Was this the worst performance in the worst game ever at St Mary's since the stadium opened in 2001 ? Many would say yes.

Hull City came with a game plan, one that entirely predictable given their circumstances and record away from home, they are not the first to use it and will not be the last and it is certainly one that Saints have used themselves many time in the past.

The plan is simple, get most of your team behind the ball at all times and try to catch the opposition on the break or from set pieces.

In truth after 10 minutes had gone the visitors showed little inclination to cross the half way line even when they had the ball, but they were facing a Saints side who were in complete disarray with little leadership or tactical nous from the bench.

When the line up came out it was an attacking one, Boufal, Tadic, Gabbiadini & Redmond all in the team, but the question was how would we fit them all into a formation, I still don't know the answer to that question, in short this was schoolboy tactics, just put out all your attacking players and hope that they will all score.

The reality was that we were disjointed and had little rythym to our play, it would have been far better for Puel to have kept the basis of the side that he usually puts out and concentrate on doing what we have done well at times this season.

The man in the centre of midfield who can pick a pass James Ward Prowse was left out of the side, indeed that seems a trait of Puel, when a player starts to show form drop him, that has been the case with Ward Prowse and indeed Jordy Clasie may have expected to have built on a good performance and goal at West Brom, but instead has not seen any action since and indeed could not even get on the bench for this game.

Gabbiadini barely saw the ball in the first half, he had little service with neither Tadic or Boufal getting the ball and using it to any great advantage. Hull sat back and watched us huff and puff and struggle to work the ball into the box.

The second half was a little better and we started well, but Puel's first substitution seemed to upset the balance even further, Sims coming on meant that we had three wide players on the pitch, baffling all it seemed to do was block the channels for the full backs to get forward.

Shane Long coming on was not unwelcome, this seemed to be the sort of game that he would thrive on, but taking Gabbiadini off saw boo's echo around the ground, why could the manager not try something different and play with two up top, it was not as if we needed the extra man in midfield, Davis and Romeu looked capable of holding the centre, indeed they were the only two players to come out of this game with any credit, no one could have argued with Boufal and Tadic off leaving Redmond and Sims wide in a four man midfield with the full backs supporting behind them.

That would have been a better attacking formation, it would have given us more in the box to aim at, but all Puel did was change like for like, the result was we were just bogged down in midfield with little to aim at in the box.

We almost won it at the end, would we have deserved too ? Yes we kept going and nearly got the win, but it would have been harsh on Hull who gainfully stuck to their task.

Should Tadic have taken the penalty ? he had missed two before, again I would have said Ward Prowse or Ryan Bertrand would have been better candidates.

Saints are a good side, that is proved by the fact that we are still 9th despite a season that has not taken off at any time, it has been one of complete inconsistency, we have not managed more than two wins in a row and that tells you something.

I have always said the manager should be judged at the end of the season and that day is drawing nearer, games like this do nothing to enhance his reputation and show that he is the man for the job, looking at the team yesterday everything is wrong about it, it is set up wrong, there is no consistency in picking some players and then others are played whatever their form, the squad do not appear to be playing for their manager, they seem confused by his tactics and he appears to have alienated several members of the squad with his treatment of them.

I had hoped that this game would be a big step forward for Puel, but it was a big step back, like Klopp at Liverpool, he appears incapable of changing tactics against the lower sides to enable us to beat them well and that is worrying.

Ralph Krueger and the Saints board have a lot of thinking to do about whether Puel is the right man for the job, as those who have read my reports throughout the season know, I m not one for knee jerk reactions, I do think Puel has had several factors beyond his control like injuries etc, but he has also had many thinks that he is in control of and so far when he has had to step up to the plate tactically he has not done so.

This result is not the apocalypse, we are still in the top ten in the table, we still have a decent squad and the ability to move forward, but when you have everything in place in terms of good players then you have to look at why they have failed to consistently perform this season and that comes down to managers.

This season can still have a good ending, on a plus side we are a point nearer West Brom in 8th, next season we can re group and with the squad have a real go at the top 7, the teams around us are playing above their weight, we are playing below ours yet we are still above most of the division.

