SNSUN

A blip today, hopefully nothing more. Harding was stand out once again for me, but Jaidi and Trotman weren't great today. Was quite suprised to see Thomas dropped, he had a good game on Wednesday. Trotman is probably the better defender on paper, but if a player plays well, it's strange to see him dropped. I'm still not sure about Morgan in midfield. Too often we move the ball out wide - I still think we lack a central midfielder with a killer pass to the strikers. The ratings as I saw it: Davis - The captain question once again rears it's head, but without Davis as a keeper we'd have been down by a couple more. Still could have been better placed for the first goal IMO. Was the 2nd best keeper on the night. 6 James - Put in some good crosses going forward but set piece delivery wasn't too good. I thought he was poor defensively tonight. 5 Jaidi - One of my favourite players but was poor tonight. He's a good defender but his lack of skill on the ball showed tonight. 5 Trotman - Was very poor in the first half, I wasn't actually that suprised to see him subbed. 5 Harding - Best player again for Saints IMO. Worked his nuts off both defensively and going forward. He gives 110% and was always looking to use the ball well. Could see danger coming. 8 Antonio - Very good in the first half, faded in the second half. Long throws are an asset, seemed like he was trying to pull the same trick though with the "knock it past the defender and run after it" trick. Was suprised not to see him subbed sooner, but still was one of our better players. 7 Lallana - Proving to be one of our best players, didn't have the best of nights though - penalty decision was iffy. 7 Hammond - Was still the engine but was beaten to the ball a lot. Didn't help that there were a lot of poor performances on the night, and he was making his first appearance for us against his former club (though Harding got all the boos) 6 Morgan - Still not convinced about him. Seems competent but looks for passes sideways more than forward. Could Wotton be worth a go? 5 Lambert - Was a lot of hustle but not the best game I've seen him play. Good penalty, I never get nervous when he's taking them.6 Connolly - No doubting he's class but wasn't even in the game. 90 minutes? He's going to be ****ged out next week. I'd like to see us either go back to 4-5-1 and use him as a super sub or rest him for games like the JPT. 6 Waigo - was bright when he came on but should've scored. I'd start him in the next game, try him on the left and move Lallana into Morgan's slot, but then I'm not the manager! 7 Thomas - I can see why AP chose Trotman, but still think Thomas should've started. Was the better of the 3 CB's on the night IMO, but still not great. 6. Mills - Hardly touched the ball, but Harding needed a break. 5 I do think this was a one off, but we'll see. The escape from relegation will have to wait.

2nded. I think it's all very well considering the JPT as a minor competition, but there is still a trophy and potential day out at the end of it. Today was a big wake up call, it taught the players that they're not invincible, which is key.

Even Man Utd and Chelsea lose at times. I wouldn't read too much into defeat today. Yes we were poor defensively, but if we pick ourselves up and win the next game, it will all be forgotten.

Blockbusters

I think we're perfectly fine in the keeper department. It has to be a striker - Pahars was the first to spring to mind from my generation.

Whoop whoop I managed to switch my shift at work today, which means that while I had to get up at silly o clock this morning, I now finish in time to bomb it over to my folks, kick them off the TV from whatever they were watching (Last of the SUmmer Wine or some such guff), and watch it. Come on lads, make it worth it!

Put simply, if he goes in January or in he summer it will be too soon. He still has developing to do. We relied on him far too heavily last season when he wasn't ready for it, and yet this season, with a stronger team, he seems to have found his current level. He will get better, he will be Premiership quality, but not yet. If our aspirations match his, then there's no reason why he can't stay and be a Saints legend. Promotion in the next two seasons is out target - it should be his too. Based on recent years we've become all too used to seeing our best talent go, almost accustomed to it. I just hope that with the new set up we can keep the likes of Lallana, Morgan and James and move on up with them as the catalyst.

Subway = good. Subway 99p menu thing = Shyte.

I saw a **** once, ****ing mirrors.

BRILLIANT!!! With my other half being a dirty Canary, we couldn't go to either of the league games this season, due to work commitments (and haven't been able to for the same reason as we've been slipping down the Leagues together...), but we can go to this game! Whoop whoop And we're at home, which is a big advantage. Great draw for me, on a personal level.

How many keepers did we go through in the season we signed Chris Woods on loan? I remember his second game, conceding 7 perhaps puts him in the bracket of one of the worst loans we've ever had...

I wasn't around before the offside rule came in, but I definitely think it has a place in our game. Decisions such as the ones mentioned in the opening post are what we talk about after the match, something to have a moan at or revel in if said decisions have gone our way. Ultimately it could have cost us, I agree, but on the flip side we can also benefit from those poor decisions; while the balance isn't perfect, generally it's a case of what goes around, comes around. If the FA or UEFA or whoever is going to do anything, then the Offside rule needs to be better policed. The same goes for goalline incidents - we have the technology to do something about it, then why don't we use it? If there's a debatable offside decision, within a matter of seconds someone could get a decent camera shot of it and declare it one way or the other. I don't think anything will be done though - and this debate will run on and on and on.

