saintstowin

And when it worked, '4-1 and you've lost your heads' was fun.

Really enjoyed being at St Mary's today. They started quickly and could have been a goal up through some good play by them coupled with some hesitation on our part. That was a great save, and then that great clearance, there was another clearance that from my view at the other end might have been off the line (or not) too. And after we scored they had a presentable chance. However we weathered and grew into the half and the match. Whether it was a typical 4-1 or not, what it was, I thought, was us showing strength in depth and that our individual players are great at this level. We played so well as a team where everyone knew their role and we kept our shape even under pressure. Plenty of good teams see what the opposition offer, including them not taking chances, and go on to win well and we did that today. It was interesting how they did the opposite to Swansea and let us play out. I can see why, to stop us exploiting space etc. But mixing it up might have made us panic a bit so I'm surprised they didn't. We've got so many ways to score at home and can hopefully do it away soon. Larin got a deserved motm but I thought Matsuki had a blinder too. Loved seeing Keven for the first time live as well, what a signing.

I haven't seen all of our games but it seemed like we went short more often yesterday. It also seemed like the Swansea press from goal kicks was like the start of a Gladiators game, ready to charge, which upped the tension while we all waited for the tap to the centreback. What also upped the tension, for me, wasn't that we did it at all, but that we got caught or very nearly caught at a guess 50% of the time. Whether it was them actually getting the ball, it hitting them (was that the one straight after 3-1 when Peretz hit it at their striker?), or us kicking it away hurriedly. We're all scarred (some with tissue damage I believe) by the RM era and generally we've been more sensible and progressive under Tonda in terms of playing out. But last night felt like we had decided to go a bit crazy with it. Hence I think the reported atmosphere. We're a great passing team, Wood not so much, but we were lucky not to be punished yesterday. That doesn't mean never do it but we've got to think a bit better about when we go for that approach.

I hope Alan Curtis celebrates when he gets the winner for us tonight, I hate it when players don't celebrate against former clubs.

So frustrating when we don't turn up. From the start we were sluggish and lacking ideas. A glance at stats at half time showed a very high passing accuracy, not due to any degree of skill but because we didn't try to do anything with any ambition. Just pass, pass, pass. There was one passage around 18 minutes in on the left when up to 4 different players all failed through poor choice to put a ball into the box, instead passing it around until it went back to the goalie. I guess we assumed we'd score goals at some stage. It had the feel of expecting to rather than earning the win. And no matter how average we were, I can't believe we handed the advantage to them in the last half an hour as we did through poor management. Very disappointing.

I'm finding (some) consolation in that despite how poor the team were we would have escaped but for individual mistakes. As soon as we turned up we were way better but unfortunately were chasing too much. Plus he won't play Scienza in that position again, hopefully. Shame Azaz wasn't fit to start because that led to many of the tactical issues. I hope Dobbin will improve. Hopefully Tonda learns. He's shown he can. I didn't like how they made me feel in the first half.

I think he delayed the like for like subs because we scored and then when the team couldn't adapt to the lead and still have some kind of threat, he reverted to those very negative subs. There was that 10-15 minute spell after we scored where the game - with hindsight - was lost because if we'd shown any ability to not sit back, and to be able to keep the ball, then maybe the changes would have been different. However. It's on the manager to be able to think and sub creatively rather than say 'well we're not getting forward so let's go ultra defensive then'. The inability to have possession is to an extent on the players and their skills, but the subs and shape is on him. If Saints were one up, even against top opposition, I'd expect us not to do what England did in terms of changes. In fact it was reminiscent of our 5 at the back, everyone got in each other's way and there was no midfield at all.

Everyone knew he was a dirty little whatever. But just because you go into this industry (as a woman) doesn't mean men should be able to further exploit you. What decade it occured and however long it took someone to come forward - doesn't matter. Even if it is/was commonplace it doesn't make it ok. And it's not left or right wing it's sexual assault and exploitation. And now it's coming out that he was banned by his own club from children's and women's football. That is just shocking and links the club to all this in a way they've desperately tried to avoid so far. I hope that gets fully investigated, but I also hope it doesn't take any legal attention away from him.

I hope he stays and I presume it could have been easier if we'd got in there before that moveable deadline. I expect he would still have wanted to discuss his options, such as trying to get a longer contract with us, or options elsewhere. So the not signing isn't that odd. I accept players live in a different financial world. But I have little time for the 'need to look after me and my family' angle. If you've played professional football for a decade there's been plenty of time and money to save more than enough to take your sweet time while you either do nothing, or more likely find the next well paid football related gig.

If that was a very tanned white body (arm) double we'll be hearing from the EFL again.

