stevegrant

Unfortunately, because of the contract the club has with the website and Saints Player (and possibly the Premier League broadcasting deal prevents it as well), they're not allowed to put league highlights on YouTube. They've got two highlights clips on Saints Player today, one 10 minutes long (with PL commentary), the other 20 (with Radio Solent commentary).

There's a theory - not a completely far-fetched one either - that last season Martinez was able to rely on the defensive solidity that David Moyes had built, add his own attacking flair to it and it paid dividends, but this season the defence is starting to revert to the level he had at Wigan. The numbers do seem to back this theory up as well - they only conceded 39 goals in 38 games last season (scoring 61), whereas this time around they've already shipped 27 in just 17 games. They're probably not quite good enough going forward to be able to just blow teams away like Liverpool did last season despite an awful defence.

I'm looking for one of the sash home shirts from the 2010/11 season, preferably in XL. Ideally in as-new condition.

One of very few to come out of Tuesday's game with any sort of credit. Think he's done well in the handful of games he's been given this season, clearly not at Shaw levels of excitement/talent at this stage but not everyone develops at the same rate.

Sunday.

Getting back on track, Pompey have appointed Gary Waddock as Andy Awful's new assistant manager. Waddock has loads of managerial experience in League Two, so this looks like an interim appointment with a view to taking the main job in the not-too-distant future.

There are regional trains running in the area, but nothing on a national scale. If you're in Kent, your best bet might be to drive to Beckenham and get the tram to East Croydon, where you can get a train to Selhurst.

4200 is generally the maximum away allocation given for cup games. The segregation netting goes over half of block 41, which allows the other half to keep their seats.

Sunday 4th, 3pm.

The article's been edited, the sentence that reads originally just said

Tickets on sale from tomorrow morning to most season ticket holders, £10 for adults, £5 for 17-21 and over-65s, £3 for under-17s. Season ticket holders in blocks 41 and 42 will have to wait until next Friday (19th) to relocate, and general sale commences that afternoon, which doesn't really give everyone much time to pick their spot. Would have thought they'd be able to sell tickets to block 41/42 ST holders for seats elsewhere in the ground that aren't owned by another ST holder sooner, rather than only giving them a 4-hour window ahead of general sale.

I've come to the conclusion that all train companies in this country are terrible. I have the dubious pleasure of using the Thameslink line from East Croydon to Farringdon at the moment, since I started my new job two months ago I reckon the train has arrived at East Croydon on time once and not arrived into Farringdon on time at all. There is always at least one blocking point, whether it's at Norwood Junction, Herne Hill or Blackfriars, which always has a knock-on effect of all the other trains following on behind. Southern trains are pretty crap as well, although at least with them there are so many between East Croydon and Victoria that you don't tend to actually notice the delays too much.

Worth noting that Southern are running local services between London Victoria and East Croydon. If you were that way inclined, you could park in Wimbledon or Mitcham, get the Tramlink to East Croydon (about 25-30 minutes) and there's a train every half an hour (:22 and :52) calling at Selhurst and Thornton Heath (and all stops to Victoria, including Clapham Junction).

The problem you'll have is that Croydon and Thornton Heath are an absolute nightmare for driving at the best of times. Boxing Day, when many of the shops reopen, will be absolute chaos. Leave LOADS of time to travel, I'd guess it'll take around an hour to get there once you leave the M25 at the M23/A23 junction.

I think the ticket office posts out away tickets in batches these days, rather than as soon as the order comes in. No idea whether that's more efficient for them or not, but it's bloody annoying having to wait weeks for the ticket to arrive.

https://twitter.com/solentsport/status/539738390888214528 Insert obvious gag about their team bus...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30245160 Staff holding meetings behind Awford's back, "suggesting" that he change his matchday conduct, which all seems a bit sinister.

Palace has always been one of the more expensive grounds, I remember them charging £35 back in 2005 and £30 in the Championship when it was a Monday night on TV.

They've already offered him a number of different exit routes, but having been ****ed around so much it's difficult to blame him for saying "no thanks". As long as he keeps himself fit enough to train, there's nothing the club can do. Only another 7 months left on his contract anyway, so I suspect even the board has given up trying to force him out now.

There's been a standoff there for months, Connolly was part of Guy Whittingham's coaching team as well as still playing, and wanted to continue with that when Barker got the job, but Barker brought his own people in. Connolly was ****ed off with this, so he and Barker fell out, hence Connolly being sent on loan to Oxford for the second half of last season. He's been "fit" all summer and all season (won't be match sharp, obviously), I believe he's their highest-paid player, but it seems the disagreement has continued with current management and the board. Ultimately, he's kept himself fit enough to train, so he's not breached his contract so they've no grounds to just get rid of him, but Awford has no intention of picking him. I suspect he's on a sizeable appearance/goal bonus as well, which is probably a consideration as well.

Not sure how long the East Coast rewards scheme will continue for, apparently Virgin have won the franchise for the ECML

4008 in total, seems likely this additional 600 is the last batch we'll be given.

I got mine the day they went on sale and they only arrived yesterday. The club seem to post the tickets in batches these days rather than as soon as the order's been received. Probably makes it a bit more efficient for them, but it's pretty frustrating as a customer, especially if you've bought a load of tickets that you want to distribute beforehand.

Thanks to everyone for entering. Don't forget that you can buy this print (unsigned) from Art of Football here: http://art-of-football.com/collections/clubs-prints/products/le-god-poster or get it on a t-shirt here: http://art-of-football.com/collections/clubs/products/le-god-tee