SNSUN

Besides Wigan, which perhaps we should have got all 3 points from, it's gone pretty much as I expected. I did think we'd get a point at Everton, but that was at the start of the season before I knew they'd be flying. The Wigan game really cam at the wrong time - I'd have rather had Chelsea in that second game and got the toughies out of the way early on.

To be frank, I thought our goal difference would be far worse than it is right now. Yes our defence is a problem, but we came away from both Manchester games with only a -1 goal difference and that's better than I could have dreamed. Indeed we could've won both games with a better defence (which we all agree we need). This shows the strength of our attacking outlets, and the reason I think we're better than most of the lower league sides in the division. (All of whom will have their own defensive problems eventually, and some of whom haven't even played the Manchesters. 6 of our fifteen goals came against the most creative team in the division too, which warps the statistic. It's far from panic stations, the phrase "keeping our heads above water in January" is very true, and I definitely think we'll do that based on a strong attacking side to our game. The defence will be sorted out in January, of that I have no doubt, so until then let's just watch Lallana, Ramirez and Lambert (and Mayuka, JRod and Punch) rip teams a new one, while hoping we solidify a tad at the back. After all, there's not a thing any of us can do to help the defence, short of pulling on a pair of boots and offering our services. (THey wouldn't want me though...)

Not disheartened with the loss, Everton are on fire at the moment I think we'll beat Fulham. Sounds like Gazza had a good game today, a better test of his talents.

I'm upbeat about our chances of staying in this division. Yes our defence sucks big ones, but I'd say our attacking outlets are better than many in this league. I agree with people saying we need to keep afloat until January, when we can sort the defence out, and I think we will. I've not seen every game, but the signs are we're a good attacking outlet now. Hopefully we can beat Fulham and 6 points from 7 games won't seem all that bad. Will beat Fulham? I think we will.

Gaston!!!!

I HAD a posh, private school-educated, Berkshire accent until I started my first proper job. I swiftly learned to ditch it and now have a bit of a London accent, to make the tourists I serve feel welcome.

I personally think Lambert has the brain to play anywhere in the front 6, but he's doing such a good job in the No 9 position this season so far he shouldn't be moved to accomodate others. Shame for JayRod though, you'd think he'd earned a start, but even if he does play it may not be in his favoured position. He'll either have to wait for a Lambert dip in form (which could take a while), an injury/suspension, or hope we end up resorting to 4-4-2. As for Mayuka, from the couple of glimpses I've seen of him, he looks very good. He'd have to be, if we ended up loaning out Sharp and Manny proves to be a heap of shyte, Adkins would be given hell. Again, with Lambert in front of him, and JayRod to boot, he'll have to wait for his chance, or be given a run out in the Puncheon position. I hope he gets a full game against Leeds at least, that I'd love to see.

This is precisely why the best Football game on the market is, and has always been (in both guises), the FM series. Will still get Fifa though, but I'm really **** at it. I'm not patient enough figuring out the controls.

My guess is they get a short term, no risk contract, they can play well for a couple of games to attract the attention of better teams. If Buzsacky really is on a free (which I didn't know, good player) it may be that he's become the forgotten man. A few good games of playing well at Skatesmouth (while each player makes themselves feel special because they're doing their part to save a HUGE, historic club) and nPC sides will come a calling. Tis my understanding anyway. What's a Nettos? Never heard of it.

What are they paying him in? "Magic" baked beans?

Bad news, but it'd be a lot worse had JWP not stepped up his game this season. Morgan, Davis, Lallana and JWP, not to forget Mr Chaplow are still available for us.

I think only Mods can start polls. Gazza hasn't done anything wrong. Stick with him. Boruc will get his time eventually.

With one of Manchester United or Chelsea definitely going out, winning the next tie would surely make us one of the favourites to make the final. That's if we win it of course. But I bet the Leeds fans are saying it's a winnable game. I'd still play the back ups, especially against dirty Leeds. A game like this could be right up Chaplow's street.

Very loseable. Still, in this cup, if we win, we say we have a great chance of winning it, and if we lose, we say it's a silly tossy cup and we're better off out of it. I still think it's dependant on what form each club is in going into the game. Even using the back up players, if we've won a couple more league games by then, the spirit around the club should inspire the back up boys to victory.

Having a glance about our newest debutant too, Andy Robinson. He's 20 in less than a month. Is he a late developer or will he be on next summer's released list? How did he look last night?

Aston Villa at St Mary's. Well we've already proved we can **** them. :-)

Blackstock, Cox and Sharp up front, and they loaned out McG. With an attack like that, surely they're good for at least the play-offs?

Of those, Tadanari Lee, Guly, Richardson, Cork, Rodriguez, Fox and Kelvin are all far from fringe players. Of those, Chaplow, Seaborne, and possibly even Butterfield and De Ridder are decent enough squad players. That leaves Dickson, Sharp and Hammond, two of which are already on loan and the other has been frozen out. I don't really get the point of this thread...

Mine's on the build up thread. EDIT: Which is now this thread!

Woo, 10 points in the Predo League and I'm up to 17th. Highest I've ever been. Not really worth a full Woot though.

One of Newcastle or Man Utd will go out tomorrow, and I fancy West Brom to beat Liverpool too. Big names are dropping out of this cup, and that makes it very winnable. I'm happy with the squad players playing and getting game time against lower league opposition (to a point, there are some clubs you don't want to underestimate) but will there come a round where we start using the first teamers? We're in the last 16. One win away from the quarters, and then the sh*t gets real.

Keep faith with Rodriguez, or not enough space to accommodate him? Tough decision for Adkins. I suspect Jay will be back on the bench but even though Puncheon has played well of late, he's not undroppable. Something like Gazza, Frazer, Fonte, Yoshi, Clyne, Davis, Morgan, Adam, Ramirez, Jay, Rickie would suffice. Everton will feel deflated after tonight. We're on a high after the Villa game. I predict a draw, which would be a good scoreline all things considered, but we really can win it. Everton won't go down lightly though.

My first SMS game was against Bristol Rovers in League One, we lost 3-2. I hadn't pre-purchased a ticket, despite having an online account, as I figured we weren't going to sell out. I arrived at the ticket office at 19:15 and didn't get in to the ground until nearly 20:00. Mental turn up before the game. Now I pre-buy no matter what the game, even if I pick up from the Ticket Office. Mind you I live in Windsor, it's a more comfortable journey when I know I have my ticket safe and sound!

Helllllooooooooo! Due to its crudness every time I try and use it I've unsubscribed to Saints Player. I hardly ever use it anyway. I'm stuck at work for this game, which usually means we do quite well. Fingers crossed the squad players play well and make their claim for a first team place.

Me too, though it's not the easiest car park to get in or out of on foot - one set of slippery stairs or the ramp to the car park. It is well located though, good for The Royal Oak for a pre-match bevvy, and it's free to park after 6pm iirc. EDIT: Lime Street's the one I meant...