I like the interview. We as Saints fans might be very tuned in to outside responses, but even taking this into account there has been a sense that we're taking on blame from the football community (particularly some journalists, pundits, and a few clubs who don't like us) for things outside of this particular event. These people are looking either to sensationalise the events and/or (and I think this is definitely happening) use this case to feel better about the obvious problems in football that include cheating and disparity that is everyday. There's a product to defend. You only have to listen to 606 for example when a smaller club fan dares to point out that it's ok to defend deeply against a top team, or say that money brings success. There's little appetite for bigger clubs to be called to account because that exposes the ridiculous state of the game. Ok I've gone a little off topic there but for me it's all connected. And I expect a backlash if little Saints dare to keep Tonda or stick up for ourselves. Because of the above reasons. For me, Solak, and most of us, are thinking and saying 'you've done us so with utmost politeness go away now and find your next high horse'.

That happy football feeling is back again.

According to the commentators they were working on Ayling marking Azaz, and also playing out from the back - when we had a quick look. So therefore it's all a fair outcome. Terrible game.

Whenever I see Parson's name I think of parsnips and I don't like parsnips. It's not helping. Shame we're not in the EU, we could've taken our case to Brussels.

For me it's got to be one (or more) of.... Leeds. Reason....People make noise (presumably this is measured so as to be accurate) at night time football games there. Newcastle. Reason ...People there really like (more than anyone else likes) someone whose main job is to score goals. Liverpool. Reason....when they play teams from mainland Europe it invariably results in a great night for all concerned.

I think the definite leavers are Scienza, THB and I'll reluctantly include Jander as I think there's a slight chance he stays. We will get offers that are hard to turn down. Plus the loanees Peretz and Larin are likely to depart. I don't think either are top flight guaranteed players but Larin has been around the block and will look for a decent loan. And Peretz is already with a top club and will have offers. The maybe leavers include Charles (good enough for top flight but not consistent) and Downes (similar). But I doubt we will let all 3 CMs depart. In this group of at risk of leaving you have to add Bree and Stewart due to contracts but we will offer them both new deals. I think both could stay. I believe our other 'good' players will more than likely stay due to contracts, offers. Can't legislate for surprises or them having the hump long term but more likely to stay.... Fellowes, Matsuki, Azaz, and Manning in this group of good players now too. I've probably forgotten someone from the list of 'hope they stay'. I expect Stephens, Bragg, Wood, Archer to be here, unless we can offload the latter. Out of our first choice 13-15 at the end of this season, I hope we have 8 or 9, and double figures would be amazing. Optimistic yes, but when the dust settles their contracts remain and they are still the same players with the same attractiveness to us and other clubs.

We're deeply affected and hurt by all this. Our manager-to-be is not. I don't think what has happened will mean someone won't come, unless they wouldn't have considered being with Saints anyway. And quite possibly the freshest of starts, maybe more free reign than would have been the case, and a chance to be the person that moves us on from all this will be attractive. A quick but thoughtful decision (I know, I know) is needed so we can get going. And SR must have this as a priority.

I'm going to suggest that 200 pages is enough and we move into rebuilding mode. Saying this partly for my own sanity. I keep trying to stay away but can't. Good luck everyone and so sorry it came to this. We will have a team to support next season and when we score that first goal it'll feel much better.

But are we still on an unbeaten run?

I imagine if we'd lost the semi final that the punishment would have been points and fine. And if we hadn't done it in the play offs against a then disgruntled opponent it would have been similar. So the consequences are directly linked to the timing and the attention. I doubt that's enough of an appeal.

My level of upset at the club is related to the level of punishment, it's hard not to connect the two. If we'd done what we did, got found guilty, but just points deducted, it would all feel different. I have no idea what that means, I'm pretty shocked. I'm not saying it's ok but we've definitely been utterly hammered due to the prize and the timing. And I suppose that goes for everyone outside of Saints too. There's a lot of 'they deserve it look how bad it was'. But that's mainly because we've had the book thrown at us and it helps others feel like football is fighting back against cheating. Which it really isn't. The horrible thing is that we've just got to take it. And what happens next feels so negative right now.

Could only be bettered by another later in the week....'with less than 72 hours until kick off see how training is shaping up....'

The error thing isn't unusual. I've got that in the past (and today) and then when seats go on sale I've been able to click on the buy tickets link and it has remembered I was in the queue and allowed me to buy tickets. However this probably isn't consistent and foolproof. It's what I'm doing today but I could be at the back of the queue come 130.

I think the government need to get involved, the lost work hours to this thread alone could fund re-starting HS2.

5 Live earlier. 4 pundits each with differing views and from what they said contrasting levels of understanding and amount of thought given to it. Perfectly encapsulated the complicated nature of all this. Presenter a Middlesbrough fan and kept well out of it. It's been a long weekend.