Saint Pete

Yes agree it's not fair to blame the officials who are implementing the rule as it's been written. But questions need to be answered about how these rules are being agreed. Seems there is not enough consultation going on as most in the game seem to agree they've got it badly wrong with this one. I agree with your other point that media and managers should be more accepting that some decisions like handball need subjective interpretation from refs rather than expecting 100% consistency. They can't have it both ways.

It's simpler for VAR, which in my opinion should not be what should is driving the rules of football. Surely VAR should be being used to help implement the rules as they always have been, not being used as a driver to change the rules just to suit VAR? It's a case of tail wagging dog.

Sorry can’t agree with your statement that Forster was “very clearly a better keeper” when he was near his best form. He was blessed with being our keeper in a period when Saints had the best defence I can remember us having, which we certainly don’t have the luxury of now. That was a lot to do with his “best form” from what I remember, and don’t recall him being great in terms of passing ability either. McCarthy’s far from perfect but at least he’s fairly competent most of the time at keeping the ball out of our net which puts him above our other 2 keepers at present. He made a crucial save tonight for example low down to his right which got me thinking “glad Forster’s not in goal otherwise that would be 1 all”.

Well, as wins go, that was about as unimpressive as they come! Objectively, that looked like 2 teams who wouldn’t look out of place in the Championship (although that is probably an insult towards Championship football). That said, 3 points is 3 points and in our situation after a couple of bad results, that was really all that mattered tonight. I remember a couple of similar results from last season when we were really struggling (the win at home to Watford springs to mind) where the performance was bad but the result was crucial in building confidence in the games that followed, so we have to hope that this will set us off towards better form and confidence. A couple of signings to help our options in the squad is certainly also definitely needed though. Not many players that stood out tonight, but in fairness to Ralph, he made the right choice in selecting Vestergaard, who proved a good fit for this type of game. Romeu and JWP also did OK in midfield from a defensive point of view. Armstrong and Djenepo both had shockers I thought - was particularly a shame to see Djenepo play so negatively, can’t remember him taking the full back on once, not sure if that was under instructions or whether it’s a lack of confidence. Ings and Adams were OK first half but starved of any kind of service or support in the second half.

Just watching MOTD - handball decision given against Palace on VAR an absolute joke and totally agree with Hodgson’s reaction. It’s becoming just random luck whether as a defender you get penalised for the ball just hitting your hand accidentally, apparently due to adjustment of handball rule again this season. Needs to be clarified once and for all - is accidental handball no longer a thing to be taken in consideration?

I don't say this often but please get Shane on.

Djenepo needs to come off I'm afraid. Just doesn't seem at it tonight in terms of carrying it forwards.

Would like to see Djenepo be a bit more positive when he gets it in their third. Doing a lot of turning back towards our goal so far. Still, decent-ish half I guess.

Armstrong a bit off his game so far. Gone a bit scrappy from us.

Depends on the level of wages surely rather than whether they are British or otherwise? Presumably, Adams wages are not at such a prohibitively high level that it would put off other English clubs whereas with some of the other contracts we have given out either for new signings or the likes of Forster in contract extensions, they go beyond what other clubs are able or willing to pay for players not performing brilliantly currently. It’s the level of wages we have committed to for these substandard players that is the issue.

Odd one that, didn't appear the linesman flagged on the replay unless it was very late.

Very odd one that, initial £12m fee likely according to Guardian. Seems like a great deal from Spurs point of view as always impressed by him when I’ve seen Wolves and thought he was a key player for them.

But it’s no excuse for the club to blame it all on Pellegrino because ultimately it was someone above him who signed off on this ridiculous transfer. It’s still astounding to me that the club would spend that amount of money on a player so closely linked to a manager who they were already getting close to sacking! Just shows how badly the club’s transfer policy had gone off the rails at that point.

Yeah agree, seems a bit of an inappropriate comment really. And even if he was right, some would argue Saints have an established recent track record of signing "not particularly good footballers" so that in itself wouldn't rule this rumour out!

Medical on Monday according to Sky Sports. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12045501/pierre-emile-hojbjerg-southampton-midfielder-to-have-tottenham-medical-on-monday

Absolutely. I don't have a problem with Hojbjerg at all and actually find it quite refreshing how honest and upfront he has been almost from day one of his time at Saints about his aims and ambitions. It's interesting to contrast his approach with that of say Lallana when he was at Saints, being debated on another thread, who was constantly kissing the badge and proclaiming his eternal love for the club right up to the point when Liverpool showed an interest and then promptly spat the dummy and demanded he be allowed to move NOW. Personally I prefer the honest more mature approach Hojbjerg has taken and will wish him well when he moves on. I don't think he's our most talented player but he's certainly improved at Saints and if he thinks he can make it at Spurs good luck to him. Will be interesting to see how this plays out, we probably need to make it clear to Spurs what we will accept for him and stick to it. If Spurs don't budge then he stays, unless he is prepared to accept offers from other clubs.

You don’t find it odd then that the club wouldn’t thank him for his time at the club and wish him well as they have done with nearly every other player? Fair enough, but most other Saints fans have a different view. I have no idea what exactly went on and you wont get the concrete evidence that you seem determined to insist upon because the people on the inside don’t tend to talk openly about this stuff until perhaps they write their memoirs! Sometimes you just have to join the dots.

This was Saints statement when he left the club:- https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2014-07-01/statement-adam-lallana-finalises-liverpool-switch Rather curt and to the point, wouldn’t you say and not typical of the way Saints would normally say farewell to a long-serving player. Why do you think that would have been?

So, appears yesterday's story that he had agreed terms with Everton was bull then?

Also, at full speed, there may have been doubt from Lino's view of who had flicked on the throw, defender or attacker. Definitely a good example of what VAR is for.

Yeah, I can never understand why a quality finisher like Ings doesn't trust his ball striking technique enough that he can score from a penalty by just picking his spot and putting it there with a good strike, just as he does in open play. Just don't like all this stutter run up shite, often seems to confuse the taker more than the keeper, certainly did in Ings case! Sir Ricky had the right approach. Strike it well in the right place and the keeper ain't stopping it!

Get that Redmond is frustrating and he's not in his best form at present. But folks should keep in mind that he is still at the heart of much of our good attacking play and I think he's still a key player who we miss when he's not out there. He still has assists for the Ings goals in last couple of games. But probably needs a rest given the number of games lately and expect he would have been given one if we had Djenepo or Boufal available. Great to see a good finish from Adams at the end. Signs that he is growing in confidence now.

You have to say that's a bit cruel. Oh well 😀

Yes. If he was the best penalty taker before, he still is in spite of missing one.

And that is why JWP normally takes the pens.