Graffito

We've lost just one game immediately after the five EL ties played so far (Hull City) and three games immediately prior to EL ties. Of the games we lost prior to EL, Arsenal away was a good performance and a contested penalty winner and Chelsea was, well Chelsea. The stinkers have been Hull (after EL) and Crystal Palace (before EL). Whilst you cannot draw any firm conclusions from these stats I would suggest they do not provide any compelling evidence that European ties per se are a problem. This is borne out by stats over a longer period for several clubs as reported in the Times a few months ago. With Saints involved in all competitions, the finger is bound to be pointed at squad rotation. Rotation is necessary but may have its downsides in lack of continuity and momentum. It also has its positives. Won't list them but they are quite obvious, the best e.g being the opportunities afforded academy players. I think we can't identify as the culprit in isolation euro fixtures or rotation. There's probably a range of factors. I'd throw in two. Preparation time for matches is limited. E.g Thursday to Sunday before the loss at Hull and Wednesday to Saturday before the loss at Palace. Throw in traveling time and you don't have much time to prepare the team for the specific opponent. CP likes to play the same style irrespective of personnel but he is new to the PL and doesn't know the opposition. On the other hand our opponent is preparing to nullify us. Secondly, given the number and type of matches we are playing, are the players motivated for the likes of Hull and Palace (no disrespect but they are not the best)? Contrast with the up tempo performances against Everton (Koeman and post Prague rocket from the fans) and Arsenal (semi final at stake).

This competition is the best opportunity we have to win a trophy, especially if Arsenal play mostly reserves, so I'm hoping CP gives it some priority in team selection.

My only contribution to booing was Winkgate. Losing 4-1 at FP was the worst performance ever I witnessed by a Saints team. I didn't join in on Thursday but I understand why it happened and note the team had good support until the final whistle. Long's reaction was unacceptable. A goal from him today after coming off the bench would be appreciated.

Unless my memory is playing tricks, I have this image from last season's defeat by the dugouts of Lukaku giving Suarez a torrid time out on the flank. A complete mismatch. I wonder if Koeman will avoid VVD and Fonte and get Lukaku cutting in from the flanks or dragging one of them out of position for Barkely to fill the space. Lukaku and Barkely scored last season. Nonetheless, I'm expecting a reaction from Saints to the tepid performance in Prague and the fans reaction to it. If not, then the team lacks character and I think that's not the case, certainly not with Fonte and Romeu back in. Their leadership was sorely missed in Prague.

It's a bus booth and they sold us tickets so no need to use the machine.

I'm not so sure the game plan was to sit back and play for a draw. I think Saints just didn't have the same quality in midfield that Liverpool has. As a consequence, Saints never created a platform from which to create chances. I also thought Liverpool were really good when they didn't have the ball, closing down quickly and turning us over.

Liverpool beat palace 2-4. Pardew put that down, in part, to palace sitting back and allowing Liverpool to attack. The point is Liverpool are strong in attack and much weaker in defence. Putting as much pressure as possible on their defence seems like a sensible game plan, especially if a Lallana and Coutinho are out.

So Shearer and Murphy think Hull thoroughly deserved the result. Well I thought they were one of the worst sides I've seen in a long time. We brought the result on ourselves. They were entitled to the win by virtue of their two goals to our one but they didn't deserve it.

I'm up here already. It's cold and wet. Come prepared.

This is a great piece by Daniel Taylor and I urge everyone to read it.

Out of the country so didn't see it but sounds like we were done up like kippers, not for the first time at home by that lot. A good team and its only three points so no need to over analyse it. We can't win every game so losing to the better sides is preferable to dropping points against Watford and Sunderland.

Looking back at that team, it should have walked L1.

You should, we played well again.

As well you didn't mention the popcorn then. I met West Ham friends before the match. Exact same points made. Also the London branding isn't going down well. They don't care about the extra revenue. Being in the upper tier reminded me of the top tier at Wembley, which in one way is worse because Wembley is supposedly a purpose built football stadium. Sadly, it's all about the money.

https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/london/thelordaberconwayliverpoolstreetlondon/drinks Don't drink it myself but it's mentioned here.

My preferred location too. The Wetherspoons, Hamilton Hall, is fine. The Lord Aberconway is a decent pub for ale.

Thanks for the summary. More user friendly than listening, though I must say CP's english is improving. CP strikes me as an intelligent man hampered somewhat by having to express himself in english but I respect the fact that he has tackled the press conferences head on in English, unlike Pochettino. You got the job for every press conference if you want it but I think you won't be needed by Christmas.

That'll stick.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ronald-koeman-never-took-risk-8859889

Sparta were more of a threat down our left than down our right. Whatever may have been the reason for that, the relative strengths and weaknesses of their players and ours or instructions from our manager to Martina to get forward, Martina was not tested defensively and, unlike Targett, he was able to provide the kind of threat from wide areas that we have been missing this season. Martina's was a motm performance. I'll be disappointed if he and Bertrand don't play on Sunday.

English teams win more points after EL matches, which is contrary to the common view that European involvement has a negative impact on league form. There was something in the Times about six months ago, that stats analysis column they do each week, which showed the same.

FWIW I was there too and I couldn't possibly see that kind of detail from the away end. Were you using binoculars?

Spare us the angst. If you don't like the PL and you're disallusioned with Saints f*** off to Mumsnet and discuss breast feeding.

You have no idea what Fonte "probably meant". This is what Fonte actually said: “Just want to say thank you for the support and also for every fan that came to the game today," he wrote. "No one more then me feels hard done by and disappointed, you can feel the same but not more then me! "When Giroud asks me who gave the penalty away that says it all, if you haven’t watched the game and come to criticise please save me that!

No.