LuckyNumber7

You must have been watching completely different games to me this season, most games at SMS we have done anything but go for it, and that is my main gripe with Puel. He sets us up to not lose, rather than to try and win. I also think you're being harsh on WGS, we had far more exciting games under him than we've had under Puel, and he was working with much more limited players.

Enough is enough, I'm fed up with this tedious negative rubbish week in week out. 11 goals in our last 13 home games says it all, it is a real chore going to SMS atm. IMO we have good players but the manager is not using them properly. Gabbi worked his socks off tonight but gets no service as we are set up to try and keep a clean sheet rather than try and win the game, he was ridiculously isolated. Many times when Arsenal were in possession we had 11 men behind he ball. The whole place needs livening up as it feels like there's a real apathy setting in and it needs to start with a new manager who actually knows how to attack. Season can't end soon enough.

I didn't think we could get any more boring than the Hull game last week. Seems I was wrong.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this. I have had a ST ever since we moved to SMS and this season has been by far the worst for entertainment imo. Of course every season you have some dull games but this year I struggle to think of more than three home games I have really enjoyed, the whole mentality of the team under Puel is just so negative. It was notable on Saturday that near the end when Hull had a corner, JRod was looking towards the bench to see if CP wanted him to stay forward, but Puel waved him back to defend meaning we had no one in a forward position in the event of a counter attack. That to me just sums the guy up. I hate sacking managers and really wanted it to work with Puel so we had some stability, but I have to say reluctantly I am in the Puel Out camp. The thought of having to sit through another season of slow, backwards football is frightening. He seems like a decent bloke, and not a terrible manager, but he's just not right for us.

I hope Leeds or Huddersfield do it, but expect it will be Fulham as they are bang in form.

His first goal in 12 games today apparently. Hard to fully judge though as he's playing in a poor side.

I don't think people are getting at Puel just because we lost, clearly City are a class above in terms of ability and if on top of their game, which they were, would fully expect to beat us. There is no shame in losing to a better team. What really annoys me and I think others is the manager's approach to games. From the first minute it looked like our sole objective was to just try and keep the score down and we had already accepted our fate. That is both horrible to watch, and it's very unlikely to get you a result. We are so much better when we get at teams and try and unsettle them, but we just gave City far too much respect, as good as they were. This has been an all too familiar approach to games this season, especially at home. I can take losing if we give it a go but on Saturday we just meekly surrendered.

Totally agree, this is probably the most boring and negative Saints side I've seen in my 20+ years of being a fan, I'm fed up with him setting us up not to lose rather than to try and win. Almost every time we had a chance to hit them on the counter yesterday we just stopped, slowed things down and passed it backwards again. Story of most of the season and it's why only the bottom two have scored less goals at home than us. On the whole 9th in the league and a cup final, considering the number of games, constitutes a decent season, but I just can't abide by his style of play. Going to SMS has not been a joyless experience this season.

Same, I'm Kingsland North too and the atmosphere used to be really good but has been steadily declining over the last few years, very depressing. The main problems imo are a)our lack of songs now (desperately need some new ones) and b) the demographics have changed. A few years ago we were surrounded by lads all standing and making noise, now it's all older people, women and hipster studenty types who show absolutely no interest in creating any atmosphere. Half of them look bored stiff most of the time and you wonder why they bother going. Can't see things changing sadly.

And yet somehow we are favourites with the bookies. Completely agree, I thought he was playing well and unlucky to be taken off, whereas Long was awful after coming on and then couldn't hit a cow's backside in midweek. I can't see us having an abundance of chances here so we need to be more clinical, I would start with Jay.

James Ward-Prowse in the England squad?? April 1st is two weeks away yet!

Exactly what I was thinking, there was only a difficult situation if he created one. He was a great servant for us but his attitude and demeanour clearly changed after the summer. Best to remember him for the good times and move on, as we'll probably never know the full truth of what transpired.

Also it was great to see the Markus flag unfurled before the game too!

