S-Clarke

Mentioned this yesterday, they keep chattering about our run only coming against the poor sides. But we've played and beaten Leeds, WBA, Hull etc in that period, drawn away at Coventry and Norwich. You don't go 25 games unbeaten by having only done the poor sides, it's daft to think that - they're just scrapping around for chinks to focus on.

I notice people saying that we've had this long run, but we've not played anyone decent etc etc. During this run... Southampton 3 - 1 Leeds United Southampton 2 - 1 - WBA Coventry 1 - 1 Southampton Hull City 1 - 2 Southampton Norwich 1 - 1 Southampton Watford 1 - 1 Southampton Millwall 0 - 1 Southampton I'd say the above are a pretty tricky bunch of games in any season, and they've all been part of the run. Not sure why some neutrals are trying to down play it by saying we have a tough run coming up. That tough run includes Millwall, Bristol City, WBA, Hull - we have already beaten all 4.

Charlies second account?

Another pearl of wisdom from Charlie.

Block 34 myself, there are probably a couple of old farts dotted around! Some of it is because they set their stall out at the start, they didn't want Martin because of x and y etc etc, and they will not be proven wrong no matter how stupid he continues to make them look. Must be a nightmare to live with.

It didn't surprise me really, he's had it in for Martin all season like he's nicked his wife or something. Every sub he makes is the wrong sub, even against Swansea when we won 5-0 it was the wrong subs and he was ripping into him at 2-0. I wish he'd piss off if I'm honest, surprised no one has sparked him yet. The crew around him all agree with him like some sort of weird-cult as well.

So Kane moved to Bayern for Trophies, a pretty guaranteed result if you look at recent history, but seemingly they are struggling. Surely he's not going to go to Bayern and STILL end trophyless? He's got the same curse as Poch.

We already have Downes out, would be bonkers to force the sub of another of our CM's. I'd put Charles next to Smallbone.

Yeah the booing at Half Time was ridiculous, so were the ''Fuck off out of my club Martin'' shouts from an out of touch old fart in front of me. He said the same at the 1-1 against Rotherham too. The booing makes us sound like a bunch of entitled pricks. We're Southampton fans enjoying a once in a lifetime run of form, it's not going to happen every year because we're Southampton. These players have built up an enormous amount of credit for me and to boo them at HT was a poor show, and so were the comments from fans around me.

Seriously? First goal, I give you - awful, should never get past him. How can anyone put the third goal on him though, I mean what on earth is he supposed to be - super human? Incredibly ridiculous to put that goal on him.

What do the media have on this guy? It's mental. He's one of the worst right backs in the league in my opinion, always at fault for goals. Would be shitting myself if we had him in our team and we were playing balls across the back 4. He may be able to pass the ball, cross, score a free kick etc - but primarily his job is to defend and he's absolutely awful at it. The fact they're trying to shoe-horn in into midfield and number 10 says it all for me, coaches know he's not good enough defensively but can't bring themselves to say it. The young kid, Connor Bradley, has looked more assured defensively and does still provide an attacking threat. 'Trent' will go down in most football fans minds as one of the most overrated English players ever.

This season does feel a bit like the L1 promotion season to me, has a similar feel. We had a slow start that season as well. I remember the tussle we had with Huddersfield that year, we won, they won, we won, they won - it was relentless right until the end. I think we'll see that with Leeds.

Rothwell is the winner so far! A cracker, the technique was just perfection.

He starts every game for me, looked a different side with him in it. Adams to the bench, Armstrong in the 9. That's how I'd go.

Changed the game when he came on imo. We really struggled with a focal point today, Adams was horrific (he may have been carrying a knock to be fair) and Armstrong had a real off day. He just injected something different into us, and pushed Huddersfield back.

Martin said after the game that he'd just taken a kick, no worries about him at all as he said. It was Adams and Flynn who were the worries.

That's the key takeaway for me - not the football or the performance, as it was a real shocker for the majority. It was the character and balls they showed, a real never say die attitude even though they couldn't catch a break with their passing today!

For me, assuming everyone is fit, the midfield two picks it's self - Downes and Smallbone. In front of those guys it's a bit up for grabs, but I'd go with... Downes Smallbone Brooks - Stu - Fraser A. Armstrong

Great first goal, but he was involved in the 2nd (scored it) and the 3rd too as it was his cross which forced it in I think. I wouldn't like to see him play alongside Smallbone in a two again though, as we simply have zero defensive structure - but with Downes/Charles and Smallbone behind him he can have a real impact for us, a really nice alternative to Stu in that 10 role for me.

What a really odd game of football, as much of a freak match as the Rotherham 1-1 earlier this season. For all the control we've had in games this season, we had absolutely zero control for at least 95% of that game as we just seemed incapable of keeping the ball. It was pin ball without any real structure or shape, great to watch but not what we've been built on at all. Play like that against much better teams and we don't come back from that, so in many ways a performance like that against a lesser side is hopefully a bit of a wakeup call - without any damage being inflicted. It's hard to really analyse it as an entirety because there was simply no structure to it. The game was clearly won by the strength of our bench though, having the pace and guile of Sulemana, Edozie, Brooks etc to bring off the bench is such an embarrassment of riches at this level - they'll unlock any defence. That first half was so, so, so bad though - let's hope we don't see a performance like that again! As said above, fortunate today that we weren't up against a better side - so they can take that as a lesson! The group certainly has some balls and character though, more than I can remember since the Adkins years.

This brings back some pretty nasty memories.

I think we go back to the league 11, but there are a few from tonight who will feel a little hard done by! We have a strong squad though and this is exactly how it needs to be, not just squad fillers, but genuine first 11 players throughout the 20 or so. I won't be complacent about this one as it's another potential banana skin for us, let's see what happens!

It was another incredibly comfortable win, we didn't really break sweat. We were just too good. I was quite critical of Dibling in the game at their place, I felt he stood still too much and wasn't creating the movement to get into the game - but today he was bang on, exactly what he needs to do. Always on the move, always in space, driving with the ball - he was a class above, played years above his age and that's what I wanted to see from him last weekend. Such a top talent. Rothwell really, really impressive for me as well. Drove forward with the ball, created quite a few openings. Mara deserved the goals tonight, from the off he was on it - but as soon as he got the goal, his level just went up a notch. Really, really good display from him. And we keep going....we're pretty relentless it has to be said.

Very elegant player, as proven by those few mins we saw today.

The top 3 is how it sits now in my eyes. Ipswich will fall away, inevitable really - but they've been remarkable. It's between us and Leeds for 2nd, I just hope that it doesn't come down to the last day at their place, as I'm not sure I could genuinely cope!