VectisSaint

Actually it is, on goal difference.

Charlie Austin back in training (with the U21s and the other non-internationals). Hopefully available for our next game (though where or whether he will fit in is another matter).

Apparently Wellbeck was also absent (there's a surprise). Still Ryan has nearly 2 weeks to recover from what cannot be much of an injury.

As I said I tend to agree with your thoughts, but it really only needs a few results to go our way and it could be very different. West Ham's fixtures are very tough, Man City can't buy a win at the moment, Liverpool are inconsistent, Stoke are poor at home, and Man u are also very inconsistent. It could be fine margins, but to say anyone that thinks 4th/5th is achievable is hardly barking in my opinion. I think if you ask Ronald he would say that 5th at least is achievable. I don't think he is barking, he may be over optimistic. Who knows after Sunday? That's the beauty of the game and its good to have these conversations, sadly spoiled by the ignorant abuse of one (or two) of the trolls on here who love to ruin a decent discussion.

Feck sake you continue to be a **** don't you.

I'm certainly not suggesting that Pelle's penalty wasn't a penalty (and I don't think Whitey was either, the discussion was why Skrtel wasn't red-carded). The point about the "obvious goal scoring opportunity" was whether it deserved a red card or not. That was what the FIFA presentation was specifically addressing, guess you didn't really read it. You've also missed the point about "obvious goal scoring opportunity it seems. The point is that FIFA (and the FA) have clarified what is and is not "obvious". The word "obvious" is not really the best word to use. As I said we have all seen players score from these angles, but in terms of whether a red card can be given, it is defined as a player running toward goal, nothing more or less. That makes it as close to being a black and white decision as is possible. Pelle or anyone else scoring from difficult angle is a skill, and not "obvious", it would be unlikely for instance that I could score from such an angle* I also think that the Long incident was a clear penalty (but again not a red card). *to be fair I did once score from a similar position with the ball being on the goal line, but the referee disallowed it because he believed the opposition manager, who happened to be leaning against the other goalpost chatting to the keeper who was smoking a ciggy at the time, who told him the ball had crossed the goal line first. But that's my issue and nothing to do with FIFA, but it has stuck with me for over 40 years, my only goal for my village team scored on my debut and it was disallowed, and I was cautioned for arguing, and subbed at half-time. The world is so unfair I guess me doing what was considered highly unlikely is a perfect example of how this is not considered an "obvious goal scoring opportunity"

David, Whitey is completely correct with his assessment of why there was no red card (not that he needs me to tell him that, he is a far more experienced referee than I ever was). I learned a lot from this FIFA document regarding Fouls and Misconduct (Law 12). The last three slides in particular explain how to decide whether an "obvious goal scoring opportunity" has or has not occurred. The critical issue seems to be whether the player is running towards the goal. On Sunday Pelle was wide right of the goal and running directly towards the goal line following the threaded pass by Davis. He wasn't running towards goal, neither was he running away from the goal. He was in line with the limit of the goal area which if I recall correctly is 6 yards (5.5m) outside of the goal post. He would have had to have been more than 6 yards to his left for this to be considered an "obvious goal-scoring opportunity". Of course we all know that a goal can be scored from this position, but the word "obvious" is important and the advice given to referees clarifies this. Here's the presentation document I referred to: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/7.%20law%2012_miscounduct_557.pdf

I tend to think that you are right that we won't finish 4th or 5th, but people who think we might are hardly barking. It is still very possible, and for precisely the reason that you think we won't do it. No one from 4th down is consistent (even 3rd for that matter). We may just be slightly less inconsistent than Man City or Man U for the remainder of the season. To dismiss the possibility of making up a 3 point gap (to 5th) is just nuts.

Agreed, totally irrelevant if Long moves one way then another, it was still a 2-handed push by Lovren. Not a red card though.

Thanks Gemmel. As I said in my reply I don't think his next appearance would trigger a payment, he has already made 21 starts in the Premier League, the only competition that counts for the purposes of the additional payments, no more payments until he gets to 30, which will be next season now (at least).

Billy No Mates

Really not surprised that international manager hasn't picked him based on his recent performances. But if the report is true then it is very rude not to at least let him know, but petulant reaction all the same. James Beattie had a similar beef with SGE if I recall, though I think he got a text.