We all fear the worst when we're on a good run and know that at some point we'll lose, but having seen the enthusiasm in the players and the will to fight for every ball vs Charlton on Wednesday I can't see us being overturned by a Brighton team with a new manager. Poyet is still finding his feet there, and while I do believe in the new manager curse, I can't see anything other than a Saints win. (And FINALLY a clean sheet...) 3-0.

Next game would be the Southern Area semi-final, followed by the Southern Area Final (two legged I've learned tonight), followed by the overall final at Wembley against the Northern Area Final winners. Sod the FA Cup, we won't win it - this is the most important cup.

Oh they'll show it - just after the report about Gary Doherty's new pet rabbit and just before Dunfermline unveil their new mascot. Even when they show it there'll be about 2 seconds worth of badly edited footage.

Lallana awful? Most of the Charlton players were fat, old pub teamers by those standards then. Remember, Lallana is not in his best position, but still got an assist and had a couple of chances on goal. His control for one of the passes in the second half was Premiership quality. Still, it's your view of the game. We all see different things.

Hope he copes with the pressure. Though with goals going in from all areas of the pitch, at least it's not vital if he doesn't...

Two chances to beat them. Sweet.

Hereford in the semi, Norwich in the Area final. Both at home please.

We haven't played Leeds or Norwich yet - they'll be a measure of how far we've come in a short space of time. This season was supposed to be one of consolidation - but as the unbeaten run goes on we all now think we can achieve the seemingly impossible - a place in the top 6 at the end of the season. After the Bristol Rovers defeat in the League, people were questioning Pardew, but it goes to show that patience is a virtue. I'm just looking forward to each game as it comes tonight. Roll on Brighton. (Though I'll be at stupid work. :-()

Notice all but one of the above was brought in by Pardew. This makes me look forward to the January transfer window even more. We finally have a manager who has the finances to bring in the players that are better than what we already have. Whenever it happens, I'm not a bit concerned with promotion to the CCC as long as the infrastructure stays as it is - if we go up, we could be Swansea-esque and look for that succesive promotion. A bit ahead of myself perhaps, but you can't blame Saints fans for enjoying the recent developments. The noughties have been predominantly poor for us - bring on the teens. (Or whatever the colloquial name is for 2010 - 2019.)

It is. It's funny how people see it differently - in Harding's case, he was good at the start of the first half, and his performance didn't flag once. I think he'd probably be an even better player if he had a left sided player in front of him, but all credit to Lallana tonight, had some great touches. With Jaidi you have to keep your eye on him. (Just like Sky used to do with those cameras where you could watch one player solely for 15 minutes a game.) He's a big lad, and a big signing for diddly squat.

Slight concern about the lack of clean sheets, but ultimately if we go the rest of the season scoring more than the opposing teams, I'll be happy with that.

Definitely preferred him at right back tonight when Trotman came on, but still looked a competent choice at centre back. You have to feel a bit sorry for Perry really - he started the season as our number one centre back and through no fault of his own has slipped down to 4th choice!

A good win - thought we were the best team throughout the game. Charlton didn't look in it, they didn't deserve their consolation goal, and our defence is now very good - and it shows throughout the rest of the team. Jaidi is a rock at the back, if you ask me he's far better than a League One player, and I will say the same about Harding. Ratings for me: Bart - Came in and did a good job. Didn't have much to do to be fair, but did the simple things well. Distribution was excellent, couldn't do much about the goal, and made a couple of saves. On this showing he'd be a competent replacement for Davis in the future. 7 James - Wasn't beaten at the back but thought he was better when moved into midfield. As a utility player he's priceless. 6 Jaidi - Immense. Got a head to nearly everything. With a rock at centre back like him, everyone plays better. I'm much happier with him at the back than anyone else. 8 Thomas - I thought he had a good game. Made a few peculiar decisions defending, but was otherwise solid. Thought he was better as a right back. Scored, but anyone could have scored that had they got on the end of it. 7 Harding - My man of the match. Great in defence, made strides forward down the left and a few key tackles. Never looks phased. Set pieces weren't brilliant, but impeccable otherwise. 9 Antonio - I had about five possibles as MOTM and he was one of them. Always looked dangerous on the right. Must try and bring him permanently. Has pace and seemingly good delivery - and he's always looking to score. 8 Schneiderlin - Is one of those players you don't really notice because he goes about his job quietly. Perhaps too quiet tonight, wasn't suprised not to see him in the 2nd half. Still young, he'll be great for us...one day. 6 Hammond - Unlucky not to score in the first minute and should have done better. Like Jaidi, is key to the backbone of the side and makes the team stronger. 7 Lallana - Played very well and had some key touches to show his class. It's clear his confidence is high as he too is always looking to score. 8 Lambert -Took his goal very well - I didn't think it was going in when he struck it. Could have had a couple more. Thought he had a better game when I saw him against Bristol Rovers in the League at St Mary's, but certainly came into the game more in the 2nd half. 7 Connolly - For someone with dodgy legs, he possesses a good touch and a keen eye for goal. Another "too good for League One" player IMO, if we can get promoted this or next season we'll have no problems in the CCC if we can keep hold of most of these lads. 7 Trotman - 6 Waigo - 7 Mellis - 7 It'd be great to get to Wembley this season, the drenched fans that went tonight deserve it.