suewhistle

Looks like late Beethoven... Anyway, that's the last of my three posts, so I'll wait for us finally spending our war chest and the transfer window slamming shut before I comment again..

On the platform at Southampton station and very happy. Nobody had a bad game and I was finally impressed with Mo and Diallo who both worked their socks off. Bollocks to the Mail who said the team weren't playing for the manager. I haven't checked the table yet but the announcer at the stadium said we were 7th!

I was very underwhelmed by his half arsed performances before he moved to Liverpool...

I haven't read the other comments but just to say how Manchester United have come down in the world, having to grind out an away win based on a single breakaway goal and deliberate fouling to stop any Saints attacks developing, but not around the box within JWP range. Perhaps they can't afford decent players anymore? OK, so tongue in cheek but a fair bit of truth in there too. As to Saints, I was pleased enough with their performance. Lavia and ABK look real assets, but nobody had a bad game. My impression is that Armstrong is playing better and more involved so perhaps he'll start to get a better return this season, perhaps more on the assist front. I predicted SA would come on for Elyounoussi but the latter was solid enough. Che was making a real nuisance of himself, but when all is said and done I think we need a new striker, even if they work in tandem. The result was a bit deflating, the performance less so.

Not too bad, dropped off some friends at 102. The South Western is busy..

To what extent is his absence due to a lack of pre-season through injury and how much through other causes (out of favour/due to move/can't be arsed/not training hard enough etc.)? Walcott is just taking up a squad space, Elyounoussi is more of a footballer but has always lacked pace, Djenepo can surprise us, the opposition and himself and seems to have buckled down this season. I'd certainly keep Redmond over Walcott, obviously, keep Djenepo who has shown surprising versatility and then the final decision based on if we bring anybody in.

Aaargh! That was just to waste one of my three daily posts. Keep it all in one thread, as I'm able to scroll and the number of pages tends to give an indication of how matters have progressed. If the mods are around perhaps they could update the thread title with the score so I can get my 'oh sh*t' or my little dance round the room over with quickly before doing a quick check of Convict Colony's Theory..

ooo Diamond Edwards coming on..

The Geldart rings a bell; a back street pub with a regular Irish music session in the past?

Interesting season so far. I see Liverpool currently have Merseyside bragging rights with twice as many points as Everton.. Didn't see much of tonight's game but VVD seemed really out of sorts in the last 20. Was he like that all game? At least Manchester Utd won't be getting their first win against us.

The only problem with Manchester Utd being tonked tonight is that it sets up Saints for their role as the team you want to meet when on a bad run. If we could win well it would be a very interesting table!

Payne, Vokins and Simeu (FWIW) played tonight. 3-0 to Saints, Bellis 2, Pearce, unless Stoke score in the last few seconds..

Are @DT and @Chris cooper in some sort of competition?

Alternative analysis, given that as a top level club we have a whole fitness and conditioning department, that it was better to bring them on as subs - the ol' impact sub thing from years ago. Given the reservations many people expressed about players from Ligue1 and the Scottish league is this way of introducing them to a new club and a new league so radical? Ralph having a fit of pique; really? Now many of us would prefer he introduced subs earlier, and not just these new players, but however it was done last Saturday had an impact. If only our defenders could defend aerial set pieces, and Bednarek be a bit more awake we might have got three points.

Steady on, let's not go overboard and throw the baby out with the bath water, even if you do have a point..

As pointed out all the new signings look like an improvement on what we've got, although it wouldn't be too cynical to say that most of us would say that's not too difficult! For all the talk about 3 CBs not working, and I'd prefer 4 at the back myself when Perraud/Tino are available, both of their goals seemed fairly straightforward bad individual marking and general sloppiness. Some would argue that that was due to a confusion in roles but marking in the box is basic technique not strategy. If Bednarek really did have a strop after being taken off as I couldn't see it from my seat, he really needs to have a look at his own performances. I'd be happier with ABK and Salisu, and allow for the occasional ricket their inexperience might produce. Lets hope the players take on board that St Marys really can rock if they give us something to cheer about.

Well, I'll be taking a sports water bottle and would be prepared to escalate it, in a polite middle class way :-), if they try to prevent entry with it, but I'm sure they wont. I shall just claim a medical issue (which is true) and Elf and Safety, with the accent on my health!

I’m getting confused…..I thought morale was dogshite because RH, Semmens and Toby haven’t got a clue what they’re doing?? Now do keep up, it's because they're continually being told on here how bad they are and forumites complaining that we _aren't_ off-loading them..

I would add that when we are given something to cheer the crowd is very willing to do so. That buzz around the ground when we leave with three points is great but I can't remember it very often last season.. For Semmens to criticize the fans (and I haven't listened to the forum) shows he must be losing it. What is needed at these events is somebody sharp enough to follow up an answer by changing their own planned question: "You've just said that we are lucky to be in the top division: how can you attract decent new players with that attitude?"

You don't keep up with the news much, do you? They'd probably be strip searching you after having tasered you. Anyway, having read most of the thread with the usual unrealistic expectations ("yes, I agree Bednarek is utter sh*te") and misrepresentation, I've yet to read what the situation is on a new striker. We all (club/fans) know we need one, so what were the responses and vibes regarding that? Were there any specific questions as to when we will see ABK or Mara, and how far are they off being up to speed, etc.? Much as I'm interested in beer, women's football and JWP's testimonial there needs to be more time to address those issues.

The 'Largest Football Bankruptcy Amount Cup'? Anyway, commiserations on living in Gosport. Played football there on Sunday and I can understand the hard pitch but did they have to cut the dry grass and leave it there? It was like playing in a hay barn.

Has Mara received his clearance/work permit yet? Might he come off the bench to maintain the press? I suspect it's too early for him and it would be Redmond, who I can't see starting.

When you're sat in row Z, and the ball hits your head, That's our Mara..

Sod the changing rooms, any player would love to play on that surface! It'll be interesting to see how many they get. One of the biggest issues is that one of the biggest groups who'd like to watch are playing amateur football themselves on a Sunday. I'll try and make the odd game depending on my other commitments.

Can we geolocate that seat - is it a club hospitality one? As for the game, I enjoyed it. I thought Romeu looked a lot better than the end of last season, he retains and uses the ball so well. Nobody had a bad game although I thought Redmond and KWP didn't look quite sharp enough, and I presume that was why the former didn't go on the pre-season tour. Valery's positioning was a bit slack occasionally, but his forward runs can really open up a side. Everything looked so much sharper than the previous friendly match footage I've seen, so let's hope the last friendly on Saturday shows equal improvement, and it's a shame I'm missing it through other commitments.