cambsaint

South Cambridge. My son is also a fan. When my parents were alive and in Winchester used to go to quite a few games. Son has young child which makes long weekend trips difficult. My health is not so good any more and at 75 can't stand so going in the Saints end is a non-starter as I found out at my last away game. Amazingly enough one of my neighbours is a Saints fan as were her family back in Southampton.

The Cambridge ticket office which opened for general sale today, the online facility was quoting a one hour wait all day, and when my son tried he was put on another hours wait after. I went to office this afternoon and it was all closed up. So its probably a sell out. I wanted to sit in the main stand as being a Blue badge holder I cant stand for long, and when we went to Arsenal nearly all the Saints fans stood all the way through . If it were not for the kindness of another lady and gentleman giving me their front seats I would have seen nothing. all away fans seating again unless I could get a disabled seat at the front. The fact that the Arsehole stewards didn't care and no fit young supporters were prepared to swap seats I had leaving it to a more mature married couple, left me with a very bad taste in the mouth. I would only sit with the Saints supporters again if I had reserved disabled front seat tickets. the retail park next door has 4 hour parking and is accessjble for the late night Boots, I expect parking to be difficult though. In Cambridge Blue badge holders can park free at any City Council pay meters and also in residents parking spaces .

If you drive be careful of straying into the bus lanes, cameras are always on and fines enforced. It's motorway all the way but probably unpleasant at rush hour on M25/lower M11. Parking difficult near ground. Station is a good walk away but there's a Park and ride on Newmarket Rd I'm confident of getting a ticket but not sure whether we'll be able to get in the Saints end. All the decent pubs are in the centre Fast train from Kings X does it in 45 minutes which is the one to get.

I regard myself as a reasonable and (far too ) mature man who cannot give up following the Saints albeit from East Anglia for about 65 years. I have completely lost confidence in Hassenhutl and I hope he is sacked asap. I have to admit that when the team plays well they play very good football, but his inflexible tactics have been well worked out and he cannot seem to change them, or doesn't want or intend to, and he appears to be completely incapable of organising a defence. After watching Fulham and Brighton at weekend, (although I doubt Fulham will hang on to Mitrovich for long) I consider that we will be relegated this season if he stays. Any pay off is insignificant to the loss of Prem status.

Although MOTD only showed the goals, after watching that and also watched Fulham v Liverpool and saw how well Fulham played I consider we will be fighting to stay in the Prem this year. Hasenhuttle's defence planning is similar to the French Generals who relied on the Maginot Line,

He is probably the first time I took a real interest in football. I can remember to this day the playground chat was all about him and Munich I was at Western Primary School in Winchester at the annexe. I remember one morning a friend excitedly said that he was reported to be improving, unfortunately he passed away shortly afterwards, We were all in mourning. We had not long had a TV a Bush in a massive walnut cabinet with a tiny 12 inch or so screen. I think I saw him play in an England international on TV but I cannot be sure but to my amazement my Mum watched some of the following Cup Final in memory of the Babes, possibly the only football match she was ever interested in, ( she and my sister even went out during the 66 final leaving Dad and I to watch it alone}

Richarlison, Calvert -Lewin and Delle Alli (if he plays) are all threats but if we can avoid breakaways we should hopefully be alright

I remember the first time I went to White Hart Lane, I think it was in our second season up.-67/8 Chivers had just gone and they had some great players I can only really remember an outstanding display by Dave Mackay who looked as if he was hewn from granite and completely controlled the game We were completely outclassed. Other times happier, especially the "You're getting sacked in the morning* game against Hoddle's team when we thrashed them.

RE nylon studs It wasn't unknown in rugby for vicious players to deliberately sharpen their nylon studs and try to rake players on the ground The game has changed completely since then

With regard to City only being a "nouveau riche" club. Yes they are. I used to go and watch them at Maine Rd (right in the middle of Moss Side a terrible neighbourhood) only time I dared go near there at Uni. They were a proper local Manchester club unlike the glamorous Manure who even then had many no Manchester supporters. The certainly had some good times back then under the great and good Joe Mercer and the not so likeable Malcolm Allison. Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike (I'd walk a million miles to the end of your nose) Mike Summerbee were an outstanding team. Up till the Arab money and the Commonwealth Games Stadium (the Etihad) they were rather like us. Many years later I still have a soft spot for them and I like to see them doing well particularly if they are doing better Than Manure, Liverpool and any London club.