This is the time when supporters need to stay behind the club, supporting a team is about getting behind it and staying behind it through thick and thin, if we truly want Saints to prosper fans have to realise that if they want the club to put their hands in its pockets for players, then so do the supporters, empty seats should not be happening when a team is in the top ten and challenging for trophies.

The crowd against Hull was subdued, yes it booed the team off at half time but it was entitled to and in the main stayed behind it till the end, it needs to stay behind it now and for next season, we have to take the bad times with the good, we have been spoiled over the last 8 seasons, its been all improvement year on year.

This one has still been a season 14 of the Premier League clubs would have died for, indeed on the face of it we would have taken it last August, but it just doesn't feel like it at the moment

Photo: Action Images

NeilF added 10:53 - Apr 30 My worry is that you a talented bunch of players not playing to their ability. Are not the tactics, team setup, formations and man management Claude Puel's job? Puel talked yesterday about all the things that went wrong. He had all the time before and during the game to sort this out. The ineptness of management is a major concern. Are the players playing for him? I don't think so.

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AmericanSaint added 11:03 - Apr 30 Fair assessment Nick. That was a painful game to watch. I think Cedric had a horrible game and every time someone made a run up hos side he passed it back. The announcers said it right that we passed back to our CB so much it looked like we were trying to play with a 1 goal lead and our lives depended on it. The crowd had a right to boo the play. Yes, the subs were head scratching and why not give Long and Gabs a run out as a top two attack option?? Boufal is not playing the simple game and keeps trying to take on 3 guys at once. Either he needs to learn to pass faster or time to get rid of him as his game does not match well for the PL. Redmond had some good moments, but he too was not making enough runs down the channels or when Gabs did make the run, Redmond didnt pass it. Betrand or Romeu were the MOM for me. They ran and aran even when Redmond, Boufal and Tadic wouldnt pass them the ball. Finally, why was Tadic taking the penalty??? You had Long, Redmond and JRod there. While it was not a horrible pen, Tadic always pulls his shots, so its an easy read for a keeper. Well on to the next one and I am interested to see who he will play this time. Too many unknown factors are making me scratch my head when it come to Puels team selection.

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qnehl1 added 11:04 - Apr 30 "Was this the worst performance in the worst game ever at St Mary's since the stadium opened in 2001 ? Many would say yes." REALLY?!? Like actually being serious?!?
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perazi added 11:05 - Apr 30 Just a couple of corrections to your article. In the last 3 - 4 games JWP hasn't been played in the centre of midfield as your story claims. He has been played wide right in a wing position - and in recent times he has had little or no influence on the game - hence his relegation to the bench. The other thing we haven't seen much of from Ward-Prowse is his capacity to "pick a pass" as you claim. Most of his passes are sideways or backwards. But carry on Nick, I'm going elsewhere for news and views about Saints; your comments have become too blinkered and wide of the mark for my liking.

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the_saint added 11:27 - Apr 30 Puel must be the worse manager since branfoot early season he over rotates he has alienated half the team, I really think the players don't know what there doing as he sets the team up all wrong and he's been doing this all season. And his substitutes and in game tactics are shocking. I would have brought long on but kept gabbi on and play two up top. I was like nick supprise to see tadic Redmond and boufal playing together. I am against the booing and will always get behind the team and not vocally slag players off but how else do you get your feelings known.

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allsaint54 added 11:47 - Apr 30 Where do you start with such an inept & boring performance. Team selection, Buffoon, Tadic & Redmond is never going to work just stifles full backs going forward. Tactics, let's concentrate on sideways & backwards passes & starve Gabbi of the ball let alone create chances. Substititions, let's bring on more wide players & take off only genuine goal scorer we have. Tadic taking penalties a joke, no wonder Austin fought to take them earlier in the season. Players certainly seem confused & probably aren't playing for CB. What's happpened to Classie since MOM performance v WBA, dropped. Forster still a risk every time ball goes near him, can he get any slower. I could carry on but let's hope board see sense & sack CP/Black before next seasons transfer window, perhaps players may want to stay otherwise or our key players will be leavin, so more Buffoons can be signed.

