Claude Puel had to rotate for this game, no one argued with that, but why did he get his line up so badly wrong ?

With 3 games in 7 days there was never any argument that Claude Puel had to make changes for this game, indeed injury was forcing his hand in many respects, but if you are going to make changes then you have to keep a strong core of the team.

I said in the preview just that, but it is a view that Puel does not seem to subscribe to.

The problem was in the defence, if you are going to put out a changed back four with a 19 year old keeper with only two games against Championship opposition under his belt then at last leave a little bit of experience in it.

It was a recipe for disaster from the very start a right back who although has a bit of experience has no positional nous, a 23 year old centre back who a month ago had not looked like making a first team breakthrough and only has 2 Premier League appearances as sub to his name alongside a player who has not played a competitive game for two years and throw in a left back who had never played there till the start of this season and it was obvious what was going to happen what was Puel thinking of !

Two of those five players had never started a Premier League game, McQueen has only started 4 and Gardos 5 the last two years ago, did Puel not think that he needed a little bit of leadership and experience there to steady the ship.

In defence of Puel he was caught between a rock and a hard place as they say, injuries and the departure of Fonte have left us very exposed in key positions, we have no real cover for Fraser Forster and with the fact that we are down what are essentially our 3rd and 4th choice central defenders we have little cover if one of those should get injured.

What does Puel do, he has to try and make sure the injury crisis does not get worse, if he had played Forster and the keeper got injured then he would have been ripped to shreds.

But that does not excuse the defensive line up he put out, it served no purpose and it was counter productive, all it did was destroy the confidence of those youngsters, Stephens will go into Tuesday's game with Swansea mentally scarred by this game as will Harry Lewis.

If the manager wanted to find out for sure that several of our youngsters are not good enough for the level we need them to be, then this was a successful day for him.

It was men against boys although our so called boys are not that young, Stephens is 23, McQueen will be 22 next week, Harrison Reed is 22 and Lloyd Isgrove 24, all of them contemporaries of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain at St Mary's.

To be blunt if they haven't forced their way into a regular first team place by this sort of age, then the chances are they are never going to do so, Oxlade Chamberlain has played 118 Premier League games whereas our 4 have started 10 between them.

As I say there are excuses for Puel on this one with things so stretched and the transfer window about to shut, but he got it wrong.

Ironically we probably played worse at Liverpool, the euphoria of that game glossed over the fact that defensively we had too many lapses in concentration at the back which luckily enough weren't punished, but Arsenal were a lot more clinical and we paid the price.

Claude Puel should be taking notice of this and the club should be looking to make one preferably two central defensive signings before the window shuts.

So I think we just have to write this game off, yes Puel blundered and got the selection wrong, but I think a lot of this was forced on him by circumstance and the need to ensure that the injury crisis does not get worse especially in those areas we have no more cover for.

I can understand the fans frustrations, although to be fair with the cheap prices and the fact that it was an open secret that we would be playing a changed side, no one can really complain that they went on false pretences.

This was a sorry end to a great week, but ultimately we have to judge the manager and the season on where we are at the end of it, not on one off disasters.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 10:49 - Jan 29 "Ironically we probably played worse at Liverpool" - noy sure, ironically or otherwise that you'll get any agreement on that one. A team selection (and this game was lost at that moment) that raises many questions: 1. Is it professional/ethical to put out a side bound to lose in front of a full house of paying customers + live tv audience (the club took money from BT and by extension us for that too). 2. Does Puel think we are in danger of relegation? - if not then why prioritise Tuesday. Why throw a cup match to go for 9th in the league instead of 12th? 3. Was it an unsubtle hint to the board that we need new signings NOW? 4. Was it an unsubtle hint to the fans that he doesn't give a flying feck what we think? The 'he is at last listening' narrative after Weds is now blown out of the water... 5. Why can't professional footballers play football regularly? Are Romeu, Yoshi and Bertrand etc such shrinking violets that the would rather sit around doing nothing than do what they are handsomely . paid for? That's enough questions for now but I am sure there are others. A message to the relentless optimists - please answer question 2 above. You are the ones who say there is no way we can go down so how come we couldn't have tried to win yesterday and given some of our poor dears a rest on Tuesday???

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SaintNick added 10:59 - Jan 29 Football is about perception and because of the occasion on Wednesday the perception is we played well and defended brilliantly, but the reality was that too often we left Liverpool players unmarked in front of goal, somehow they missed, yesterday Arsenal didnt. The reason that Yoshida Bertrand & Forster didnt play is that we have no cover at the back, if they get injured then we are up the creek without a paddle, im sure they would rather play, but if Puel had played them and they had got injured then he would be getting royally slagged off. Im not a relentless optimist, im a relentless realist, I dont fly off the handle when things go wrong, I look at why they have gone wrong and whether they can be put right

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halftimeorange added 11:09 - Jan 29 I totally agree, San Marco. We are supposed to support our team through the lean times but these are not lean times. Our club will have picked up more than £1M income for this game all things considered, much of it from its own fans. I wouldn't normally criticise the board but failure to invest adequately before our busiest season ever has left us currently with a thin squad. Oh, yes, staying in the money-laden EPL has to be a priority (and I don't think we are quite safe yet) but I wonder if any thought was given yesterday to those fans who can only afford to come to (or can only get a ticket for) a few games each term? How many potential Saints season ticket holders went home in tears? How many of those went away thinking "I'll support Chelsea (or suchlike) in future"? Sometimes you think you're being ripped off by those who tell us that we march on together. Yesterday was a prime example of that scenario and, one day, Saints (and maybe a lot of other clubs and the media bandwagon) will find that the great British public has shrugged its collective shoulders and said "Stick your over-priced, over-hyped football" and goes off to find something else. Who could blame us?

