saints_is_the_south

Lawrence is over the hill, past it. Norris is their best player IMO but he too is getting on a bit and not any better than what we already have in midfield. Hukeslepp & Futacs are probably the only 2 I'd consider looking at, and the keeper Henderson would be good back up. Still, none of their players would get in our team at present.

Cov 2-0 Boro.

If results stay like this til FT then that would be excellent.

In response to mehball's post above, thought I'd check this morning's arrivals at Southampton Airport. A flight from Glasgow did indeed arrive at 8.07 this morning. With or without Hooper on board only time will tell!

11 goals in 36 games from attacking midfield in the Spanish 2nd division for Villareal B seems pretty decent, anybody know the quality of their 2nd div? Sounds highly rated although apart from that stint at Villareal B, hasn't played an awful lot of 1st team games in his career. Will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Cardiff for me too, although Birmingham are beginning to creep up and still have a game in hand. The Cardiff game at SMS in a couple of weeks will be massive.

Barnsley - 1,138 Ipswich - 1,165 Leicester - 2,682 Swindon (LGC) - 1600 Approx Burnley - 1,155 Cardiff - 1700 Approx Derby - 2,611 Reading - 4,203 Crystal Palace (LGC) - 2,571 Coventry - 3,008 Bristol City - 2,173 Doncaster - 1,792 Skates - anywhere between 2,400 to 3,200 depending on who you believe! Brighton - 2,422 Coventry (FA Cup) - 1,734 Nottm Forest - 2,294 League AND Cup average - 2,149 League average - 2,195 Not including the skates.

Watched Leicester on TV against the skates the other week and for all the money they have spent I was shocked at how bad they were. We should beat them. 2-0 Saints imo.

As I follow Roma as my 2nd team, I can inform you (despite the goal above) that Okaka is very average and I'd hope we'd be aiming for better than him.

1. I was right infront of Harding's tackle he was booked for, great challenge and won the ball firmly but fairly. Never a foul let alone a yellow card. 2. Couldn't see Lallana's 'goal' from our end but Adkins says he has watched it and seems it was a good couple of yards over the line. Maybe not D'Urso's fault but what the hell was his assistant doing? 3. Again, right infront of the push on Lambert at the start of the 2nd half, clear penalty for everyone to see but D'Urso of course. 4. Maybe the way Lambert reacted was wrong, but had D'Urso seen the whole episode he'd have seen the Brighton defender bundling him to the ground rugby tackle style. From the pictures it looks like Lambert has tried to push him away (admittedly in the face). Either way having not seen the whole thing, why did D'Urso not do what a decent referee would have done and at least consulted his assistant first? Add to the above that 99.9% of any 50/50 decisions went the way of the home side, nothing for us. Dreadful display all round really, such a shame as we had dominated up until then and before the red card I was thinking it was just a matter of when and not if we were going to score and go on and win.

Got to be aiming to win the next 4 fixtures imo. Brighton & Forest away both very winnable, and the 2 home games. Leicester looked dreadful against the Skates on Saturday, Cardiff will be a toughie. If we can take maximum points from the next 4 then we stand ourselves in good stead for 2 very tough away games at Brum & West Ham. Should beat Burnley at home but they are no mugs themselves having already won at Upton Park & the KC Stadium this season. Minimum requirement: 14/21 Would be very happy with: 17/21

FT at Derby. Great that we are still 3 points clear of WHU but also quite frustrating that we could be 6 points clear of them had we not screwed up last night.

+1. A women commentator too! They just said that they will also have the Middlesbro game on 5 live extra at 3pm.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11688/7403123/ Scored the winner in the final of the Asian Cup against Australia this year for what its worth.

Available on the day.

They currently have 4 players on 4 yellows (Greer, Calderon, Taricco & LuaLua) and 1 player on 9 yellows (Dunk). If any of those players pick up 1 more yellow in their next game they will be missing against us. With Brighton's disciplinary record I'd say the chances of at least 1 of those getting a yellow is quite high. Barnes & Vincelot are already suspended against us (last of both their 3 match bans). Don't know how they are injury wise but they could well be depleted!

+1. I think a decent xmas period could see us extend our lead slightly going into the new year then we really do need strengthen with 2 players I'd say. Plus Chaplow and Connolly back, I'm confident we can win the race and be champions.

Barnsley - 1,138 Ipswich - 1,165 Leicester - 2,682 Swindon (LGC) - 1600 Approx Burnley - 1,155 Cardiff - 1700 Approx Derby - 2,611 Reading - 4,203 Crystal Palace (LGC) - 2,571 Coventry - 3,008 Bristol City - 2,173 Doncaster - 1,792 Skates - anywhere between 2,400 to 3,200 depending on who you believe! Average of 2,149 without including last Sunday.

Went in the league so no for this one. Had a great day though contrary to all of the reports about it being an awful away day. The pub by the canal was decent.

Maynard would be an excellent signing but I would not pay anything over £2.5m MAX for a player out of contract in the summer. Go in with a reasonable bid but the first sign of Leicester bidding stupid money leave them to it and go for Sharp instead.

Loved it when we sang "who the **** is laughing now", the look on the skates faces was priceless.

Superbly organised tbf, thought we'd be waiting a lot longer to leave than we were too. Did anybody manage to smugle any booze on? With hindsight now I reckon it would have been very easy as there were no checks when getting on.

The skates have lost at home to two promoted teams so far this season, Saints to make it 3 out of 3?

Pretty sure they start serving at 9. May take a few tins along and drink them on the sly just in case it is 11.

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