Didn't get back 'til late last night as the M25 and M3 were horrendous, not sure what that was all about. What a day though. Immensely proud of the whole team and club, they really gave it their all and 9 times out of 10 we'd have won that. At 2-0 I thought it was game over and was already resigned to defeat, but they showed incredible guts and determination to get back into it. After the equaliser I could only see one winner, really felt at that point it was written that we would go and win it. That's what makes the defeat even harder to swallow, it's the hope that kills you! Special mention for Redmond who I have been very critical of, he was brilliant yesterday and Utd couldn't handle him at times. Hope he starts putting in more performances like that. If anything I feel even more gutted with the cold hard reality hitting home this morning. Very unlucky Saints, hopefully not too long to wait for another final.

Yes same! Couldn't sleep, what a day this could be. Getting very nervous now!

Other than Mourinho who I've never liked, and their arrogant plastic fans who come from anywhere but Manchester I don't really hate them at all. All of the big clubs attract the glory hunting fans though so they are not unique. On the flip side, as mentioned their away support is the best in the country. I have far more dislike for Liverpool and Spurs and a few others.

I'm probably what would be classed as a happy clapper, I always try and see the positives rather than the negatives and I voted Puel in in both polls, but for me yesterday was the last straw. Yes he hasn't been dealt a great hand by Les regarding the CB situation, but that is in no way responsible for his constant baffling team selections and the ridiculously negative tactics and style of football. I lost count of the number of times we broke forward yesterday and the man in possession had absolutely no support either in front of him or anywhere near him. It's like we are set up to suck all the enthusiasm and excitement out of the game and just hope for a goal somehow, there genuinely seems to be no game plan other than to slow down the play at every opportunity. I have no problem with losing if we are at least giving it a go, but his refusal to play more than 3 attack minded players at any one time, even at home to lower half teams says it all about his mentality. As soon as we went behind yesterday I think very few people believed we had a chance of getting back in it. We have become absolutely hideous to watch and it's even making me consider whether I want to renew my ST, I am fed up with being bored to death every other week. The worrying thing is we seem to be getting worse as well. Being extremely dull and losing is the worst combination. Imo the cup final, whilst great, is massively papering over the cracks. He seems like a nice guy but this can't go on for much longer.

That second one actually being sung yesterday ffs. Doesn't even fit. If we are going to use that one it should be Manolo, whoaaah Manolo, whoaaah He comes from Italy To score for SFC...

Agree, I would be horrified if we spent £20M on him. Bambi on ice.

Shameful that it hasn't sold out yet, but frankly reading some of the crap on here we are better off without the whiny negative 'fans' who only want to support us when we're winning. I'm far from happy with how things are at the moment and fully expect us to lose, but ffs this is a cup semi-final and as we saw in the last round anything can happen. Hopefully those who can be bothered to go get right behind the team and create a positive atmosphere and you never know. Fans and players both need to be right up for it.

Problem with Redmond is he doesn't seem to have a football brain, he just runs with the ball but rarely seems to know what to do with it. He is a livewire but too often flatters to deceive. Tbh I'm a bit baffled by the high praise he has received from some so called experts, but then experts are not always right and they also don't watch him week in week out like we do.

I've voted in (again), but I'm teetering on the brink. I hate knee-jerking and managers being sacked without being given a fair crack of the whip. However whilst on the face of it we are having an ok season, we are only a few points off being dragged into the relegation scrap. And the biggie for me, as has been mentioned a lot, is the style of play. I can take losing matches fine as it's part of football, but I don't want to be bored to death in the process which is happening almost every game now, even when we win. The fact that I no longer look forward to going to games is a sad indictment on the team and I suspect many feel the same. Apathy is the worst feeling to have as a football fan but it is slowly creeping in for me. So for now I'm still supporting the manager but if things don't improve quickly I will be firmly in the 'out' camp.

Davis motm for me, his introduction changed the game and we looked so much more threatening going forward. Really pleased for Jay though, not just his goals but his all round performance was excellent, just hope it's the start of something rather than a flash in the pan. Hoj improved hugely in the second half, and Clasie imo has been really good recently, starting to become an important fixture in the midfield. Well done Saints and hats off to Puel!

If ever a game had 0-0 written all over it, it's this one. So will probably finish 3-3.

Best of luck to Josh Sims, bit of a shock that!