Sitting in Chapel end side of Kingsland with my family coming to their first Saints game to , so it was predictable that all the action was down the other end! A draw was a fair result, but it would have been nice to be be 1-1 for the sake of the family. It was not a boring 0-0. We dodged a bullet when Jack Corks goal was ruled offside when Burnley were completely dominating the game and we seemed to have no out ball. Got better as game progressed and 2nd half was great...the goal was coming, but never came.

I was really impressed with the new signings, loved the way Vestergaard exerted his presence. Looks a really good player capable of making opponents forwards think twice. Ely looked tidy, Ings potentially providing the attacking pivot we haven't had since Pelle, Lemina was our fulcrum, distributing really well and showing some superlative touches. Armstrong was our best player until he went down. I hope it is not too serious.

Burnely looked like a side that had played 3 competative games but by the last 20 mins we were all over them and Redmond had found his mojo..actually running at defenders and beating them.

All in a very encouraging 0-0. Only real negative was with the execption of a brilliant long range 1-2 with Armstrong in the first half that was inches from coming off and a superb last second tackle from Mee as he was chesting down to volley, CA looked pretty toothless and far to keen to fall over and win a free kick.

1

As soon as l saw we had Lee Mason as ref l new we were in for a long day.We really need a leader on this team as captain Bertrand is not it.Our defence was a total shambles especially Cedric,and we started just as bad as last week.Up front Ings was the one positive but JWP was a wasted space in fact the midfield seem to lack any cohesion at all. The second half only slightly better but nowhere good enough.

9

As soon as I saw the team sheet with Prowse and Stephens in it and Vestergaard out I knew we would lose.
When are we going to loan players like Prowse and Stephens out to lower league clubs so they can get some experience. These two are not good enough for the Premier League.

9

You could add a few more names to that list, Mikesaint - including Romeu and Lemina on this showing. For the life of me I couldn't understand why Lemina wasn't replaced by Hobjberg, if only to save him from the erratic Lee Mason. In any case, Hobjberg is amuch busier player on past showings and, in my opinion is our captain waiting because, as Codge says - the naturally reserved Bertrand is not right for the job. It shows how badly we need Vestergaard to be at the top of his game as Stephens is uncertain and Hoedt mistake-prone. There are too many sides who will be more intent than Everton in putting a fistful of goals past McCarthy. I can see some occasions when we'll need two hands to count the number of goals in a game involving Saints as things stand...and they won't be in our favour. I'm sorry for McCarthy as this wasn't the game to showcase his obvious talents in front of Southgate.

7

At half time we were very much in the match.
However the 2nd half implosion was almost suicidal. I've no idea has we'll recover from this embarrassment by Tuesday. Could be an interesting team selection.

0

The first goal Saints were undone by a well-worked training ground goal.

The second goal was a repeat of at least half a dozen goals. A cross from the right and Cedric far too small and weak to prevent an easy headed goal. Just how long can we continue to give away goals and matches by playing Cedric.

1

I have to admit I wasn't put into an optimistic frame by last week's performance, but this week's was worse and I'm already starting to worry. There doesn't seem to be any real drive or energy in this team. A complete absence of commitment throughout the whole team throughout the whole first half. Like last week, second half looked a bit different, but basically we weren't ever going to ovecome a 2-0 lead. In fact, it was surprising that a) we scored at all, and b) that we didn't give up more goals. So, it looks like business as usual this season, unless something drastic happens. And business as usual could get even worse...the single thing I took from this game is that a CB pairing of Stephens and Hoedt is basically kamikaze. They both played the worst games I've seen from them. Meanwhile, the 3 other CBs we have are all basically superior....why this pair was picked, I'll never understand. Add to that that Soares was total rubbish today (he might as well have been off the field when Richarlison scored for all the good his "challenge" did). What's even more worrying is that it looks as if we're also in that frame where we don't get the decisions in our favour--Pickford's was one of the clearest red card offences I've seen in many seasons. I know I'll get jumped on by the optimists, but seriously, we need to worry.

8

After 3-1 instead of going into damage limitation mode we carried on trying to get back into the game and left gaps which West Brom exploited with ease. They are a good side with a lot of experience but I thought we were naïve at times on the pitch and in the dug out, we made it easy for them. Bristol City are not West Brom however and on Tuesday they are beatable.

0

Slightly worrying that it looked like the same old team (with Ings for Tadic), same old errors (cross from opposition right and header, chances that should have been taken at the other end) and the same old result. It is of course far too early to panic but I would bite the hand off that offered me a 16th place finish.

6

now we are seeing why mark hughes is an average manager
4 GAMES LEFT
BRING IN BIG SAM & LITTLE SAM THEY WOULD SHAKE THE PLAYERS UP BIG TIME

-4