Graffito

Didn't think much of that. Got to persist with trying to keep possession but just don't have the players to do it throughout the side. Stating the bleeding obvious but what can you say. Thought Lallana was a shoe-in to replace Cleverley.

Lallana's a great role model for the academy players. He stayed when he could have moved, he's made captain, and now he's called up by England. Excellent news.

Except that the "thieving post office workers" didn't actually rob you did they? One of my kids once accidently posted with a handful of letters an envelope containing cash. I telephoned the sorting office and established within minutes that they had the envelope and had been waiting for someone to ring and claim it.

Half the tickets went out yesterday and half are being sent out today.

I still do.

The Drayton Park on Drayton Park Rd is a stone's throw from the stadium and is where the Saints fans congregated last time we played Arsenal. Likely to be crowded and noisy. A quieter pub with better beer would be The Bank of Friendship on Blackstock Rd. Been there many times but never on a matchday. Would have thought it's fine though. There are loads of pubs along Upper St in Islington. Most will be busy and noisy. Start at Highbury and Islington tube and work your way down or start at Angel tube and work your way up (i.e. towards Highbury). Allow time though. The stretch between Angel and Highbury and Islington is probably about a mile and then there's another 10 minute walk from H&I tube to the Emirates (quickest route across Highbury Fields opposite tube). The Compton Arms tucked away on Compton Avenue just across from Highbury and Islington tube is a quieter option.

Good going forward, weak at the back. As we know, the defensive weaknesses were there last season but were less frequently exposed due to inferior opposition to what we have faced this season. In all probability the current defence, with the addition of Yoshida, is what we've got to go with until January. It's down to the coaching staff to tighten up defence and cut out the basic errors seen in Davis's distribution, Hooiveld's tackling and above all defending from set pieces which ought to be the relatively easier faults to rectify. In the Five Live interview with Lambert last night, Claridge highlighted flaws in the zonal marking system Saints are using. This two week break could be really useful in sorting out some of these issues.

He probably does mean that and it's a fair point as far as going down at the end of this season is concerned because after this season relegated club will be in a stronger position vis a vis other Championship clubs due to enhanced parachute payments from 2013/14. If we are to go down it should be from 2013/14 onwards as we'd have a much better chance of bouncing straight back.

How can you be so sure the gap will grow massively after next year?

Clubs are going bankrupt in Australia. If he goes there I think it's a lifestyle choice for him and his family.

Do you not think Ferguson's subs made a difference? The one thing I don't understand about Adkins' subs was why he didn't put Rodriquez up top to hold up the ball and give us a chance of retaining possession.

Oh well, move on. What's Baresi up to these days?

There have been occasions where that's happened but I think the answer's in what you have said here - players to show for the ball quicker. I'd add to that, speeding up the whole process. Remember how Reading under Coppell stole a march on us a few seasons back by instructing the ball boys to recycle the ball quickly to their players but at snail's pace to Saints' players?

No way we should be employing rugby tactics in a team that aspires to play a passing game.

I read yesterday that Ferguson was livid with the FA for announcing that Young was unfit, thereby giving us a perceived advantage today. Could be a vain attempt to even things up a bit.

So? Doesn't invalidate my opinion.

Couldn't agree more. They know where the cameras are. Don't get this love struck admiration for Manc supporters at all. I remember quite vividly their gloating when we went down.

Created by the aptly named Harry Pratt:lol: Enough.

See Forest have signed Coppinger too. Will supply a few for Sharp as he did at Doncaster. Forest could challenge this season though 11 new players might take a while to gel or worse do a Leicester.

Fair play to the boy Lineacre. He should "have a word" in Lawro's shell like.

In a way Sharp epitomises Saints' position and their predicament. He was signed to get the goals to help us over the line to promotion, which is exactly what he did. Once promoted, everything changes and the club has to look afresh at the squad. Despite the understandable euphoria of Ramirez's signing we still have a number of players that were playing in League 1 18 months ago. No disrespect to those players nor to where they have taken us from in so short a space of time, quite the opposite, but it remains to be seen whether we have the strength throughout the squad to succeed in the PL.

Southampton have had little luck landing the final part of their transfer jigsaw though, with a deal for a left-back still far from completion, after Blackburn rejected their £3 million offer for Olsson. Sweden international Olsson is desperate to quit relegated Blackburn this summer, and also has interest from West Brom, Sunderland and Wigan, but all are looking at other options. Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/910342-southampton-make-bolognas-ramirez-record-signing-but-miss-out-on-olsson#ixzz259TRIMoc

Good move. Lineker will rip the **** out of him on MoTD.

Mark Lawrenson, BBC Sport speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "Liverpool cannot sign just Clint Dempsey, who is not an out-and-out striker. They need someone else as well, otherwise their problems will be the same as last year - not enough goals. I can just see them being in the same predicament as last season." Who do you have in mind Lawro?