should not buy Ralph any amount of extra time in charge! Adams was immense all night - bullet header from the precise, first time Perraud cross and a willingness to run all night to do the hard graft. Caleta-Car showed why he's a Croatian International - together with Salisu he held the defensive shape with calm and authority; his touch and passing were also impressive. I thought both wide attackers were disappointing - Elyounoussi and Aribo were bit part contributors, ghosting in and out of the game. AMN showed improvement and made several incisive passes but the CM duo still looked so static and reluctant to run with the ball or seek out quick movement and passes. Lavia can't return to the side quick enough!!

Yes, agree entirely. Both Adams and Armstrong did some good things yesterday - but as a strike-force tandem they don't cut it. Oh for an Ings of 2 or 3 seasons ago or even a one-year-older Broja. I know players like Scamacca are outside of the Club's range, but a striker of his bracket would solve a lot of problems.

Armstrong has played recently as more of a winger, not a striker. Yesterday he was clearly our best attacking player. There's no doubt our striking options are "bare bones" and Adams and Armstrong are not the answer - yet both have roles to play in support of a main striker - someone like West Ham's Scamacca would be just the ticket.

Thought he had a great game....as did Salisu and ABK. The real eye opener today was the lack of fight and bravery throughout the side, which has been present in previous recent clashes with Man City. - no better illustrated than in midfield. Diallo really is not up to the role and though some will interpret JWP's performances as him being "out of form" or "not having his mind" on Football - I see him as an average outfield Prem midfielder with a class dead ball technique; he can't lift or influence a game with run, evasion or progressive passing, and it sets a static rhythm throughout the team. The absence of Lavia and Romeu only highlights that observation. Almost goes without saying that there has to be a change of Manager. A freshen up and a change of managerial face is now urgent to change the course of this familiar Ralph slump.

Neither of todays central midfielders run with the ball at their feet; and JWP is right back to the days of save and backward passing. The loss of Romeu and injury to Lavia really highlight our midfield deficiencies.

Would you really play Elyounoussi ahead of Stuart Armstrong? Much as I like Diallo, I can see Maitland-Niles starting ahead of him if he is match fit. Glad you found a place for AA whoc continues to show up in that wide role though the spectre of Edozie now looms large over his place.

Good write up and probably reflects what a majority of Saints supporters think of him - as you say, he is a player for the future, yet is so precociously talented he is an immediate high class Prem defender. I wouldn't swap any other CB combination in the UK for the pairing of ABK and Salisu - and by the sound of it, you agree.