Neil

Play the strongest team possible, we want to continue progressing on three fronts, and it seems that AP agrees judging by his comments. As already said, we've got a free week until the next game (which is at home, so no real travelling), and then another free week until the relatively short journey to Millwall. It's the second half of January that gets a bit more hectic. For the moment I'd hope that some of the players may be able to gain some confidence from beating Luton and playing well.

Point 3 - Which Club is gonna charge any less than £5 to park at the ground? Isn't it the fact that it's modern (i.e. out of town) that makes more people drive? Ok the location isn't the best (thank goodness we moved to St Mary's rather than Stoneham), but you can use your imagination and park somewhere for free and walk/bus to the ground. Or get the train...

I'd agree that at the moment Norwich would be favourites for the play-offs, but I don't think Norwich will be in the play-offs. Anyway, they've failed to beat us over 180 minutes so far at SMS this season (4-4), and I think we'll improve more between now and the end of the season than they will. Of course the best team may not win the play-offs, but I'd rather go into them with the best team, and I wouldn't agree that they are a lottery.

The gap to the play-offs could still be a maximum of 10 points looking at the games in hand of Huddersfield and Swindon. However, I still think that can be overcome over 23 games, especially with all those teams still to be played. I believe our chances of winning the play-offs would be better than 1 in 4, should we actually make them. Bearing in mind the possible new arrivals shortly, in addition to a first team that should be better than play-off rivals. Although I accept the element of luck that comes into play. But the semi is over two legs.

The next five are tough games - Colchester (A), Huddersfield (H), Millwall (A), Swindon (H) & Brentford (A). Would be nice to go unbeaten through that little run, and pick up at least a few wins, the first two are probably the most important two for us to win.

Fair enough, that sounds like good fun, but this 26th happens to be a Saturday and there's going to be tons of completely unnecessary car journeys made into Southampton, on a day when West Quay / Ikea etc will presumably be packed anyway, and with 30k at SMS! The bus companies have really screwed this one up badly, and I think Saints should have pointed this out to them. A lot of car journeys will probably be made of no more than 2 miles within Southampton, as fans just drive a bit closer to SMS! Hope everyone manages to get in, and gets as many beers in as they can somehow!

Would be fantastic to hit 30k, we certainly will for Leeds but would be great for Exeter. Looking at this, the average should nip above 20k on Saturday: http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D2/attend.html

bettingzone's award winners for 2009: http://www.bettingzone.co.uk/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=betting/09/12/21/manual_210533.html Best Managerial Appointment: Southampton When your club slips out of the top two divisions for the first time in half-a-century and faces financial ruin, the last thing you expect is a Swiss-German billionaire to come to the rescue and appoint a manager who should probably be plying his trade in the Premier League. However, that was the exciting rags-to-riches scenario that the St Mary's faithful were celebrating back in July and now 2010 is shaping up to be an incredible year for the south coast outfit. Quite how Alan Pardew has ended up managing in League One barely three years after guiding West Ham to an FA Cup final is anyone's guess, although his ill-advised decision to take on a hiding-to-nothing at Charlton clearly hasn't helped. Anyway, Pardew is back to his usual self and you wouldn't rule out the possibility of Saints making a couple of trips to Wembley in the New Year. A double-header against MK Dons is the only remaining obstacle in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and Bettingzone followers will be cheering them on in their relentless pursuit of the play-off positions, which they now trail by just nine points. Our hefty 20/1 wager on Southampton to win promotion (placed on October 14) is now only 11/2 and even that doesn't look bad value when you consider Pardew's pedigree in big-game scenarios. If all goes according to plan, the Hampshire club could be in contention for a return to the Premier League this time next year.

Just read that the football club 'strongly recommend' taking the bus to SMS on Saturday. Can they also recommend how people get back to the city centre by c5.10 to get some of these last buses (BS 1 & 9), bearing in mind injury time means the game may not finish until gone 5, and an expected crowd of somewhere near 30K? That's just for the lucky ones who have a bus running at all, not sure that Bluestar realise that the 26th is a Saturday FFS! Cheers Bluestar...

Good news for getting in and having drinks before the game, but 5.10 for the Bluestar 1 is leaving it a bit tight after the game, especially if there is loads of injury time!

Plymouth have a big catchment area, but most of it is water! I've always thought that their potential was vastly over-rated, but if it gives their fans something to cling onto then fair enough! At least they've shown some ambition. I think Saints & Pompey have probably helped Bristol & Plymouth by not bidding or screwing up, if Saints or Pompey had been involved I guess it may have been two from Bristol, Plymouth & Saints/Pompey, despite the claims that geography was not a big factor in the decision.

We really should shift the 1,900 for this being on a Bank Holiday, when the roads shouldn't be too bad. And it's a big game! Only hope is we have a bit more boisterous support than turned up at Walsall, which was a bit too 'family' for my liking.

Wondering if Colchester trip is more important than Leeds?

I've taken out the Cup games, inc. the draw against Torquay! Pretty good reading, apart from the 'blip' in the middle. Wonder if Lambert or Lallana can bag a hat-trick soon?

We used to take good followings to Newcastle, but not Sunderland from my experience. Hartlepool was a good following for sure.

I don't think that Millwall really need many police for most of their games, Leeds excepted! There's no real reason for any Saints fans not to attend on the grounds of safety (perceived hooligan threat), no more than any other away game.

With Luton getting through, there's even more chance of the Kingsland opening. As Luton can have c.4,500 if they think they'll sell them, moving Saints fans out of the Northam into the other parts.

Kingsland is not visible when the goals are shown on TV, hence they've closed it, so it improves the perception of SFC to the TV audience. Ultimately, if enough people go to the game, the Kingsland will have to open. The Club should still be encouraging people to go on the OS as the prices are pretty good.

They've got three LPs and one Covers album, so I would say just start with the debut album 'Rage Against The Machine', with 'Bombtrack' and 'Killing in the Name' tracks that you may have heard from it. And don't forget to get them to Christmas No. 1!

I've taken out the Cup games, still pretty good.

Looks like a 3.00 KO. VT v Totton is now an 11.30 KO, so people can get along to the Saints game as well afterwards. So if anyone fancies an early start in Sholing, hair of the dog etc then over to SMS...

A decent point against probably the best team/manager in League One, and could even have beaten them. That said, Nowich outclassed us for most of the game, it's to our credit that we still had the chances to win. Would love a clean sheet, but can't see where the next one is coming from!

Hills offering 13/8 Saints for the Half Time & Full Time, have to say they should be expecting some interest at this price.

The dream Saints-Leeds final has definitely moved a few steps closer this morning! Last time we beat Norwich in the Cup it was on the way to Cardiff, so why not Wembley this time?! Norwich home was possibly the best draw for us. Big crowd, more revenue in the coffers for this game, as the Southern Final home leg (hopefully) would be a big crowd even it was Hereford in all likelihood.

However people are getting there, whether staying the night, driving back, hats off just for going! Ok, bingo bus may not be everyone's flask of coffee but it serves a purpose, at least the people going bingo - social misfits or otherwise - actually attend some away games! Which is more than can be said for some keyboard warriors. Anyone up for "Oh When The Saints" in Sedgefield bar?