The9

Strange to see the term "Football Association Premier League", they dropped the "FA" part of the name years ago, when they dropped the Premiership name (2007 actually) - whether it's still an operating name for the company or not I don't know, but I doubt it. Also VERY weird as the (former) Portsmouth (City!) FC were members of the Premier League for 3 whole years when it definitely wasn't called the name they've used in their documentation. Still, it's not something they need to worry about any time soon, is it?

Their play-off progress is going to be defined by where they come in the table as much as who they play - they'll probably be better off coming 4th/5th because they'll be away in the first leg. If they're playing the home leg first they could be in trouble no matter who they play - away leg first and they should be ok. If they're faced with having to break a team down at home they can't, and if they concede at home first that also means the opponent doesn't have to attack them in the second leg so they can't play their "just running at fragmented opposing defence on the break" game. If however they play away first the onus will be on the home team to attack, and they can play their counterattacking game and get themselves in front, which also gives them the option to sit back and counter in the Fratton leg as well. All their opponents have to do is remember not to attack until it is completely safe to do so, the Skates can only beat teams who are terrible at defending or who try to attack them and over-commit. Any top 6 side should be good enough to sit back and counter against them, and all they can do is run at you and not unpick sides at 0-0. And of course even if they got through they'd then have to win a game at a neutral venue, though I'd really probably rather see them come a distant third than get to Wembley again.

York put in a performance against a well off form Plymouth on the weekend and still lost. I also saw a Newport side with 4 new loanees in it that day win at York, they are awful.

Frankly having been there for 3 years running with Newport (9 points so far ), the only thing they could improve without demolishing the entire thing altogether was the toilets, and they've done that. Once you get past redoing the loos, you kind of accept the crumbling concrete steps, generally ancient surroundings, limited access along the back of the stand and the cheap and poky refreshment hut. There are other bits of the ground that must be in a right state.

I'd be surprised if Garde wasn't happy to go - this way he gets forgotten in between comedy Tim Sherwood and whoever it is that presides over the actual relegation. It's Redknappesque in execution. Just think, Paul Lambert is their BEST manager since May 2012.

Anyone looking forward to Friday night football? Thought not. Have an ST freeze/reduction seeing as there are going to be even more matches you probably can't get to as well. On the bright side, we'll give you discount on your 2017/18 ST if the match you can't make somehow miraculously sells out given that a bunch of others won't be able to make it for the exact same reason... if we can re-sell your ticket. FWIW I think the prices are decent, when they've been "steep" the past couple of years. Fairly sure my Northam ST is now the same price as it was in 2012/13 when we first got back into the Prem, prior to at least one price hike since.

Will be interesting to see if the "Barclays" references go away from next season the way the "Premiership" ones haven't after 9 years.

Not really supported by his results at other clubs recently once the teams got into a losing habit.

And my points are: 1) No-one wants to and 2) it's not even possible (also because 3) you're probably right about giving it large to the away fans - because that's how most of the atmosphere is created).

Pub called the Counting House in a retail park reasonably near the ground is popular with Saints fans, and I'm pretty sure they served beer in the ground last year, though I was trollied already by then so can't guarantee it.

Probably because the atmosphere is crap everywhere in the ground other than the bits either side of the away fans and people aren't likely to move to an area devoid of atmosphere unless they do it en masse, which isn't possible.

My favourite thing about the JPT win (other than the delight at the first two goals going in) was Fleet services absolutely swarming with beaming Saints fans on the way back.

Given that the middle (Saints on the left) and top (Carlisle on the left) tiers looked like this at the other end I'm not sure we'd have sold any more - though I do recall there was some Wembley regulation about segregation which meant they wouldn't sell us any more despite the obvious space?

Not just that, we were 2-0 down to Torquay in the first round at half time and as late as the 59th minute. Won that on pens after a 2-2 as well. 9319 were there, including me for some reason.

Nice to see our recall of Grant Holt diving and then trying to block the free kick is correct (1'40") - and that we scored under 20 seconds later. Also interesting to note that Fraser Forster didn't used to come off his line much in 2010 either.

But there are a few more...

I think the whole "tinpot" argument stands and falls on this picture.

2-2 Bristol Rovers v Carlisle, which if nothing else shows how many teams there are around 55-59 points who might put together a run to close up on Portsmouth, as Carlisle have just dropped from 9th to 12th.

And of course with me seeing it as a foregone conclusion, Orient are losing to Hartlepool (and Bristol Rovers down to Carlisle, who may not be quite as midtable as it appears when they play Portsmouth)...

Newport doing their bit, 2-0 down to Accrington already...

Looking at today's fixtures Wycombe should end the day above them and Orient level on points (with a worse goal difference). Can't see Notts County or Hartlepool putting up too much resistance. Skates remaining fixtures are a mixed bag: Carlisle (H) Dag/Red (A) Plymouth (H) York (A) Wycombe (H) Hartlepool (A) Northampton (H) [Wimbledon (A)] Basically they have three very winnable aways against poor teams and three loseable homes against good ones, plus Wimbledon A tba and Carlisle who are midtable and have nothing much going on. So prob going to get themselves about another 12-ish points, which would give them 75, enough for 5th or 6th for the past 5 years or so. Then it's down to whether they can beat the likes of Plymouth/Bristol Rovers, Accrington, Wycombe/Orient over two legs, which as we know will be funny if they can't.

Oops!

Erm...

Ignore!

Orrrrr, just a load of water on the pitch.