austsaint

If you go back and look at the replay you will find that the ball took a deflection taking it away from the French kid's head.

This, a 1000 times over. Get off Ralph's back; what was he supposed to do differently in the circumstances? These sort of results bring you back to the decisions made on ownership, recruitment, list management and poor choices on contract extensions etc. Ralph needs to be backed. But if he wants to walk you could hardly be surprised.

I think it will be overturned - is there a way Martial can get a retrospective yellow? It has to be appealed. A nauseating night, but nothing like the Leicester match. Decimated squad; two red cards; every decision going against Saints......should have had two goals of our own. Move on.

Really? Have seen a lot of him playing for Japan - he is quality and the sort of creative attacking midfielder we've needed since Lallana. Just need KWP and Vest back sooner than later.

Would be a great bit of business - and would be a good move for Long; it's his level these days.

Was thinking the same. Just looks like a player (Jankewitz) we need to keep, even if midfield looks strong.

Really good summary - amidst the bad luck, shocking officiating and Grealish brilliance, Saints second half performance was pretty damn good and on just about any other night would have been rewarded with a point or three. Diallo was strangely off the pace and we looked better when JWP returned to midfield. Romeu was great, especially in the first 60 minutes. Redmond was frustrating, while Ings showed class and commitment, and clearly should have been on the score sheet. Really liked the cameo of Jankewitz and lets hope there are more opportunities to come. Really missed KWP tonight.

So many of the contentious penalty calls are 50/50 but the Cash handball looked blatant and obvious. JWP needs to be shifted off Grealish - swap with Diallo perhaps.

You're on to something -Theo's star is waning. ANM played as an attacking midfielder could be a master stroke.

I I've seen enough of him to place him in the "decent lower half PL player" category" - but I agree the Club should be aiming higher.

I don't think the season will fall away, although as you and others observe, the lack of depth in the squad to cover injuries was graphically shown up tonight. Arsenal just had their way down both flanks and pressed our defence effectively most of the night. One of the best games I've seen Armstrong play, particularly 1st half and Diallo once again showed his composed talent. Be nice to get something from Villa.

I think it confirms what a lot of people are thinking; Diallo is too good a player not to be in the best 11. By the sound of it Romeu won't be fit to face Arsenal anyway which paves the way for a Diallo/JWP pairing.

Diallo is too good a player now to be saved up for next year. Ralph has to find a way of including him each game.

I doubt JWP could have either. At the moment Diallo looks a more complete player than both Romeu and JWP.

Yep, Diallo is a little gem and I don't think his performances will go unnoticed by other Clubs. Quite amazing how little work FF has had to do in his three appearances. A few nervous moments in the last 20 minutes and yet we could have been out of sight if Ings had been his usual clinical self.

Indeed, I'm hoping Long sits this one out....and most other games for that matter. Embarrassing to watch him these days.

22:15 here in Brisbane - enjoy the match....here's to a Saints win.

Time difference works well for you over there Ginge. What is it.. a 7:15 or 8:15pm kick off for you in the West. No chance of falling asleep on the couch!

Dalek used to intrigue me. Those pessimistic posts of his about impending relegation haven't fitted for a year or so. He's probably posting on a Blades forum.

You mistake facts for what is subjective opinion - but don't let that sully your opinionated crusade.

And you prove, yet again, to be a shite stirring contrarian with not much of value to say. I'll back MLG's ideas over your opinionated carp every day of the week. And he's right to say you can't compare players from different eras with any certainty. Besides, Flowers was a Goalkeeper, and a good one; Bridge was a LB and a very good one. Ings is a striker, and when fit is a very good one. In the sense of their value to Saints in their different eras, without Ings we would probably be in the Championship at the moment. On that level alone Ings has to be rated near the top.

My hope that Salisu isn't another Forren is based on reported good performances in La Liga against quality attacking players. Surely he would have been found out.

Yes, more physical, more involved and he showed a touch and a passing range I hadn't seen before. I'd doubted him from the 6 or 7 appearances I had seen but happy to admit my error. His knee did seem to buckle during the injury incident - let's hope it's a ligament strain and not a major problem.

Jury no longer out on Smallbone. Had a really good game tonight (v Leicester) - good range of passing; pressing, tackling and an excellent first time shot on goal. Hope his injury is not serious.

Good summary. Thought Walcott did quite well though and when switched wide was able to provide several good crosses. Armstrong, probably our best player tonight was also guilty of coughing up possession. A very good first half fell away in the second - Leicester looked one of the better sides played this season which was compounded by the absence of Ings. Smallbone put in a good first half shift and young N'lundulu showed he should be ahead of Long in the pecking order. Diallo again impressive though the yellow card slowed his influence.