FloridaMarlin

Love the way they are laying into Edinburgh in the comments under that story. One describes him a thus: "Justin Edinburgh was a nasty little mullet haired player." Was this when he played for them? Anybody got the Hero-Villain-swingometer handy?

Durham is paid to do a certain job, so it's nothing to get hot under the collar about. But there is some delicious irony in his piece on United's win at St Marys, provided by the wonderful gift of hindsight. "United's injury list could ease significantly soon – Angel di Maria, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind in particular could make a difference." They certainly did. Two of them were so ineffective they didn't finish the game, the other was hopelessly out of position when Tadic scored (have a look where Blind is, and his reaction when Tadic pokes in the rebound is probably an expression of his realisation that he should have been the one picking Tadic up). Also Durham's "three men who I believe are chiefly responsible for United being in the title race" includes: Louis van Gaal: He's a class act, and he's always ready to make difficult decisions when necessary – like taking Paddy McNair off in the first half at Southampton when he lacked confidence and was making too many mistakes. That was bold and brave but it worked for United. At the same time it sent a message to the rest of the United players that they need to be totally on top of their game. Van Gaal needed to make the change, but he taught the United squad a lesson at the same time." A class act always ready to make the difficult decisions when necessary. Difficult decisions like throwing on a beanpole midfielder and lumping the ball up to him in a last act of sheer desperation in true League Two style because nothing else has worked. That certainly told the rest of the United players they had to be on top of their game. Especially Columbian strikers who by time Fellaini was sent on to deliver the telling message, was in the leafy confines of Cheshire, wondering how the class act that is van Gaal decided to go with three central defenders on the bench for a home game. Michael Carrick.:"His calm and composure have been crucial during this winning run. Since he returned to the side he has relaxed everyone around him. He will always accept the ball, always be available and he never hides. That is exactly what an under-pressure defence needs." That will be the same Michael Carrick, then, who was nullified by a 20-year-old, disciplined and intelligent enough as a player, to carry out to perfection the instructions of an astute coach who had spotted Carrick's role and importance and snuffed it out as part of his game plan. It doesn't bother me that Durham has undervalued and underplayed Saints win. It's part of his remit to cause controversy and his skin is thick enough to take any stick he might get on here. But it does lay bare any reputation he has as a serious football pundit when he does not give Koeman an ounce of credit - other than accusing him of killing the game - for completely out-thinking van Gaal at every single bloody turn. Koeman took van Gaal to school on Sunday. And everybody knows it.

When you consider he isn't very tall and didn't have much pace you wonder why he was one of the great defenders (the same questions that were asked of Bobby Moore). The answer lies in his brain. His reading of the game was brilliant and his first was always in his head. It's no coincidence that same brain is now being used to create the meanest defence in the Premier League.

Can I refer you to post#20?

Two spring immediately to mind. Oscar Are and the Portuguese keeper Quim. If you want to open this up to American sportsmen, there's a whole world of fun. There's a German skier called Fanny Chmeler.

If you have seen Wallace play, you'll know he is not that good. Certainly not a Championship player.

And that would really do it? Overnight, IS would lay down their arms and melt back into the desert? Those given to terrorism would unstrap their suicide vests? I'm not entirely sure, even bowing to your superior knowledge of the workings of the Arab mind than mine. Besides, the Arab world doesn't exactly embrace the Palestinians with open arms. They were thrown out of Jordan in the 1970s following the action of Black September, and the highest fences and thickest barbed wire around the Gaza Strip are at the Egyptian end.

Yep! Yet another little stir of the pot as part of a cleverly-orchestrated campaign to manouver Gerrard into a position where he can challenge for Rodgers' job. No wonder Brenda wants him out of the club and as far away as possible.

Oh dear. Is that an indication of how van Gaal rates him as a left-back? Starts him as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 but then decides to go with Tyler Blackett as the orthodox left-back in a flat back four. He might have been injured but he didn't look crocked.

According to most media pundits, Arsenal's St Mary's visit was the first time this season Wenger has played his first choice back five (including the keeper) If that's the case, two things; a) Gawd help them, b) Chambers doesn't figure in his first-choice back four. That can only mean Wenger either sees him as a holding midfielder or he has only been signed as a current bit-part player.

According to John Cross in The Mirror that was the first time this season Arsenal were able to field their first-choice back four! Good lord, if that was their first choice back four, gawd help them.

