Mr Brightside

This and the Skates losing in the play-offs, what a brilliant 24 hours.

Wow. So satisfying to see the whole team so committed, looked like their lives depended on keeping City out. Rode our luck at times, but thoroughly deserved it. Obviously pleased for Che and great to see how happy everyone was that he scored. Hopefully the confidence boost he needs. MOTM for me was Stephens though, read his Guardian article this morning and had a feeling he’d play a blinder. Showing his true potential now, let’s hope he keeps it up, just needs consistency and hopefully he’ll get more support when us fans return. (Though we seem to do much better when I’m not there so may stay away!).

Can’t say I’ve been following his progress closely, but seems to be playing well and looks like he’s improved. If Ralph and co think he’s improved enough to do a job for us, I’d gladly have him back.

Well that was a pleasant surprise. Excellent performance, looked sharp, played some good stuff. Valery looked nervous early on, otherwise all played well. Must be the lucky new forum!

This for me. Enjoyed it too, as did my boys. Ok, so we weren't great before the sending off, but we were hardly getting played off the park. The sending off seemed to unite everyone with a sense of injustice, best atmosphere in ages. Great to see people in the Kingsland standing up singing and encouraging others to do the same. Think we all feared the worst after the red, maybe not a Leicester type capitulation, Newcastle aren't good enough, but a heavy loss nonetheless wouldn't have been a surprise. But they dug in really well and deserved a point. So yes, there have been a lot of dreadful home performances recently (ok, last few years) but this definitely wasn't one of them.

Battling for a point at home with 11 men, yes, agree would be embarrassing. Playing most of the game with 10 players not so. Anyway, despite all this, cracking atmosphere today, found a song that gets most of the ground going. Noisier than the Geordies for a change.

Oh when the Spurs go marching out...

Horrible performance in horrible weather against a horrible team. That's twice I've got soaked this season watching us play like complete amateurs against those donkeys. I think like most on here we all knew it was trouble when Ralph decided to drop Bednarak, crazy to break up a CB pairing that's looked decent for change. Can't believe Ralph thinks he's good on the ball either, odd. Thought KWP did well, after getting over the initial shock of how tiny he is (how did we find someone smaller than Cedric?) thought he grew into the game after a nervy start, positional play looked good which is a step up on Valery. Stephens passed the ball well and made a couple of great runs. Assuming it wasn't his fault for the 2nd (couldn't really see but thought it was Vest that messed up) thought he did well. Boufal also having a great game until his injury, seemed a turning point, as after he went off we didn't seem to have any creativity. Why is it that just when I start to look upwards rather than downwards at the league table, we play like utter clowns?

This.

Think it’s a shame he’s gone now rather than the summer. Of course it’s not solely down to him that we had the recent upturn, but he’s been a part of it and a settled, and dare I say almost assured, back 4 is a rare luxury for us. Perhaps KWP only agreed to come if he had assurances he’d be first choice (or Spurs insisted) then I guess no point holding on to Cedric. Also a shame as won’t get a chance to give him a clap at SMS to say thanks. Personally think he’s been a good servant, a decent right back who like most of our players gets Too much stick, but been professional, not moaned (at least don’t think so) and I wish him well.

Well let's hope during his recuperation he's been watching some basic how to defend videos. I like him, like him going forward, but defending, not convinced. But he's young so can learn, needs time. I just think, especially with his recent form, it makes no sense to lose Cedric now. Also think he's better than many on here, we'll see I guess, if he goes, how we cope.

I don’t know what to do with Danso as he’s not been given a run of games in his position of CB. That’s why I think it’s harsh to say he’s crap. If Ralph decides he doesn’t want him, fair enough. We signed him because he has potential, if he can be developed into a quality CB I’d be happy with that. I’ve said above what will happen ideally with our CB situation. I don’t think anyone has died.

My main point was the previous lazy “crap” comment was unjustified. Obviously agree we need to sign players to improve us. Ideally we’ll find a quality CB, and be willing to spend some decent money to get him. Then we’d have Stephens and Bednarek plus one more as fourth choice. If both Verstergard and Yoshie are off, and if Ralf has seen potential in Danso, all good as far as I’m concerned. If not and we let him go, also fine.

