VectisSaint

29 goals in the previous season for the Gas would suggest otherwise. 84 goals in 3 seasons at the same level is no mean feat. Big Ron scored 85 in 3 consecutive seasons for Saints in Division 1 (37, 28, 20), 3 top notch seasons on the trot (hadn't realised the remarkable similarity until today) If you're good enough you will still score the goals, defences don't learn much.

Nope, they were actually chuffed that Lowe sent them payment that they didn't even know they were owed without waiting for the League to order the payment. Most Swindon supporters never even knew Walcott was on their books. They may have been more upset that Ted stole Mick Channon from them though, allegedly signing him illegally on a Sunday in order to beat them to it.

Interesting to know when Leicester and Villa have their remaining games. Leicester play Fulham and Villa play Charlton on Saturday. Assuming they still have 1 more match to play Leicester will be keen to beat Fulham (as Villa should beat Charlton) to keep up their hopes of winning Group B. Gives Saints a great chance playing against Coventry who are 8th in GpB. If Saints win then into play-offs, lets hope they are the only Saints team in play-off action this season. Well done Doddsy and the boys.

Arse bitten severely I believe. Seems Mr Fitton knows less than he thought about football.

Always reminds me of Nick Holmes. Think he is an underrated player and a crucial member of the squad. Occassionally has an off day, but guess thats why he never really fulfilled his early promise and is in 2nd/3rd tier of English league system. Certainly good enough for the Championship, hopefully will get a new contract soon.

Technically no, but barring a set of freak results, yes. But counting of chickens prematurely is not to be encouraged. We are Southampton. This season is showing why the play-offs are a bad idea and should be scrapped. The 3 best teams should be promoted, end of.

Did well against the Arse yesterday, not sure what that has to do with today though. Have to admit that I am not Kelvin's greatest fan, but he does seem to have cut out some of the major errors that were so much part of his game last season. He still gives me the shivers at corners and his kicking is often dreadful but you have to admit that he has made far fewer cock-ups than last season. I think we should credit Fonte and Ruddy Jaidi a lot for that improvement.

Well I'm in my mid 50s and really only have the one promotion to really remember. Being a glory hunter I really started supporting Saints only when we were in Div1, 66/67. Other than that its 77/78 only for me. Technically 2 others in my lifeltime but I have no memories of them at all, have to confess that I was a Spuds supporter before my Pompey supporting Dad took me to my first game. Still I don't want to tempt fate, we have not been promoted yet, old timers will remember well how we used to cock up promotion on a regular basis, with mutterings of how the Board did not want us to get promoted because they could not afford it. Was really hoping the Daggers could get a late equaliser today, it really isn't as clear cut as some would have us think.

They need to win their last 2 games now to reach 100 points. Lets hope they do it, it should be easy for a great footballing side like Mr Poyet says they are.

Actually watching them this afternoon they actually are very worried by this lack of success. Their supporters and their manager are possibly some of the most miserable feckers ever known. A few seasons without a trophy and they look like they should be on suicide watch, ungrateful bar stewards. They were even miserable when they beat us at Cardiff.

Heard him mentioned plenty on the radio, usually when he made a poor pass, or was caught in possession. Meerington especially was highly critical of Gobern in particular and the MF in general (except Chaplow). But then Merrington is critical of almost anything these days, it is so depressing listening to his drivel (what Saints don't need now is to conced another goal, no **** Sherlock, thought your comments were supposed to be insightful not stating the bleeding obvious, and if the tosser says "for the listeners at home" again, who the **** else are your comments supposed to be for, eh?). So given this, I guess Oscar probably played brilliantly.

Surely mathematically thats impossible. Last year was much stronger. This year there are 4 outstanding teams, last year there were 7 or 8. More points at the top because it is easier to win against the weaker sides. You cannot compare Norwich and Leeds (and arguably Millwall) with Plymouth, Wednesday and Peterboro.

You in your time machine again? Would be good, but we are playing the Monkey Hangers.

We should try to beat the Monkey Hangers at home without starting AL or DC, but have them on the bench. We should have enough to win without them, keep them fresh for the much more difficult next game when they could unlock Brentford's defence. Would also rest Jaidi. Not underestimating Pools because they are a decent side, but looking at the relative difficulties of games to come I would be confident that we can do it with other squad players. NA has shown he is more than capable of changing things around mid-game if it is not working.

Kenilworth Road, what a ****hole. Worse that Nottarf Krap, especially in the late 70s/early 80s. The year Millwall rioted there we played just after I think, definitely the scariest few minutes of my life after the match finished, then to get down that ****ty little alley way between 2 houses to get out. But then Luton is a **** hole anyway, even without the football ground. Elm Park was great, at least when I lived along the road and could walk to the ground from home even if it was to see the Royals.

Just read the thread, amazing it is just like reading threads on our own board, even down to the slating of Claridge. I guess all boards are the same in the end.

He only changed things then because of the huge amount of stick he was getting from the Saints supporters telling him what to do, he had no idea that night, none at all.

Think you should change your user name, you really are a disgrace to the memory of Charlie.

Can only assume the little **** didn't know which team was which. If Brighton are a good footballing side then I'm a monkey's uncle. They are a niggly, dirty little team that win games 1-0 and by slightly devious tactics. Fortunately for us we have several ways we can play, usually we play good passing football, but when the opposition demand it we can switch and play different tactics. NA is the first manager we have had for ages that has the nous to change tactics and formations not only from game to game but often several times within a game. Not something Pardew, Arry, WGS or even Hod were ever capable of.

Ruddy Jaidi

MK will be kicking themselves, a win today and Posh losing they could have been right in the mix, now they basically have nowt to play for until the play-offs.

You could argue that, but if they won today they would still be in with shout of 2nd place, but a defeat will mean they definitely cannot get 2nd (barring some freak results)

Must be a Sussex thing. Soon Crawley and Brighton will be massive local rivals.

Interesting that the OS says the majority come from the Academy, but in fact 4 of the mentioned 7 were not academy based. Good to see that we are going back to the days of signing young talent from wherever we can instead of just relying on the academy itself. The academy is excellent, but when you narrow your catchment area down as the academy does (and to make matters worse half our catchment area is in the Solent/English Channel) it can be a bit limiting. Even one of the others is from the Bath Satellite (as was Gareth Bale amongst others) - by the way this particular lad looks about 10, needs to get a new picture taken and look a bit harder :-)

Perhaps you can have real rivals now, at least there will be 2 teams in Sussex next season.