sotonric

Well that was a lot better than I was fearing - we actually showed some attacking threat. Yes, of course we dicked around at the back and got punished... I guess you could have put money on that. Hey ho. More of the same in the second half, please - never expected to get anything out of this, it was all about the performance: and that was a decent performance in the first 45.

I'm usually on the optimistic side, but I'd be glad just to escape Anfield without a complete drubbing. If I had an ounce of sense I wouldn't watch it. But when did sense ever come into being a Saints fan? 😂

Indeed. But perhaps there's a cunning plan afoot to find a striker and style-of-play option that actually match each other (I say that in hope, not in any knowledge that we'll actually be able to play to our striker's strengths!).

Seemed unnecessarily petty, didn't it?

We have got to get a lot better, very quickly.

Of all the scenarios I'd thought about - early goals, red cards, glaring misses - being out-played by that lot wasn't on my radar at all. Shockingly bad from Saints so far.

10 minutes since their sub keeper came on, and he could have spent the entire time sat on a deckchair.

Ha! I was going to ask if they were twins 😂

I hate to say it, but we're very much second best at the moment. We need to keep a bit of possession - as loads of us are saying, we're just going long all the time at the moment. Not good.

We need to get a hold of this game. Not a good opening 5 minutes at all.

The 'right' approach might only be possible with hindsight. If the club did as you suggest and the team went out and didn't perform, everyone would be rightly on their backs for not recognising the importance of the match to the fans. With owners / senior management that lots of fans still have considerable misgivings over, a new manager, and lots of new players, I think it's important the club signals to fans that they do recognise the added importance to us of beating that lot.

Nope, not the last time I looked 😂 Wow, this thread brings back a lot of memories!