Sour Mash

I actually think the idea of selling the corporate boxes to away fans if the away allocation was moved to the Itchen North would be a good idea if we were talking about a box or two, but you'd be talking about not far off half of the available boxes. and even quite a few of the away fans that go in a box don't necessarilly want 3k Man Utd or whatever stood in front of them. Plus the issue of segregation within corporate sections and the club getting approval for that. And how many blocks of the Itchen North would have to be given up to make the full 3k? And the fully 4k+ for cup games? It wouldn't be impossible, but it'd take a fair bit of infrastructure work in terms of segregation to make a bit of the Itchen North and a bit of the Northam for away and a bit for home fans. Fans these days love to mock SISA and the idea of a "Fan on the board", but its stuff like this that would benefit from a bit of supporter liasion and discussion. It was SISA that campaigned for the newly built Archers Road to be allocated to home fans due to the low roof and the atmosphere it could make and it made a huge difference to the last few years at the Dell, was much, much better.

Is he really that bad with the ball at his feet. I don't think he's too bad.

Exactly, we'd strengthen the squad accordingly you would expect. Going Sun Manchester - Weds Ipswich - Sat Newcastle is ridiculous really.

It would potentially be an advantage, but only if an upper tier was put on the Northam and that would detract from Northam becoming a proper "end".

Exactly that, got to be worth challenging, for the principle alone.

Putting the Cup v League Prioritisation argument to one side, it is just a ridiculous run of fixtures we'll have next week now given the squad we have available,amount of travelling alone is crazy.

Yeah, that was going to be my pick, absolute class.

He's looked fine for me, still learning and developing. Hard for any player, but in particular a Centre Back to get into their stride without playing regularly.

Much harder to segregate, you'e got the corporate boxes behind the Itchen North and its adjacent to the Board of Directors seats, never going to suit an away end. It is frustrating that we're so constrained with giving such a good "end" to away teams, bad enough for league games, even more annoying for the cups. Most clubs have worked a lay out for sticking away fans in a corner, we're just unlucky with St Marys. Today also reminded me how good it would be generally if the whole of the Northam was Saints, could be a pretty decent "Kop" type end.

I felt if we'd had the option of Mane or probably Elia it would have offered enough to get that extra goal today. We should have at least one of them available going forward from now, plus hopefully Rodriguez at some point and Koeman has stated on record we're looking to bring in an attacker. We need an alternative to Pelle, its a huge workload he has already got through this season and we are so reliable on him/his role.

Small criticism of Koeman's team selection, which I've had in the past - no options off the bench. I guess the ultimate idea is play your best team, get the game won and then start to rest players, but there just isn't enough of an option of changing things off the bench. Having said that, for what it's worth, I thought Isgrove was good.

I thought we played pretty well, completely bossed the game, against a pretty decent Ipswich side. We weren't at 100%, but weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. I thought Wanyama was excellent. Ward Prowse struggled a bit at right back. Pelle does need a break, we really could do with another option for him.

MP also improved players under him it could well be argued. Both are good coaches and managers in my opinion.

It is frustrating, but what is the solution?

That does sound like they're going to rest a fair few players and based on Koeman's press conference we're putting a strong side out.

"COYR" is the best for going right round the ground, does make a difference and I agree, ideally should be done just before kick off each game.

Not doubting you, but where did he say that? Link etc?

Anyone with good local knowledge might be able to better advise than me, but Altrincham might be a decent shout? Tram down there after the game and quick onto the motorway. Option worth looking at anyway.

I thought the club announced this morning that those had now sold out as well.

That's one of my big annoyances about refereeing, same with Lambert. And just generally how many fouls the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea win just by going to ground if nudged. I've no great complaint about the standard of refereeing, but I just think some of the current interpretations of the rules are hard for them to follow consistently; is it a foul if a defender just taps an attackers ankles lightly when challenging for the ball? What is a dive? The increased media coverage and analysis definitely don't help, same goes for the input from some of the more famous managers over recent years.

Hope and pray this happens, the bloke is top, top class. Whilst he could well attract a "bigger" club, he seems to be very much enjoying his football with us, enjoys working with Koeman and possibly wants to be settled for a couple of years of regular football, rather than having a repeat of Atletico Madrid. Would be fantastic news if this gets confirmed.

I think a bit too much fuss is being made over Pelle's finishing. It was poor yesterday, but it's hardly a case of him missing sitters week in, week out, he's still a good finisher in my book.

It was a close call, I could certainly see how a red could have been given for it. But another game where I thought a lot of little 50/50 decisions didn't go our way.

You don't know if there is any truth in the rumour, but you find it worrying anyway.

Yes, but the official language was never going to be German as you originally posted.