VectisSaint

Great performance and result tonight, well done to everyone involved. Just shows what can be done with a bit of experience in the team to complement the youngsters like most have been saying all season. Still need to win home games and until we do, we are still candidates for relegation. But lets enjoy tonight.

Most Hearts players such as Rudi have such a reputation at Hibs. Its called local rivalry.

BBC reports Ryan Smith is out with hamstring, haven't seen this elsewhere. Shame if true, looked good second half on Saturday, at least would have given cover until Holmes is back.

Quite right, even then it doesn't always work as Fuller and Delap contrived to demonstrate yesterday, with 3 hits of the woodwork between them from 1 spot kick. Still as said elsewhere the only reason Lee save McG's penalty was because it was one of the worst ever penalty kick attempts. The girl at half-time had far better technique than Dave (and probably our mascot is a better keeper than Lee).

I think our defence leaks like a sieve, not a colander

I admire your optimism, and I too would be optimistic if I felt that Lowe might change things, but his stubbornness will at least see him sticking to the current plan until end of the year. Unless things change I think we will be already relegated before the last day. Sure, there are 4 teams currently below us which suggests their form is worse than ours. But then look at our fixtures so far, and who we have beaten. My forecast is based on the supposition that we have not yet faced many good teams - we certainly still have to play Wolves, Sheff Utd, Reading twice. Who have our victories been against? Derby, had not won a game of a year, they have since and are now 10th in the table. Norwich, who thankfully are 1 place below us still and also deeply in trouble like ourselves. Doncaster, still finding their feet at this level, but I would suggest likely to turn it around once the threat of relegation becomes real. I know we still have to play Forest, but on the evidence of Saturday I think we would struggle. Watford were the worst side I have seen, they had a wobbly defence, and a suspect keeper, but we failed to pressurise them, and they clearly decided in the 2nd half to conduct a defensive training session in preference to increasing thier goal difference. To be given 2 penalties, and still not be able to take advantage, is a huge confidence and moral threat. We have also won only 1 of 6 home games, if that is not relegation form I don't know what is. 2 big defeats on the bounce, and with tough games to come. I agree the form book shows us 20th, but you have to look further than that, is there a trend emerging? I guess we will not know until a couple more games, maybe the lads will shock us by getting a result tomorrow, but I won't hold my breath. There is still time to change things, and of course it goes without saying I hope we do, but I walked out of SMS on Saturday feeling that I had seen the worst team ever and thoroughly dejected. To hope that the return of Euell will be our trump card is to be honest clutchin at straws. I hope I'm wrong and will be the first to pat you on the back (metaphorically) if you are proved right.

Oh to be in such a position of luxury. On the evidence of Saturday we will be mathematically relagated well before the last day of the season.

An interesting point here. I've made a couple of posts regarding Pulis and how he hadn't really signed for us, and many responded saying it was just because Stoke were paying his wages until he was fit. So, how come we also believe that Stoke are paying for Davies when he is not fit. Cuts both ways. Just wonder if actually we have been paying for Davies all this time or not.

Please don't associate that idiot with my Dad's home village (no ,my Dad was not Mike Wilde, but he was born in Burley)

I think it was always utilised often enough. But it seems Rory has changed it somewhat, throwing it much lower and swifter, in the days with us he basically just lobbed it up in the air, so it arrived at our strikers with no real power. I also noted today that he played left MF, whereas he nearly always played on the right for us.

Unless he was going to his house in Burley of course.

Whatever your thoughts on Mike Wilde, and I am not his greatest fan, how could anyone wish this on anyone? Checked out BBC News etc., seems to me like a sick poster.

Higgy and Delap score, Bale sent off, Fuller on the bench and Beattie playing up front. No sign of Davies though, still injured I assume. Sad reminder of where we were, and we used to think Delap was a waste of space.

Has Kirsty (?) signed yet? After her performance at half-time yesterday I think she would be an improvement, even with her broken arm, at least we might have a chance if we get a penalty. Just watching some of the Sheff derby on Sky makes me wonder how we could compete against either if they play like they did today. Beattie could completely muller our powder-puff defence, unless he gets a mysterious injury I think it could be an embarrassing night to be a Saints supporter again. The only good news is Kilgallon won't be playing. The bad news is Utd will be out to get back on course.

Great idea, lets wait until March and then think that we might get relegated Unless things are changed, drastically, we will be relegated, no doubt about it (imho). At this point in the season, and even up to December we still have a chance to do something about it, with transfer windows and so on. By March you are where you are, and only a minor miracle can turn things around. Those who are thinking there are 3 (or even 4) worse teams than us in the League may be right from a points perspective right now, but realistically I suspect we are the worst team in the league and by Christmas that will be supported by the league table. Watford were worse than us but yesterday despite looking appalling they picked up 3 points from us.

3 minutes excitement either way I suppose. Sadly I don't recall 3 minutes excitement during the match though.

Sad that he laid into Cowan if he did. Lowe and Wilde fair game, but I think Cowan is the only one with an ounce of decency among them. I still think if we could have had Cowan and Hoos working with Crouch, we may have been on to a winner.

Actually I think we could do better with what we have on the pitch. A manager/coach who understands the English game and knows how to mix youth and experience could have us winning. There is some top talent available from the youngsters, Surman, Lallana, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lancashire possibly, even McG if someone could give his arse a big kick and stop him thinking he is a fancy dan. Add into that mix Perry, Wotton, John, Euell, Davis and Skacel (Killer as well maybe), and dare I say even BWP and a proper manager would have that lot winning games. It might not be pretty (but then today was definitely not pretty) but it could get results. I'm not sure who the right manager would be (personally I think Pearson was right), but even some arsehole like Billy Davies would probably get this lot set up right. I quite like Jan, his principles are right, but he is out of his depth with no proper #2 to support him (I thoughtWotte was supposed to be his assistant, looks more like Hockaday to me is the 2nd in command).

