OhForAGreavsie

How long left? A confidence goal for Saul would be a beautiful cherry on top here.

No need to hold on anymore 0:2

Sorry to say you are wasting photons here. In any case... He didn't look it in the summer. He looked selfish and over interested in trying to win the game on his own. Mbappe produced a very unconvincing tournament.

Post ditched. Too negative.

I've watched the video now and I definitely blame Saul more than Kepa. He was the big favourite to deal with that ball but allowed himself to be brushed aside. Meanwhile it seems to me that Kepa was a bit unlucky but I won't argue the point now. That's not because I don't believe it's arguable. Rather it's because the rest of your comment feels more important at the moment. Albeit in a negative sense, last night made two things clear. Neither Saul nor Sarr can be relied upon. I know La Liga watchers have been posting about Sarr's shortcomings for a while but yesterday I saw at first hand what they have been worried about.

Yes, sadly I have to agree. I'd say tonight was a turning point performance. Turning in the wrong direction. What I saw tonight leaves me with no reason to hope he might become a contributor for us. And the lost possession leading to their goal was weak.

Jorgi was warming up/stood on the touchline for at least the last ten minutes of normal time. Thought he was bound to come on for the spot kicks. Maybe the flurry of corners killed it because TT didn't want to make a change at a defensive set piece.

Agree with your overall points but I'd say it was way more than ten minutes.

Have people been blaming Kepa for the goal? I haven't seen video yet, but live I was cursing Saul.

Couldn't believe what I was watching. Strange, strange decision.

Pure guesswork here but I wonder if the club have a plan to exercise their reported buyback clause in the summer of 2023? The intention being that Tino would then replace Azpi in the squad and share minutes with Reece as Dave does now. A potential fly in that ointment however is the possibility of Tino attracting the attention of attention of other big clubs who might make him offers we can't, or won't, match. Saints' fans love him. I've read ranging from, "Enjoy him while you can, he'll be gone at the end of the season", to, "This kid is as good as Gareth Bale was." Anyone who's read my posts knows I like Tino and have championed his CFC first team prospects but, even so, I think those supporters are going overboard.

Especially Dave against Malmo. The phrase that came to mind time and again was, "Where the heck is Azpi playing?" He frequently received the ball around the D of their box with his back to goal. Amazing.

I agree that, thinking about Kai's situation only, it would make sense for him to play. I was just speculating that TT might be cautious about his options for Newcastle if Kai should be injured tomorrow night. In his Norwich press conference the manager ruled Lukaku and Werner definitely out for two games only. They must surely also be doubts for The Magpies however. If it was a league game Kai would undoubtedly play but, given that southampton will probably also rotate, TT may be thinking about keeping number 29 out of the firing line tomorrow.

Ruben as a false false 9? 🙂

Tuchel does not put a foot wrong. Quality individual. I also thought Kai was OK today. Certainly better than his cameo on Wednesday. A start against Southampton would give him an opportunity to build some momentum but I expect TT will be juggling that with the competing priority of protecting Kai for next weekend.

Just looking to spark the discussion. All timescales valid.

Leave Southampton aside but what implications, if any, does this performance have for team selection going forward?

I still can't believe but, every extra clean sheet notched up shortens the odds. Here's hoping you've been right all along.

Amazing how frequently it's like that isn't it? When a side gets thumped it's very often the case that the keeper is their POM.

What a good question.

Well done them.

Well I always believed that Torres was signed by Roman until Butch Wilkins stated publicly, and stated adamantly, that it was Carlo who was pushing for Nando. I don't see any reason why Ray would not have known the truth or would have lied about it, so that settled the matter for me. Shame on Carlo. I knew Nando was not a good footballer, and said so frequently before he was signed. There is no excuse for Carlo. In Rom's case I feel that someone in the club hierarchy wanted to prove a point from all those years ago. Wanted, in effect, to say, "See we were right about this bloke all along." This is just gut, not based on any evidence or indications.

I was also in The Shed (Upper) last night, block 3 so nearest to the Malmo fans. I didn't think we were on great form. Certainly less good than the last time I was in The Shed (Villa). There were long periods of quiet yesterday. P.S. Since I'm criticising others I have to admit, as I've done before, that I'm not great at the old chanting myself. I'll follow along if someone else gets it going, as long as it's a chant I approve of, but I seldom, very seldom, attempt to get one going myself. It's just not my personality so I'm as much to blame as anyone.

100% this. All we can do, and the least we must do. To be fair The Bridge is very supportive of Rom.

I enjoyed the fact that Atalanta's first goal was made in Cobham; sort of. Zappacosta to Pasalic, one-nil.