Wonderful win under difficult circumstances after - again - having a player sent off in half 1!
Some intelligent, 'protective' substitutions made by Ralph, I thought, and substitute Shane Long my MOTM 1 with the assist for the 2-2 equalizer and the 3-2 winner; his first in 22 months as I understand it..
JWP my MOTM 2 for his versatility (def. midfield for 30 min., RB for 70 minutes) and stamina and his assist for Shane Longs winner. Forster my MOTM 3 for his good allround performance and right leg save just before the end of normal time. Substitute Moi my MOTM 4 for his instant 2-2 equalizer.

A good way to start a new year under new ownership.
Onwards and upwards and hopefully a good home draw for round 4 in the cup and another victory on tuesday.
COYS! <3

2

Romeu was dreadful; he lost too many balls while the anchor for that midfield. To reinforce this team, the new owners need to spend a good chunk on that number 6 role. We need a solid defensive midfield with an excellent passing range. I hope we get Cole Palmer, McAtee, Delap, and Vinicius Souza.
An excellent overall performance from the team, considering we were 10 men over 90 minutes. The Tuesday team is Forster, JWP, Stephens, Salisu, Perraud, Redmond, Romeu, Diallo, Elyounoussi, Tella, Broja.

-3

At first it looked as though Saints would walk it with a neat goal setting up Redmond to poke in. But then the 'Curse of the Saints': Valery chased Obafemi and barely touched his back but it was of enough for a pathetic referee to send him off - it was Southampton FC so they're apparently allowed to do that at will. A now familiar refereeing decision but Saints are used to this now under the rule of Ralph. However however, Ralph is also now used to this and so Saints now know how to set up under the familiar disaster. 4-4-1 Prowsy goes to right back and Mr Long one of his rare appearances (replacing Broja). So Saints persevered with Prowsy and Long playing heroically and the rest of the team doing a little better than just enough scoring two more through Mo and Shane, showing enough class to engineer to goals to win it. Of the other players: Forster did his stoppers job although he did push the ball out into dangerous areas a couple of times that would be punished in the Prem; Stephens looked a bit out of place at first but improved; Romeu looked sluggish and in need of a capable understudy; and Stuart Armstrong didn't look match fit which is unsurprising. The others huffed and puffed, just having enough quality to see out the game. Must say it was excruciating, and added to the frustration and tension, having to listen to the all-Welsh commentary who choose to ignore the blindingly obvious when it was to Saints advantage - thanks BBC!

3

Shocking news if Tino is seriously injured. When did that happen? , and why would it take up to A YEAR to get him fit, if it's allegedly a meniscus problem in one of his knees? For decades meniscus surgery has been 'smaller' surgery (done via a scope), and the recovery time is usually weeks or a couple of months.
In 1994 Franco Baresi injured his meniscus in the Word Cup in match 1 or 2; -> he had scope surgery and returned for the final!
Has Tino ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, or what?

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