Sour Mash

A very tough run of games, a real challenge and I can't wait to see how we get on. West Ham's line up does look quality on paper. We'll have a good sight of how our seasons going to pan out by the end of the month, few games there will be very different to bullying a dire Watford side at home.

While I probably don't agree with MLG on this and I can see why he gets on other posters nerves at times, at least he make the effort to support his opinion with some reasoned argument and statistical evidence and doesn't drop to the level of others by sticking in pointless, unnecessary personal abuse. Fair play for him for arguing his corner. I think expansion to 50k isn't particularly realistic, but I wouldn't be surprised if Cortese is looking at employing a QS or firm of building consultants to do a bit of analysis on costs of expansion/costs per seat/potential returns etc, would make fascinating reading I reckon.

Can see why Sky chose this, as Blackpool are starting to look good, got the makings of a cracking game. Also, I am sure I am looking into this too much already, but won't do us any harm getting used to games kicking off early, keeping in mind how big the fixture the week after is!

And charge them the highest rip off prices, I might now be coming around to your way of thinking ha!

Why the f**k would we want an extra 20k of glory hunters next time we play Man Utd. Sounds s**t to me!

Don't know why they couldn't have put these on sale before the Watford game, Palace had the home tickets on sale middle of last week.

Derby away is definitely not sold out.

I am never wrong on such matters.

I thought Guly was excellent as well - he's another one that has been pushed on by competition for places and stepped up a gear, got all involved all over the pitch.

Yep, knowing what we're doing well and what needs to be changed. Made quite a few changes yesterday and they all pretty much worked, reflecting well on NA. What did you think of our first half performances at Burnley and Cardiff?

If you're referring to comments after the Burnley and Cardiff games, then yes, teams have worked out us passing it out from the keeper and generally make an effort to close it down. We knocked it long a fair bit yesterday. If you get over excited about us bullying an absolutely dire Watford side for 30 mins in the 2nd half, I suggest it would have been useful for you to have been at the Burnley and Cardiff games to have gained some balance and perspective.

Agreed - a lot will only remember the 20 mins or so of us taking the p**s out of a knackered Watford side that had long given up trying, didn't really reflect the game as a whole. Also, you can tell a lot of fans don't go away from home - we really didn't look too good for large parts of the Cardiff and Burnley games - as Adkins has said after yesterday's game - let's not get too carried away yet.

He's been excellent - if I'm honest, really didn't expect him to step up and be this good.

I'd have Harding and I'm really not his biggest fan. Really don't get what Fox offers, especially for £1.8million which is a lot of money for a left-back at this level. He isn't an improvement defensively, isn't great at the short passing, doesn't get to the bye-line. Yes he does book in an excellent cross, but I'm not sure if that's enough on its own.

Were you at Cardiff or Burnley? It didn't work. Teams have worked us out and close it off easily.

They don't seem the sharpest bunch on there to be fair.

For periods of the 2nd half our support was quality, shows how good it really can be at times.

Thought their new ground was done on the cheap, but atmosphere not too bad, thought our support was really good at times. Game itself - teams have worked us out a bit now and we can't enjoy being an unknown commodity. Stop Davis playing it short, don't let Lallana have any time on the ball, we struggle for a plan b going forward, aren't direct enough going forward and give away soft goals at the back. Connolly definitely needs a rest. I don't rate Fox, especially considering how much we paid for him. An annoying game, very similar to Burnley, two teams that did very little and were there for the taking really. Also, nothing worse than a team that doesn't start playing until its a goal down, same as Burnley. Hammond shouldn't have been dropped either, just because of one poor half after such a top run of performances.

He should have been sent to the stands to be honest. And the hand ball shout definitely looked a pen to me.

I think a Saints museum is a quality idea. Anyone else think this reflects really badly on Terry Paine though?

Look at the posts on the first page of this thread for details of the independent coach being run. Worth giving them a call asap before that sells out as well.

Exactly. Fox is definitely going to be our first choice at the moment. Can put a cracking cross in, but not sure how good he is defensively though.

It's a good ground, would much rather have an away end like that than some of the boring, modern ones we have to visit!

Spot on. Exactly my thoughts on this.

Fair enough and each to their own. I think it makes a difference, a lot of our support up north seems to disagree with me, so I guess I'm in the minority.