Hate is a very strong emotion especially as i'm sure no-one mentioned had done anybody personal harm Cannot understand why you would hate somebody for advancing their career and earning shedloads more money for themselves and their family. Many are probably arrogant and uncaring and earn ludicrous sums for kicking a ball about. But so do bankers and they impoverished most of us in the 2008 financial crisis which was brought about by criminal greed which went unpunished. It would more interesting to find out who did the most good. I read that Sadio Mane doesn't like flash and gives millions to charity in his home country where he was very poor as a youngster. However I think it's ok to loathe a club rather than a person.

A magnificent team performance every player can be proud of. The comments on the current offside rule are very apt. It was quite obviously a tactical decision to have two or three players running in offside with no intent to attempt to play the ball while a couple of players time their runs to defined areas where the ball is aimed and take advantage of the confusion the "off side but not offside " players have caused. Very clever. I expect it to be widely copied and hopefully law will be amended to bring some sense back to the offside law

Even if Antonio has recovered from worst of virus, I doubt he'll start and even then doubtful if he is even subbed as there is some evidence that hard exercise shortly after a serious virus can be danger to health.

My son and I went to that game. My wife's family Hammers supporters. Went to and from their East End home on the tube surrounded by Hammer's supporters.Great occasion.

Feel a little more confident tonight that we can stay up.Team really fought after being caught cold for first goal. Second against was poor defending, but overall was pretty good. Impressed by Broja and Tella,and KWP. I just wish RH would try playing KWP at right back and Livramento as a midfielder ahead of him.Thought Caballero had a good game tonight, very impressed with his ball distribution and footwork, also noticed him shouting at defence to move out,so perhaps with his experience he can organise our defence better than incumbents. Wouldn't e too surprised to see his contract extended if he continues like tonight, and could even be taken on as a coach if he wanted. Still not confident about R H but if we are going to replace him it must be done immediately to give a new manager the Jan window imo. It does of course depend on availability and affordability, Also wish KWP would pass the ball forward sometimes, he seems totslly obsessed with the initial risk free pass that just allows the opposition too much time, but he certainly fought for every ball tonight. A bit too much head tennis at times though for my liking in the defensive midfield.

It was very noticeable on MOTD that our three central defenders played in a straight line in the box.I suspect this is the reason for our appalling defensive record. I don't claim to be an expert but when watching match analyses the most effective seems to be a diamond of four. The way we played yesterday left the front of the box open.

Re Flat hunting, North Norfolk and Norwich and the Broads are delightful places to live and now a lot of N Norfolk coast is millionaire second home country. Much nicer than the West Midlands except for the cold North Easterlies

Firstly I would like to make it clear the small c at the beginning of the title was a typo, probably should have edited it. Although a Saints supporter for over sixty years, I hope I'm not blinded by emotion. When VAR came in as a cricket fan I thought it would be a good thing as reviews in cricket have by and large been completely positive. However in the Prem imo it has been by and large disastrous. In the Euros it worked very well. My post was made in the hope that some good debate would be engendered.

I used to take the view that refereeing is extremely difficult and make allowances. However VAR has changed all that and there should be no mistakes and real consistency. Compare and contrast James Milner staying on the pitch after three fouls, two very violent and intentional and one denying a goal scoring chance. All three deserved a straight red in my view but for some inexplicable reason he remained on the pitch and Liverpool gained an undeserved point. James Ward Prowse who hasn't been red carded for years, makes a rash challenge trying to get to the ball first. NBB not a tackle and definitely no intent to injure, makes virtually no contact and after our nemesis Mike King reviews it, is sent off, thus changing the course of a closely fought match. Obviously one will draw one's own conclusions about big club favouritism , incompetence and outright cheating. The libel laws prevent one from saying very much but one thing is absolutely certain and that is that the refereeing and use of VAR in the Prem need a forensic examination by a suitably qualified person/s if VAR is going to be used correctly and referees are going to keep the confidence of players, managers and supporters.

