Kingsland Codger

I've heard of Chiellini - he was the one Luis Suarez took a nibble at in the World Cup.

Whilst I agree on the advantage, given our woeful record on scoring from free-kicks, I suspect allowing play to continue was the best benefit we received. I would like at add one other matter; right at the end of the game, the ref blew up for a free kick to Palace, Mane fell to the ground with the ball and Delaney kicked him to get the ball back, for which Atkinson gave Delaney a yellow card. Call me old-fashioned, but doesn't kicking a player on the ground when play has been stopped merit a straight red card?

Sounds like you became an expert in listening to the advice of experts - shame there aren't many more who do.

I can't be sure, but for a free-kick, I offer Rickie Lambert against Stoke on 8 February last year; I will be only too pleased to be corrected, but I can't recall a more recent score. For 25 yard pile drivers, Clyne at Arsenal, Pelle at Stoke in the COC and Victor at Hull.

Changed it for you.

Why isn't Pelle our 'go-to' man when we have a free-kick? We had several free-kicks from about 25 yards today. I can't understand why Pelle doesn't stride up to the free-kick spot, grab the ball and say 'This one's mine'. He's a striker, he wants to score goals and a free-kick is a huge scoring opportunity.

Clive Woods, member of that great Ipswich side of the mid/late 70s, was often described as having "an educated left-foot". From this, I could only infer that the rest of him was woefully ignorant.

Further to my earlier reply the following link may be of use http://www.seejapan.co.uk/jnto_consumer/plan-your-trip/accommodation

Quite right.

LOL. Very good.

Yes, he is out of sorts and needs help around him but the best way us fans can help to get him scoring again is to praise him, not belittle. The Choir of the Northam end were particularly encouraging towards Pelle last night. When he had a go but failed they were chanting his name and giving him a cheer.

No, not a dream. I can recall Portsmouth being referred to as Scum back in the 70s.

Given West Ham's physicality, it won't be Tadic's sort of game, either. Harrison Reed would manage well, though.

Many thanks, as ever, for your thought provoking articles. Your piece on Harry Redknapp was ... hard-hitting

Your reply above and post at the start of the thread has prompted me to check my incoming email again and although the email clearly states the ticket will be posted to me, the words "SmartCard Activation" appear underneath the details of my seat number. So I shall take my ST with me on Saturday.

For the Ipswich match I purchased my ticket online and well in advance - the same seat as my ST. I received a confirmation email saying my ticket would be posted to me and a ticket duly arrived through the mail a few days later. For the Palace match I purchased my ticket the day they went on sale and in exactly the same way as above. As before I received an email saying my ticket would come in the post ... but so far nothing.

Is there a sporting chance this fixture may be switched for TV?

Around the start of the season someone cleverly suggested a song for Nathaniel Clyne to the tune of Fog On The Tyne. Can't say I've heard it St St Mary's - has it featured at any away game?

How many of us will now have the agonising choice of either missing the match or missing church ? Mmmm ... thought not.

Whereas conversely ... http://www.footballformguide.net/form/barclays-premier-league

And in the FA Cup Final, too.

Depends how one defines "played", I guess. Featured in 13 Saints games (and 1 international) - won 10, lost 1, drawn 2 for Saints. A couple of these appearances have been as a sub in the last couple of minutes. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=56827

A trip to Barcelona is but the first part of the chunky costs coming our way. It's the trip to Tokyo to win the FIFA World Club Championship in December 2016 that I'm saving up for.

And in cricket, Brian Johnson (RIP) once made an unfortunate spoonerism with the fast bowler Asif Masood. Describing the bowler's action, the great John Arlott (RIP) said “Asif takes a step and then like a butler who has seen something he should not have, takes two steps back.”

And another French rugby player who deserves a mention ... Jean Condom.