Sour Mash

I agree with all that, but what I can't put my finger on is why we sat back so deep. I'm sure the players were aware it wasn't a good thing. We seemed to struggle fitness wise ti keep up the intensity of the first half - that's a worry. And we struggled to keep the ball and have the game played in Fulham's half. Not sure what the solution for those problems could be?

A goal would make the difference, but does anyone think he looks like a £6-7 million forward? Half that money would look generous now.

Few of us were saying yesterday, can definitely see the badge being changed to the black and white one.

Considering what a makeshift partnership it was, I thought Chaplow and Yoshida did well, and managed to create a fair few attacking opportunites towards the end of the game down our right flank. Our problem in the 2nd half was that we weren't retaining possession or controlling the game at all, which led to our makeshift defence being pushed further and further back. The subs weren't the problem. Puncheon and Lallana were constantly giving the ball away, that was more of an issue.

Personally I would have kept Lambert on, but did we play so much worse when he went off? The subs weren't the problem yesterday, our ability to retain the ball and control the game in the 2nd half was the issue, but I can't quite put my finger on why that was, especially considering our two central midfielders had decent games. Also, people moaning about the defence, I can't ever remember a back 4 getting so many injuries and so many changes in such a short period of time - back fours are built on understanding, being settled etc, even the best back four in the world would have struggled with so many players being forced to play out of position, missing key members etc. I think a back four of Fox, Yoshida, Fonte and Clyne is half decent on the basis it's given some protection by the midfield.

So getting rid of the old programme sellers was nothing to do with saving the club money, but another attempt to market Saints as some sort of high level brand, something we're not and never will be.

Exactly this. But I can't quite work out what/why things changed so much after half time.

Schneiderlin did his knee in the Villa game. We do seem to pick up a lot of niggles, particularly in training. Thought it was strange that Ramirez wasn't in any of the build up footage for the Fulham game.

Well it's only £5 & not £25 as suggested by the OP, so isn't a rip off.

Tore Andre Flo.

Are you sure its that much for a duplicate? Absolute rip off.

The match ticket is only at a cost to the club of £30 (or whatever) if every seat had already been sold and there was demand for these seats. As that hasn't been the case at all this season, its not really valid to count it as a cost to the club now. Some of these people were selling right throughout our lowest points, with small crowds, if one sold 200 (a fair amount), that's £12, absolute peanuts. What is the incentive for agency staff, paid by the hour, with no long term affinity to the club, to sell as many as they can and help maximise income for the club?

Anyone know if we're going to have a minute's silence for the Programme Sellers on Sunday? Or will it be a minute's applause?

Fantastic update

You haven't cleared anything up. Why exactly do you think the job has been stopped? And why don't you think Saints will be paying for this delay?

3.01pm more likely.

So no games moved for tv from the very start of Nov util the very start of Jan. Really can't complain about that.

Where have I said they can't buy them? What was the relevance of your long-winded waffle about why you personally don't like them?

Exactly. They're not for me, but a lot of the older generation of fans still buy them, kids get them autographed, people that don't go often get them as a souvenir etc.

I'd like to see Mayuka get a run-out, but haven't seen or heard to suggest anything that he can fit back in and cover defensive duties. I'd have Puncheon or Guly personally. Pretty sure Boruc will start.

It's obvious what the thread is about. Easy to ignore if you find it so boring.

Tattooed onto your arm to read at your leisure?

That's what I was thinking. We really sold 1.2k of tickets in a day? But then why not take the full 3k if we've sold this many already? Unless pre-agreed with West Ham and they've started selling them to home fans?

Fair play, wasn't expecting that. So how many tickets were in the extra allocation that went on sale yesterday morning? On the basis the original allocation was 1.8k and the full allocation at West Ham is circa 3k, we sold 1.2k in a day?

Of course things evolve. But to suggest that generation as "gone" is rubbish, still plenty of people of all generations still choose to read papers, books etc in a traditional way. Do we know if this is even true? Would have thought the club would have announced something in advance if it was the case.