Based on what? If you’d seen him play regularly in the team at CB and he struggled then fine. He’s had a handful of games playing out of position. He’s also young and relatively inexperienced, so chucking him in at RB against the likes of Man U is never going to be easy. If we sign him as a fourth choice CB with a view to developing him for a few million, that would suggest the coaching staff have seen something in him. Fine by me. He’s young, powerful, fast, hopefully one for the future.

Stunning performance, looked like the home team. Away form has been oustanding, 4 on the bounce, very unSaints! Really seem to play with freedom away from SMS. I know it’s been said on here before it’s differnet away, we can soak up pressure and hit on the break. But that wasn’t the case today. I do think SMS gets very anxious very quickly and it must affect the players. There are so many d1cks sat near me that seem to just wait for the first mistake so they can tell Boufal, Redmond, Berttand, JWP.....how **** they are. Let’s hope we start like today against Spurs and we get behind them from the first whistle and not let those north London ****s drown us out.

Spot on, consummate pro and by all accounts a really nice guy. If he goes, wish him well.

Well, wouldn’t have predicted that walking home in the rain after seeing us ship 9, it’s a funny old game. What an amazing response from the players and manager since then. Great to watch, especially away from home and seem to be finally getting a bit of luck too. Also think a massive factor has been finally finding our best formation and not chopping and changing all the time. Both my boy’s teams won too - a perfect day!

That was such a sweet victory, I was dreading them scoring and hearing them sing our song, but kept them quiet both on and off the pitch - brilliant. So nice to be talking about positives. A midfield pair, who a few weeks ago were being slated as the the worst in the league playing like men possessed. Danny Ings showing he has it all in his locker, can score stunners as well as tap ins. A settled back four, two CBs have been excellent lately but special mention to Cedric who has struggled lately but to be fair to him was excellent yesterday. Other observations, Mike Dean is a joke, literally not fit to referee. Mourinho is a d1ck, best song was “You’re just a sh1t Pochettino”, classic, saw a fair few Spuds applaud that one. It’s impressive when the whole ground sings OWTS, like at the end yesterday, be great if we did that just before kick off every game.

I’m still after 2 or 4 tickets if anyone has spares. Cheers.

Chatting to my lad on the way back from yet another soul destroying defeat last night, asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday. Bizarrely said he wanted to go to the Arsenal game (he’s a strange lad!) Checked the website and it’s a sell out. So in the possible scenario that any of you are now regretting your decision to go, I will ‘happily’ take 2 or 4 off your hands. Please PM me if interested. Ta.

I'm not sure what's the most depressing: Our freefall from a Euro qualifying team to this bunch This bunch seemingly getting worse every week This same bunch not even trying to make up for their woeful lack of quality by demonstrating any sort of passion and desire Ralph's baffling team selections Having to put my two lads through this every other week Becoming numb to these results and performances now, can't see us surviving, hopefully getting relegated means we can rebuild a team that is entertaining to watch again. Before that happens reckon we should try the following against Arsenal: ------------McCarthy----------- Cedric Danso Bednarak Bertrand ------------Stephens-------------- Djenepo-- Hoj-- Slattery-- Boufal ------------Redmond--------------

Anyone know if we can recall Reed back from Fulham?

Agree with most of that team. Problem is Cedric is out injured. When he’s back definitely needs to play right back. Where I sit I get to watch Valery closely, he has no idea how to defend at full back / wing back, regularly caught on the wrong side and frankly looks lost most of the time. His best attribute is getting forward and running with the ball so can only see him as a winger but we would need to be braver (at home) and play 4-4-2 to accommodate. Until Cedric’s back I’d play Danso right back. He’s quick,powerful and can defend. Think many players deserve stick, but think it’s harsh for him, he’s very young, getting used to the Premier League, hasn’t been given a run in the team and played in different positions. He should get a run at centre back when Cedric is back.

Don’t think that has sunk in yet. Should have known after it took 2 hours rather than 1 to drive down and then getting drowned walking in that it wasn’t going to be a good night. No words at the moment for the performance. Will console myself with a positive. Southampton till I die sums up the excellent atmosphere in the 2nd half. In a few years many of these frauds will have gone but we’ll still be here. I’m looking forward to the players and management foregoing their wages and refunding everyone who endured that tonight.

Keeping fingers crossed it goes to 4 always...