I think we have all voiced our concerns about the depth of the squad during the course of the season, but this victory was achieved without our first choice right-back and arguably our best midfielder. But no mention of that in the BBC Final Score report where they were quick to point out that Arsenal were missing Welbeck and Giroud. It's a testament to Koeman's skills as a manager that he is able to get the best out of the resources available to him, even when he is forced to play people out of position. We've got Elia in already, and another one or two in the window and I think we've got the requirement of at least two people competing for every place.

Slightly tangential but also relevant. Is anybody able to offer an explanation of why a considerable number of Saints fans come from Poole? When I was a kid my dad and I stood and got friendly with a group who travelled to The Dell for every home game from Poole. They said they would never support Bournemouth and since those days of the late 60s and early 70s I have encountered lots of Saints fans from Poole. One theory is that it is a reaction from people in Poole who want to retain an identity in the conurbation and their way of doing that is to reject Bournemouth. Incidentally, the guys from Poole we got pally with worked in the pottery and brought something up every game. I have now inherited a sizeable collection of classic 60/7th Poole Pottery items, including a full dinner service set worth a few bob.

The referee apologised to Mourinho for booking Fabregas for simulation, not for his failure to award a penalty.

The Diagonal system of control, invented by no less a person than ex-Saints chairman George Reader, a distinguished referee who presided over the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay. Basically, the linesmen (or referee's assistants, if you prefer) watch the lines at opposite corners (usually the respective left-back berths, although there is nothing specified in the rules and some referees prefer them to do the right-backs) while the referee patrols the other diagonal. This should ensure the whole field of play is covered in terms of the important areas - the last defenders for offsides, the touchlines for throw-ins, bye-lines for corners by linesmen, with the referee covering the central area of the field. It really is beautiful in its simplicity and yet another Southampton contribution to world football.

It was none other than the chairman. He offered to get Tubbs earlier in the season but Awford decided to make a point that he didn't want McInnes interfering and picking his players for him.

Interestingly, perhaps the only position not represented there in pretty much a whole team to have played Premier League football is goalkeeper.

Missed by the wiseacres on MoTD but just the four academy products involved again today. I know it sounds trite to make comparisons, but Harry Reed the next Paul Scholes?

On Radio Solent this morning he was bemoaning the fact his size was too big and that it will give him problems in training. The gist of it was that he only wants to work with the "better" players in the squad, so will have to create two groups in training, with the obvious problem of upsetting and alienating those who suddenly realise they are out in the cold and training away from the first team squad on the pitch in the far distant corner, which hasn't yet been cleared of dog poo and hypodermic needles, and being kicked by the uber-keen youngsters. Storing up more trouble...

Whether a letter is a capital or not can also make a big difference. A capital converts the act of reading into a town in Berkshire - Reading. Which is why you have to be careful with a sentence such as: "Tommy worked at the family stables and like to help his uncle Jack off his horse."

It will be after what I was told today. Can't give details just yet, but should be tres amusent.

The fade-out to Sparks 'Complaints' from the old Kimono My House album. The guitarist is a very underrated guy called Adrian Fisher who died (committed suicide, I think). Fast hands. From 2:00 if you don't want to listen to the whole track. If you're a fan of a solo in a slow track, Mick Ralphs in Mott The Hoople's Hymn for the Dudes. 3:55 in. Spookily watching Guitar Heroes at the BBC on BBC 4. ****, no bed for me until 4am now, I'm getting all the old vinyl albums out.

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, 26, is willing to play with two broken ribs to face fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday (BBC Sport). Let's hope he doesn't score. It might be too painful for him to pat the badge.

In the aftermath of their exit, I'm sure I saw somewhere that Rodgers is asking for funds and that the squad needs strengthening. It does beg the question as to what the hell he was doing this summer. I think things are going to get nice and nasty. Gerrard owns a big sharp knife, and will start sizing up the space between Rodgers' shoulder blades pretty soon. He's already fired a couple of nice opening salvos and it's clear that Stevie G reckons the best man to replace Rodgers is none other than Stevie G.

And of course the Hard of Thinking decide to shoot the messenger by blaming The Snooze for reporting it. Trying to point out the true state of affairs to them is like trying to tell off an annoying little kid who sticks his fingers in his ears and sings "La La La La La" at the top of his voice.