OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Thanks for the tip, CheshireSaint. I've taken your advice and booked in to the Premier Inn by Chester Station. Interesting, this Premier Inn is half the price of the one at the Racecourse Ground.

Is that what Tonda did or is this hearsay? I vaguely recall Tonda at the time saying he had no input in the recruitment process but he was ok with Peretz coming in. A goalkeeper who can make saves and a striker who can score goals. Arguably the two most important positions on the pitch and something many on this forum have been clamouring for years. Now we've got a good goalkeeper and while Larin is no superstar, his goal against Oxford was pretty classy...happy days.

Weird, but the closer you live to London it's true. Two of my Spurs season ticket friends are in denial. When I first started going to Saints games, both us and Spurs were in the old Division 2. What comes around goes around.

Even the first game against Wrexham was a concern because he just threw on strikers at the end and got lucky but Turkish's comments about the Blackburn game are incisive because that also for me was the game when I realised he really wasn't very good. That stated, Tonda was on a downward spiral until we changed the goalkeeper, got rid of the dwarf and the incompetent Downs up front and he stumbled on the four at the back formation. I think even Will Still would have got us up to mid table with those changes.

But isn't is great to be at the tail end of a season and have so much to play for? Actually looking forward to the next Saints game and can't say I did that last year.

Stating the obvious a bit, but really want to see us come out the blocks quickly today with players running at them. Passing around the half way line and down the wing and back again looking for people to make runs won't hack it. There again, Tonda will have worked it all out. And while I don't agree with time wasting, I do think we don't make enough of penalty claims. Like on corners, feel a tap and go down and scream and shout at the referee. Then, when something a little more serious comes up, like when Edozie had his takedown against Norwich, a scream and shout will be a penalty all day long.

Peretz arguably a more important signing than Leo. Still think attack is the best form of defence...so does my heart rate! Shit-houserie, time wasting. It's so frustrating when you're on the receiving end of it and even when we're doing it, I don't agree with it. We're better than that. Some tired players out there. As some else has said, the international break will be doing us a favour.

Ah we've missed your in depth pre-match analysis, Wade...and no mention of six fingers? There's often been goals when we play Norwich and can see this game will go the same way. 3-2 or 4-2 Saints win.

So do we want Portsmouth to win or lose tonight? Win and they put a dent in Derby's claims for that 6th spot...

The fact that he's going for a scan doesn't sound good and we haven't heard about Beef for a while. Now it's our turn to have injuries to key players and hopefully this is where the depth in squad pays off. Edozie and Fellows have a lot to offer in the run in. Was surprised Edozie wasn't given a run at Coventry but Tonda knows best...and I'm starting to genuinely believe he does!!

Every game seems to be more important than the last. When expectations and form are considered, genuinely think this is harder than the Coventry game but if we can win this, there's then Oxford and a two week break. Opportunity knocks!

And he seems to genuinely enjoy playing for the Saints. Great how he came over to the away fans after getting his MotM award. Arguably the biggest position upgrade of all the recent signings.

Interesting to look back on comments about him just a couple of months ago! He's definitely one of the reasons why we've gone on our recent run. Our most influential midfielder and playing like he did two seasons ago. Maybe he's a confidence player, maybe he's got his health back but the Pompey game gave him his 'fire' back. But how many more yellow cards does he need before picking up a two match ban? He tends to lose his rag pretty quickly and I can't see him going the rest of the season without picking up another yellow card.

So Peretz gets MotM. Fair play. Thought Bree was brilliant. He was playing against a pretty good winger and hardly let anything past. Once again Downes bossed the midfield. THB and Jack were especially solid and Manning seems to have turned things around too. A particularly good day out. Did like it when we were singing Israel's No 1 s so their fans responded with England's No 1 about their goalie...then he booted straight in to touch...so we started singing England's No 1.

Really Nordic? I also think Downes has been instrumental in our improved performances and is a quality player. Not too sure Scienza will be playing today, so fully expext a start from Edozie. Now's your chance Sam..

Haven't been impressed with Okekunle's cameos in the first team. Not once have I seen him sprint and he seems to amble in to poor positions. That stated, I'm talking from ignorance as I haven't seen him in the U21s. Dibaga looked ok against Leicester. Is Ross definitely out? I can see him being cotton-wooled until the Norwich game, but if we lose tomorrow, we're six points off the play-offs which won't be easy to make up.

Bet he loves Champions League football. Despite it being rammed down our throats, I couldn't even tell you who was in it, and this week watched the Wrexham game on TV. Might be something to do with the fact that those games aren't on Sky but you get the drift....

We seem to have a real problem with clubs that put players behind the ball. Coventry won't so providing Tonda doesn't do a brain fart and revert to 5 at the back, we've got a real chance to get something from this match. The danger is he forced to rest too many potential match winning players No mention from the club about Scienza's fitness. Given we play Norwich next Wednesday, there's a chance he might even be rested. Similarly, Stewart's 'tightness' might mean he's also rested. Middlesbro fans said Azaz goes missing in key games. He need to find some of those threaded passes in this match.

Agree, it wasn't his best cameo but other than Scienza, who else have we got who can run directly past defenders? We need that directness in the team otherwise we pass sideways and backwards (which we did a lot of yesterday). Also think Sam Edozie has bulked up marginally so is not so prone to being pushed off the ball. He could play an important part in our run in.

Yep, they wanted it more. Just put the ball in the penalty area. That's where things happen. Too much possession for possession's sake. That said, looking forward to Coventry on Saturday.

Thanks Trousers that was quick. Team as hoped.

Guess that makes Wrexham the team to catch.

The Chelsea game seems to have taken it out of Wrexham. They look really leggy. Or maybe they just aren't very good. Hope we don't look the same tomorrow. Trust Charles and Stephens will be back in and they will strengthen the team.

I'm going because that's one of the most important games of the run in. Win that game and our confidence will be sky high (pun not intended!). But first, let's win this midweek game. Can see Stewart starting and hopefully Charles is back.

Thanks Tonda. Making as much as he can a game of it. Out of that line up, I would have preferred Quarshie to Wood but fair play, we have a chance. Hope they're up for it.