Graffito

A frustrating afternoon. Then a late dodgy penalty. Won by Long. Dispatched by Tadic.

6 in a row would be something special.

I was at the opposite end. There was a massive swerve on the ball which is what beat the keeper.

You like bears in short skirts?

Ok schadenfreude but all three are quality players. What gets overlooked is that it's a team game and behind the team is a structure and a club, Southampton, where talent can flourish. Add to that a team spirit forged in League 1 upwards and it's not surprising they are struggling now to adapt.

Everyone's going to the Alwyne. It's much better. Really.

Don't worry. Nobody listens to me.

I use the Compton Arms in Compton Ave right behind the Union Chapel music venue just off Upper St and 2 minutes from Highbury and Islington tube. It hasn't been "improved" like those on Upper St and has barely changed over the years. Small pub so fills up quickly on match days.

And the greenies score.

He's feeling the weight of greater expectation. Making excuses for himself makes him appear weak. Rogers has just put more pressure on him by singling him out for criticism. Never mind Dejan, just think of the readies.

Cork wants to talk. Been keeping his options open. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9472392?

Not so sure Victor Wanyama will start. Like to see Saints get at their back four. The key will be getting the ball forward quickly. That would be Cork.

I'm conscious of the fact that the three most recent matches were against teams that offered little in attack. We're scoring goals, though, which is what I was concerned about at the start of the season.

That's good. I've not seen anything about Franny's run on the Cancer Research website.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/southampton/11091290/Southampton-legend-Francis-Benali-nears-completion-of-epic-marathon-challenge-and-emotional-arrival-at-St-Marys.html

Agreed. I've been lumbered with front or lower rows several times. The worst is Arsenal where your head's at virtually pitch level. Also West Ham where you can end up tucked up the front corner which is miles from the pitch and your view is obstructed by Stewards. I don't put up with it now. I find a space higher up and squeeze in which is possible when standing.

Fair play. That's was a quality goal.

http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/09/01/primera/1409534877_878044.html

Right footed but four of those goals and one or two assists were with his left. That's a good sign in my book.

"Where's all our players gone"

West Ham is doing kids for a quid. The rest of us are subsidising it. Throughout last season West Ham were advertising in the Standard newspaper tickets for home games. It will be interesting to see what happens when they move to the bigger stadium.

Biggest positive was Targett. Assured and comfortable in possession. He looks like he has potential to be very good left back.

He passes well and his delivery is excellent. Two qualities that suggest he'll create goals. It's not his lack of pace that bothers me so much as that he's slow off the mark and slow to turn. There have been examples in every game I've seen him play, including yesterday when someone went past him as if he wasn't there. It's a flaw in his game but surely something that could be improved through coaching positional play.

Looked rock solid. Good signing.

It's two league matches. Let's give the man a chance.