This was my initial reaction during the game, and you are right to a degree that he was poor in many respects (giving the ball away that lead to Benteke's chance, and many misplaced passes). But, having now watched several highlights, in his defence he (1) put in the corner that VvD should have buried in the first half (2) ensured that Liverpool's 3rd goal was disallowed by getting off the line smartly to catch Origi (?) offside (3) put the ball through to Pelle that resulted in the pen that Mane missed (4) his tenacity set up the first goal, winning the ball back from Liverpool and allowing Pelle to pass to Mane (5) his smart first time pass enabled Long to set up Pelle for our second He hasn't been quite the same since he was injured, but even when he is having a pretty poor game he is still influential. Without his inputs yesterday I suspect we would not have got back in the game, while Mane and Pelle (and Wanyama) will justifiably and rightly take the credit for the outcome yesterday. Special mention to JWP as well, often criticised, but he created the 3rd goal.

Is there a link to this, if it is doing the rounds on Twitter? Would be interested to look at it.

Must win to keep our title hopes alive When was the last time we got to Apri with a mathematical chance of winning the top flight?

Agreed, thought the same.

Maybe the week after :-) Not sure even Woy will call him up on the back of a hat trick in the u21s.

No he wasn't. He had one of his worst games of the season. Really hasn't looked the same since his injury. He still worked his socks off and was involved for the 2nd but his passing was woeful (and that comes from someone who is normally a supporter). Still he wasn't alone. Tadic was a complete waste of space, the only good thing he did was to bend the lineo's ear when Liverpool scored their 3rd and made him change his mind. Forster was absolutely awful as well, especially the first goal, Forster of old, thought he had gotten that sort of stuff out of his system after his return. Clasie was also awful today, shame because he has looked good lately, but he let Joe Allan have so much space in the first half, criminal. On the positive side, Vic changed the game, he had one of his best games ever today, absolutely controlled the middle. Virgil was again brilliant. Mane also did great, but why oh why did anyone think it was a good idea letting him take the penalty, seriously he had to be about 11th choice of our players to take it, even Fraser would probably have been a better option. But he made up for it. Also a big shout for Pelle today for his second half performance, he again cut out the stupid flicks and his goal was sensational. Prowsey did some excellent stuff when he came on, aggresive which is unusual for him, but still looks cumbersome and too slow at other times. Romeu was also very good again, I love his surging runs at goal, but he was let down by Clasie in the first half. Martina was very average, did nothing wrong but offered very little and is still very suspect in defence. Jose was Jose, a rock and good captaincy, urging the players on. Great to see Ronald celebrating the 3rd, seems like he was concerned about his achilles and decided he better sit back down. Great to get one over the bin dippers, ****ed off again with the number of them in our part of the ground though. Surely it is not beyond the wit of the ticket office to recognise a scouse accent :-)

Must win, otherwise we can kiss goodbye to winning the League this season.

Only watched second half, but struck by the amount of effort he has been putting in. Strange what happens when player is fit. Shsmr it had to be s h i t Nugent who scored the winner.

Born in Yeovil. Last time I checked Yeovil was in England. Guess one or more of his parents or grandparents are Welsh.

An all time best Saints XI without Channon. Unbelievable.

Pompey XI: Dave Beasant, Ivan Golac, Martin Cranie, Malcolm Waldron, Gregory Vignal, Alan McLaughlin, Barry Horne, Eyal Berkovic, Mick Channon, Bobby Stokes, Ron Davies Subs: Peter Crouch, Nigel Quashie, David Connolly, Jhon Viafara, Trevor Hebbard, Paul Gilchrist, Arthur Brown (GK) Manager: Alan Ball

[h=3]"I touched the bottom" - Lovren[/h]http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/35716466 Apparently...

Mick never had a serious goal drought, especially in his first spell at the club, goals were not as regular when he came back after Man City, but even so he never went many games without scoring. In his first spell once he was regular and Chivers and Big Ron had gone he hardly ever went more than 3 or 4 games without scoring. Bearing in mind for much of his career he wasn't the main striker (centre forward) anyway his goal scoring record was remarkable, and to compare Pelle's lack of goals with Mick (or Big Ron or Chivers) is laughable and highly disrespectful. There is also a hell of a difference between going 6-8 games without scoring and 13-14, esepcially when a season is now only 38 games, compared to 42.