LEICESTER AT ST MARYS

Can Saints win this to keep above West Ham??

Indeed we can.

What a dire performance. Not sure what Adkins will say about the simple fact that all the players tonight showed no passion, no ambition no desire to put themselves on the line. Heard him on Solent say not good enough sorry Nigel it was beyond that. Why no effort, I can put up with an unskilled bunch if they show passion and work their socks off but the players tonight couldnt be bothered and that raises questions about the mentality and desire of the players and the ability to motivate.

Point is this is not the first time we have seen this type of performance this year. Same against Bristol city where a side chased and harried us and were first to the tackle. Similar against Blackpool. sides have sussed us and you dont seem to have a plan B. Team selection was a worry, Harding at right back yet Richardson on the bench, Fit enough for bench then he starts, if not fit play Butterfield a right back. Playing the new spanish kid was always a gamble used as a sub okay but he was simply lost, yes some nice touches but was quickly chased down. In second half he was moved to right side so never played in championship, played out of position against a hungry fast team. guess what, he disappeared. No fault of the kid but what was Adkins thinking, or dreaming.

Both goals conceded were poor goals, Harding allowed the skate b****** Nugent inside and free shot, kelvin didnt move. second goal Martin at fault and have to say he was poor all night, always looking to pass the ball sideways and playing other players into trouble. Could have been different Connolly had great chance early on with clear sight of goal yet fluffed his kick straight at Schmeichel, Cork should have done better near end of first half but schneiderlin had the chance to shoot and like he always does completely bottled it, everyone says Schneiderlin is premiership quality but I simply dont see it week in week out. Hammond had great chance with header but put wide of post when seemed easier to score

second half had some half chances, Guly shot wide, Richardson should have done better at far post, further chances for midfield players to shoot but oh no must not take responsibility and shoot lets pass it one more time and loose the opportunity. De ridder and Holmes came on but didnt do much, Holmes did have great chance but shot went just wide, some may say unlucky but didnt make the goalie into a save.

davis 5 probably not at fault but didnt take command in the box
harding 4 awful at rigth back never got forward and never tackled, slightly better wehn went to left side
hoovield 5 went off with hamstring injury, if he is out for a few games we wre in deep ****
Martin 3 terrible game, no confidence he likes this pass out of defence, just seem frightend of the ball
Fox 4 awful at left back ok at CH when Hoovield went off injured
Cork 5 didnt get forward at all first half when on right what the formation was as stayed inside to much as if orders
Schneiderlin 3 dont think he made a tackle until the 80th minute, like marmite you either love him or hate him and I'm the latter!
Hammond 5 he cant tackle though he tried to.
Falke 5 completely out of his depth but showed a cple of flashes first half, leave him as sub to watch the game and defenders to tire.
Guly 5 frustrating as ever but did try but dropped deeper and deeper trying to get the ball
Connolly 3 pretty awful really, lightweight wasted great chance

Subs
de Ridder 5 some flashes but not a lot
holmes 4 one shot and that was about it.
richrdson 5 at least he made a cple of his runs that nearly paid off.

Well it will be a struggle to make the play offs at this rate. time for action not words and will see what cortese is really about. In last 12 months apart from Cork I think we have done nothing in the transfer market. Relying on an 18 year old spanish kid, an unproved Japanese striker doesnt show real ambition to me and personally I dont believe these are the players Adkins wants, I think these are Les Reed signings. What we desperately need is a ball winning midfield player not just to cover for Chaplow but to play alongside him if we need to, we will be bullied out of promotion if we dont. We wasted time on the Hooper bids as Celtic dont need the money player is under long contract and was never going to sell for £4m. Just like the CMS saga last winter. Now talk of Rhodes, Huddersfield wont sell unless a stupid offer (£10m), No different to us with Chamberlain and even then wont be to the end of the season. NA also needs to move on those who do not make the grade for a team challenging for the top, Holmes, Forte etc.

NA said when we have Lambert, Lallana, Fonte, Chaplow, Barnard back a different team but fact is aside from lambert we dont know when they will be back. If Hooveild out for a few games who will fill in at CB? Chaplow has missed at least 10 games now and there are plenty of loan players around we could have brought in if willing to pay the wages, I would willingly take some div 1 younger players willing to take an opportunity to prove they have what it takes rather than anymore unknown overseas players