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highfield49 added 12:02 - Apr 30 Thankfully Romeu and Davis kept this shambles competitive despite Puel's weird team selection and substitutions. Like Nick I've tried to keep the faith but I'm baffled as to why the manager thought it to be a good plan to stop the full backs getting into wide positions by blocking space with pseudo wingers. Forster clearly failed to recognise that a repeat of the goal that Palace scored whilst he was taking his time trying to control the ball was a not a good idea. If the manager and his trusted assistant stay in their jobs I fully expect two full backs, at least two midfielders and a couple of forwards to be speaking to their agents about other opportunities. I can only believe that VVD has probably seen enough and despite willingness to stay next season may have decided that his future is probably better served elsewhere. Gloomy, despondent, yes I am, I don't mind finishing low in the league but having the manager shooting the players in the foot every other game is sad to watch.

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dirk_doone added 12:48 - Apr 30 Yesterday's game was full of character: Reed's and Puel's. The makeup of the team had Les Reed's personality stamped all over it and the way they played was pure Claude Puel. It was almost as if Les and Claude's interviews had been translated into a football performance out there on the St Mary's pitch. There's not much point sacking Puel and Black if Reed remains as he will only appoint someone similar to replace them. He had enough of strong managers, who want control of football matters and don't follow his instructions, when Pochettino and Koeman were here. Reed's got the control he wanted now and, as he moves into his late 60s and becomes more set in his ways, he's not going to let it go, and most potential managers will be aware of that.

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davepid added 13:39 - Apr 30 Worst home game ever? I can recall one against Cardiff - three seasons ago that had me crying. We lost 1-0. Worst home game this season? - probably but has competition from the Bev sheva game and Arsenal in the cup.
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law101 added 13:50 - Apr 30 No saints fan is convinced we will kick on next year that is the problem. With this manager and the reality that we will lose VVD and Bertrand. I can see another summer like 2014 and fear losing the likes of Cedric, Romeu, Tadic etc. The reality is investment is needed to convince the players to stay and that they could move forward with us! I feel sorry for the season ticket holders, utter rubbish all year.

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Consigliere added 14:31 - Apr 30 Law101 touches a raw nerve with his last remark - we are being asked to renew our season tickets by 14 May and whilst I will, many won't. Why is that? Because against teams like Hull who come here to defend and attack on the break, Saints' style of football can only be described as "boring". As I have said so many times before, its no damn use picking up the ball in defence, messing about with it in midfield for a bit whilst the opposition re-groups then letting the attack peter out as soon as we get within sight of goal. What we come here to see is fast, free-flowing football and there hasn't been enough of it lately and almost none of it yesterday. I wasn't one of those who booed the team off at half time but I was part of the roar which went up each time we fiddled around in midfield before either losing possession or worse, passing back to defence. I assume we were last on MOTD again - I couldn't be bothered to watch, and that is telling and worrying.

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the_saint added 15:22 - Apr 30 Oh and like conte at Chelsea did everybody notice silva in his technical area all game bellowing instructions puel stepped in waved his arms about then sat back down again as for black what a joke. Silva would be a good manager for us. On a positive note the penalty spot at Northam end looks very nice now
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SaintPaulVW added 16:05 - Apr 30 Appalling game. Most of the players looked like they'd gone on holiday already. But hey a clean sheet so Yoshi and Stephens did well and bring their partnership's highly selective 'worst in the league' goals let in average down. As we've seen today (3-0 at Everton)we did well against Chelsea. Thought the performance didn't reflect the result then, yesterday, the disjointed performance did reflect the result. Puel needs to kick some butt and get that 8th place sewn up. I think anything less now is a slight let down. Be interesting to see which players, aside from Van Dyke, may attract any interest, Romeu, Redmond? Not sure too many will leave in the Summer and with no likely interest in Puel we may have a fairly settled build up to next season. Hopefully that can be reflected on the pitch.

