The Kraken

I'm over myself thanks chap. Just wanting to understand what's being offered as the reason Rodriguez collapsed in a heap when he wasn't touched.

Not according to most independent pundits who stated that it was a push by Ramirez and rightly chalked off.

Just so as to understand it better; if it wasn't a dive, what was it in your opinion that caused Rodriguez to go to ground in such dramatic fashion?

You make it sound like it was a wild and reckless lunge from the defender. The defender even stopped his leg somewhat, Rodriguez would have just run past him had he not gone down. He wouldn't have even needed to hurdle the challenge, and he probably wouldn't have been kicked by the defender, at the very worst it would have been a light tap from the defender's outstretched foot so hardly a dangerous lunge worthy of jumping out of the way of.

I suggest you wait until you see it before passing comment; it was a clear dive. You don't try to avoid a tackle by suddenly pulling your leg back and falling over in dramatic style.

In fairness the subs made little difference to the game. We were getting throughly overrun in all areas of midfield before we made the changes. Ramirez was a passenger and offering Shaw no cover at all, so at least Fox did that (although he chose to play far too deep himself, he gave us nothing going forwards to hold on to). Puncheon coming off was a strange move, can only think he was knackered, I didn't agree with that one.

Oh right. Was he shot down by a sniper? Or did he slip? Please don't say he was trying to avoid the challenge. It was as blatant a dive as you'll ever see.

NA condemned diving in his interview with Sky; then justified it by saying we've had 7 or 8 stonewall penalties not given in other games and had a big beaming smile describing how lambert put it away. Would have been better off just saying "yes, it was a dive, and we don't condone that". Lambert when interviewed said it was a stonewall penalty!

This really needs to happen. 2 or 3 game ban retrospectively given for a dive.

Too early to say yet. Deserved MOTM today though, hopefully MLT on here will admit that (doubt it though).

Boruc - 8: A couple of great saves, good close handling under pressure, kicking sometimes awry but the best performance from him so far. Clyne - 4: Worst game I've seen from him yet. Shakey in defence, not much of an option going forwards, made a few mistakes in costly areas. He's a much better player than that. Yoshida - 6: Very last ditch at times, and dominated by Benteke, but a clean sheet is a clean sheet. Hooiveld - 5: Not a Premier League defender. didn't even use to his height and strength to subdue Benteke. We need a replacement asap. Shaw - 7: Such a good player, and if he can learn to improve his final ball we'll really be talking about him as the next Gareth Bale. Schneiderlin - 6: Battled well, some good spells but very much overrun in the second half. Ramirez - 3. Thought he was especially poor throughout. Corners and set pieces were dreadful, gave little cover to Shaw, and didn't offer much going forwards. Could/should have gone off earlier. Cork - 6: Typical combative performance but like Morgan got a bit overrun in the second half. Puncheon - 7.5: Lively showing and always loked a threat, hit the post when a goal would have deservedly capped a good day for him. Lambert - 7: Some excellent touches, flicks and passes. Excellently taken penalty, though he never got himself into a goal scoring position from open play. Rodriguez - 7: Very good movement and tireless running that took the pressure off at times. Could have had one or two goals himself but lacked the composure required when he got himself into the box. Fox - 4: Was the right substitution to come on for Gaston, but he seemed to think he was playing left back. Gave Shaw some cover while they were both on but no attacking threat at all. Davis, S - 5: Not on for long enough to make a lasting contribution, did what was required. De Ridder - 5: Like Hooiveld, not a Premier League player.

Great win but not really deserved, we didn't show up for the second half. Boruc very good, Rodriguez great energy and running, Lambert good when he got his foot on it. Too weak in other areas, Hooiveld poor, Yoshida not great, Clyne not very good, cork and Schneiderlin often overrun. Puncheon flatters to deceive too, really good feet but little end product.

How are we still winning this?

What are you doing Saints? Clyne, terrible decision making.

Hmmm, not sure about Puncheon going off.

Good move, fox for Gaston.

That's pretty much where he's playing, he's as much inside as he is on the left. And still looking out of sorts.

His running and movement has been excellent, he just still lacks a bit of composure when he's actually got the ball.

Actually scrap my opinion earlier, I think Gaston is having a mare and needs to come off, not doing anything going forward and not offering Shaw any cover.

Think I'd soon be tempted to bring Lambert off and put Fox at LM with Ramirez in the middle.

Not even sure he's playing, all Villa's attacking seems to come by them overloading Shaw down our left side.

Puncheon, learn your lesson. Another stupid foul given away in a dangerous wide area.

No.

Correct. From wiki: Seven companies have sponsored the club, thus appearing on the player's shirts, over the course of its history. The first company to do so was photocopier manufacturer Rank Xerox who sponsored the club for three years from 1980. Air Florida briefly sponsored Southampton in 1983 before Draper Tools, who have a large factory in nearby Eastleigh sponsored the club for nine years between 1984 and 1993. Millbrook based company Dimplex, who produce electrical goods such as heaters were the next brand name to appear on the club's shirts and merchandise. They began sponsoring in 1993 before the deal ended in 1995. The Sanderson Group PLC took up the mantle, for four years from 1995, also sponsoring Sheffield Wednesday at the same time. Investment company Friends Provident were the final sponsors of the club's time at The Dell. Their deal began in 1999 and was renewed shortly before the naming of St. Mary's Stadium, to which they also bought the naming rights. However they chose not to renew either deal in 2006, after which budget airline Flybe.com stepped in. On 2 February 2010, Southampton announced that they would be without a main shirt sponsor for the 2010–11 season for the club's 125th anniversary. Nicola Cortese said Southampton could do this due their strong financial position. In the summer of 2011, Southampton agreed a three-year deal with aap3 to become the main club sponsor; the partnership with the Southampton based business and IT solutions provider started at the beginning of the 2011–12 season and run until June 2014.

OK. One slightly dodgy one that went out for athrow, otherwise decent enough. Gaston's two corners have both been atrocious, proper laughed at on a sunday morning type standard.