A sensible and rational person only changes a manager is there is a better one readily available. I'm not and never have been a great believer in RH's tactical ability. However we drew against three very good teams, two of which can pay ten times as much for a player with no problem R H has to work with what he's got and can afford, and it looks as if for the foreseeable future our main ambition is avoiding relegation The negativity on this board and the desire to blame players for mistakes is beyond belief at times. Could any of the armchair critics find a better manager who's prepared to come and is affordable?

I would like to see Perraud and Livrimento as backs and see how KWP gets on on the right of a midfield three He and Livrimeto could interchange at will. Play 4132, midfield 3 a.n.other (dont see much between any of the presently fit candidates) but Stuart Armstrong asap JWP KWP I think that KWP on the right would be a better option than Redmond on the left. Other than that a very disappointing performance, one moment of great skill and a bit of lick won it for them We are not a very tall or physical side and crosses aren't the way forward. Also I was very disappointed with crowd support, just where do Sky put their mikes, (in front of he away supporters?) and on some of the crowd shots I thought we had placed a bunch of stony faced, emotionless gargoyles on the seats. Regrettably I can never get to matches except for a few away games, due to health issues and no longer having family in the area. I also can't stand up for long so it's not much point going to away matches unless I can get a front row seat

I consider the endless criticism of Redmond by some on this column to be both inappropriate, unhelpful and it must be very upsetting to the player himself hardly the best way to instill self confidence. I look at it this way, he is obviously given instructions by Ralph as how he wants him to play. Presumably if the manager considers his performance poor, or not as instructed he will either substitute him or not pick him. Many many years ago the fans were exactly the same with Frank Saul (possibly deserved) and John Sydenham (definitely undeserved). I cannot understand why some Saints fans appear to need a whipping boy .I have never witnessed it to such an extent at any other club. Clearly it is the manager's decision as to who plays and fans should direct their criticism to him. If you support the team you should support the players. Clearly this dose not preclude rational considered criticism, but imo with Redmond some take it far further than this. PersonallyI think he's a reasonably sound squad member, certainly not outstanding but as good as his equivalents in the several of the other teams in the bottom half of the Prem, but I just wish he he could score goals, it must be a matter of confidence that he nearly always misses.

Still have fond memories of the 1967/8 season third round tie, drew at home after playing very badly, went to away match with mates on Weds night, fortunately the first Severn bridge had been opened by then. We didn't play particularly well but won. I remember mentioning to my friend what do you think those TV cameras are for. He replied rather too loudly "Oh it'll be just Welsh Git local TV, Fortunately we were sat in the stand and got out alive. When my uncle lived there Newport was a prosperous if hard, working class town, with huge docks carrying enormous amounts of Welsh coal, and a thriving marine based engineering industry (which employed my uncle), and a massive railway operation. It has suffered appallingly due to closure of coal mines and docks. The railway sidings and docks covered a huge area then. It's problems aren't comparable to Portsmouth. Imagine if Southampton docks and local industries had closed down over a decade or so, and it not being a convenient and popular area for higher tech industries.

Harry Kane isn't particularly fast but he's quick thinking and gets in the right place and doesn't miss many one to ones. If all you needed is pace then Shane Long would have scored hundreds. Let's just hope he is quick thinking enough to get in the right place at the right time, and hold his nerve when shooting.

In the cold light of day after some contemplation, after an initial shock and horror reaction I have come to the considered opinion that Saints did a piece of good business. We sold Ings, admittedly a very good striker and our best for a reasonable 25million, but considering he's in his last year of contract and appears injury prone, and probably only has two or three years left 9(perhaps even less) at the highest level it's probably not a bad deal. It is absolutely pointless trying to keep a player who wants away, if he were unhappy would he have played to his best? I suspect he is on a very generous wage, as rumour has it that Levy wouldn't meet his demands. As a bonus we don't have the humiliation of having to sell him to Levy, and can watch the shenaniagans surrounding Kane unfold.