Let's put that first 45 down to cobwebs. Otherwise: - Hojbjerg looks excellent. - Redmond is gonna take maybe half a season to beat those winger-instincts out of himself. Otherwise a handy little debut. - Cedric was awful. Pied to start next game. - Tadic looked much more up-for-it today, but still a bit iffy at set-pieces. - Targett played well but his lack of pace will always worry me.
Yeah, but even French fans stressed that he was much better going forward than in his own half. He's a fullback that likes to spend an awful lot of time in and around the opponent's box, for better and worse.
That is what I saw against Bilbao. I am going to go out on a limb and suggest there's not that much wrong with Cuco!
Positives - Højbjerg Højbjerg Højbjerg Seriously though, Tadic and Redmond both had good games. I'm concerned that Romeu got rinsed a few times by average players in the 2nd half
Yeah surprised so much of the negative focus is on Cedric, big fan of Romeu but he was horrendous. One thing being rusty on the ball but got left for dead multiple times. Would expect at the very least for him to make a tactical foul but didn't even manage that.
I think the word for today is "exasperated". If we had actually turned up in the first half we would have won easily. It shouldn't take a much needed kick up the arse from Puel to get going, especially on the opening day of the season. That being said, Redmond, Tadic and Hojbjerg big positives. Not to mention meeting Fran and Helen for the first time. Wasn't a red for Watson either. Right in front of me. There was a covering defender.
Romeu woeful. I know he has fans on here but I've said it all of last season. He's so slow on the turn and doesn't have the pace to recover. JWP very poor. Tadic and Redmond were excellent. Pierre very composed.
Last season we played with two deep midfielders. The diamond formation gives you just one. That is the biggest difference between the two formations. So its understandable that Romeu struggled.
Unfortunately a lot of our players seem better as part of a 2 man dm partnership - which we've dumped.
I was walking home (I know all of 5 mins) and was talking to my mate. I was saying how we would get destroyed against utd if we play like the first half. Some guy came up to me and said you sound like Watford fans as Deeney is worth half of Pogba... Some Saints fans are insane.
First refereeing dispute of the season......the speed Long was travelling at I think made the 'covering' defender irrelevant. There is no doubt that Watson believed Long was through on goal otherwise he wouldn't have done what he did.
Just back. First half movement was sluggish, much snappier in the second half and we certainly had the chances- the other positive is Virgil who was great. Redmond was good and it was a tidy finish. Can't help wondering whether he will be prepared to pick out a team-mate or always be looking for a shot.
