CanadaSaint

Screw the EU. How about us? We were there on D-Day. Let me re-phrase that. We landed on the beaches on D-Day. I mentioned the war once but I think I got away with it.

It was sickening to hear it go pear-shaped so it must have been even worse to actually watch it. Poor substitutions are an indictment of the manager (especially shape-destroying subs), and allowing yourself to be so vulnerable to their sub (Williams) makes the issue worse. Dave, are there signs of turning the corner (playing well be not getting a points reward) or are you starting to doubt AP?

The comment was intended to provide some balance while the usual suspects run around panicking and calling for Pardew to be fired. We did compete very well with a top three team and we lead the game twice. I'm not happy either, badger, especially after being bushwhacked by a sub, but I feel we're making more progress than people are willing to admit right now. We just, as you pointed out, don't have many points to show for it and we need to rectify that in a hurry.

Amidst all the wrist-slashing, let's just remember that one player changed what sounded like an otherwise-balanced game. We competed well against a top three team. I'd like to hear from AP why we weren't ready for Williams, even though his arrival was entirely predictable.

It's completely unacceptable to be done by a sub who we should have known about. He seemed to come as a surprise to us. If he'd been on the other flank it would have been much worse.

Wotton's arrival welcomed like a fart in church.

I'd have thought that Lambert would have given us a heads-up about him as well. Imagine what it might have been like if he'd been on the other flank, where we're really vulnerable.

Anyone know if Marcus is there tonight?

That's why it's good to hear they're pushing hard for a two-goal lead. One is not enough for us. I know this sounds obvious but the next goal is crucial.

WTF is "a forward tackle"? Utter bo locks.

We needed to score when we were well on top in the first half, and then kick on and get a second. When we didn't score we seemed to revert to the narrow crap. After half time it sounded like we weren't staying wide into the final third, but banging 'crosses' in from deep - straight down the keeper's throat. Lots of 'crosses', very few chances. I haven't given up on the idea of coming over in November to see for myself.

Only the yoyo fans are - the people who (predictably) think we're either going up or going down based on each week's result. It was only days ago that people were full of praise for Pardew's performance at the fans' forum. Now some are on the verge of calling for his head. This team hasn't been together for more than a couple of weeks so there's still plenty of gelling to happen. We have no divine right to anything in this division, and it makes it all the harder that we're seen as a "big club" by pretty much every opponent. More good signs than bad today, judging by the commentary. Patience - there's a long way to go yet.

It sounded like he was going to bring on Perry just before the goal but now it might well be Saga, for a three-man front. I don't think we're going to lose this.

I rather liked the "intempted cross".

We have to score while we're on top. Or probably pay the price later.

I went to Totton GS with John Williams for six years or more - he was a big Saints fan then but we suffered under the yoke of it being an all-Rugby school!

Because we're following the established protocol on here: "Why let the facts get in the way of a good debate?" And, possibly, because the denial was in The Echo!

Good points, Marco, and I'd be happy to see Coppell come here - for all the reasons you've outlined AND because I really like the idea of a football person supervising, advising, supporting and being a sounding board for the manager. We might well still be in the Prem if we'd had that for the past six years. My only rider is "as long as Pardew is okay with it" because none of us wants to go back to the instability. However, I just don't understand the timing - even allowing for Coppell's desire to have a six-month break. No matter how close AP and Coppell have been in the past, bringing Coppell in after a lot of work has been done (by AP) could well be asking for trouble. I'd love all this to work out but if I had to choose between having a talented Coppell alongside a ticked-off Pardew OR just having a happy Pardew, I'd choose the latter right now. As long as we start to get some results.

What would people's reactions be if we'd started off like Charlton, instead of the horrible start we've had? I suspect they'd be a lot less enthusiastic about bringing in Coppell than they are - for fear of p*ssing off AP. And if that's the case, they are not as keen on the idea as they're suggesting. Either it's a good structure or it's not. And having a ready-made fall back for firing AP doesn't make it a good structure. The part I don't understand is why they'd do it now - after AP has made significant changes to both the playing squad and coaching staff. These were things that a DoF should have been heavily involved in. The only missing part is rebuilding the academy. Unless Coppell WAS involved in the background, which is possible but unlikely, I can see AP getting ticked off about this, and then we're back to instability territory.

If he says "We've got to keep a clean sheet" again I'm going to rip my own testicles off. It'd be his but I can't reach from here. How about "We need a second goal", Dave? Your idea doesn't seem to be working out too well.

I'd say you have a dominant right hand, caused by excessive strength. This could result from any one of a variety of lifetime habits.

Thanks. So AP kept Lallana out there. My view was obstructed by about 2500 miles of land and another 2000 miles of ocean, so I should have kept my mouth shut. Hopefully, Murty's okay and the impact won't be as severe.

What a bloody disastrous moment that may prove to be. It's not just that we lose Murty, which is bad enough, but that his departure will impact negatively on the development of two potentially key players - James (just moved to a more suitable position where, by all accounts, he was starting to find his feet) and possibly even Lallana (who seemed to have found his niche with Murty behind him and James alongside him). Just as AP starts to fit round pegs into round holes, this happens. Of course, not having been at the game I may well be talking out of my arse, but that's how it sounds to me.

I wouldn't rule that out yet, sadly. From what I've seen and read he's absolutely one of the last ones we'd want to lose.

Yep, that was the guy who said "It's good news - he's being seen by a surgeon". That's the first time being seen by a surgeon is "good news". This was the same guy who said "At best it's knee ligaments, at worst it's (lengthy pause for thought) ... something worse". I fricking despair.