suewhistle

I know Adams has done well to get where he is but he's no natural striker and I find him frustrating as a player in that position who is so one footed. Correct me if I'm wrong but has he ever scored with his weaker foot: something you'll see even at the lowest levels of football? His effort is (was?) there, but not the natural finding of space you get from the best players. I'm hoping Stewart can offer some of these qualities since we made enough chances against Rotherham, cut backs in the box and so forth but nobody there with real finishing abilities.

I had a quick look at the video of the Watford game on the OS. One thing that impressed me was the number of away fans, scattered all round the ground; a decent away following. Shame about the red for Millie Mott, but no histrionics argueing with the ref.

No wonder the Rotherham fans are depressed: sponsored by a hospice! Actually I quite like it: a real local link. Team looks OK, with a decent bench to liven things up. I'd have liked a nipper or two there to give them experience if we are in a comfortable situation, but no real issue with that. Edit: is DT in a hospice?

What about South Stoneham House? From my time at uni I recall being told that at 16 storeys it was actually 4 storeys over what it should be based on its position near the approach. With my yachty cap on I can say that the Double Diamond advert ashore at Torquay was quite confusing when we drifted in there once after the engine had seized and there was no wind.. This was in the days before GPS and chart plotters..

As I referred to above, it's the sheer confidence in their own opinions that I find so amusing, particularly when they get it so wrong. How much did they lose at the bookies, one wonders..?

Yes, I think most of us were a bit surprised, but maybe a big lump up front to disrupt was the plan (as well as protecting some other players). The squad is generally pretty lightweight physically, including the U21s coming through. It's the sort of role Lyanco would have taken if he were still here.

I was worried before the game but not with the absolute certainty that some of our regulars have that we'd be stuffed, to the extent that it seems they'll be disappointed we won. I vaguely remembered the 3-4 scenario but didn't think there was ever that danger this time, even after they scored their goal. There was a degree more organisation and resolution than we've seen of late. In retrospect I even think the arrival of Bree and Aribo as subs was not as strange as it seemed at the time. A bit of physical presence from both, a bit of match practice and a reward to get off the bench, protecting some of the first choices from further injury (or bookings) with a mind to Tuesday, and a recognition and confidence that Leeds wouldn't get back in it. As for the absence of SAA and Edozie, the former had a bit of fun for the U-21s and will no doubt get more time. He's 17 and will do a lot better coming in to a winning team. (Incidentally Doyle and Meghoma also looked solid in the U21 win.) As for Edozie: with the games coming thick and fast he'll soon play too, and some of the younger and slighter players will need carefull treatment during a gruelling season.

It was. And if it had been better advertised I might not be in the pub right now.

Wondered what the ASR helicopter was doing hovering for 20 minutes. Cheers. Hope no casualties but looks serious. Helicopter now back at base: Lee on Solent.

I used to go to The Guide Dog when we'd had a 3 o'clock kick off, we'd won and I was on the train so could have a celebratory pint or two. Can't remember the last time I went..

Talking of which, who supplied that decent stream link for the Middlesbro' match? Thanks, by the way, there was a certain strange fascination in watching and being able to shout 'man on' at the screen! 😉

How are people watching this? On the OS it's £4.49 just for audio. Sod that..

One would presume Bednarek is not ready for 90 yet. Holgate neither (or just crap?). Either way, I suspect he doesn't want to play Charles at CB but that it's the best option. He sees them in training and gets fitness reports. I'm pretty certain that's not a tactical decision but does illustrate our DM weakness. Our attacking bench looks strong, but let's hope we don't need it!

As it happens I have a terrace house but luckily have space out front. But remember most people don't charge every day; for example I do a bit more than once a fortnight depending on my usage patterns. Some people can charge at work. Although I agree that the situation isn't good for flat dwellers a bit of constructive regulation by government would help. We may have to wait a bit for the current useless lot to be gone before seeing that. To anybody who is being pushed towards an EV there is really nothing to fear. Have a look at a specialist forum like SpeakEV which will answer many of your concerns and even help you choose a model if you get a choice on your company car scheme.

