The9

Seems to happen to nearly all managers, I think they get burned out by the repetition, become left behind by changes in tactics to counter their usual methods and just fade away. He did a hell of a job getting Wolves up, but there was some comedy-level chokery for Cardiff and Wolves in amongst his successes too.

Osvaldo's started 6 matches for Saints so far. He wasn't great by any means overall yesterday and made some very selfish decisions in places, and you can see why people are questioning if he's buying into the team ethic as a result. Then again, if I was confident in my own ability and had only scored one goal in the League so far I'd probably be trying too much for myself as well. He worked very hard at pressing yesterday in the first half and was a strong contributor to our good first half performance, though obviously as a lone striker he's very rarely actually going to get a tackle in before the ball is released - might be useful to know how many times he pressed leading to a turnover in possession though. Second half we were completely overrun and barely had any chances, and he was as bad as anyone, but at least had the excuse of not having any service. His performance therefore reflected the quality of the team overall - which it will do until he's worked out exactly what he needs to do to integrate himself in the system. I've said numerous times that it's easier to integrate strikers into a side than any other position, but at the same time, it will take time for others to appreciate how best to maximise a striker's overall impact on the performance. That might be from picking out the kind of runs he was making at Arsenal earlier in the attack, or just from knowing the runs he will make and where the space will be for others to exploit. The other thing worth noting is that he's being used up front on his own against the very top sides, in games where scoring is that much more difficult anyway. Half his appearances have been in games away to Arsenal, Chelsea and Man U up front on his own. He scored at home to Palace, and was coming back from injury when we played Hull. One thing's for sure, as he's a decent goalscorer for Italy and in Serie A, he's got much more to come.

Due to my dual club supporting responsibilities, it's been 2 seasons since Newport had an away game within an hour's drive since they left Salisbury, Havant&Waterlooville and Eastleigh behind in the Conference South. Seeing as I went to see them in Bury from Southampton earlier in the season it would be a bit daft not to roll down to Fratton. Has nothing to do with my Saintliness for once.

I think writing him off at this stage is pretty silly, but judging him on the criteria you've given, from his performance against Arsenal: his vision was pretty non-existent - he played one half decent edge of the area pass which he overhit to Rodriguez his off the ball movement - nothing special, hardly finding space or creating angles and then being ignored, he just wasn't available to pass to. what he's like when he's got the ball - looks good and dangerous on the ball, can dribble in tight spaces, finishing was lacking - hasn't done for Saints what he's done for Italy yet. his passing He doesn't do it much, normally accurate though and his ability to get into goal scoring positions He doesn't run that much, he hasn't scored many, worst bit is that he doesn't seem to be working hard to get into those positions. Also, I'd hope he'd contribute to the press more than he usually does.

Yeah, having checked the cost of getting to Newcastle and back for the Saints match on the same day I'll be heading for Fratton. It will be my... 10th visit to the sh111t-tip, I have previously seen 6 other away sides there, mostly my student housemates' teams. There doesn't seem to be any way of doing this without giving them money, unfortunately.

As a point of reference, in the intervening 30 years since Portsmouth last beat Newport, Newport have been relegated twice, liquidated, reformed in the Hellenic League, been promoted another 5 times (and relegated another once more) and taken 21 years to return to the Football League.

I ran a checklist, as a 40-year old I had 21 yesses and 18 nos. The aches and pains and noises and general brokenness is much worse than the uncoolness or being twice people's ages when out. Number 1 was just wrong, I had loads more disposable income before I moved to Southampton.

K Davis was ill I believe, not sure why we'd name Fox with Chambers already on the bench and Clyne switching our preferred option - though as we were already behind, choosing the more attacking Ward-Prowse to play RB looked a sensible way of not losing the attacking threat down our right, he and S Davis covered each other fairly frequently.

Hooiveld probably could have moved a few yards deeper, but was unlikely to have been able to in the time he had to react to Boruc's first dummy, and he was being closed down by the time of the left foot missed dragback. Hoof was certainly the best option after the first dummy.

That and the fact that none of them will even have hair there nowadays.

He needs more of a mullet IMHO.

Unfortunately is also completely illogical, it doesn't feel anything like the same for us as it does them.

I'm guessing that Sheffield Utd are the famous club in trouble, just based on their League position. As for that Skate in the amber kit, they wore that in 2012/13, so the pic was from last season. Oh, and if you fancy a laugh... and why would you be here if you weren't? : That 4-0 victory was THIRTY YEARS AGO, they love a bit of history over there.

...and taking the bit that WAS quoted hugely out of context.

It's no Shaun Wright-Phillips and Mark Hughes.

Unfortunately it is also pretty expensive.

Selling him BEFORE the World Cup would be even more of a waste of money. Get him showcased first, then flog him. Assuming he hasn't turned into an excellent, hard-working presser by then of course.

He's had a few little shouting spells on the pitch, it was obvious on Saturday to anyone in the away end. I wouldn't go as far to call them "tantrums" though.

This is exactly what gets sung, there are at least 4 different versions of the words doing the rounds and I've included them all.

They've already nailed 4 AFC Hornchurch players and it mentions some non-League games up to Conference levels being removed from the markets, plus sums far more than "the usual £70k", so it's not that likely to be anyone in the top few divisions.

I'd have Bale (and play him in the hole), Killer at CB alongside Lovren, and Kevin Phillips up top. Boruc Clyne Lovren Svensson Shaw Scheiderlin Wanyama Davis Bale Lallana Phillips bit harsh on Osvaldo, Lambert, Rodriguez and Fonte. Niemi over Boruc if we get any more of last weekend's stuff.

Why would we think he was better than Billy Sharp, exactly?

Not while they're under fan ownership they're not. They're at the end of a long queue with clubs owned by billionaires at the top of it.

They also lost to Newport in the JPT earlier this season, conceding 3 goals in the process. It's like a pre-condition, though that was with Crawley at home. Also, assuming they don't manage to appoint their manager in the next 6 days, their first game with him in charge will be against... Newport.

It was the 1970s before you could say "bloody" on British tv, that's not so long ago. Effs in telly pretty much came along with punk and Channel 4, all of which says the swear is not as widely accepted as you'd think.