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vanmans added 11:15 - Jan 29 After the lord mayors show. Its Lambs to the Slaughter. Arsenal Reserves v Southampton Reserves Full time 5-0. Are Reserves are just not good enough we need To BUY new Players before Tuesdays Deadline. It was an insult to the paying fans to pick a team like that.
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saintsnutcase added 11:20 - Jan 29 If you have to play 9 games in January and you have nine injuries, then you have to put out 3rd choice players sometime. I think those kids are probably about the level I would expect for third choice players -- except Isgrove and Martina, who aren't good enough to be third choice. Not sure yet about Lewis. We have played more games than any other PL team up to now. Plus we have had the Xmas programme which is crazy anyway. If Puel had not rotated we would have even more injuries, and we wouldn't be going to Wembley.

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SanMarco added 11:23 - Jan 29 I wasn't calling you a 'relentless optimist' Nick - I was just posing a question for those who will call those of us angry at the fact Puel threw the game last night 'moaners'. Also those who say we can get to the summer without signings need to look at the exact reasons for yesterday's "realism". If we are so light in key areas that we have to throw a cup game in front of a full-house and on live tv then we really do need SEVERAL new faces now.

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aceofthebase added 11:37 - Jan 29 It is our midfield that I find most disturbing, they were simply swept aside by The arsenal team. I have no wish to be personal but the smallness in stature of Classie who looked completely bewildered and Reed is an issue, they are not big or strong enough. PH tries hard but makes so many mistakes. Contrast that with Welbeck, strong and powerful with a quick thinking mind who cooly took his chances. Welbeck is the type of forward that we need, but don't forget about the midfield

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schatfield added 12:03 - Jan 29 well,that was depressing.... (need an experienced defender badly before Tuesday)
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highfield49 added 12:12 - Jan 29 I certainly take the point about playing a very much second string team in front of a full house of paying customers but I'm not sure that the fact that BT chose to show the game should have influenced the team selection. I'm sure the bulk of those who watched the match were quite happy to see five goals regardless of the players out on the pitch. Puel gambled and lost but would probably, at best, have got a draw and a replay by putting out a few more experienced players. What we all learnt is, sadly, that some of the not so young young players aren't going to make the grade at top level. Ipswich are apparently keen to give Isgrove a move and with his contract running out soon it's a chance he ought to grasp. As much as I'm a fan of Reed I also think his future lies elsewhere. On a positive note I thought Sims proved again that he has massive potential. Statistically we weren't that bad 48% to 52% possession, shots 14 to 12, shots on target 2 to 7 and corners 7 to 4. The fact that Arsenal scored from 5 of their 7 shots on target pretty much sums up the game to me, quality and experience over honest endeavour without substance. We march on, maybe with two or three new signings in the light of what we all saw yesterday? Fingers crossed.

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NewburySaint added 12:17 - Jan 29 Oh dear Claude, there goes most of that credit you built up after Wednesday! I thought this man was supposed to be good in developing young players-the majority of those that played yesterday are going to have their confidence shot after that predictable (pre game) mauling. Why not play 3 or 4 inexperienced players surrounded by experienced players? Anyway, it's done now and lets hope he learns from it although judging by his post match comments he may not do. We best beat Swansea now, and also have a good Feb, otherwise he may struggle to ever win over the supporters and fans.

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davepid added 12:27 - Jan 29 We took 12 coaches to Anfield. The last time I saw that many was at MK Dons for the JPT semi final in Jan 2010. Since then (until May 2016) we scored 472 league goals at 1.6 per game and win 47 per cent of matches. As we know, we secured back to back promotions , year on year improved finishing positions in the Premiership ant twice qualified for the Europa. More emotively,in 2010/11 we coined the chant , ' we always win 3-1' , because we did. We scored 4 goals at Wembley. We watched Fonte, Lallana, Schnederlin and Lambert turn into international players with the latter scoring with his first touch. We have an admired Academy that has turned out Oxalde Chamberlain, Shaw , Chambers and JWP. Weve seen Richie score 34 consecutive penalties, Sunderland thrashed 8-0 , Mane score the quickest Premiership hatrick , us winning at Old Trafford and 7500 saw us at the San Serio. Now we are in the league cup final after two pulsating semis. We are Southampton and we march on. That we got beat. 5-0 is a mere piece of fluff to brush off but we do need to sign a striker before Tuesday.

