Crab Lungs

Just read the KUMB match thread... they seem to think they're doing ok and that all of our players are diving... OK, I take back what I said yesterday - they're deluded weirdos.

And I absolutely guarantee they'll look to get one of our players sent off. Schneiderlin, probably.

Christ, they're sh1t. Really, really sh1t - but they're one of those teams that just seem to pick up points somehow. And they're dirty as f()ck - want to beat them even more now.

Bit harsh of 30,000 Millwall fans to pick on a plucky arm of 12 Skates

Utter delusional t0sspots.

Please, please tell me you didn't complain about it. Please!

Tokyos!

Call me Mr Boring, but I decided to take a look at how we rated against the bestest fans in the whole wide world TM in the eyes of opposition supporters... ladies and gents, these are impartial views from visiting fans over the past 2-3 years. No undercover scummahs - this should once again, prove yet another PortsMYTH to be false. Enjoy; On St Mary's and the faaaaaaaaaaaaaackin' scummah support Comments from a Skate; In interest of fairness, here's a (non too credible) account from a Villa fan; On Fratton Park and the bestest in the world TM Here's one of the best ones .... and in the interest of fairness, a positive experience; Well, kind of... anyway, I digress...;

Well, it was working fine... now it's not Might have to refine it a little bit, I think. I didn't realise that we'd gone that far to implement the offside! Still, any little advantage you can get I guess. As I'm refining the tactic atm, I'll have a look at trying to get it to work - The problem is, Shaw's backside plays everyone on

BTW, might be worth starting with a 3rd CB at left back to counter West Ham's aerial threat? Hooiveld/Yoshida/Forren?

We've had players missing before and still beaten teams... fear not. Shaw would be a helluva miss though.

Hi all Hope it's OK to post here, mods - sorry for the shameless plug, but I want to get this out in the open! Anyway, at the start of last year, I decided to make an independent Saints website for game reviews, comments and a few other decent (but yet to be integrated) features as we're now "back in the big time" (though I wish I'd done something two years previous!). If anyone fancies writing or contributing to the site I'm now actively looking for people who are interested and can be commit to doing so for the rest of the season AND beyond. Obviously, there's no payment involved and you'll be writing purely for passion but I'm hoping there's a few people out there who'd be interested in doing so and simultaneously help promoting/grow the site. It's been neglected for a fair while (as you'll see) but I'm currently in the process of retrospectively adding all the game reviews, most pertinent news points and articles that I've not uploaded during the season for one reason or another. Anyway, here's the site so you can take a look for yourselves. As I said, it's still really in it's early stages of development but with the help of some of you, I hope that we can develop it even more. Once again, hope it's OK to post it here, mods/admins Ta Ben PS: If you'd like to contribute, send me a PM and we'll get the ball rolling

Southend, Coventry, Walsall. There's a common theme there. Special mention to WBA fans as well, always found them decent. Charlton fans had massive delusions of grandeur, as had Villa fans. You can throw in Pompey fans into that. Never liked Bournemouth or Liverpool fans, Millwall has some right tools too.

Awww damn it, that took the fun out of the p1ss taking last year then Seriously though, you're right. Plenty worse clubs than West Ham, I agree, however annoying they were last year!

The West Ham fans last year were unbearably arrogant.... BUT .... reading through their forums this year (and in particular, in the build up to this game), many of them are absolutely fair and spot on with what they say. In fact, whilst I really do believe we have very, very underrated footballers and technically, are a top 6-8 team if we find consistency, I can understand exactly what they're saying on there with regards to our arrogance. Some of it on here has left me utterly incredulous, too. For me, our "rivalry" was last year with them as we were both promo contenders. Now, it's just another game. I'm over their hilarious "riverboat promotion party" booking and I don't harbour any ill-will towards them. I don't really have anything to say about Sam's percentage football other than it works, but it isn't as "hoooooooooof" as people say. Then again, it's not our passing, pressing, high-tempo, sure, but it works for them and like us, they can most likely be looking forward to another season in the Prem next year. Call me negative, but I'm expecting a tight 1-0 win or 1-1 draw. It'll be close between us, even if we are fortunate to have more "gifted" footballers.

The blokes a complete plank. Outside the top four's bench and reservists there are plenty good footballers to make a competitive English football team. Something I posted on FBTPRO...

