Our usual look at each players individual performance in the home victory over Stoke City on Saturday.

Frazer Forster
Didn't have a lot to do but in the main did what he had to, there was a brief period in the game when he did't look sharp and left his defenders to deal with situations, but he was positive in those moments so there was no confusion, in the dying minutes however there was definitely no confusion when he came an claimed several dangerous crosses into our box, thus snuffing out danger before it could develop.
7/10

Nathaniel Clyne
Another good game where the right back not only did his defensive duties well but got forward and offered width to the attack, key for me is when attacks break down hos quickly he got back behind the ball and in position.
8/10

Jose Fonte
So far this season he seems to have cut out the unforced errors that in past seasons have blighted his game, perhaps its the captaincy that has helped do that,but again a good strong performance.
8/10

Toby Alderrmoor
Unlike his predecessor now at Liverpool, Alderweireld has slotted into the Saints defence as if he has played there all his life, perhaps the biggest tribute is that you don't notice he is there, he just gets on with his game and deals with everything in a calm assured manner.
8/10

Plastic Bertrand
Again like Clyne defends, gets forward and gets back, there dual attack on the overlap is perhaps one of the main reasons why we are doing so well, we just didnt have this attacking option last season.
8/10

Dusan Tadic
An old song used to go "he plays on the left he plays on the right" I cant remember who it was about, however Tadic again switched sides and again it freshened up our approach, after pre season it was said by Saints fans more with optimism than anything else that Tadic was better than Lallana, that proved to be wrong, we now know that he is far far better. Almost man of the match
8.5/10

Morgan Schneiderlin
On the day he seemed to me to have a quiet game, the problem is with this team at the moment there are so many who are putting in good performances that what would have looked good in comparison last season, is now par for the course.
8/10

Jack Cork
Another good display from Jack who did exactly what the manager wanted, played his part in moving the ball round quickly meaning that Saints dominated the game and his departure just after the hour was no reflection on his play but a tactical move.
8/10

Steven Davis
When they gave Steven Davis the number 8 shirt they were almost setting him a standard, week in week out Davis puts in an 8/10 performance to be Mr Consistency whether he is asked to play dep or more forward or even in a wider role, he is a player who never seems to have a bad game, sometimes not given the credit he deserves due to the fact that he just does things quietly.
8/10

Sadio Mane
Mane offers Saints something they haven't had for a while, a player with genuine pace, but also has an end product whether it be finishing or providing, Mane can at time splay more as a winger but as with his goal he can also finish so play as a striker, he has fitted into Saints system perfectly and his goal for me means he just about shades man of the match for that contribution on top of his performance.
9/10

Pelle
Again at the heart of everything going forward, he seems to get better with each game, whether its dropping deep and holding the ball up or getting on the end of a cross he is there, was unlucky not to get a goal or two on Saturday hitting the woodwork a couple of times including in the lead up to the goal, his importance to the team going forward is immense.
8/10

Subs
Victor Wanyama.
Came on at the right time and did what was wanted of him and that was break up the Stoke play and make sure they didn't get a glimpse of a way back into the game when they went into the final quarter only a goal behind.
8/10

Florin Gardos
Only played in injury time so hard to give him a rating, but again did what he was asked to do and that was anchor the ground in front of the centre of defence and add height for set pieces.
8/10

Ronald Koeman
In all my time watching Saints I don't think I have ever witnessed a manager who has been so integral to not just how well we are playing, but in the whole make up of the squad, again on Saturday he got the selection and tactics spot on, he doesn't make substitutions just for the sheer hell of it, he makes them for a reason and most games we end still with a substitution in hand, he doesn't take chances and always seems to have a card to play if the unexpected should happen.
8/10

The Game.
In many respects more satisfying than the previous week against Sunderland, on another day we could have had three or four, but we didn't meaning we had to stay tight and focused to the very end, perhaps last season we would have drawn this, after all we drew the last four against the Potters, but we didn't because we stayed tight and on the ball and that was a good sign for the rest of the season.

Photo: Action Images

TimSaint added 10:21 - Oct 27 Wow !! Some very generous marks through the red and white tinted spectacles :-) Yes it was a battling display that grafted out a deserved win, but this was partly our own fault for not killing the game off when the chances were presented to us. Yes I know we hit the woodwork 3 times, but Pelle and Tadic should wrapped the game up for us. Our defence was very stubborn, but I am not sure that the tactic of letting Crouch win the headers (usually unchallenged) and trying to pick up the second ball was the best option. It wasn't until Vic came on, that we had anyone willing to challenge the former Saints Striker - who is responsible for the best quote in football EVER !! Peter, what would you be, if you weren't a footballer? A VIRGIN !!! Mane and Tadic both played excellently, but both were struggling for the last 20 mins or so. Mane is still adapting to the Prem and Tadic got a whack in the back from Bardsley that the ref and lino decided to ignore despite both being 10-20 yards away. Both players seemed to take the easy option with passes and runs (or lack of them) and it was at this stage that Ron should have changed one or both. Long would have been ideal with his running, heading ability and guile. Our defence held out well, Forster was impressive with his catching of crosses and the whole team put a shift in. Stoke were pressing us in the the last 20 or so and as a result we gave the bal away far too cheaply on too many ocasions that put the pressure back on, with Fonts particularly guilty of this :-) Still, I don't think I can recall any chance of note from Stoke, so credit to the whole team - although I'm not sure Gardos getting 8 for his cameo,deserved more than Forster :-) Just hope we can put out a strong side on Wednesday night. I expect that perhaps Morgan and Toby will be rested and that after the jobs Mane and Tadic did against Arsenal, they are fit for at least an hour. As it half term, my cousin and I are taking the kids on their first midweek away road trip, so here's to another win and perhaps and favourable home tie in the next round after 3 away games.

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legod7 added 11:31 - Oct 27 Why did you give 12 players 8 out of 10 or above and Forster (who is a much better all round keeper than Boruc ) only 7 ?
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SaintNick added 14:08 - Oct 27 To take tim's points, I though that no one had a bad game out there, I do agree to a part about Tadic and mane dying off towards the end and perhaps they werent as effective, but we shut the game down well in the final quarter therefore no one was under an 8 apart from Forster. Legod7 I like Forster but I dont think he was worth a 8 for several reasons, bearing in mind that 5 would be a poor game, 6 less than average 7 average, 8 good, 9 very good & 10 excellent. Forster had an average game, he had a little period when he didnt look as sharp as he should have been but at the end he came out and took a couple of good crosses, therefore in my opinion he had an average game for a premier keeper, in fairness he didnt have enough to do to have a good game. It is nothing to do with Boruc or otherwise

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