We were the better side for much of the 1st half, but as is often the case, we were once again punished for our mistakes and we were our own worst enemies.

Some strange team selections and again a few playing out of position, but all things considered, it wasn't the huge defeat we were all expecting, we scored a couple and hopefully rested a few up for our season defining, all important next 3 games.

1

Not sure why Ralph decided to put McCathy back in goal but if one thing it proved that Forster must be no 1 for the rest of the season. I can understand testing players for Brighton but not playing so many players out of position. Stephens looks even more of a liability as a DM than he does at RB. Strangely we played pretty well in the first half but still managed to gift them 3 goals and ended the match at half time. Thankfully City took their foot off the gas in the second half or it could have been another embarrassing trip to Manchester but 5 could easily have been 6 or 7.
You can’t give the ball away as cheaply as we did and expect not to get punished. It looked like Moussa might have a groin strain, in which case another bloody injury!
On a brighter note Tella looked lively again and Diallo looked shaper. Let’s hope Ralph’s plan works and everyone is up and firing on Sunday!

3

I wasn't expecting to be disappointed after this match. We all expected or feared a thrashing and I think I would probably, at kick-off, have been happy enough to know we would 'only' lose by three. The truth though was that Man City were totally off-form and out of sorts in that first half. A good team would have exploited that. Instead we contrived to concede THREE goals, one for each of the times City ambled forward AND we were extremely lucky on that penalty/red card. If Foden had gone down it would have been pen and red card and an hour with 10. VAR wouldn't have reversed it.

Ralph's eccentric selections and positionings had nothing to do with the way City played - they were off form and we had a glimmer of a chance of getting close to a point. Instead we helped them gently play themselves back into a little bit of form. Make no mistake if they had been at the top of their game they would have mauled us in that second half. Very poor -if we play like that v Brighton we will lose.

3

As sad as it is to say thankfully we only conceded 5. Hope confidence isn't affected by tonights match and we get 3pts at the weekend.

Waddle commented on the BBC that gave them a decent match but didn't defend.

Maybe Ralph is protecting Frasier from games like this to ensure his confidence isn't dented. And maybe Adams thrive without Ings in the way/playing second fiddle to him and won't blast everything regardless.

Felt for Stephens being chucked into midfield in this match of all matches. Bad decision Ralph, really not necessary. Then hooking him off when the damage was done. I've stood by Ralph but this selection was out of order.

4

I mean yeah he should’ve given away a pen (which somehow wasn’t given) but why’s everyone going on about McCarthy as I don’t see how? I mean the first goal was mainly Bertrand’s fault as I don’t see what McCarthy could’ve done any differently, the second was Adams’s fault for giving it away and as it was soo powerful I don’t see how he could’ve saved it, the third he actually made a decent save and Bertrand was yet again caught ball watching, the 4th and 5th were just too powerful again although the defence should’ve done better with both.

I mean the main player that was poor today was Bertrand, although the likes of Salisu and such weren’t too much better. I mean on the brighter hand it’s good to see Adams get another along with Prowse, as it seems like Ings is going to be out for a while and even when he comes back won’t be extending his stay so we really need another option.

-3

Another Hassenhutl brainstorm: Bertrand right-back, Salisu - left-back, Stephens in midfield, Redmond a central striker and McCarthy undeservedly returning (Forster had done nothing wrong in his previous two games). If you mess around with a winning team and play people in the wrong positions, or play people that don't deserve their place, against anybody in the Premier League - let alone a world class side like City - you're going to get hammered. And that's what happened, in fact Saints were very lucky just to get away with 5 against. A predictable result. Saints played some neat football for the first 25 minutes but with Redmond as a central forward, Saints were never going to threaten the net much. After a deserved reply (albeit a dubious penalty for Saints) to a 20th minute goal by City, the Saints defence and midfield, were pretty much all at sea and City dominated for the rest of the match. It was only when two players that should have been on the pitch in the first place - Tella and Diallo - came on that Saints looked to have a framework and purpose. Of course by then it was too late. I've had more pain with Hassenhutl than boredom with Puel and that's very painful.

3

Good news l didn’t have to watch Stephens for the whole 90 minutes, bad news had to watch Redmond for the whole match though.Stephens so lazy he never gets back in position when he does he will never break a sweat, Redmond has lost the plot to his game and doesn’t know where it went.Still onward and upwards. COYS.

5

Elijah, the reason everyone is 'going on' about McCarthy is that this is obvious to everyone else but you haven't noticed it or, at least, pretend not to:

In his last 6 games Forster has let in 1 goal

In his last 6 games McCarthy has let in 23 goals

3

Redmond starts & we lose again, although in fairness he wasn't the main reason we lost. Just make sure he doesn't start against Brighton. Hope Djenepo injury not too serious.

2

If Redmond and Stephens are still in the 1st team squad next year, that'll be the measure of our ambitions. Both are really NOT HELPFUL. But the bigger story here is RH's team selection. Gormless!!!!

3