HOME TO BURNLEY

With an extremely tricky period coning up, I think anything less than 3 points would be a big worry. Can we get them?

Problem is Burnley are very confident at the moment, play to their strengths and keep it simple, They will let us have possession then look to hit us on the break. Will be interesting to see team selection, I suspect the same as last weekend, though think everyone agrees Tadic should be dropped, I would play Long instead as think he is a good partner for Gabbadini but doubt MP will do that, he is to defensive and bet now Tadic will start.

Going for another 1-1 draw

Well another hopeless result, Another game where we have dominated yet lost or drawn, cannot create clear chances, can't score and play one up front THATS THE EFFING REASON WE DONT SCORE PELLEGRINO!!!!! See he has a great quote on the saints website, "we did everything but score"

Sorry and doubt he reads the points here Mike but it really is a worry that he cannot see the problem, nor act to fix it. Yes the squad has limitations, not least a goal keeper with no confidence who will conceded a goal every game, but it isn't that bad , play to its strengths, get the work rate up and play 2 up front and we will win enough to end mid table. Keep on with one striker with Forster in goal and we will be relegated without doubt.

Knew he would start Redmond and Tadic, with Boufal and Gabbadini radio said 4 up front, in reality 1 up front. No balance to the side and meant yet again midfield was weak. Also dropped Hoedt, just why???? Played well at Brighton, dealt with the high ball better than Yoshida would and means we don't have a settled back four. Of course we could go 3 at the back with Hoedt VVD and Yoshida but that seems out of the question for Pellegrino.

Started well but Burnley had little attacking threat so wasn't that hard but creating clear chances were few, took 15 minutes before a shot on goal. We had a couple of corners but wasted by Davis unable to get past the near post. Redmond was a mix of okay and rubbish, several saints players had the opportunity to shoot from outside the box but all passed up the opportunity, that has to be a training ground issue. Davis had acres of space and passed, Redmond same. Redmond did cut in from left to shoot at goal which Pope saved, then Bertrand had a go at the near post but was unlikely to trouble Pope, Interesting their reserve goalie far superior to Forster. Boufal then had a shot at the near post that Pope parried away. Tadic was virtually anonymous, played on the right with Redmond on left, the opposite sides to where most fans think they have been effective.

Second half was a similar pattern, Gabbadini flashed a header wide, think he should probably have done better. Then saints had a good bit of pressure with several corners , then Yoshida had a shot on the turned that Pope turned over the bar, Instead of taking the initiative, take off Tadic for Long, Pellegrino only reacted after Dyche put on 2 up front, Vokes and Barnes, What did Pellegrino do, bring on Austin but took off Gabbadini. Game changed at that point, we went on the back foot, was if the players thought it was a dumb idea. True Gabbadini wasn't having a great game but he is still our best striker, quite a bit of arguing amongst the fans with many vociferous about how clueless Pellegrino is. Then with 10 minutes left sucker punch, ball not cleared on our left, no midfield tracking and Bertrand to casual, ball swung in and a simple header from Vokes found the corner. Not sure if Forster at fault but he made no attempt to come out for the ball or dive for it, if McCarthy doesn't start the next game something is wrong. Took of Tadic, guy had the cheek to run off, first time all game! for Long then with a minute left brought on JWP who immediately ran to take a corner, best one of the day but came to nothing.

Seriously in trouble and its not just the manager. Reed has ruled over the club in recent years and surrounded himself with yes men and staff who are not up to the job, Watson worst gk coach we have ever had, Wilson, hopelessly out of his depth in identifying players, Managers who do as they are told, Jaidi terrible Youth coach, Eric Black probably one of the worst coaches in the Premier league. We need Mr Gao to get seriously worried about his £220m investment and take action, Reed will try and cover his backside. Get rid of Black, Watson, Wilson and Jaidi, move Reed upstairs to a CE role non job with no influence on the team, he can smooze guest in corporate. Bring back Mitchell to head up scouting and get in a couple of decent coaches. That would allow Pellegrino a chance to then assert himself. Personally he is up to the job but willing to give him a try without the Reed entourage in the background.

Forster 5 Must be dropped simple as that
Cedric 7 tireless and gives his all for the team
Yoshida 5 poor game and should nto have replaced Hoedt
VVD 5 moaned a fair bit and if he was leading the back 4 we wouldn't be conceding headed goals
Bertrand 6 got forward in first half but I would paly target
Davis 6 runs a lot but not an attacking midfield palyer
Romeau 7 again back to his old form putting in all the effort
Redmond 5 fits and starts but still looks a championship player for me.
Boufal 6 played in a more central role, did okay but needs time in this position
Tadic 4 anonymous, means we paly with effectively 10 men, must be dropped
Gabbadini 5 should have done better with the header but service is poor, needs Long alongside him

Subs Austin 5 will be gone in January, looks a shadow of what he was, hardly got a look inside their pen area.

Thanks Matty once again.

Grino doesn't read our comments on here???? Now that's a shock......

It worried me that in front of the cameras after the Burnley game, Grino was saying that it was just one of those games and it happens in football. It seemed that he was just accepting the result......surely he should have been showing more fire and a bit more passion and anger.