Cabrone

So 10 points from the last 5 games and our tails are up. I'd score the team an A-. Overall a great performance, above expectations but disappointing to have dropped 2 against Norwich and produced a lame performance at Anfield. Considering we have survived a rather brutal introduction to this league and are now starting to find our feet I don't see why we shouldn't be able to get around 45 points and come in lower mid table (injuries permitting).

Deserved the win as we dominated throughout. Thought our build up play was good but we were very timid in the penalty area, with more aggression we would have had 3. Rickie was subdued but Shaw, Ramirez, Puncheon and Clyne shone. Is that the same Reading team that beat us in April? They look like relegation material to me.

Would like a win but the best I think we'll get is a draw unfortunately.

SAVE a fortune on laundry bills by giving your dirty shirts to Oxfam. They will wash and iron them and you can buy them back for 50p.

Agree, certain players are beyond criticism (Schneiderlin) on here whilst others are demonised (formerly Puncheon, Boruc, Fox etc etc). I don't blame Gazza for the mistakes, he's a 20 year old plucked from div 2 now expected to keep goal against some of the best strikers in the world. To expect him to slot in and perform at prem league level was always ridiculous. I just want to know when Boruc, a GK with proven ability is finally going to get a run in the team? He could already have saved us 6+ points which would have seen us mid table. He needs match fitness but how the heck is he going to get it whilst we persist with Gazza? Demonising a fine GK after 2 games is an utter joke.

If Nige keeps on picking Gazza he's going to leak lots of points. Not his fault, he's a 20 yr old who was playing in lge 2 last season. When is Boruc going to get the nod for the rest of the season?

Holt is a fine center forward but I think Rickie has more in his locker. Comparing the teams man for man is to downplay Norwich's strength - namely their team ethos, work ethic and fighting spirit. The Norwich team is greater than the sum of the individual parts. I've got respect for them but I think we've got just enough to win.

We are now playing teams in the shonky end of the prem and having already played the best teams we've been tested and have wised up, especially in defence. We've also had time to bed in the new imports and have a fairly good injury situation at the moment. Also for the first time this season we have got that magic ingredient - confidence - so hopefully we'll push on from here.

Looking forward to this game, got a lot of respect for Norwich's never say die fighting spirit in this league. Could go any way but I fancy us just a bit more. 2-1 to Saints after a hard fought game.

Great win, great performance by the sounds f it and great confidence boost. Win the next game and we'll be on a 40 point trajectory, that's where we need to be. TBH we are doing better than I thought we would at this stage, I really thought the vicious start to the season would take it's toll on our morale but we've really bounced back brilliantly.

Yes but who? QPR - with a good manager they could do well and I think Harry is a good manager. Norwich - good team ethic, will fight to the last and well capable of grabbing the points when needed. Wigan - capable of getting out of tight spots as they have demonstrated in previous seasons. Villa - IMO probably the weakest team but the manager is a good motivator. Stoke - the awkward squad, have too much about them IMO, should stay clear. Reading - recent win will have their tails up - starting on a run? Sunderland - like Stoke, I think they should clear the drop zone Dark horse - Liverpool, if Suarez stays fit then they are OK but an injury a long way from the transfer window could see them drop lots of points. Could they handle the pressure? No obvious candidates for bottom 3 IMO (Villa maybe). It's going to be a tight race.

Bad news for us...despite the hatred from the one-eyed on here I can see him turning it around for QPR. Now QPR look sorted I think it's 40 points for survival this season. I just can't see any real mugs in this division.

No, he's past it now and would probably want too much. Always had split feelings about Beckham, I hated the showbiz crap that surrounded him but can't criticise the guy's commitment to his clubs and England. He was always a model pro. Time to close the book on Beckham's playing career, he won't be coming to Saints.

It's a non contest, Boruc is clearly the best keeper we have. Gazza looked like a league 2 keeper yesterday. Quite mystifying why Boruc isn't playing and it makes me wonder if something is going on behind the scenes because by rights he should have been between the sticks over a month ago now.

Shilton\Niemi (can't choose them apart) Mick or Steve Mills - Mark Wright - Michael Svensson - Mark Dennis Terry Paine - Jimmy Case - Gareth Bale MLT Alan Shearer - Ron Davies Subs: Watson (Dave - not Gordon ), Rod Wallace, Channon, Steve Williams, KK

That's a very strange team he's selected. Shearer right midfield? Ostenstad left midfield Benali left back above Dennis\Bale\Bridge Flowers above Shilton\Niemi Very odd.

I think Hughes is closer to the trap door than Nige. He's had a fair wedge of cash and a fair bit of time now so it's delivery time. Nige won't go even if we lose, he still needs more time IMO.

Their finishing wasn't lucky, it was razor sharp. Probably the best finishing I saw in that division last season. We were like a mace and they were like a rapier. We kept on pounding them and got no-where, they countered with pace and cut us to ribbons. It was no fluke they beat us that night but quite what it has to do with now is anyone's guess. Different players, different league, different confidence levels, different injuries etc. I'd say we go into the game as equals.

I think 8 points has to be the benchmark, 10 or more would be very good. Either way we are going to in and around the relegation zone for the rest of the season IMO. I can see this season being a last day shoot out, we just need to be in a position where our destiny is in our own hands.

Boruc for the rest of the season as he's the best (no problems with his bottle too).

Disappointing, really needed a win. 35 points needed from 27 games and TBH I'm not sure where we're going to get them from. We need a win or two to get some confidence going. Boruc in goal please for every game. Stop chopping and changing and stick with our best keeper.

As has been said many times on here the magic ingredient is confidence. A few wins under the belt and this team would be unrecognisable. Unfortunately the lapses from a defence that has had a baptism of fire started the rot and now it's spread to the rest of the team. It also doesn't help that we left our best GK off the team sheet. We need as much defensive ability as possible and to drop our international keeper at the moment seems strange. Sorry MS fans but I don't rate him, never really have. He's being shown up rather badly at this level now. We need a centre mid with some real steel and we just don't have it at the moment. Whilst the team go out and show some heart them I'm OK with things, it's when heads drop that you need to get concerned and there is growing evidence that heads are dropping. Nige, you have to stop the rot ASAP or it's going to be another 04/05 season all over again.

Wes Morgan, Jack Hobbs.

Boruc to have a blinder and a sqeaky 1-0 win.

My thoughts.... - Very tough start. - Not an unexpected low tally of points although obviously we'd all like more. - NA and the team on a vertical learning curve. After two seasons of wins it's a reality check all round. - Would like Nige to start with his best 11 (including RL) for every game. - Defensive lapses have cost us dearly but these can be coached for. - Strike force looks good enough for this league and we are creating chances. - Boruc is going to play a big role this season. - Heads haven't dropped, performances have been generally good and chances are being created. - 10 games isn't enough to judge this team on, end of December is better when we've played everyone. - November and December are going to be big months. - Not atall downbeat - I've seen enough to believe that there is still everything to play for.