suewhistle

I watched the game with another saints fan (don't even know his name) in a village east of Portsmouth pub. We both agreed how good Hazard (and Willian) was. The game plan went OK until half time but the early second half goal was a killer. If you have to chase the game against Chelsea they have such quality on the break, but at least attacking we showed a lot more in the second half. Hoedt continues to disappoint and make silly and costly mistakes but I'm really warming to Bednarek and I suspect he was only chosen to come off due to lack of match fitness. Hojberg's ideas continue to be better than his execution in this fast, physical league, Long continues to show he's not a striker, Cedric continues to take the momentum out of any attack down the right. A special mention to the side my team were meant to be playing today as they called the game off only yesterday. I committed to playing as it was my birthday so was utterly, utterly hacked off. The only upside is that they saved me £100+ on a day out in the smoke, and the way I've been feeling taken for granted generally as a fan and as a Saints fan in particular that was no bad thing. They'd better be very careful with their season ticket prices next year..

Well, I'll be supporting one of my favourite football clubs on Sunday, it's just that it's the team I play for and I'll probably be sub again. Given the timings I won't even be able to watch the game on the box. If the game had been on the Saturday I'd probably have gone, on my own. I think my mind was made up after the West Ham performance - not the result but the abject lack of effort and fight. But s*d it; I'm fed up as a fan being taken for granted and expected to accept without demur the prices, the change to dates and times of fixtures (sometimes at short notice), paying for the new owner's purchase by not replacing key players, keeping a crap manager in a job when it was obvious he didn't have it (let alone appointing him in the first place). I was heartened by the Arsenal and Chelsea performances but I'd already confirmed my availability to my manager, not that he really needs me. I'd never not go to a game because I was expecting a loss (a supporter since 1967/8) but the football authorities in this country see us as docile milch cows and I'm hacked off with it all.

Before or after? Pre-match anaesthesia is slightly limited by the very early kick off, and as I tend not to drink when depressed afterwards is probably out too.. Plus I'm playing on Sunday and should be good. That all goes out the window though if my some fluke of luck we win.

Cheers! The atmosphere will be all the better for missing some on this thread, but I expected that vein of comments and haven't been disappointed. At least they took the effort to say so. ;-) Yeah, maybe not toxic - apathetic is probably better, and I was there under both Branfoot and Lowe and Sturrock etc. But you don't have to put up with the constant grief this fat **** near me gives Redmond constantly throughout the match, whether he deserves it or not. The guy behind him is also hacked off so pointedly pipes up "well played Redmond" when he does something good.

Just a reminder that you can watch a match at St Mary's this Friday without a toxic atmosphere when England Women play Wales in a world cup qualifier with a 7PM kick off. Anyone any idea why most of the Itchen isn't available for purchase as most of the Northam has limited availability? I might wait a bit to see if they open up some of the better blocks.

So Mack, are you down Fratton or down the pub? Frankly watching both our teams live at the moment is a bit of a penance..

He's been out injured for ages. I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did, and he was certainly throwing himself into a few tackles.

Well, at least that performance has saved me over £100. I've got a clash of commitments on the 22nd April and now Saints have made the decision easy for me. A free day in the Smoke is normally a bit of fun, but there's no way I'm spending more money on that shower. I joked earlier that I'd wait and go to Wembley for the final. Hah!

What B*****d gave me a link to a decent stream?;-) Wish I'd spent the time spend watching that dross studying calculus or hoovering..

How many subs are we allowed? 11? Pretty please..

Those two forwards both have intelligent movement in the box. Let's hope they get a bit of support today. First league goal for Hoj I hope with a belter that doesn't end up in row Z as it normally does.

Nah, he was just unshaven to go with the egg on his tie..

LOL. You can always tell where hypochondriac will be on any issue which involves any hint of social progress or change from when he was a lad, or what was acceptable the century before last. Also, look up "mansplaining". I don't get involved in these debates as they tend to be a waste of time, but hypo made me cackle so much with that statement that I just had to comment.

I've just seen it. Via a link on an Italian newspaper's website when I spotted a Pompey badge on the still! Shame it wasn't the other way..

As I now have the full house on my women's football cliché bingo card you may now close the thread. "Take away the focus from the men's team" - give me strength. Have a look at how many different sports and teams are associated with Barcelona..

What a surprise, Batman making the effort to be negative and sarky about womens' football..

I think the point re Hoddle's stupidity re Le Tissier still stands though..

That Sunday is my last match of the season, and possibly my last ever if I retire and hand up my boots. B*ll*cks. I miss playing for home games as I've a season ticket so now I'm praying for the Saturday.

Are those new photographs in that line up? Is it me or do they look happier?

Ah, that would be why my game there this afternoon was called off.:-) I think most of the team were in their beds waiting for the news from the manager!

Interesting quote in an article in The Guardian about Swansea's Sam Clucas when asked about the change in fortune under Carvalhas: Can't help thinking that's what we need.

Don't you guys queue then? :-) I have to say that my pre-match consumption of beers increased tremendously following the move to St. Marys and not having to rely on the under East Stand facilities.. I don't want to do a John D, but is the semi-final date of the 21st April likely to be changed to the Sunday? It's my Sunday team's last match of the season and I really don't want to miss either game.

F me! I've just heard it on R5L. Normally I get breaking Saints news on here, so here I am, if a little late. Hurrah, but what next?

BUMP Poor show lads. There must be something to laugh at. PS I went through Fratton on the way home from the Stoke game (don't ask...). The replacement bus service went past this massive Tescos but I looked for and couldn't see the ground. Must have lost my bearings..

Not the fact it's on, the fact they've changed to Sunday and I've got a game. Won't be able to watch on TV either..