Badger

A great game, and two moments that will always live in my memory as well. Agree about the KK ‘goal’ , easily on a par with any from the MLT archives.

On a purely Saints unpopular opinion: for me yellow shirts, and blue shorts as an away kit has been done to death. I was there in 1976 so know fully the significance of the strip and loved it for a couple of years, but it seems tired now.

Not sure this is popular or unpopular but one of my biggest gripes for some seasons now (probably since Boruc at Arsenal) is that GK’s shouldn’t be pissing around with the ball at their feet. But that doesn’t “align” with the football philosophies.Seeing Gunn dispossessed v Huddersfield underlined it for me, then of course 18months of Martin. Allied to this GK’s wandering upfield is another one that drives me up the wall. Peretz seems keen to do this. Hope it isn’t too costly when the inevitable happens.

Thought it a good match to try that option and rest others but Archer didn’t do anything to give confidence that we should repeat it against better opposition.

Sometimes think it’s in their DNA from the Don Howe days of their double winning team early 1970’s

And they gave us Adam Armstrong

I said last night it wouldn’t surprise me if he suddenly emerged back at Fratton Park … “ proper football club* …. tremendous working class fans …” load of nauseating bollocks. Hope spurs appoint him first … although he was giving his usual “I’ve not heard from them, but they know where I am… yeh, I’d take it if offered” routine when asked about the spurs job at Cheltenham festival last week. * “proper football club” - let’s remember who Arry said that about in December 2004

Agree with this, has certainly surpassed expectations ( although he did that by scoring a single goal in his first appearance). Seems a bit cumbersome at times but holds it up well, and is a handful for some defenders.

Lots of positives yesterday. Tonda’s team selection and subs showed a good use of the squad. Archer was a questionable one but we got away with it. Three points, and no more injuries as far as we’re aware. It’s in our own hands. No one saw that in November. Negatives from yesterday,but nothing too significant or new, shame Fellows didn’t break his duck, and Archer remains shit.

The early posts exclaiming optimism over the appointment now make interesting reading. Some people clearly taken in by one programme with Carragher and some media hype.

I’d like to think he’ll be here for a few seasons just starting out on his career. Perhaps just wishful thinking. The immediate danger might be if Spors fucks off and will no doubt want to recruit him at the new club. But we have to accept that at some point he’ll want to manage in Germany.

Coventry fan told us last weekend the best ‘away’ goal he’d ever seen at Highfield Road was from MLT. Think it was in the 3-1 when we had Ekelund with us

Mine have already been mentioned. Mick Channon v Liverpool 1981/2 - as Gerald Sinstadt said in the commentary “you won’t see a better goal than that …” ( you can dispense with last two words ‘this season’). Individual brilliance- MLT’s first v Newcastle taking it past two defenders … Greatest goals as in most important Moran v Skates 1984, and of course Bobby Stokes in 1976. Honourable mention to Stuart Armstrong v Coventry

Agree with this. We looked weaker, and Oxford a lot more comfortable on that side after Fellows went off. Matsuki offered very little.

Several people have commented how vocal he is towards the back 4, which is great. No idea what he's saying, but if he's bollocking them with a few f, b's, and c''s thrown in for good measure, might it be a case of Peretz Syndrome ?

Not a patch on the christening of ‘Lego Head’ , and more recently ‘Weasley’ although that one didn’t last long enough to catch on.

Nothing against Newcastle, but obviously can’t stand their ownership. And good to see the smug factor on Smug Eddie’s face be reduced

THB struck one with a bit of venom in a shoot out a couple of season ago. Rather him and that approach (Ruddock style) than a tame side footed effort, or straight down the middle. (No mention of a penenka surely no one is that stupid ?)

Ridiculous that a team walking off the pitch causing a 17 minute delay could just resume the match. At the time I thought the ref should have abandoned the match, and Senegal forfeit it. Right decision to strip them of the result.

Argentina tried to set a precedent for walking off the pitch in 1966.

Is someone able to access this to cut and paste the article? Bastard paywall

I’d be happy with the creative potential if it was consistent. The luxury player strikes a chord. Very few will stand comparison to MLT but this is similar to the situation with Peter Osgood in Division 2 in the 1970’s. Osgood was more talented than Azaz but the discussion around him was much the same, how he utilised his skills, but just drifted out of games too easily.

Was he outstanding yesterday? We all see things differently but for me he seemed to lose possession a fair bit. A good signing, though room for improvement and consistency

Coventry fans we spoke to before, and more importantly after, the game were a decent bunch. They accepted the defeat quite well and their observations were interesting. Comment from a couple of them was that our midfield was quite dynamic and overran them, Downes especially. Personally I think a draw would probably have been a fair result especially given their chances. Not a fan of the ‘dark arts’ but we’ve been victims of it all too often - including I recall from them at St Mary’s in December- so nice to see someone else on the receiving end.

He has the knack in the box of arriving undetected, which is a trait of a good midfielder, and Japanese. I’m pleased Tonda and his team have channelled Matsuki’s inner ‘Pearl Harbour’ to good effect.