Kingsland Codger

Maybe it’s because us fans have been told to be patient, that mastering a new style of play takes time and that it will come good eventually. This hardly suggests imminent success, does it?

Which then begs the queston ... how many games do they mean? Of the 12 games we have endured so far we have been dumped out of the league cup by a team from league two, comprehensively thrashed in 2 league games and in only 1 match have we had a comfortable lead. Given that RM asks for more time it sounds like we have more disappointments to be inflicted upon us before we can look forward to the promised sunlit uplands. It has been noted that Burnley had a similarly disappointing start last season but I see that from 22 October they played 31 league games, lost 2 of them, drew 6 and won 23. They were promoted with 7 games to spare. This is the sort of form now required for us to emulate them - yet it seems 'more time' is asked for. How much time? How many games? Swansea's had to wait until mid-March for their change of form!! I wish RM all the best and I shall be at St Mary's to cheer them all on but unless RM delivers and delivers quickly I can't see us being promoted this season.

It sounds as if we are being promised Jam Tomorrow. But let's accept the idea of "it takes time, be patient, it will come good" ... I read this to mean don't expect promotion this season. As a trade-off I expect us to run away with the title in the 2024/5 season. Over 100 points and promotion guaranteed way before the end of the season. Am I being unreasonable?

Our second penalty ... the ITV commentator said KWP "may have done his best to manufacure that" - yet it looked like a forearm to the back of KWP's neck and was correctly given.

Go to YouTube and search for music to send you to sleep. You will probably find something that works for you. A tip from me … I would give anything with the sound of running water a miss.

Both goalkeepers wearing more-or-less the same colour as Goztepe

Whilst being disappointed by the latest example of Australian bad sportsmanship, let us remember M S Dhoni, Daniel Vittori, Adam Gilchrist and Gundappa Vishwanath (to name but four) who have behaved as one would hope to behave oneself.

I shall wait for the dust to settle before making any comment.

You managed to avoid a very dull game where both sides (including, especially, the coaches on the bench) seemed to think it essential to be in the ref’s face complaining about every decision he made. The team of officials were all from England with Anthony Taylor on the whistle, Michael Oliver as fourth official and Stuart Atwell on VAR. A very good game to have missed.

The link I was given to click on led me to a page saying I was unauthorised to view the page.

Newcastle on fire .. I wonder who are next up at St James’s Park

Won't the reality be that other teams will come to St Mary's to park the bus. As usual, we will be unable to unlock a tight defence and the opposition then nick a goal on the break. Rinse and repeat.

We should take a lesson from the Lionesses who have just shown how to break down a packed defence that sits deep. A well worked goal that was a joy to watch.

The sooner the football authorities adopt the rugby system of allowing play to continue if a player is injured, the better.

Yes, play does continue. I am a former player and rugby referee (though only at amateur club level) and should a player be injured a physio comes on and play continues. Should play come close to the injured player then the referee may stop the play. Feigning an injury is (or at least *was* in my day) frowned upon by the players themselves. There was an element of the macho in that players would see themselves as physically able to take the hits. Therefore if a player required treatment it was very likely to be painful. I believe this is still the same mentality currently, although I have seen the occasional dive. As for arguing with the referee … almost unheard of. The referee can march play 10 metres upfield if a player so much as frowns. Should a player concede the 10 metres, he is seen as letting-the-side-down is this disapproval from his team-mates is by far the worst punishment a player can receive.

Brunswick stew? https://www.bigoven.com/recipe/brunswick-stew-with-squirrel/186704

Whilst what you say is quite correct, this is a topic for Monday. Right now let’s rejoice in the win - goodness knows we’ve seen few of those.

Is this the plaice for fish-related stories?

Just entering one’s prime.

And that cold midweek night we also has Jason Puncheon’s bowel movements to provide some light relief from the tension.

Although Perraud was the obvious candidate for MoM, I was surprised (but delighted) by the professional and almost faultless performance from Lysnco.

But did Bazunu foul Ramsey? Bazunu got to the ball first, Ramsey arrived a split-second later and kicked Bazunu. Free kick to Saints and a possible yellow card for Ramsey.

My tickets for both matches, purchased on Monday, came fluttering through my letter-box this morning.

One year ago today (15 January) - JWP's free-kick v Wolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQdEplTv0_0