Jack

No ice in Southampton this morning so I got out there. I thought I'd reccy my work commute so went from Sholing down to Fawley refinery, then down to Hythe to get the ferry back to town and home to get showered in time to get to the game. It's not the nicest route until I got past Totton but it was good to get out and give the bike a test. I'm going to take it back to the shop next week as the chain is catching on the front derailleur arm a fair bit when in the highest 3 or 4 gears. Other than that I'm really happy with it. 33.5 k @ 25.7 km/h ave. Plenty of traffic lights to slow me down. Oh yeah, I've put a request to join the Strava group too.

I've ordered clipless pedals and shoes already. There's been some useful info on here, thanks.

The bike shop had one 2014 Giant Defy 1 in my size, and I managed to pick it up for just over £800 with a helmet, a puncture kit with a couple of co2 bottles, tools etc, and a service in 2-3 months time. Looking forward to getting out on it tomorrow morning.

So tough. I'll go for Toby, with Big Vic a close 2nd. Honourable mentions for Clyne, Bertrand, Davis.

Another great write up, thanks! It'll be brilliant if we can take revenge on United in similar fashion, no reason why we can't despite their home form.

I'm off out to my LBS tomorrow with the intention of test riding some bikes and making a purchase. I'm a runner and haven't done much on 2 wheels since mountain biking when I was a teenager, but I've been thinking about getting a road bike for a while now and I've picked up a hip flexor injury that is taking forever to heal. I need to maintain my endurance fitness ahead of an upcoming marathon, but going to the gym isn't an option any more, I'm bored out of my skull after about 45 mins on the spin bike and really need to be at it for 2+ hours for the longer sessions. I guess I'll report back and join the Strava group you've got going once I'm on the road.

I think Big Ron has got a decent sense of humour. Honest when he needs to be but doesn't mind taking the p*ss a bit. I like him.

Good news. We need to have capable players who are happy enough to be a squad player, and he's exactly that.

Jay Rod was the same in the early days, he grew and grew and hopefully Pelle can do the same. Very much confidence players.

Ditto Shane Long

Should've scored the header, and the one that was cleared off the line he really should've squared for JWP. Even the way he was shooting today, surely he wouldn't have missed from 6 yards. He's a good player though, his linkup play is brilliant, just needs to be more clinical. I think it'll come.

Excellent result. Big Vic was immense, Mane lively and great finish, Fonte composed, FF very good, but I gave my MOTM to Alderweireld. He was everywhere both at RB and CB when Gardos went off. Gardos was lucky to stay on the pitch and Arsenal weren't great, but a brilliant performance anyway. Not many sides will be frustrated by not killing Arsenal off after an hour.

United have been poor again. Hope they don't force the winner. All this talk of them challenging this season is ridiculous, they've just had a lucky run recently when they've actually not been good.

F*cking wetty. He should've just talked to her if he liked the look of her. Grow up.

I really don't see why people are shot down and branded a bed wetter for highlighting any kind of negative after a win. I'm obviously delighted with the win yesterday and thought it was a good performance overall. But I do think it's a concern that a £10m rated 6'8" brick sh*thouse of a goalkeeper can't come off his line to claim a cross and command his area better. I don't see why it can't be a valid subject for discussion just because we won and his mistakes didn't lead to a goal.

You sure? Not from where I was stood. He was a bit hesitant, couple of dodgy punches, and several balls into the 6 yard box that any commanding keeper would come and take and take the pressure off. He doesn't look confident to me.

Mane finally delivered, JWP very good, but gave my MOTM to Ryan Bertrand. This system is perfect for him and he was awesome in both directions and took his goal brilliantly on his weaker foot. It wouldn't be SWF without negatives, so: - Forster, big concern for me. He's a giant but is so weak when it comes to commanding his area. Glued to his line and his indecision is going to cost us. -Yoshi still scares the sh*t out of me. He was decent enough but always seems to be on the verge of conceded a goal scoring opportunity. - Gardos is a tank, but he's nowhere near mobile enough IMO.

Looking forward to this. It definitely feels like if we score first we'll do well, if we go behind it could be tough. Palace don't score many but aren't terrible for shipping lots of goals either. Play well and we'll be too much for them. Forster Clyne Toby Yoshi Bertrand Schneiderlin Wanyama Davis Tadic Pelle Long 0-2

We really need to find that sort of confidence in our buildup play again. We seem to be slowing the ball down so much more and looking to keep possession by going sideways and backwards rather than being incisive. Some great team goals in there.

I thought Lallana had a good game today (he's still a massive **** though), but he needs someone in the box to actually aim at which Liverpool haven't got any more. How Steven Gerrard still gets a game is laughable. No legs and spends the whole game demanding the ball from the back 4 before launching a 70 yard diagonal out for a throw-in or for someone to intercept.

Defending extremely well. Yoshida's best game in a Saints shirt. Toby, Fonte and Reed very good but my MOTM was Davis, we really miss him when he's not there. Class cross for the 3rd goal too. Long lively, should have been awarded that penalty. Everton were poor but still dangerous and we had to be on it. Big win ahead of the next few games.

We've got to keep Toby at the back IMO. Forster Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand JWP Reed Davis Tadic Pelle Long Subs: Davis, Yoshi, Targett, Isgrove, Seager, Mane, Mayuka. F*ck me, I really wouldn't want to be forced into making a substitution with that lot available.

He's been poor, but what worries me is go reckless he is in the challenge. Could easily have picked up 2 bookings at Burnley but was let off, and the same thing happened last night. Should've been sent off. What's worse is that RK keeps gambling and leaving him on. Roll on the ACON when we'll have to give his place to one of the kids.

Surely RK is wise enough to make the change at HT then, like for like with Mane, maybe switching sides with Tadic to see if he gets more joy there.

How has he looked? I'm stuck at work and only keeping up on here & twitter. Has been useless with occasional flashes of being decent in the last few weeks IMO.