Colinjb

8-0. Defoe back-heel. Can we get ten? And rather then celebrate the goal Sturridge puts his hands on his hips and shows very petulant body language.

7-0 now, With Rickie on the pitch it would have been 9. Free kick in Rickie range now.....

0-6 now, superbly placed free kick by Wayne Rooney. A better keeper would have had it though. Sturridge missed a sitter...... Seriously, Rickie Lambert would be having a field day.

Danny Graham's time to shine?

0-5 England on 42 minutes. I can't actually remember us being this efficient against a minnow for... well... ever....

Shame rain disrupted the second session, didn't get a true feel for the pecking order I believe. The tyres are dying a death out there. Could play into Kimi's hands again, whoever qualifies eleventh will be worth keeping a close eye on.

There is a subtle yet important distinction between discussion and dissection.

Coventry had that scenario back in December 2007. They gladly took it. At least at the time we seemed to be in a reasonably ok state.

That Akpom lad from Arsenal looks a bit handy.

With two years left I would say things are in hand. Having our only immediately Premier League standard keeper able to leave on a free in 3 months time is a little more pressing for me.

At least for us it happened relatively quickly. Coventry City has been dragging on painfully slowly and needlessly.

In a very SLH/SFC type of situation, their administration is not exactly straghtforward.

I hope this is their turning point. If this means SISU are finally kicked out of their club then an entire city will breathe a sigh of relief.

This. Very much this.

Adkins last 8 games: 10 points Pochettino's First 8 games: 9 points Average Points per game in the premier league under each manager. Adkins: 1 (22/22) Pochettino: 1.125 (9/8.) Under Pochettino our form has been underpinned by the two big victories against Liverpool and Man City. Under Nigel we had made a better habit of getting wins against poorer sides (Home to Reading, away to Villa) but hadn't been able to hang on against the bigger guns. Under both we have had disappointing results against mid-table teams. I find Pochettino's style to be better to watch, but Adkins' wasn't exactly terrible either. The run in is how we should judge Pochettino, if we cannot start building some consistency against those in mid-table we will be in trouble and Pochettino will have failed. As for now, I will remain undecided but optimistic.

Your best of the season Saints player? Morgan, with honourable mentions for Shaw, Lambert and Boruc, who after a shakey start is now indespensable. Best individual performance from any player Saints/Opposition? Saints: Morgan v Citeh/Liverpool. Opposition: Scholes. Best match performance from Saints? A toss up between Citeh and Liverpool at Home Highest point of excitement? Taking the lead away at Wigan, after coming back from a goal down away after looking so poor in the first half, I was buzzing. Shame young Luke was caught ball watching at the end. Best Saints goal scored? Schneiderlin away at Wigan. Lowest point that you thought it was all doom and gloom? Away to West Ham, I was convinced Adkins was going to go that evening, at the point he was eventually let go I felt similarly gloomy, particularly as he had turned us around nicely. Best goal conceded? Cameron Jerome, goal of the season, right there. Best Song/comment heard on the terraces? That Puncheon one, purile but funny. Worse pundit you have come across since our arrival back in the big time? Mark sodding Lawrenson.

Only if he's totally disavowing Liverpool for Swansea.

Looking forward to labour crying foul afterwards despite having no credible alternative to provide. That's always fun.

Here's the OS article http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/adkins-delighted-with-shaw-pledge-590773.aspx And my Saintsweb article: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?378-Luke-Shaw-verbally-commits-long-term-future-to-Saints

Pre-contract agreement that becomes official on his 18th Birthday. I believe.

Such a pity he was essentially done by his mid twenties, imagine if he could have continued to stay fit. He should have achieved more even if it was a repetition in some areas.

He should have been one of the undisputed best in the world. After failing to establish himself at Real Madrid it was all downhill, despite his excellent goals to game ratio. I cannot help but feel he could and should have achieved even more.

I hope they are right. Particularly Claridge.

In that they didn't reach their potential and believed their own hype. For some individually, and the England side of 2002-2006 collectively as a unit.

A player who never achieved his true potential. He should have been a consistent world beater, instead his destiny was to succumb to the privilege lifestyle as his talent and fitness waned. Quite symptomatic of the supposed 'golden generation' of English talent he was meant to be a key player for.