Crab Lungs

Another thing... when you've got great footballing players like Lallana and Guly willing to put their bodies on the line with tackles, chasing back and battling - basically doing all the dirty stuff, you've always got a chance.

Enjoyed my long overdue first game back at SMS and whilst it wasn't the freeflowing, tick-tack style some might expect, I was thoroughly pleased with the result and the level of energy shown by the players in very, very hot pitch side temperatures. Davis 7, Solid game - which is almost synonymous with KD these days. Two excellent saves, too. Richardson 5, For me, he's had much better games. He was all too easily beaten by Bouazza at least 3 times. He'll come across other tricky wingers in this league who could, unless he is given better cover by Guly or whoever is in front of him, will just pass it around "Tank" and pick the ball up on the other side. Fonte 7, Typically classy, but at sometimes dangerously full-blooded! Handled Henderson well alongside Seaborne. Seaborne 6, I'm not a boo-boy but whilst he was tremendously brave and committed today, and yes, he can stroke the ball around, his defensive headers/clearances really do need to improve. Too often he won't get enough on the ball and it'll shave his head/go the wrong way and back to the opposition. At least with a lumbering, bricksh1thouser like Jaidi this doesn't happen. That said, I think Seaborne's mobility has been a massive plus. Harding 8, I thought Harding was excellent today and it's actually quite annoying that we spent the best part of £1.8m on Daniel Fox. I just hope he's going to be worth it! Guly 7, Excitingly unpredictable and finished superbly for his goal. He worked hard but I did get a bit frustrated today as he didn't provide any cover for Richardson at times against Bouazza - and things could have turned out different. Cork 7, His usual industrious self - tireless running, kept the ball moving and picked a superb pass for Guly's winner. If we do something this season, the significance of this signing will become apparent, if it hasn't already of course! Hammond 6, Didn't really notice him to be honest so wasn't surprised he was substituted. That said, for someone who was potentially going to be third or fourth choice in midfield this year, he's started superbly. Lallana 7, With him and Guly in the side we'll always have a chance. Bust a gut today until he fizzled out from the game and was withdrawn at about the right time by NA. Connolly 6, Industrious and like so many of our players, has a great footballing brain. Was quiet today but it's always obvious Lambert 8, Truly immense. Like the rest of the team, worked incredibly hard but his overall technique and first-touch made the ball stick for us upfront so many times today, which was important. Subs De Ridder 8, His introduction allowed us to switch from defending against Millwall to attacking them again. Although only a brief outing, it was significant in that respect. Schneiderlin 6, Slotted in alongside Jack effortlessly and had to cover a lot of ground to help halt Millwall counter-attacks. Fox 6, Didn't really notice him to be honest. Whilst by no means a vintage performance, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day. What stood out for me was not just the workrate, but the sheer number of technically good footballers we have all over the pitch. We closed out the game professionally and kept the ball well, though I do have to credit Millwall as well for having a right go at us in the second half period. They'll probably be there or thereabouts this year. What impressed me most about them though was that they did what no team has been able to do this yet - dominate and frustrate our midfield. It looked a hell of a battle for messrs Cork, Hammond and Schneiderlin today so I'm delighted we got the result we did in the manner we did. Even a grizzled, gutsy one-niller was a pleasure to watch. I still think we're 1 solid centre back and 1 enigmatic centre-forward away from a really, really sustainable promotion challenge though. C'mon Don, get the cheque book out...

Both are average and most likely frustratingly dense. Of course, I am more than happy to be corrected.

They seem to think "pwning" someone is making up baseless facts and peddling them as truth until they pass out. F()cking retards.

That is one of the most retarded conversations I've ever read. More shameless posturing over their past, stupid accusations and undervaluing Lallana "he's not that good". Idiots. I bet they think Liam Lawrence is better, ROFL.

This is going to ruin our fantastic start to the season. Rickie OUT.

Portsmouth City FC beckons for young Jimmy.

I would mention his attitude as being a potential problem but hasn't Nigel worked with Beckford before, so that might possibly be a good thing? Besides, Puncheon was hardly all-to-blame for his falling out with the club, anyway...

Yes, and I will never forget that... Grrrrrr!!!

This. It's all very well banking loadsa money but it's not like Champ Man/Football Manager; you can't just go out and buy a top class player that'll guarantee to work and fit in, it's much harder. No good having in excess of £30m in the bank without having a genuine replacement identified and a guarantee they'd join.

As I've said a million times before - if Henderson is worth £20m, Lallana is worth £35m, probably more.

Well I wasn't at all impressed, they're still a massive bunch of bitter retards and from the looks of things, always will be - except now they've got their new stadium, they're getting a bit above themselves.

We do need to think about our option if/when Fonte/Lallana/Lambert get injured, so definitely a centre-back and striker for me. De Ridder seems to fit the "Lallana" role, it would appear (though not directly the same, similar attributes)

That's what I reckon... or sadly, the ol' Billy Davies tactic of kicking the crap out of the most influential players and bullying your way to victory

Only three games in a 46 game season (excluding Cups, of course) and we've still got another twenty teams to play..... and, as you might expect, there will probably be a few other clubs taking extra-special notice of our early season form and looking at ways to nullify/stifle us... If we're still there or thereabouts come November, I'm really going to start dreaming!

Another Ipswich perspective; Southampton tore us apart at times. They were dominant in midfield, classy in keeping the ball and clinical in front of goal. 3-0 at the half probably flattered us. The most frustrating thing for me in the first half was the lack of options given by our players off the ball. Time and again Andrews would come and collect the ball from Delaney, would turn out and find nothing to offer a pass to. Chopra has an excellent mind for the game but when he is the only player making a move it is easy to pick up. We brought Martin and JET on at half time (surprisingly keeping Leadbitter out wide and the awful Bowyer in the middle) for Scotland and Kennedy. Tad harsh on Scotland I thought who did nothing wrong. We seemed to be really up for the 2nd half and raced out of the blocks, scoring two goals relatively quickly, while all the time looking keen to concede a 4th. That fourth eventually came from the outstanding Lallana, one of the best players in the league for me. That goal took the wind out of us and we were a defeated and spent team. 5-2 probably flattered us in the end.

Yep. Me. Couldn't resist. But he retorted; "SC-UM-MER" facepalm.

With a little bit of luck, they will. I think if Clotts is in charge for the full season they have an excellent chance... then it'll be 8,000 average attendances at the arena...

Plus, we still need a CB and possibly another striker. It's a 50 games+ season...

Just as I posted on another thread in reply to anyone concerned that a new signing would rock the boat: I think Nige thoroughly vets them character wise and works to a wage structure, so that would be unlikely to happen.

I think Nige thoroughly vets them character wise and works to a wage structure, so that would be unlikely to happen.

One from FB: One of the best Championship sides I have ever seen....shame it wasn't Ipswich!!

I honestly thought that after reading and before clicking the title of this thread, it would be about John W******d.

ROFL at Pompey fans arguing with Saints fans on Facebook; "90% of all scum fans are Indians and pakastanis ! They built your stadium in mini asia, and even ur ticket office is on the corner to please the community. Oh and isnt ur top player an anagram of ALL ANAL just like the scummers like it ? Night scummers" Nice. "Well if the £130 million in debt is something, I can name at least 3 PL teams that have at least that, if not more. Attendances?? When doo the likes of us ever get to a midweek game anyway! Sliding down?? Well 43 games later lets have another look. Yep, pompey is the place with the bell ringer, sure is. Well done, you managed a word with 2 syllables. Lets try advanced, 3 of them - SCUMMER" They still don't get it.

Small-time, revolting club with no principles. Football's karmic God's are resetting the balance...