VectisSaint

Dyer's fault for the pen evidently

Oh, true could be I suppose. I actually heard it on 5Live initially where I thought they said it had been successfully appealed, but looks like I heard it wrong. Stoke site says they have lodged appeal.

On the BBC: "Steven Nzonzi is available after Stoke appealed against his red card for a challenge on Southampton's Jack Cork."

I was in Swindon earlier, if only I had known that the mighty Skates were in town (I would have avoided the place completely).

I see Stoke successfully appealed Nzonzi's red card. Didn't see anything on the sports news but he was cleared to play today. Seems to be rather a lot of teams successfully appealing reds lately. Always seems a bit wrong to me for the team who had the man sent off wrongly, on the other hand Stoke were definitely better when they went down to 10 men so maybe we should be aggrieved that he was given his marching orders.

Boo. You tricked us. Boo. (I would never boo Guly of course)

Are you Guly? If so Happy Birthday, if not Happy Birthday anyway.

I was feeling charitable.

"Carrico is a versatile player who can play in the centre of defence as well as in midfield". Substitute "Pele" for "Carrico" and all sounds very familiar. Has only played twice this season (due to contractual issues not injury). Remains to be seen if he is a bargain, he is not a full international for Portugal so don't see why this is seen as such a big deal. Sporting are not the team they used to be, in the bottom half of the Primera Liga, although cannot blame Carrico given he hasn't played. Seems a fairly risky signing, can't see he would be any better than Jose Fonte.

and despite this are nearly always wrong. Very seldom gets score right, and is lucky to get 3 or 4 results correct. Yet he is evidently the BBC's expert.

It was probably at his christening.

Yep, 2011 already

There was a lot of rubbish spouted about DC and his injuries, according to the man himself he was fit nearly all of the last season with use. I think even the Skates would not have signed him unless he was fit, even they are not so stupid as to sign someone on a month's ontract without checking out his fitness beforehand (are they?).

With the rain we are having signing a Wellington might be a wise move. Just hope he has no beef with the English weather.

or Dyer (Nathan variety)

Doesn't seem to be doing Nathan Dyer too much harm

Usual moronic vitriol on the Echo site from so-called saints supporters. DC was always a decent player for us and a decent bloke, did they really expect him to say when he signed for them, this is a **** club and I intend to take then down another division. Glad that he has found some gainful employment even if he is playing for a lost cause, basket case club, just hope he actually gets paid. I'm sure we didn't all call Channon, Davies and Stokes Skate ******s just because they spent some time in the twilight of thier careers helping out our poor, ungrateful neighbours. Cannot see what motivates people to write abusive stuff, calling people ******s etc in a public forum such as the Echo, really shows what a load of idiots we, like most other clubs, have in our midst.

And you accused me of being on my high horse. Your high-horsemanship is outweighed only by your pomposity.

Did Adkins go defensive? Did Stoke come out and play very differently in the 2nd half after a hair dryer half time from Pulis. Some people seem to forget that a football match includes 2 teams. We were dominant in the 1st half, but Stoke were also appalling (nevertheless they should have had 2). Anyone who cannot see some positives from yesterday really should hang their head in shame, we battered Stoke for 45 minutes, playing them at their own game. 3 goals scored at the Britannia, only 4 goals conceded in their previous 11, I really do wonder about some of our (Arsenal) supporters.

Ill-advised to leave Saints, as a Saints supporter that is what I think. Maybe you think otherwise. He was advised to leave too soon as soon as the £££s were on the table, money isn't everything, believe it or not.

Don't buy this fitness thing. He was still full of running after 102 minutes yesterday and is the only player that we have that is able to hold the ball up, something we will definitely need. I would be staggered if NA drops him to the bench against the Arse. I also hope that we don't get Fox back in, would be a disaster if we have him up against Oxo (assuming Theo plays as striker as this seems to be his position now).

Claus was the same, but never stopped him being played. I hate smoking and agree no professional sportsman should smoke, but in reality it makes little difference at his age, and is of less consequence to a goalkeeper than an outfield player. Many footballers smoke, they also drink heavily, not good but really should not be a factor for a fit young (compared with me) footballer.

Can only assume you mean Mr Mark Chamberlain, if so I could live with that, assuming he is at the game. Booing Mr Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a different matter, no reason to boo him, just because he was ill-advised by his Skate dad.

Wow, one of Gazza's biggest pluses over KD is his distribution. The fact that he actually gives it to one of our players and doesn't kick into touch like KD usually does for a start. KD used to have one strong point, his shot stopping. Well, I think even that is now a bit suspect, 2nd goal yesterday was a dolly and he let it squirm through his hands (sorry don't buy the unsighted argument, if he was unsighted why did h get his hands round the ball).

Happy New Year Alpine. Thank you for one of the funniest posts I have ever seen. Sorry I was a bit late getting to it. Love it.