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So, can Saints get the better of the Puel lot?

My vibes proved right for the first 2 games.....I hope they don't let me down this time as I feel we should win this!!

Going to stay positive and go with a saints win, Vardy is not playing which is good as fans can concentrate on getting behind the team as opposed going after him. Hope we play 4 1 3 2 Romeau in front of back 4 with Yoshdia and Vestergaard at CB, Midfield of Lemina, Hojberg and Armstrong with Ings and Gabbadini up front. Don't think that will happen as he will start Redmond but although he hasn't been bad this season I don't think he offers enough in terms of goals or creating chances. We bought in Armstrong to get some goals and if he is behind Gabba and Ings thinks there will be chances he can take.

Jeez ... another couple of points lost, well at least one.

The first time I thought Saints could win.....and the vibes have to let me down. A bit worried that while Hughes said the team played well, the comments on the Echo website are mostly that they were rubbish.

Well optimism is going fast, think the Echo and Hughes are both wrong, they were okay in spells and indeed should never have lost. The Hojberg sending off changed momentum but we still should have stopped the final goal. We started brightly at least an improvement from the Burnley game but was mostly nice moves with no real threat on goal. Have no idea why Gabbadini was not on the pitch let alone not in the squad. Despite the pressure think 8 corners first half or we had was Vestrergaard header that went wide then just before the break Ings turned well and got a shot that Schmeichel parried and went beyond Long, cannot help thing the type of activity where someone like Gabbadini would have done better.  Defensively looked reasonably solid though both Hoedt and Vestergaard looked a bit slow, both are good in the air not so on the ground though would take Vestergaard any day over Hoedt. Redmond played well and was involved a lot but as I said before he never looks like scoring and a couple of time chose the wrong option.

Second half started same and deservedly took the lead with a cracking goal by Bertrand, low ball from the right, everyone missed it and fell perfectly for Bertrand to fire home. Instead of holding the game we again conceded a sloppy goal, Hoedt gave the ball away on the left and from that a long ballinto the box and like so many times last season Cedric at fault dealing with it. Only managed to head up into the air, Gray had all the time to bring down and fire past McCarthy. Not sure why he took of Ings and put on Austin as really meant little chance of scoring, that got worse when Hojberg went on a run, fouled a couple of times outside the box but went down inside and carded and sent off. What really annoys me was Moss couldn't have been sure there was no touch but had his card out when running to Hojberg, yet in the same half Gray went down in the box, no foul, clear dive and Moss did nothing. John Moss is one of the worst referees in the Premier league, he got 2 decisions wrong in the first 2 minutes, gave us a corner when a goal kick then a throw to Leicester when our ball. You can see why there were no English referees in the world cup and the sooner we bring in VAR the better, would be even better if we sacked the likes of Moss, Friend, Dean but its is like an old boys club where they are untouchable.

Should have seen out the game with 10 men but having Austin on the pitch meant we were down to 9, we had a couple of corners so could have done better if we had decent delivery but Ward Prowse stuck on the bench, you would have though when be took off Elyous he would have brought on Prowsie for a set piece but afraid Hughes is making some baffling decisions. Bedanek had a good end to the season and also world cup not in the squad yet, no Yoshida yet Hoedt makes mistakes every game and of course Austin and Long both in front of Gabbadini and Gallagher not even seen the bench yet No doubt some will play against Brighton but they should be starting league games.

McCarthy 5  really should have done better with the second goal was caught flat footed.
Bertrand 7 one of his better games for some time and great goal.
Hoedt 5 far to suspect for me on the ground, moans at everyone when its his mistake and a hot head, no way he should be picked before Yoshida,
Vestergarrd 6 good in the air but a few lunges, been watching Hoedt
Cedric 4 what has happened to him but has to be dropped, his delivery is also and beaten far to easy with a high ball at the far post.
Lemina 7 had a strong game and much better than Burnley game
Hojberg 6 before his sending off had played well for about 70 minutes then tired, something Hughes couldn't see.
Elyous 6 some decent touches but didn't really get forward to much in the penalty box
Redmond 7 no doubt one of the better palyers ran well and even linekd up well with Bertrand second half but has to start scoring goals
Ings 6 a quiet game but with Long out wide had Morgan and Maguire to dela with
Long 6 ran a lot and cannot be faulted for effort but unlikely to score goals so why picked ahead of Gabba?

Subs
Austin 4 on for Ings and hardly broke a sweat, seeing out his contract, loan him out in January and give Gallagher a chance
Romeau 5 came on to shore up the middle but struggled to get into the game
Armstrong 5 only on for a short tiem but worng sub, should have been JWP with his set piece delivery.

Disappointing that Hughes seesm to have already picked favourites,  (Hoedt, Austin, Cedric) regardless of performances and likes of Bedanek, Gallagher, Yoshida, Gabbadini seen as just squad players, hope he realises pretty quick he needs to change it. Also the impact of Reeds control at the club, no forward signed as no money as he wasted it on Boufal and Carillo, effectively £40m wasted which for clubs like saints is going to have a major impact. He needs to be out of the club and the whole recruitment process reviewed, ours is probably one of the worst now in premier league.

Thanks Matty, depressing as it was. Hopefully, as you mentioned, a few changes for the Brighton game.

Thanks again Matty