The Cat

Personally can't stand Eastleigh so I'd hope we smash them 8-0.

No one knows for certain. We could have let goals in other ways or scored fewer. One thing I do know is that we have created enough chances to win every game during that run. Is there a game since the start of it where we have had less shots than the opposition?

They don't last 4 days now, that SA v India one the other day was nuts

This has all been reported in Private Eye for 10 years or so. Amazing that there's only now been more widespread media coverage.

I've watched Maidstone play a bunch of times as I have family near there. Seen them all the way from when they were playing Kent League football in the 90's through to ground sharing with Sittingbourne and then to their own stadium and promotion to the National League a couple of years ago. They have a good fan base and decent owners. For their sake I hope they get Arsenal, Spurs or West Ham away so they can take a crap load of fans to a ground that's pretty close, get on tv and earn a bumper pay out.

Surely we only need to overtake them by the end of the season unless I've missed a rule change where the second place team now gets promoted in mid January.

Or alternatively they'll press and we'll pass through them and create a load of chances. Maybe we'll make and error, maybe we won't. I wish we'd stop pissing around with it at the back because I'm really fed up that playing like that has contributed to our longest unbeaten run in a 100 years or something.

On the other hand our passing from the back draws the opposition in and then allows us to play the ball through their press to a player in a lot of space who turns, runs forward and makes a pass to another player who sets up a goal. That's exactly what happened with the second goal yesterday. Martin said it would go wrong at times. I suspect that we are happy to take the damage of the odd chance given or goal conceded for the reward of causing the opposition problems when we do beat the press. We won't stop doing it so you're going to have to learn to accept it.

Talking of ex Saints coaches, Selles has done a good job at Reading recently. Unbeaten in 6 and moved to within touching distance of safety.

Was saying to my son earlier that I'd like us to play a lower mid table Prem team like Brentford or Wolves to see how we get on. Would be a really interesting game. Eastleigh would be the funniest draw. Don't want to play anyone in our league.

Dibling has all the ability to be an outstanding player. Probably time people started getting his name right instead of calling him Dibbling or Dibley.

Great win for Sholing away at Totton in the non league Southampton derby.

Should be a few up really, finishing poor. Fraser bossing the game. Alcaraz playing like he's trying to get his stats up on FIFA career mode, taking players on or shooting when a pass would be better. Meghoma has done pretty well although not had much in the way of defending to do. Would like to see Dibling on soon, the kid is class.

Decent line up, strong bench.

It's fine in Hamble now. Source, me, I live here. Hound Road was amusing on Thursday evening, flooded across the whole road. 2 cars abandoned in the middle. Crowd today will be decent. Even the Chapel is open.

"Like all the other" Nothing like a bit of mass generalisation on a Saturday morning. It would be like me saying "all the posters on this message board are massive twats" when it's actually only about 85% of them who are.

Interesting point around Chelsea wanting a Premier League loan rather than Championship. However would it be better for a players development to come to a team like Saints or Leicester in the league below who have a heavy amount of possession and will win a lot of games or have him chasing the ball around for 90 minutes and and feeding off scraps for someone like Sheffield United?

Bought my tickets last night, we really have sold a lot for a 3rd round game against a League 2 team. The game has been well priced by the club. With the weather set fine there should be a decent walk up too.

Agree that when Danny Baker (and a few other random guests at that time) hosted it the show was excellent. They'd have proper fans of clubs from all leagues phoning in, often relaying the amusing events that happened at a game they were at. The hosts wouldn't try to wind up the callers by making controversial or contrary statements. They also wouldn't take calls from idiots who say things like "I didn't watch the game today but Arsenal didn't win so they should sack Arteta". I can't last more than about 10 minutes listening to it now when driving back from a game.

I'm sure there will be a reasonable number of the first team squad involved. Stephens will play as he doesn't need a rest. Same for Fraser, Smallbone and Alcaraz. Adams and Mara up front too.

Enjoyed that game. Liverpool playing some lovely stuff with Salah at the centre of everything. Man City are going to have to capitalise on his absence for the AFCON. 7 defeats in the last 8 in all competitions for Newcastle. Will they sack Howe and let someone else come in and spend money in the transfer window or keep him and buy new players?

Is there a secret prize for using the word "shoehorn" on here today?

Fair result. We played pretty well and had chances but the final ball wasn't quite there. Was a good second half with both teams going for the win.

Well they just pinged a ball to the right a minute ago and Walker Peters was stood a long way from their winger so it does happen. Walker Peters is faster though so he can close down space a bit quicker.

Surely everyone has realised by now that we defend narrowly and Manning takes up defensive positions as instructed? He's not just fucking off the wide man because he can't be arsed as seems to the consensus from the first half posts.