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halftimeorange added 16:11 - Apr 30 Lethargic, lacklustre, leaderless, lazy, lackadaisical and lousy. Barely worth a comment but I do hope someone at the club is listening. Boos around the ground and no wonder. GOOD JOB WE ALREADY HAD THE POINTS. The team looked as baffled as the fans.
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ItchenNorth added 16:13 - Apr 30 Readers​ letter; I have been a supporter of this great club for over 40 years and season ticket holder for most, through bad times and good, but this must surely stop now. I don't think I'll renew my season ticket again, I can't handle it anymore, what has happened to the club I love, this is NOT #TheSouthamptonWay. I remember the good old days when legendary club managers such as Branfoot, Sturrock, Wigley and Redknapp ruled the waves. But this Puel guy is too good. We have completely lost our identify now. It all started with that bloody Adkins guy and has not stopped since. I've now had enough of this crap. The board needs to act fast and act now before it's too late. If we can prise them away, surely a dream team of Poortvliet and Wotte could be secured. Pay them whatever it takes, I don't care. Saturdays​ match was much better, but we don't want games like these in April, how boring. What we desperately need is excitement mid May. The 'will we or won't we survive' of the good old days. I know some of you think that these good times are just around the corner if we stick with this Puel guy, but you are wrong. They bloke took us to cup final ! We must get rid of him now otherwise I fear that The Southampton Way will be lost forever. We March On.

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SanMarco added 19:40 - Apr 30 "games like this do nothing to enhance his reputation and show that he is the man for the job" is the phrase that jumps out at me from this verdict. I can't think of anything better than that to say so will shut up....
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Saint88 added 22:55 - Apr 30 We should be careful what we wish for. I remember a 606 ‘phone in when a Charlton fan said that Alan Curbishley had taken Charlton as far as he could. He left. They are in the football league one, no move up the table, just unrealistic supporter expectations. We want it all we want it now………..
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dirk_doone added 23:48 - Apr 30 No wonder. They went from Alan Curbishley to Les Reed, voted the worst manager in the history of the Premier League.
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BoondockSaint added 01:26 - May 1 This is what you get when the mindset of the club (and some supporters) is: "We're just a little club here to make up the numbers. Let's just strive for safety and sell a few players every summer". Sooner or later it manifests itself on the field. Yes the players need to take a good look in the mirror, but so do the board and management staff. Why would VVD waste another year of a promising career with this ? It's stunning how Saints went from an up-and-coming, talented and ambitious team to this in less than a year!

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TeamCortese added 07:49 - May 1 Everyone can jabber on as much as they like about our performance but the frank reality is our players are not good enough. The club has got to this stage simply because it hasn’t invested adequately in bettering itself. Look at Spurs since Poch joined. They’ve gone from a club on the fringes of the top 6 to genuine title contenders in the space of 2-3 years. We had that opportunity but blew it because of our small club mentality. The sentiment is often from people like Nick who will say “we’re victims of our own success”, “there’s only so much the board can do to keep players”, “We’ve come a long way since our football league days”, “people who talk about ambition are glory hunters”. The real question people should be asking themselves is: “Is this possible to do?” instead of striving for mediocrity. Most of these things are possible but require the right personnel with the right mentality. We need less JWPs and Davis’s in our squad. I’m tired of seeing players who pass back and don’t take responsibility to make things happen in the final third. We really need some new blood with our ownership and also to get rid of people like Les Reed and co. I’m not entirely convinced Puel is the right man for the job but I still think he needs time. Klopp needed a season and so does Guardiola at present. Liverpool finished 8th last season and reached the Europa League finals. If we finish 8th or 9th and people are still calling for Puel’s head then by that logic Liverpool should have sacked Klopp already. To most people that what sound ludicrous. I’m just hoping the new investors will take the club forward because I’ve seriously had enough. Too much pride has been eroded from our supporters with these transfer fiascos.

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the_saint added 08:31 - May 1 Can't see puel changing the French are very stubborn it's a bit like trying to tell your daughter that this boys no good for her, the more you tell her the more she will dig her heels in.
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SaintBrock added 09:38 - May 3 Agree Nick, I cannot recall a worst performance at St Mary's. Dreadful. Not many more points coming our way now and 15th is beckoning. Still that should be it for Puel if there is any logic at all in football these days. Let's guess. Liverpool 0-3, Arsenal 1-3, Middlesboro 0-0, Man U 0-4, Stoke 1-2
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