spyinthesky

POSITIVES 1. The comprehensive win 2. Decent atmosphere 3. Relatively young average age of team 4. Eight players in the squad who have come through the ranks. 5. Obvious passion from players and management. NEGATIVES 5. 'Talent' not involved Forster/Hoedt/Boufal/Carillo/Claisie/Austin (£73m?) not involved plus Lemina/Bertrand/Yoshida (£30m) injured or away on international duty 6. Normal concern after conceding a late goal.

Enjoyed today but glad they scored late on rather with more time on the clock. We were unlucky with a few efforts (woodwork + good goalkeeping) but fortunate with the pearler of an an goal. Definitely deserved to win. Isnt it odd that we never do well at Goodison whilst Everton are often ****e down here. Everton have a better squad than us but we were far superior today. Well done to the crowd for great support!!!!

Bit late to post on this now but wonder what people's view on the performance of Huddlestone in Derby's midfield on Weds night. Looking at his rather portly physique and aware of his age, I thought he would be a peripheral player for them by-passed by our more energetic style of play. However although he basically ambled around the pitch he hardly wasted a pass and made me realise that we dont have what used to be called a 'schemer' in our ranks. Probably a 'schemer' is not the sort of player Ralph would want but it was good to see a player that can use the ball so well despite obvious limitations

I agree with the Gallagher comment. Lets bear in mind he hasnt played competetively for quite a while. He gives us more option in the air than our current strike 'force' I would have played him from the start and brought our ace marksmen, Shane Long, into the game later on to grab a hatfull!!

I dont have a problem with the club looking at hospitality but it must be low down the priority well below trying to give fans the opportunity to watch a decent game of football at SMS which has been denied us since Koemans departure. The original 47 hospitality boxes have now been reduced to 43 and it seems only a handful are taken by fee payers -at approx £40k a pop who would see the value in this? Apparently Wesley Hoedt did as his name is on one of the boxes (along with one next door) taken up by Charlie Austin Gone are the days when Saints would earn over £2m a year from hospitality

And I have to keep reminding myself he cost the club a reported £15m and is probably on £50-£60k a week. His Agent must be asked if he can solve the Brexit problem and sort out world peace. He must be some sort of miracle negotiator!!

Have to agree with you on the last comment Elyonoussi was abysmal. Thought there may be a decent player in there somewhere trying to get out but last night, against weakened Championship opposition, he was rank. How on earth we 'tracked him for some time' (according to Less Reed) and shelled out £15m for a player who has contributed zilch since he has been here is beyond comprehension. Mind you playing with him and Shane Long in the same team is never likely to work well

Swap him for Harry Reed?

There is a cunning plan if there is an election and Labour win. Make Diane Abbot chief Brexit negotiator and allow her to blindside the EU with her grasp of figures and negotiating skills

Spot on with this. These three plus Lemina (when he tries), Bertrand and McCarthy/Gunn are above the current average but a fair bit below the standard we have enjoyed in the recent past.

Indeed I would have been embarrassed to own up to this claim of fame. Interesting listening to the Spurs v Utd commentary on the radio. Lloris was criticised for the Utd goal. Didnt see it so can't comment but Lloris has consistently been one of the top keepers in the Prem but now there is talk of Gazzaninga(?) being the better choice

I wonder how many people who criticise our 'keepers have ever played at a reasonable levels in that position? Criticising McCarthy for the Leicester goal is ridiculous. He would undoubtedly have been expecting a clean strike from their player at a relatively point blank range. As it was the player had an imperfect touch and it rebounded off his knee. Same with Long's goal. Their keeper did OK to get a touch. Nine times out of ten it would have been enough to stop the shot at that angle. Fortunately for us it diverted the attempt (which was probably going wide) into the net.

Anyone able to comment on the possibility that when Barr built the stadium, as well as preparing the foundations of some part of the stadium for expansion they also allowed for the introduction of safe standing. I think the latter is probably unlikely but you never know. However there seems to be a general move towards a limited introduction of safe standing. If so, anyone know what the additional ratio is of the seating to safe standing ratio is? I am sure I read somewhere it is in the region 1:1.6 but seems rather high. Still the possible capacity gain at SMS is a bit incidental atm I guess.

I would be concerned about playing them now. A season or so ago no problem but our squad is mediocre now and they have the wind in their sails,

We have a BIG problem with strikers Ings and Gallagher have ongoing injury problems, Austin is a busted flush, Long (apart from a short purple patch) has been consistently awful, Gabbi is off and Obefami has potential but not up to Premiership standard yet. All adds to the worry

Thanks for this How many fans did we have at the game?

Is Sam still injured?

Unfortunate fact of life, if we have to sell the 'talented' players and have to keep the dross ie Long, Mo, Hoedt, Austin etc we will be struggling next season in the Championship Our list of managers have been badly let down by the dreadful selection of new players to replace the long list of stars we have had to let go.

McCarthy must be off as he made a number of decent saves v Man City and has performed well since taking over from Forster Feel Gunn will be OK for us though

Was Ings injured?

We do need pace but our limitations in the creative dept means we often have to pump balls forward where we have absolute no presence in the air and the ball comes straight back. In my view we do need the option of a tall striker who is good in the air. Not saying Gallagher is the answer but is he long term injured?

I doubt many of us expected much from todays game but 1. We were basically mullered this season 6-1 and 3-1 by Man City whereas last year the team put in fairly reasonable performances to twice lose by effectively the last kick of the game, 2. If it wasn't for McCarthy, the woodwork and some poor finishing by City we could have easily conceded 6 or 7. 3. Our ball retention was abysmal. Only 23% possession 4. Who thought spending £15m on Elyounoussi would benefit the team? What a terrible buy!!! 5. Man City are a superb team. However the gap between them and us and them was frightening. They were so dominant. I could not see us dominating a game to such an extent if we were to play a League 2 side yet we have spent over £100m on our squad and apparently have the Prem's 8th highest wage bill. 6. Just hope Ralph H can arrange to dispense with the dead wood and bring in some decent replacements

Try the Multi Dock car park at West Quay or if you want to go closer to the stadium the Multi Deck in Ocean Village off Canute Road is handier

Anyone remember the same scoreline when we played Spurs in a FA Cup Replay back in the 80's? Recollect that Le Tizz scored for us in a 1-1 draw at WHL and think we were 2-0 up in the replay at the Dell. If my memory is correct Spurs pegged us back to 2-2 at 90 mins only for Ronnie Rosenthal to score a couple from range with Grobelaar later accused of match fixing