13 Aug 2016 19:14:45
Quite clear after today that it could be a long hard season. We need to have a front man to replace Pelle and someone who can cross a ball to a front man.

You have to score more goals that the opposition to win and today we were sadly lacking as an attacking force. We need at least two more attack minded individuals .

1.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 19:50:25
Just read on S's pul saying we don't need another striker I beg to differ I can't see where the goals are going to come from this season if we struggled to score against Watford we gona have a torrid night in Salford on Friday.

2.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 21:00:46
I am sick and tired of this we need a striker talk, we don't one we have Austin Rodriguez long and I think Redmond is going to do a great job. It is one game stop whining and whinging about everything! And to say we are going to struggle after one game is a joke get a grip and get behind the team. Yet again we have done great business in the transfer market. As for those who keep going on about a mane replacement, you clearly haven't seen Redmond play because he fits that bill for me. The players we have are good enough and will prove that but patience and time is required. Last year we drew our first and lost are second game and we achieved our best season ever. So what does that tell you?

3.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 21:03:14
Don't know if we watched different games but certainly in the second half we showed a lot of potential and played as well as we did during most games last season.

Admittedly we struggled to control midfield in the first half. Hojbjerg remedied that and put in a brilliant performance in the 35/ 40 mins he played. JWP is a bit too lightweight to be played in a midfield that needs to be physical.

Redmond has a brilliant finish on him and was unlucky to see his 2nd ruled offside (looked onside where I was sat in the stadium) . If he can keep going with performances like today, we won't need another striker.

Don't forget this wasn't even a full strength side and this formation requires the fullbacks to get forward (something we struggled with due to Cedric's lack of fitness and Targett's inability to run past anyone) . Wait until everyone is up to speed properly and we've got Fonte and Bertrand back in the side to properly judge how this team and formation will work.

4.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 00:08:10
Not sure why we played JWP instead of the new guy Holjberg who was quite outstanding and changed the game in the second half . I thought today's back four looked dodgy even if they didn't have much to do . VVD was brilliant . In the first half we just couldn't get anything going and struggled . If CP thinks that Redmond is the next Thierry Henry he had better go to Specsavers.

5.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 00:46:16
Puel has stated and his teams play a slow buildup possession style of football. Not the fast get the ball forward quick style that we have become accustomed to these past few years.
To me, and this is only my opinion, I cannot see this working very well for us in the PL. The diamond formation midfield was totally overrun by a mediocre side and I think that Manchester United will slaughter us in MF come Friday. In effect we played a 442 style today which most sides will have little trouble playing against. A 352 or 3511 system will always outweigh us in the middle.
There were opportunities for us today to play the ball forward quickly today but we chose not to instead going sideways or backwards. To me this was what we were doing 10 years ago . And it didn't work then.
I believe we will struggle badly this season unless Puel wakes up to the fact that the PL is a totally different league to play football in than that of the French League.

As I said this is just my view and I'm allowed to express it. I thought that we were crap today until Hoijberg came on as he steadied the ship quite considerably. We missed Fonte in defence and Yoshida did his usual in trying to gift the opposition a goal and if Fonte does leave ( it's 50/ 50 at mo ) then we are in for a long hard season.

6.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 03:53:39
Have people forgotten the 0-0 draw we had against watford last season or the 0-0 draw against WBA in koeman's second game in charge? This is what a period of transition looks like. You cannot expect the club to hit the ground running after a change in personnel and players. Puel favors a different approach to koeman and that means players have to adapt to a new system which might take time. A sense of familiarity will help create better performances in the future.
And we haven't even played with our full squad!
By the way 1x1 have you read about the reviews of Nice's 2015/ 16 season? There are plenty of interesting reads on how Puel likes his teams to play and it contradicts your statement of slow possession football. Nice was arguably playing the best football in france last season. Whether Puel brings that magic here to st. Mary's or decides to alter the changes again remains to be seen, certainly more than just one match. Keep the faith. COYS.

7.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 08:45:57
1x1, Yoshida had a solid game yesterday, funny how he gets the hate yet no mention of VVD's similar mistake, that could've also put one of their players through if they had more pace.

8.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 09:28:44
He wasn't that solid I'm afraid.
He is a championship level player at best, his short back pass could have resulted in a goal or an injury to Forster ( luckily for us this time it didn't ), we cannot rely on him to be a permanent CB if Fonte leaves, which this morning looks increasingly more likely.
Yoshida gets stick I'm afraid because if his mistakes. I reckon 80% of Saints fans will have the same view.

9.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 11:05:34
I agree with 1 x 1 Maya is not EPL standard player he reminds me of Hooiveld or similar quality and he did not cut it in this league.
If Fonte goes I think we need 2 CD's to push on. Using either Gardos or Maya is a weakness

and agree with other poster Hojbjerg was superb and possibly should have started.

10.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 18:06:26
How is using Gardos a weakness? Give the lad a chance for God's sake. How are we supposed to judge a player when he hardly has the opportunities to showcase what he can do.

11.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 19:21:18
Vick, I've seen Gardos in the past, back up at best.
Weakness also because of the injuries, a squad player who isn't playing due to injuries is a weakness.

12.) 15 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 22:54:46
Here we go again. Knives in already after just one game. To be honest I'm bloody sick of all the maoaners and doubters so early in the system . It will take time for our squad to adapt but in the 2nd half of the game which my partner and myself attended the difference was extremely noticeable. For christs sake goals will come in between hard moments.

The Watford players were literally down on their knees at the end. If it was a boxing match the ref would have stopped the game towards the end. Apart from a sloppy back pass Yoshida played very well. I also thought like thousands in the stadium that Redmonds "goal" should have counted and given us the win we deserved. An awful lot of teams are going to turn up at our stadium and park the bus.

Sorry Chris but Redmond could be the next Thierry Henry much of his movement looked very similar. Hats off to the team yesterday as they quickly settled in the 2nd half and would be nice if people applaud their efforts instead of picking them to bits. Trust in the manager, the squad, the board and our future. We will March on - onwards and upwards.

13.) 15 Aug 2016
15 Aug 2016 10:51:53
Sorry Welshgirl but I just don't see the Thierry Henry comparison in any way at all . Henry was one of the best players of recent times and if Redmond really pushes on he may end up being half as good which is ok but still well short of true class.

14.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 07:48:33
Thierry Henry started as a winger then turned into a striker. Give him time as Claude has only started to bring him on as a striker. i trust you were at the Watford game and if you were then you must have seen the early days of transformation.

If you weren't at the game then how on earth can you post your statement? Either way give the man some credit for all the effort he has put in since joining. (And scoring) Still a bit rattled about Fonte and hope the club put their foot down and don't sell in this window and make a CB a priority.

15.) 16 Aug 2016
16 Aug 2016 12:22:01
I was at the Watford game looking on from the same Kingsland seat I have had since the stadium opened. We all have different views on players and team set ups which is great . I just don't see how the side can dramatically change it's style of play for this season with the players we have at present . It may work in the long run but what happens if it doesn't and that transition takes a few months to know whether it is or isn't working . I just hope we have the time to find out . If we were'nt in Europe this season then give it a go but seems to me our old high pressing formation with a CF holding the ball up and releasing the ball to the likes of Davis and Mane worked extremely well for us over the last two seasons, why change a winning formula . I truly hope I am wrong.