Yes, I wouldn't get one if you can't get a charger at your flat or bedsit, but for many people the infrastructure near you is a bit pointless if you charge at home overnight. Currently I pay 7.5p a kWh for 6 hours overnight which give me more than I need. Currently doing around 4 miles per kWh including hacking up and down the M27. The only time I've needed to charge away from home (apart from testing) was when I went to see Saints at Sheffield, in my MG4 with no problems. Luckily I had to stop for a wee (and so charged as well) earlier than planned which was just as well as the M1 (along with my planned stop) was completely shut due to an accident . Ignore any articles by Mail or Express 'journalists' on the subject: they are just trying to show that they are too stupid to own an electric car. As for charging in France, there has been a dramatic expansion in charger availability in the last year, particularly on and just off the autoroutes, which I've noticed in doing my own trip planning. I wouldn't worry there or in NL and Germany etc. I see the usual misinformation here you get on any thread about EVs. If you don't want one, don't get one, but spare us all the tabloid guff.

I might swear at this computer, or the slugs in my vegetable patch but I'd never swear at another person. I do allow myself a "oh for goodness sake, Armstrong!", other examples may apply.. I can't help the deep sighs and groans that have been so common recently, but do try and cheer decent play, and think many fans understand that's a better approach if you want to improve performances. Nobody is going to risk a defence splitting pass forward if they think they are going to be vilified if it goes wrong. In any sport tenseness impacts your performance. It wasn't just a question of lack of effort or organisation on Friday, although that was there to a degree, but some hospital passes gave them two goals, and the opening was horrific and fascinating in it's inexorable inevitability. There's no point trying to draw the opposition players forward if we're so awful at breaking the press. I don't want to see hoof ball but at the moment it's 'after you, Claude'.. I don't mind flukey wins, I'll even take a bounce off of Adam's knee at the moment; his left knee of course, to make it even more unlikely.

My last post today.. Perhaps not to blame for the goals, but why he has confidence in that defence and still passes short to them putting them under pressure I do not know...

I have no idea how good Leicester are as we gave them all their goals. I know that we are crap mind.. Only good news is that I left a few minutes early and just made the train home..

Well, at least it isn't raining like the last Friday game against Leicester, when I stayed to the end and had a miserable wet train journey home. Next to the Itchen on the train. Being so early I'd better do some shopping before the pre-match pub!

I think if you review that first goal at Sunderland Edozie did get back to cover and slow their left winger down: the issue was the ball being moved across to their right and then when it came back in he had lost concentration and lost his man. It wasn't that we were relying on Manning to get back to do the initial covering: nobody thinks he has the speed to do that, but the player allocated the task who was fast enough didn't see the job through. His reaction shows that well enough. The issue of who takes corners and should they is a bit of a red herring when the obviously tasked player, chosen for his speed presumably, makes an individual mistake.

:-).. Yeah, good point, and I can score with my left foot if I need to!

Coming from you I suspect he's taking that as a compliment.. Charm personified, as ever..

Well, I played in goal today in the lower reaches of the grassroots game and had a few 1 on 1s. You should have come out, you should have stayed back... thanks for the advice grlls! My coach said I played well but I've asked for more practice in that area, but when all is said and done I'd rather be playing up front! Make a mistake there and it's not commented on so much... And not on topic at all, there are now 6 divisions in the Hampshire Women's Leagues which pleases me no end..

That's really classy, logging on to an opposition fan's board and then proceeding to show that they can use cut and paste, although typing, punctuation, spelling and syntax are all a bit lacking. I actually watched it in my local pub with an ex-Sunderland player, but fortunately he is polite and intelligent, even if he did take the mickey a bit.

The first one I was actually thinking at the time that Edozie had made a good run back to defend the break. It then went over to their right and then back again and Edozie had switched off and left the player unmarked, yards away in fact. His head in his hands attitude showed he'd realised his error. Other goals were also conceded by egregiously bad defending, to the extent that I have to think this will be a useful lesson at the start of the campaign with a completely new team rather than the disaster it would be in the run in. Whilst I'm worried I'm not surprised at some of the overreactions on here, some posters have form. Having been a die hard to the end against Leicester on a soaking wet Friday night I really don't want to experience that again, and I don't think I will.