Boufal should've had a goal a moment ago. Just outworked a bunch of Valencia players to get a shot away, robbed by a stellar save.
I think we are actively trying to unload Hoedt. Hard to see a way forward for him when his style should theoretically fit the team. He's the one most obviously in trouble as he cannot get into a CB spot that most of us feel needs improving. Austin is the next most likely. He's only getting older and already does not have the pace to fit in with our style. But he could still be useful off the bench. And now that teams actually have some reason to fear us, there are going to be games where they will sit back and not let us counter. Also, we don't really have a striker who can score other than Ings and Austin. I mean, it's hard for me to see Austin ever starting consistently again, but he is not useless. Strikers aren't cheap so I could see us maybe waiting until summer to get one. Elyounoussi has not ever had a chance to settle, and we have only seen him mainly under Hughes. Although tbf, he was only average against Derby which us where he really needed to show something. And we seem not to be using wings, though maybe that changes. But he's young still. Maybe Hassenhuttl sees something there, maybe not. I'm not saying Elyounoussi should be starting, but I wouldn't write him off just yet.
I'm somewhat indifferent, tbh. I don't think PEH needs the armband to provide his sort of leadership on the pitch, which is mainly working his ass off and asking others to do the same. I think Bertrand takes a little too much heat for looking lackluster under lackluster managing. People said he stopped trying. I feel like his confidence and morale suffered but that's only natural. But as captain, I think Bertrand has a cooler head. It's not good when your captain dives a ton and is prone to dirty tackles and red cards. JWP was born for the role, but he needs to earn it on the pitch still. If it's not JWP, I don't have much of an opinion. Let RH and the team pick.
Have we formally replaced Steven Davis as club captain yet? Bertrand’s body language on the pitch never comes across as very captain esq, so we shall see.
Disappointed that we conceded late on in the game because the performance did not warrant a close and edgy finish. A 3-0 finish would have flattered a careless and inconsistent Everton who were out fought in the 2nd half. I have felt that our performances improved since the Man Utd game under Hughes but would have to add that there is a solidity in this team which has not been apparent since Puel's days. I must prefer Ralph's style of football and, as mentioned previously, the pressing and expansive style of play is what Saints supporters generally want. Today seemed very much a summation of what has been achieved under Ralph and I can only see us moving up the table with the next few matches being against lesser teams. There seems to be a general consensus that the rotation of the squad is necessary but I feel that today's performance underlined the fact that there is now a group of players with whom Ralph has total confidence. I do not see much rotation for the remainder of the season or at least until we are safe. What is apparent that the team selected total generally consists of those players with whom Ralph has confidence. I am beginning to think that character matters a lot to him and this is why the likes of Forster, Hoedt and Austin have been left out. For me, Ralph is interested in those players who he feels can reliably do a job as opposed to the most naturally talented and gifted squad members. For me, this mean no way back for Boufal. I agree about the midfield being sorted. I think the defence needs some attention immediately but the attack will probably have to wait until the summer to be enhanced with the kind of players Ralph likes. Once Obafemi is fit, I expect him to be a regular. All in all, reasons to be optimistic after a week in which the results could have cast us adrift as opposed to breathing down the necks of the likes of Palace and Bournemouth.
If Ralph has said to Austin to find a new club then we will hear about it soon. Him and his wife aren't afraid to be open
Someone made the comment near me today that it is a sad indictment of Mark Hughes that he had Benarek in a squad that was regularly conceding goals yet he did not realise how good the Pole was.
Not hate, I just don't like he acts off the field. I have told a few about what I have seen myself and heard from others. But my comment wasn't about that ha There is nothing wrong with being open btw. I was just saying they don't keep things secret.
I will say that Silva didn't impress me at all. He seemed far too concerned with getting as many attacking players on the pitch as possible, to care about having any sort of structure. They were awful after they took Gomes off - who I thought was probably their best player - in order to get DCL on. Leaving Gueye by himself up against our midfield trio was never going to work. (And Silva's best mate Richarlison was awful.)
Mixing up points from several threads, if our strategy is going back to buying young talent and selling them at their peak, the board needs goodwill in the bank when the top players leave or some other signings don't work. It's all quite complex and indirect, particularly when you mix in media narratives, I'd love to understand Les's thought process for some of those decisions (but he's gone so we never will).
Tbf to Hughes, he gave Bednarek his chance last season, but like a lot of Hughes decisions he seemed to change with the breeze
And a system that makes those players look good. Ideally, you want to try to hang on to the top players as long as possible still, and you want teams to think that middling players are top players. That's not going to happen when you're playing turgid keepaway.
I agree about Elyounoussi, he may take time and I am sure he will be here until the summer - he may just not have settled here or be like Ramirez more suited to Italian football. He has played under Hasenhuttl like Austin but for them not to be able to make the bench it does make you wonder if they will ever get back into his plans. Hoedt looks like he has not chance of a reprieve.
Richarlison doing his usual trick of starting the season on fire and then being ****ing **** from November onwards.
The difference between Boufal and Mo El is that Boufal is brave and not frightened to try things and fail, Mo El is so paralysed by fear that he thinks before he does anything and is rarely instinctive and snatches at the opportunities he has in the penalty area, he often takes the safe option too.
That was the frustrating thing about Pellegrino for me, we would have an encouraging display and decent result and then he would change it again for the next match.
