saintsmike25

I know and i worked with you and the turnover of staff and very experienced pros leaving the Echo is a big loss not just to Saints but to local spot in general. They will only have two people manning all of sports now which is a sad state of affairs. But this is what happens when online takes over and the Daily Echo website didn't know how to make a solid revenue. Adam was an old school journalist who was a solid writer and not scared to criticise the club when needed.

Valery was in no mans land for their third. He moved up when Alonso raced down the line so he was majorly caught out. Great going forward is young Jan but positionally in defence he has lots to learn.

Here's where the issue is - in midfield we're absolutely toothless. We are playing far too deep, JWP is doing alot of running. Long is not in the game nor is Ings, they are working 10 times harder than us. Kante and Willian are everywhere. We may as well swap Long with Che Adams at half time.

Poor performance - but great result. Man of the match was probably Vestergard for me - solid throughout the game along with Bednarek. Poor performance in midfield, Redmond grew into the game. We need a better left sided option. Djenpro changed the game as well. No easy games in the premier league - this could prove vital come the end of the season.

Okay our biggest problem is our flanks, JWP not helping Valery out, but fortunately now we're a man up. Secondly Danso isn't a LB, he is playing pretty poorly on that side. But it's his first game for us and i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt. JWP not adding anything to our midfield, i'd rather have Armstrong on for him. Our pattern of play is far too slow, Ings and Adams are making constant spinning in behind runs but we're too slow to play the pass. Ings is doing okay, he's chasing down lost causes etc, Adams simply hasn't been involved and should be subbed. This sort of game suits Obafemi - we need to be breaking quicker and getting in behind when possible, not slowing down the pace constantly. Probably one of our worst collective performances, we don't look interested that's my issue with it today. Like it's a summer stroll in the park not a local south coast derby.

A few thing stand out so far - defence not bad but Valery and Bertrand both off the pace (Valery especially) PEH not the same player without Romeu, Armstrong has been poor and Elanonymous has been his typical self, looking like he may just create something but never doing so and looks short of confidence and fitness. Forster to be fair has made some good saves but was a bit slow to get off his line for the goal. Ings and Long are working hard but they've had little service, i think we'd do better with someone else in midfield to get on Mark Noble and stop him dictating the pace of the game. All in all West Ham haven't had to break sweat and look a much classier outfit than us and deserve to be more than one goal up.

That was predictable - we started losing our heads, they bought on Fraser and it's changed the game. We need to now be smarter on the ball and it all started from a counter attack going horribly wrong when a player let the ball run through his legs.

I think we're losing our heads a bit here, in danger of losing on the counter as we're so eager to get forward quickly. Romeu with a terrible challenge on Fraser, we need to get our shape back and keep feeding Redmond in behind the defence.

How on earth did Long miss that - one of the worst misses of the season!

Overall despite the last gasp goal by Watford it was an excellent performance, Hol/JWP were superb, Stephens played much better as well. Yoshida was a rock at the back and Long/Redmond worked very hard. Watford are a side that have shown they keep going and i felt we tired down the final stretch, i don't think Sims had the desired effect when he came on as he was a little weak, and Valery could have done better with his final ball after some good play. Overall MOTM is Ward Prowse, he kept closing and kept Pererya quiet and defended well, good balls into the box his decision making was excellent throughout. One thing i noticed is that when we drive at teams we're dangerous, especially when Holjberg does it. That's one thing we lack at times, the fact we rely far too much on Redmond. Bertrand had a poor game with poor delivery into the box.

Absolute shambles of a performance, look woeful in possesion, clueless at the back with no clear pattern of play. Frankly Ralph should be embaressed by this first 45. I can take losing but we're looking toothless and spineless.

Like i said, back three is all wrong!

This shape is all wrong - back three not picking up Kane, Spurs getting between the lines, Romeu needs to be subbed asap. Austin ineffective and we should be replacing him with Long as the best way to play against Spurs is to hit them in the channels. Poor so far, very lucky to be 0-0.

Have to blame Ralph for the manner of defeat here, we started with a negative formation - relying on centre backs and no strikers. Poor showing.

Vest appears to be the only one putting in a shift. Valery is doing well, the rest are woeful.

Ralph can do the training camps but it doesn't change the fact we have mentally weak players who are simply not up to the job. Stephens has had a mare, may as well play Ramsey there, at least he has potential.

Pathetic defending. Bottled it.

Probably will have to take Bertrand off for Targett and put El Useless on later in the half - and of course Austin on for Long.

I think the biggest issue is that Shane Long clearly isn't providing any movement. This sort of game suits Austin more. Also, why are we lumping it in the box at times when that suits Cardiff - i'd like to see Holjberg/Redmond have a few more efforts - both can shoot well.

Tbf we have been poor. Especially in the final third, no shots on target, we are lacking pace in wide areas. Also Valery and Targett look so weak. I'd say we need to change the formation second half, Ings simply can't do it alone upfront. Too many CB's for this game, I'd rather Stephens at right back than Valery.

Shane Long and Ward-Prowse with the goals. The two players our fans hate/don't rate. Think we need to wind-up Maddison to even up the numbers, he's a red card waiting to happen along with Ben Chilwell.

Valery will be out of the team for the foreseeable future. Needs to learn from this, I'd say sign a right back on loan in his place.

City are superb, think it shows the weaknesses of JWP, Lemina, Targett all are playing terribly today.

People blaming El - when really Targett was far too passive. He closes the ball down far too late and is too negative on the ball most of the time. He will be shown up (as he is always against pacy tricky players) today. However, performance isn't too bad, Austin looks rusty, Hol looking good, Stephens is shaky.

Too much focus on what other teams do - still lots of football to be played. Fulham were due a win and Huddersfield was always likely to be the game when they did it. As for Cardiff they're a good battling side who have shown they can grind out a win (if kept in a game), as for the total picture, i think Newcastle will soon be falling into the relegation battle. While we will also pick up points with this new style of play. I'm much more confident now we can keep our heads above water this season, because we have a goalscorer in Danny Ings, a good new manager, Nathan Redmond in fine form and a good goalkeeper in Macca, not to mention the return of Bertrand and January signings.