Chez

Half decent cup team. Not all totally ****. Happy day.

why do we/they do it? Who do they think is interested in this pointless figure that neither represents how many have paid (as it includes complimentary tickets) or have actually attended (non-attending season ticket holders and any other non attendees)? does the club still make an announcement "Today's attendance is..."

"But Southampton are among those clubs who said there was no commercial gain from doing this as television money was the biggest source of income." If you were paying for an advertisement hoarding that was not on the TV side of the ground, then total attendance over the season might be a small factor in what you are willing to pay, although the chance of appearing on TV (there are so many cameras on all sides) and other media probably is a bigger factor.

"The Saints said their attendance for Chelsea's visit on 14 April was 31,764 but police figures show 6,945 fewer fans at St Mary's. There was also a difference of 6,799 (31,778 - 24,979) for the home game against south-coast rivals Bournemouth." that a hell of a lot of empty seats for those two games. I don't recall there being that many at either game. I wonder how are the council counted them or did SFC simply provide them with the figures, which they'd have.

dunno. None are what I would call dominant in the air. Maybe Yoshida was **** in games against Stoke, so Hughes has no confidence in him?

tough position. Benteke to mark one week,Walcott the next. And they need to be able to play out from the back.

how did we get away with Benteke not scoring the header from four yards out? I guess we earned that bit of luck today. Plenty of occasions it has gone the other way for us. Brilliant win. Just like last year it was slightly unexpected. Zaha injury helped...a lot, but we still had to play well and create chances. Very happy indeed. Proper spring in my step after that. I fear the worse for us this season, so every goal, every point and every win is incredibly precious. Early points will boost confidence and that can snowball into a decent season. Well, thats what I hope anyway. COYS.

Perhaps Hughes wants big (tall) centre backs that win more headers. He seemed to prioritise that facet of the game at Stoke

I don't understand why Gabi doesn't start. Looked great pre season, back to his sharpest and with confidence too. What am I missing?

post of the day for me

that's fair, but in a mediocre side that doesn't create much can we afford to carry a goalhanger? Great player to bring on when we are pressing for a goal, but we could do with a little more movement and pace.

good post. My only fear is whether we are good enough and confident enough to attack the better sides. Sitting back wont work, so maybe its a no brainer

did we play four at the back at all during preseason?

why on earth does Gabbi not start ahead if Austin?

couldn't quite tell if he had any pace whatsoever?

mucm much better

Teams that are utter **** as we were last season don't tend to turn it around in a summer. My expectations were so low coming into the season, but even I had hoped we'd snap at the heals of Burnley and at least look solid. We are nothing like that and it goes without saying that we give the ball away cheaply and offer little threat. A lot of improvement needed in the second half and beyond.

how are we going to do that? Redmond does not create all that much, Armstrong is a Davis type, busy but not someone that beats a man and Austin is a tap in merchant?

getting murdered still at set pieces. anyone see any difference from last season at all? Hiding poor CBs by using three and as a result sacrificing numbers in midfield and attacking threat. Why by a CB and not play 4 at the back?

slow starts but not conceding is OK. We usally get tired though due to chasing down lost possession.

good stuff again. Nice cross from Armstrong who has been bright

holding his position perhaps as seen us cut apart at the back

better play from Saints gong forward. No lack of effort.

Austin falls over well. Only thing that is releaving the pressure

we are using so much energy try to get the ball back after giving it away. Got to get more control of the game in midfield.