SNSUN

They're a good team that play some good football. I'd say we're better defensively but they edge the attacking side of the game. To that end I think we'll nullify each other's threat. 0-0, although one moment of genius could win it from either side.

This isn't new news, but no-one's going to tell the Northam to change the song lyrics! It tends to be commentators who try and use the right pronounciation for every player's name, even if it does sound ridiculous. I heard Dany N'Guessen's first name pronounced like "Dhani" on the FL Show. Just say Danny! (Hashbrown# pethates)

Good point I meant to add. Palace fans turned up in numbers and didn't get disspirited even after going 2-0 down.

Annoyingly I think we could have done better against West Ham and Sunderland, but what we've achieved is still excellent. We're one, in-form, creative midfielder away from being a near-perfect team, be that someone we already have a la Ramirez or a new signing. Tough games to come though, we need Liverpool-esque performances to get points from the Manchesters, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Crazy decision, Jol is crud and should be sacked. Terrible signings. Nigel Clough was rightfully sacked at Derby today too. :-D

I rate Martin Jol, and they've made some decent signings. Seems to be the case, a short period of poor results now and the manager's gone. Nigel Clough went today at Derby too. Another strange decision IMO.

Surprised about that. Can they really find better?

Back home and content. A good, but not great performance, built on a solid defence, hard working midfield and hoping we can make one or two chances creatively. I missed Osvaldo's goal (just got a text from my Dad mentioning the fire that closed one of Heathrow's runways, which was dangerously close to my house) but Lambert's free kick was exquisite. Pleased for both though, that'll do their confidence the world of good. I think a few too many touches went astray, which better teams could punish us for, and while I accept we build from the back, quite a few passes in midfield that could have gone to attacking players ended up back with the defence or Boruc, because I still think we lack that creative maestro, but who can really pick fault today... I thought Davis was a cracking choice, and had a good game, and would have got MOTM but Lovren edged it. He was outstanding, and fair play to Fonte, who was also very comfortable. Pleased to see Saints win, and happy with 4th in the League. Contented.

I've been looking forward to this. I love my A-Z of Saints - but when Francis Benali is the most recent entry, you realise it's time to update it! :0)

What's he worth, £3-£5 million? Hero though he is, and will always be for Saints, for a 32 year old that's not bad business, and if we want to progress as a club, there's little room for sentiment. That said I'm a big Lambert fan, and I hope he stays and can adapt. Mark Hughes became a midfielder at the tail end of his career - I still think Rickie can do the same, especially as he started out as a midfielder.

I can see a stronger team being put out for this but probably still not full strength. One of the strikers will almost definitely start for this IMO.

Is that the sound of someone cracking one out I can hear in the background? :-)

JWP sounds like he's really taken a step forward this season. Good progress. Jos is always a danger from corners. 2-0, doesn't sound like a classic though.

That Guly is a top lad. :-)

Incidentally is Lee or Guly playing up front? I wonder if Rodriguez will get a look in this half...

Post of the year IMO.

Felt under the weather this afternoon so postponed my trip to St Mary's and am now watching the goings on on Sky Sports 1. Sigh. Still, massively money saving, so could be worse.

I've just checked and if you buy your ticket online now, it's still £18 with a £1 cost. So worth it to book ahead instead of buying at the ground. Only Itchin, Northam and a tiny bit of the Chapel behind the goal is open though.

Kid has dump on side of the pitch.

8-10 points, but only if we find our goalscoring touch against Palace. Start scoring and IMO the goals will flow - that little bit of lady luck has been missing lately, as we had great chances against the Hammers and their keeper was on fire, or we hit the post. I agree though, with that run of fixtures, if we can perform to our best we could, COULD pick up even as many as 12-13 points, which would almost definitely see us in the top 4 come November. Heady heights, if we can reach them. On the other hand there are no easy games, and we could quite easily mess up some "easier" fixtures, especially if we continue to struggle for goals.

I hope he does get an England call up. Deserves it AND he's used not to getting a full game. :-D

I'd worry about starting Barnard - if he scored a brace or more against what is effectively a team from his level, people will start claiming he should be in the first team on Saturday! Hells no. I think he's been frozen out for good, and we'd be more likely to start Rowe, Sinclair, Guly or Lee up front than him.

Probably head down to this on my own. With Palace, that'll be Two games in a week! Thank God for Annual Leave. Two games in one week is almost heard of for me - bloody shift work. I think the problem attendance-wise is the knowledge that the team will probably be completely different. That doesn't bother me, it's a team game. I'm looking forward to seeing what the youngsters can do against a team underperforming in League One. (Although it must still be noted they did knock out Premier League opposition in the last round, in the form of our rivals next Saturday. Psychological advantage if we win, I wonder?) Davis Chambers Yoshida Jos Fox Cork Davis JWP Ramirez Guly Lambert I doubt that will be the team, but it's what I'd play. Possibly even Isgrove starting in Guly's place, although Lambert starting depends on how knackered he is from recent exploits.

I thought Wanyama started very poorly against West Ham, but he noticeably got better as the game went on. I think he's a powerhouse that brings so many positive attributes to the game and we must remember his age, he's still learning the game. I think him and Morgan will have a great partnership for years to come if we can keep them together. Yes, that sucks for Cork, who has done no wrong for us, but football is now a squad game and Corky will still get quite a few games.

I was thinking we should try cheeky bids for world-class players - who knows, one of them might come off! We definitely need some creativity though, and I thought that even before Puncheon was allowed to leave. I see the BBC Gossip column has Spurs in for Ciprian Marica, who is currently a free agent. He has a great record - perhaps worth a punt to strengthen things up top? He's still a reasonable age. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciprian_Marica