SaintBobby

But you're sticking to a likely future record of W 1 D 1 L 18 between now and the end of the season? (I think that would surely be the worst run over 20 matches in our 112 years of existence...) That wouldn't be a "gentle slide down the table" (that's what I'm anticipating - I think we'll probably end up 3rd - 5th tbh) - it would be a collapse down the league almost without precedent in the entire history of association football.

I'd like to join in the thanks for whoever found the hahasports link - was great to watch the game. And surely we can't be many years away from this being a standard, official service? Looked like a stroll in the park to me - certainly after the first Saints goal. The central midfield trio were awesome - and having Cork rather than Morgan drfiting down the right seems to work better, which I'm sure will inform NA's tactics in future. Rather pleasingly, it's difficult to pick a MOTM - but I'd probably give it to Connolly. Good link up play, got a goal and generally made a nusiance of himself (I thought the red card was slightly on the harsh side - but only very, very slightly). Happy days.

Why are you worried about these teams when you think we're going to finish 17th? Boro and Hull will be miles clear of lower mid-table - you need to be keeping an eye on the Watfords and Peterboroughs. Are you still predicting one win, one draw and 18 defeats from the next 20 league games?

I've just made a very rough calculation on the odds of us finishing the season with 54 points or fewer. It's about 8,000/1, I think.

For the umpteenth time, are you still taking bets?

Move along. Nothing to see here.

lol

It's a bureaucratic nightmare unless a LOT of tickets are at stake. I mean setting it up because, say, 25 people would otherwise miss out isn't worth it. I do think general sale phone calls should always be allowed. At the moment, I can't imagine a home game that you'd miss out on (as long as phoning to book a ticket is as okay as going to SMS). If we do go up, it might be necessary, I guess.

Yet more proof of NA's and NC's underlying incompetence. You couldn't be more right. Have you considered dropping a note to the Liebherrs about taking on the chairmanship of the club? I know it's a long shot, but we need to stop the relentless negativity at the top of the club...

I agree. I think Adkins is now on probation. Anything less than 4 wins from the next 5 games and he needs to be shown the door like Burley (should have been). It's all been rather disappointing recently and the guy hardly seems to put a foot right. The track record isn't much to crow about either. Our present relegation form is likely to be the norm from now on. It's time to begin to think about changing the manager....

You felt fairly sure we wouldn't get promoted from League One last season. Surely to have even a half-shot at promotion to the Premiership this season must be beyond your wildest dreams. You must be in fantasy land bouncing along on a wave of unending euphoria, I would have thought? I mean even if we end up, say, 14th - this is much, much better than you have ever dared hope for in terms of our final position in 2012.

You use this forum for your own rather tragic mental therapy. Again and again, your actual knowledge of Saints has been proved to be dire - certainly your predictions have. A little worse than my 5-year old nephew's overall. I don't actually mind people with deep, disturbing personal problems using the net as a scream for help. It reminds me how lucky I am. But don't expect the majority - who just have a love of a particular football club - to be patient forever. After a while, it just gets seriously tedious.

annoying, but we will almost certainly be top heading into the New year. bad day at the office, but no need to panic.

Amazingly, having failed to score in the first 45 mins, those odds drift.

The present in-play odds are Saints evens, draw 8/5 and Bristol 5/1. You can therefore make a fortune by backing City. HTH.

Ta, hitting refresh ten times seemed to fix it.

Does anyone know when Saintsplayer commentary starts? I'm in a hotel room and it's saying "off air"

Rodriguez and/or a foreigner that we've never heard of.

Are you still taking bets? I've asked several times with no reply. I'm happy to bet we finish in the top 10. Any sum you want - at evens.

Why is the accepted term "prolific" - meaning "producing an abundance"? Seems to me that this would be better applied to the number of chances created by a midfielder. I'd also like to see a table measuring "which goals really counted". Scoring a hattrick in an 8-0 victory isn't as valuable as scoring a goal in the 93rd minute to earn a 2-1 victory.

I'm guessing - and hoping - we will get one of Rodriguez, Sharp or Maynard. We're now in a much stronger negotiating position than we were in August. Firstly, we're a more attractive club to go to as we have a much better chance of promotion than most players would have assumed in the Summer. Secondly, we have shown we won't pay stupid money just because the selling club asks for it. Thirdly, the selling clubs have a tougher decision on whether to cash in or let players' contracts wind down.

I'm presently away in Las Vegas and the quantity of quality of sports punditry is just stunning. The American equivalents of Shearer, Hansen and Lawrenson wouldn't get close to a studio here. The pundits here are knowledgeable, controversial and opinionated without being OTT. The format of the punditry programmes is designed to make them voice an actual point of view. It's almost inconceivable that someone on TV over here would say something like "well, I think it's going to be a very tight game, Brian, and the first goal will be crucial" which seems to be the default prediction in the UK. Similarly, a team doing poorly wouldn't have Shearer and Hansen muttering "I fear for them, Gary". There's no cosiness with the players. Those who aren't cutting it are called out. I agree with those who say Claridge is one of the better football pundits. At least he edges towards stating an opinion most of the time. Given the BBC has so many platforms, I'm surprised that the rights to Football League matches doesn't generate about ten hours a week of television. The FLS should just be the flagship. A two hour "Championship round up" with extended coverage and serious punditry at 10am-noon on a Sunday morning would, for example, get stratospheric viewing figures on BBC3.

Saintsplayer still not workign for me on either commentary...

This. Unless they surrender the FA Cup graciously, or are gracious in having it stripped from them, I want them liquidated. I don't want them bleeding or injured. I want them dead. And I think there's a good chance it will happen. Only a mammoth act of genuine contrition by the whole lot of them would alter my view.

I'm still hopeful we'll scrape into 17th, are you?