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RogerToye added 12:43 - Jan 29 Too many games not enough depth to manage it, playing the likes of Arsenal a starting 11 on the injury list seems all that huffing and puffing with Norwich was a bit of a waste of time. Whole squad should be finishing games off anyway a cup win and mid table best we can hope for realistically with the way things are a striker is needed the others are to injury prone !! still Josh sims and Jack stephens are stepping up !! introduce the youngsters into a first eleven our and they will bed in nicely but that line up v Arsenal was never going to win it.

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SonicBoom added 12:55 - Jan 29 If we were playing a championship or league 1 or 2 side you could get away with picking a seriously understrength team. You cannot do it against a top four side. Puel sent that team out knowing there was a very good chance they could get thrashed. And they did. He did not pick a team to win the game. As I've said before, are we so successful that we can afford not to bother trying in the cup? And finally I'll support the manager if you see he learns and develops. I just don't see Puel learning.

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redwight added 13:48 - Jan 29 Nick, your argument here seems a bit contradictory. You say there was no purpose in the selected defensive line up, that it served no purpose and was counter productive. You then say that without cover for Yoshi, Bertrand and FF he would have been wrong to play them, given the risk of injury. Does that mean the selection was right.............or wrong?
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mattlegod added 15:04 - Jan 29 I have a very young lad. I am looking for the right time to introduce him to live football and of course the Saints. If it weren't for the time of the match and the distance I have to travel to see the saints this would have been one to go for. My God I'm glad I didn't - it would have put him off the Saints for life and probably influenced his to support Arsenal instead.

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ItchenNorth added 15:18 - Jan 29 No excuses from no on. We now only have the Premier League and a cup final. No reason to protect any player. We should now be playing our strongest available 11 each week until the end of the season now. For all the moaning about yesterday game / score / performance; it was at least a far better game than Norwich in the 3rd round. Now that was crap !!!!
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Consigliere added 15:23 - Jan 29 A bit of perspective is called for here chaps - after Liverpool the doubters were queuing up to be force-fed large slices of humble pie, now the manager is hopeless again! Yes, we were soundly and deservedly beaten and it was an experiment that didn't work and probably would never have worked, but it had to be done. No-one likes to see the team trounced but we would still have gone out of the competition if it had been a one-nil loss. After the third goal I for one decided to sit back and watch Arsenal play around us, it would almost have been harder if we had got two back. We are going to Wembley, hold on to that thought!!

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SanMarco added 15:51 - Jan 29 That's the problem in a nutshell Consigliere - Puell doubters should not have been eating humble pie, force-fed or otherwise. He now has a major achievement to his name but that does not excuse last night's nonsense. A weaker team like the one Nick proposed in the preview may still have lost but it would, simply put, have been the right thing to do. Puell didn't become a better manager during 90 mins on Wednesday, Nick indeed implies he was lucky. I am pleased he got us to Wembley but I am still far from convinced...

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saintmark1976 added 16:02 - Jan 29 SanMarco. I would suggest that yesterday's team selection answers your question about relegation with a resounding "yes" and quite rightly so in my opinion. We need a further 13 points and protecting the players most likely to achieve that for us was unquestionably the correct thing to do in my opinion. It also gave the manager a chance to see the quality or otherwise of what effectively is our reserve team. He and the board now no that very few of them are going to make the first team on a regular basis. I would suggest that the 5-0 drubbing will soon be forgotten but the performance of some of the players involved will be remembered by those who matter for some time into the future.

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saintmark1976 added 16:04 - Jan 29 Sorry, no should have been know.
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BLEEDRED added 16:20 - Jan 29 Rotation is fine if you have the players to do it yesterday was Saints B v Arsenal B the differance was that half Arsenal B could play for Saints A hardly any of Saints B could play for Arsenal C team
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redwight added 16:44 - Jan 29 Just to give an alternative perspective, the article by Sam Wallace in the S. Telegraph today is worth looking at. Sometimes it pays to get out of the goldfish bowl and see ourselves as others see us.
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Consigliere added 16:59 - Jan 29 SanMarco makes a good point but consider this - if we had played the first choice team and (say) Romeu or Bertrand had limped off crocked and unavailable for the cup final, we wouldn't have thanked him for it. He had to make a "stick or twist" decision and decided not to risk "bust", a judgment call that cost us the game but was probably the right one in the circumstances. Realistically we were't going to get to two finals.

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the_saint added 17:10 - Jan 29 Still not convinced on puel just because he has got us to final Van gal won the FA cup last season and got sacked cos he was crap. Think the fans are split on this one I will wait until the end of season as now he does not need to over rotate so thets see
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SanMarco added 17:42 - Jan 29 Perhaps they should stop training as well then Consigliere as plenty of players get injured doing that. Those players could all get injured at Swansea - surely injuries are part and parcel of playing football and Romeu injured yesterday and returning two weeks later plays in the final while Romeu injured in two weeks time misses the final. For me Puel 'overthinks' things - he is paid lots of money to work in the entertainment business and there were thousands of people let down by him last night. My LAST post on this I PROMISE!!

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