Barsiem

Agree in principle but tbf I don't think we were competing with any squads that could be considered as strong as ours, Leicester's & Leeds'. West Ham were the strongest on paper that season from memory

Leeds leading Ipswich within 10mins. Would probably be the best result for us for Leeds to win

BLC holders can get free tickets for the game here. Guessing it's home only so be prepared to frown each time we score! https://bluelighttickets.co.uk/event/5438

More excellent contract news

Five injuries!! Add in Salisu missing most of the season & Lavia missing a good chunk as well most of our departures don't appear to be having the best of times currently

Ain't broke (currently), so don't fix it. THB & Bednarek stay as starters for me

It's been mooted a few times on here that Leicester & Ipswich are having exceptional seasons, whereas some are still very critical of our points tally this season. So whilst watching the game (and laughing at Alcaraz...) I thought I'd compare where we would be in the table with the same performance after 22 games over the previous 10 seasons (and a couple of others). 23/24 - 4th- ten behind Leicester & Ipswich (Leicester have game in hand so could be thirteen!), level with Leeds (+15GD), six ahead of Hull (possibly four ahead of WBA if they win this weekend) 22/23 - 2nd - two points behind Burnley (44pts), one in front of Sheff Utd (41pts) 21/22 - 3rd - three points behind Fulham (45pts), one behind Bournemouth (43pts), two ahead of WBA 20/21 - 2nd - two points behind Norwich (44pts), one in front of Brentford (41pts) 19/20 - 3rd - seven points behind WBA (49pts), five behind Leeds (47pts), 7 ahead of PNE 18/19 - 3rd - three points behind Leeds (45pts), two behind Norwich (44pts), three ahead of WBA 17/18 - 4th - nine behind Wolves (51pts), 5 behind Cardiff ((47pts), one behind Bristol City (43pts), one ahead of Derby 16/17 - 3rd - seven behind Newcastle (49pts), six behind Brighton (48 pts), two ahead of Reading 15/16 - 4th - four points behind Middlesbrough (46pts), two behind Derby (44pts), one behind BHA (43pts), one ahead of Hull 14/15 - 4th - three behind Leicester (45pts), one behind Burnley (43pts), level with QPR (QPR GD +11), one ahead of Derby 13/14 - 3rd - two behind Cardiff (44pts), level with Crystal Palace (CP +15GD), one ahead of Middlesbrough And for good measure when we last were promoted 11/12 - 3rd - two behind ourselves (44pts), one behind WHA (43pts), one ahead of Middlesbrough Ad finally Reading's record breaking season 05/06 - 3rd - eleven behind Reading (53pts), seven behind Sheff Utd (49pts), three ahead of Leeds So in conclusion everyone is right!! Not one team has reached the points tally of Leicester or Ipswich in the last ten years, but at the same time only twice would our points tally and goal difference have been enough to be in the automatic promotions, which is not an unreasonable expectation for our squad. We are unfortunate to be so far adrift of automatic promotion though, as in only three of the twelve seasons would we have been more than a win away from being in the top two, and we would have been at least 3 points closer to top two than we currently are. The above shows how teams spur each other on to get results. If Leicester wasn't doing so well I'm sure Ipswich wouldn't have their points tally (and vice versa) - same happens with WBA/Leeds, Wolves/Cardiff & Reading/Sheff Utd - it's never one team just running away with it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/67681286 Dawson overlooked for the India test series. Rob Key has spoken about it as per the attached and below. Interesting to know if Dawson was spoken to, or whether the decision was made for him Hampshire slow left-armer Liam Dawson, who last played a Test in 2017, has not been included despite being the County Championship's leading English spinner in 2023, with 49 wickets at an average of 20. "He is probably not someone who wants to go around India as the 15th or 16th man," said Key. "If he's not going to play then I don't think it's high on his agenda to be going as essentially a replacement bowler."

Love that reaction from Che. Gives the impression he's just been in shit form rather than given up on playing for us! Also love that their GK dived out of the way for him 😂

Yeah fantastic news. Not sure why they are saying multi year contracts rather than confirming actual length though? Hopefully Turner in particular is tied for a good few years

Good candidate for "things I never thought I'd see on a football pitch" here

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/24915845/southampton-kyle-walker-peters-championship/ Interview with kwp

Obviously we've decided to be shit in the 1st half from now on, and saving our good play for the 2nd. Good thinking by Martin

This is surely textbook "grass is always greener"... We're above West Brom, have a better squad, and are top of the form table, including beating WBA at home. I doubt there are many WBA fans who think they're in a better position to go up than we are

Just checking the fixtures to see why we're not playing today and our next game is 3 weeks away on the 17th Dec! Then we have a further 5 weeks off before recommencing properly in January. Certainly illustrates there's space in the football calendar for expanding the leagues

He would have been allowed in the dressing room at HT, it's only during the game he's confined to the stands.

Wtf is Martin saying to our players at HT?? Every game we go in looking like untouchables and come out looking scared sh*tless.

Tbf it started low down 😂 Sounds like we held our own which will be a great confidence booster, and I'm sure gained a lot more fans. How strong was the Arse line up?

https://web.archive.org/web/20231122125206/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/11/21/ali-orr-sussex-hampshire-transfer-county-cricket-rob-andrew/ More info here, including that we paid Sussex compensation. I guess it must happen when players are under contract but I've rarely, if ever, heard it spoken about.

Fcuk me... Just seen Surrey have signed Dan Lawrence now! How do they afford all these players!!

Link to story for those interested Hope not. Vince is best opening, and is our best T20 player imo

Worth a read

Most unbelievable part of that story is that she's only the 13th worst modern Tory! Blatent sexism and/or racism putting her that low down the pecking order, although no denying it is a strong field of candidates...

He's withdrawn from the Ghana squad. Hopefully precautionary rather than a more serious injury

Sounds promising - he scored 1000 runs in div 2 last season. Can't see him being WK over Brown though so wonder how key that would be to him