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I'm afraid I agree. He was the poorest of the lot today. Horrible touch and awareness. God we need some centre backs and fast.

Three-One United with commentators cooing over our passing patterns near the half way line.

Yeah, great stuff and good memories. Will it ever happen again?

[quote=Give it to Ron;147894 As I have posted on many occasions we all know we had to rely on youth but there have been 5 or 6 stupid loan signings that could of been used on more experienced pro's like Perry, Lucketti to mix in and not totally reliant on young 16/17 year olds. That I suspect is one of the few things that almost everyone who posts on here would agree with - loans and purchases. What an earth have Forecast, Pulis, Smith, Gasmi, Pekhart and Robertson brought to the party that we couldn't have got from, say, Bialkowski, Gobern, McLaggon, Thompson, Paterson and White. Uncontrovertibly no better than what we already have. Morgan and Corky - yes. Alex Pearce - probably.But swap all six of those I've mentioned above for one big experienced centre-back, or one goalscorer to play just in front of DMG, and we'd have IMO a stronger squad.

At least we don't have concrete cows on The Common. Nor have we nicked someone else's football team. Although apparently the Saints Academy are thinking of launching a formal complaint.

Or we've got that point in the ski-jump where you've got your arms by your sides, your eyes closed and you fly off the edge... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGH. Do we land on our feet or on our arse? Watch this space.

How about Stern John? Or that fella at Watford Rasiak? He scored a hatful a couple of seasons back. Assuming they're out of our league , I'd go for Manucho from Man U (needs games), Sturridge or Evans from Man C (presuming they spend big in January and the youngsters won't get a look in), or Vela from Arsenal (unlikely but you ****ing owe us for Theo).

No-one's conclusively wrong until the end of the season. And if we avoid the drop by the odd point or the odd goal we'll have done as well as last year with a bunch of inexperienced kids. We may well fail, but at least most of them are putting in the effort. Do you ski? Or do you just assume that you'd fall and break both legs and therefore not bother?

I agree -- Derby have got a two leg League cup semi final against Man U in early January to divert their attention away from three really tough league games. And an FA Cup tie away to Forest Green That's why our next three are so important -- seven points (win at Barnsley, win at home to Donny, point at Norwich) and we'll be above them. Sounds easy when you write it down.

sadly there's nothing weird about it. everyone in football (jan? jan?)knows the championship is a league in which you need a big bastard of a centre forward and a big bastard of a centre back and you have to kick your way towards the right to play football. we try to play it from the start with no proper centre forward at all, and no bastards at the back. yikes....

any less than five would be a disaster. I'm hoping for seven, but fearing three.

it actually sounds like the boysh didn't do badly today - especially without most of our midfield. but over the season we are where we deserve to be. need a big january. boysh need to become men. and we start with man utd. rollyeyesthingy.

the table doesn't lie.

maybe because we play them next... and after that man utd...

Is it over yet? I'm still hiding behind the sofa.

Post a bit more often please Bob. You talk alarming amounts of sense.

You see this is where your lack of understanding starts to shine rather too brightly. It's not about having the punters flocking down Stoneham Lane, it's about having a club which you can identify with. I grew up in Southampton but I don't even live in Britain at the moment. But I'd be right behind an AFC Southampton plan. Something to feel proud of, IMO -- and if you don't share that view you can go and watch Trojans play hockey instead. Happy Christmas.

i think the problem is the same off the pitch as on it. there is no plan b...

Mmm. 3.10am notwithstanding, gets my vote for Pompous Post of the Season So Far -- and there's been some serious competition. For anyone who knows anything about football, whether it's a kick-about on Shirley Rec, or the World Cup Final, going 3-0 down after 11 minutes is a disgrace. I wasn't aware that anyone was trying to equate it to the police shooting innocent members of the public without prior warning. If you want to talk about police and judicial reform, this is probably the wrong forum. Just to repeat (in case you missed it) 3-0 down after 11 minutes is a disgrace -- no matter what you do for the rest of the game. Now we've got that cleared up I'm happy to tell you that if we manage to keep a clean sheet for the first 11 minutes against Forest, I think we'll win 2-0, and I think we'll avoid relegation. But seriously, wind your neck in a bit. :}

The most worrying thing is that the kid quotient is pretty low today and we're still getting tonked. Davis, Perry, Skacel, Surman, BWP, Euell -- I make that six pretty experienced players. Wait til Forecast, Ollie Lancs, Fish, Paterson, Ryan Smith and an ameoba have replaced that lot in January. Yikes.

And they've still got Akinbiyi on the bench, and they've still got Akinbiyi on the bench... They'll get five minimum by the sound of it. Bring on Man U.

That pretty much sums it up. We're so sh!t it's unbelievable We're so sh!t it's unbelievable We're so sh!t it's unbelievable We're so sh!t it's unbelievable I wanna beeeee, in that numberrrrrrr cheerio all

So he's rubbish and you don't care if he goes. But if he does it's all Rupert's fault. Go figure. There's plenty of players in the Prem who are no quicker than Drew. If you have a good footie brain, and you've got some quickies around you, you'll do fine. HCDAJ up there. And for all those waving him out the door (this point has already been made but is worth repeating) -- his replacement will not be as good because none of the transfer money will be given over to strengthen the team. It'll be another punt on a Gasmi-like figure who may eventually turn out to be the next Zidane, or more realistically won't. I love supporting Saints, and I reckon we'll win 3-1 at Burnley.

I think I'm with you there Andy, although maybe BWP for James... but changes up front for sure.

Also don't underestimate the mental tiredness. They're not used to playing this many games. Their bodies might be able to cope, but maybe their minds can't. And that's where you need a Euell, a Svensson (well, maybe), even a Wotton (although I don't think he's good enough on any other criteria) on the pitch and keeping them going.