Au contraire, we were incredibly bad, as were Watford to be fair. I have never seen such an inept performance by a Saints team (indeed I struggle to think of a worse performance by any team I have seen, ever). We would not have scored today if we had played until midnight. It was lucky for us that Watford gave up in the 2nd half and decided to have a defensive training session instead

Just a minor footnote, but Davies has yet to play a game for Stoke. I assume that is because he has not yet recovered from injury (I could be wrong), if so he would not have played for us either, thus making his contribution somewhat similar to that of Pulis at Saints Not only that but we would have been paying his wages and his medical bills up to now (perhaps we actually still are, given he hasn't played, and some folks think that Stoke are still paying for Pulis). I agree though we should not have sold him.

Lee was marvelous? Did he actually make a save (he got in the way for the second pen and I could have saved the first with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back). I look past the score and am just thankful that Watford decided at half-time that they had taken the **** enough in our goal area and would sit back and take the 3 points. If they had wanted to they could have had half a dozen. They were quite frankly the worst team I have seen (ever), excluding Saints today of course. Even if we had scored the 2 pens anyone who would have been talking about promotion this season would have been confined to the funny farm.

Just got back after a 150 mile round trip to watch a load of garbage, and Saints were even worse. What has happened to the team I love and have supported for over 40 years. This is shameful. How can any team miss 2 penalties. At least Wotton's attempt was reasonable, McG must have struck just about worst penalty ever, even the 3 kids at half-time made better attempts (indeed I think the girl would probably have not looked out of place in the team today). Our players are too weak, too easily knocked off the ball. Watford knew how to destroy them today, and frankly didn't even break sweat. They were gifted 3 goals by our excuse for a defence. Why play Wotton and Ollie at the back when Perry, a proper CB is on the bench, Perry at CB and Wotton in MF and we may have had some spine. We look too slow, we are not good at passing to our own players, and we are completely ineffective up front - indeed blaming the defence is all well and good, but even if they had kept a clean sheet the best we could have hoped for would have been a 0-0 draw. I really do dread to think what will happen when we play a good side, it will go one of two ways I suppose, Sheff Utd will either tear us apart or we will step up and atually give a good performance, sadly I suspect the former is more likely. I don't think Jan knows what he is doing either. His general demeanour is awful, standing hands in pockets, with no ideas of subs. We were crying out for a change at HT or just after, at least going for a win could have raised the spirits a bit. But we did not try to change things until Peckhardt came on with 10 to go, too late Jan. His post-match interview as well spoke volumes, a man in despair, with no ideas, just hope. Out of his depth with a bunch of kids who desparately need a strong leader before their confidence is completely destroyed. Still, to be positive, I did at least see some talent out there today. Impressed with Smith, especially in the 2nd half (when I could see him better). Cork, Surman and Lallana are also clearly gifted players, just hope they don't suffer too much from having their confidence destroyed by this hopeless regime. I was also impressed by Mills, but he needs to bulk up a bit, too lightweight, but I think one day he will be a good LB. It was a bit sad being on my own today, couldn't persuade anyone else to go with me, but in the end glad it was just me that witnessed the shambles, I may have put others off for life. It might be a while before I go back, and I think there are several thousand others there today who will feel the same. I guess as well there will be a few less there next game as our stewards seemed to be excelling at expelling our own supporters this afternoon, I don't know if they get a bonus for each supporter they eject but they do seem to relish it - there probably weren't that many in fiarness but the game was so dull I got more enjoyment watching the antics.

Sorry, but I was talking to AwaySaint1, not you, I'm sure he is big enough to speak for himself. But you have simply confirmed my belief and the belief of many others that this so-called boycott is something that is on such a small scale as to be largely irrelevant. If you are boycotting, I have a great deal of respect for your opinion, if that principle is fully held. I guess in the (very unlikely) event that we were to get a good cup run or start climbing the league in the near future that you and 'er indoors won't set foot in SMS if Lowe is still around. Well bravo, I admire your principles. I haven't been to a game yet this season, but I am not boycotting, and I'm planning to go tomorrow despite the cost etc. I hate Lowe with a vengeance but it will not stop me going to see Saints when I can, and as I have been doing for 42 years. By the way I totally agree with you about this nonsens related to the credit crunch. The credit crunch has not really affected many people anywhere, let alone in Southampton, one of the most affluent areas of the country. If people complained about high fuel costs etc then that could be a valid argument for those who do not live relatively close to the ground, but that is nothing to do with the credit crunch. The credit crunch may well become a factor in the next few weeks/months as people begin to lose their jobs etc., and then we'll see a real downturn in attendances. I stand by what I said, even if perhaps I did not say it quite as precisely as I might, there is one overriding reason for falling attendances at home and that is the results over the long term. I'll concede happily that there are other minor factors as well, but nothing like this real reason. Peace and love

So you think "finalised his move to the South Coast" means he hasn't contacted Pickfords for his house move? I think thats a rather obtuse view of what "finalised his move" means to most football people, where this would imply that the contractual terms have not been formalised. But no matter, I doubt we will ever seem him actually play in the first team.

Think you would do better looking at results for Norwich and/or Derby