I find Lineker quite a good anchor - then again, I would say that. Unfortunately, Hansen and Lawrenson are well past their sell-by date and don't really offer anything of any value punditry wise but in their defence, they don't get the time to research (ha, not sure if they would anyway!) or airtime Neville gets to get his point across (GN's been brilliant since he started tbf). I think they should make it a bit more... streetwise, a bit more of a laugh. It's a bit dour and has been for a while. If they have some personalities on there it might liven it up a bit. For example, Bagpuss is always very watchable with his footballing anecdotes, though I'm not sure you'd learn much from him. Same goes for Ian Wright (but once again, don't think you'll learn much with him, either). A nice blend of intelligent debate and humour would be good... any suggestions?

They really do think they're something special... but this picture just about sums them up.

Decent little striker. Why so bitter towards him? :-/

Gents, I've just made a little tactic that you might be interested in... https://www.box.com/files/0/f/0/1/f_7407204267 "The Pochettino Way" Based on MP's fast-paced, pressing, attacking tactics that he uses for Saints, this is my second (successful) attempt at a tactic after creating "The Adkins Way" tactic earlier this year. It's not a refinement of the Adkins way tactic per-se, it was done completely from scratch. However, for it to work (and depending on whom you're playing), pre-team talk you'll need to make a few tweaks to see them play as MP has them doing. Here's the formation and the philosophy: You'll notice that the tactic is attacking. Yes, it can be a bit gung-ho but personally, I always try to be fearless of the opponents (like Mauricio) and go into every tactic with that setting as default. However, it's sometimes worth adapting in-game depending on the scoreline (if you are leading 3-1 and want to defend a lead, contain, control or counter is always a good option to switch to). Before KO Opposition Instructions Highlight all the opposition players on the opposition instructions screen and choose the following: * Closing Down - Always * Show Onto Foot - Weaker Team Instructions Either create a "shout" or add these instructions manually using the touchline instructions option before the match: * Retain Possession * Push Higher Up * Hassle Opponents or Formation & Player Roles It's up to you how you line up the players but it's worth rotating your forward quartet to suit fitness and opposition. Due to Puncheon's absence, here's my line up v Swansea at home... You'll also notice that each player has been assigned a specific role. For demonstration purposes, the following players are assigned these duties (plus sub-responsibilities like defend, support and attack - you don't have to add this, it's already done for you!). GK: Artur Boruc Role: Goalkeeper Duty: Defend LWB: Luke Shaw Role: Wingback Duty: Automatic RWB: Nathaniel Clyne Role: Wingback Duty: Automatic LCB: Maya Yoshida Role: Central Defender Duty: Defend RCB: Jose Fonte Role: Central Defender Duty: Defend CM: Morgan Schneiderlin Role: Ball Winning Midfielder (or Deep Lying Playmaker) Duty: Defend CM: Jack Cork Role: Box-to-Box Midfielder Duty: Suppoer AML: Adam Lallana Role: Inside Forward Duty: Support AMC: Gaston Ramirez Role: Attacking Midfielder Duty: Support AMR: Jay Rodriguez Role: Inside Forward Duty: Support ST: Rickie Lambert Role: Target Man (or Deep Lying Forward) Duty: Support What Will I See? It's not a full-season tested but the results are impressive. You'll be a free-flowing, attacking, one-touch juggernaut of a team but you'll still concede some goals (a small sacrifice to pay considering the success/results that you'll achieve). They'll be lots of smart one-touch interplay and Schneiderlin will probably pick up a few bookings. However, it's great to watch (better in 2D mode than 3D) and you'll definitely see the resemblances of the real "Pochettino Way" in this virtual tactic. Enjoy, and please let me know how you get on. Other Notable Things You Could Do * Employ coaches with adventurous/attacking style and closing down as their coaching styles/preferences * Work on team cohesion, attacking and select "no rest day" before a match. Set training high enough so that it is regarded as "heavy" * Ensure the youth team also train in the same way as the first and mirror the formation * Recruit players with high stamina, work rate and teamwork. For offensive players, add creativity and technical to that list. ENJOY!

Haha... I only noticed as my Swedish team is Norrkoping! They play some great stuff, like Saints...

Gefle had a red vs Norrkoping today too...

I second that. Positively drooling imagining him, Lallana, Ramirez, Puncheon, Rodriguez all linking up BTW... like all our midfield, he's already massively better than the sh1te Woy picks for the national team.

Fantastic striker and within reach I'd like to think. It'd be one of those players that the "big" clubs overlook this year, but will be sniffing around the next when they eventually realise how good he is...

He's absolutely insane AND a fantastic goalkeeper. Now, sign him up for next year, please. I don't want Butland, I don't want Courtois - I want Boruc.