LuckyNumber7

Not sure what you mean by as instructed. They keep their flag down if there is a goal scoring opportunity to allow the situation to unfold in case a goal is scored, then raise their flag. If a goal is scored it can then be checked by VAR to see if it was offside. In the situation you mention, if the assistant didn't raise his flag, it's because he didn't think he was offside.

That's a huge win at a really tough place to go, bloody well done Saints! Two quality goals and great use of subs by Russ. Hinchcliffe was doing my nut keep banging on about the possible Stephens handball like it was the worst decision ever, I thought it would have been a soft one. Now c'mon Plymouth!

That's because he joined Cercle Brugges in the summer. 😉

One of the weirdest and most incredible games I've been to. First half was as bad as we've been all season, we looked half asleep and Huddersfield totally deserved their lead. Whatever Russ said at HT worked and two brilliant strikes by Rothwell to level. But even then at 2-2 and then 2-3 I thought Hudders looked more likely to score again, they really had our defence unsettled. Edozie and Mara both had really positive impacts from the bench (really think Mara deserves a start ahead of Adams) Think today really showed the character in this squad and what they are made of. First time in a long time we've had a bit of adversity and a challenge and they absolutely rose to it. To play that poorly for large chunks of the game and still end up winning and scoring 5 has to be a good sign. Want to give credit to Huddersfield too, they really went for it and forced us into a lot of errors. Probably the best side I've seen at SMS this season aside from maybe Leicester, but we just had too much for them in the end. The scenes in the stands after the goals were great, absolute limbs! Need a lie down after that...

Indeed, Biden's a creep. Both of them should step aside and let younger candidates have a go.

That's exactly why things need to change, and anyway morons like that are more likely to move to be next to the away fans. Hopefully leaving the Northam clear for people who want to mostly sing about Saints. Also thinking about it, I'd say it's quite possible they were actually Luton fans who maybe live locally.

I didn't think we played badly in the first half, and really should have been 1-0 up with Che again missing a sitter. So it's good to hear RM being so demanding and setting high standards. Really pleased for Mara getting two good goals, the second of which was brilliant from start to finish. I would honestly prefer to see him given a run of games through the middle ahead of Adams. Feels harsh for him to be benched again at the weekend while Che will probably start. Dibling and Meghoma both hugely impressive for their age. As said above Dibling really does remind you of Jack Grealish. An excellent run for the second goal and was a threat throughout. Another very comfortable win. Will be interesting to see how we cope against Liverpool, just hope we don't get battered and damage confidence.

Could resurrect the old Lallana chant... He plays on the left He plays on the right Kyle Walker-Peters Makes (Cafu)? look shite Lots of potential chants for him, it's a sad reflection of our fanbase that none have really taken off for the one guy we should be showing loads of love to.

Yep, and looked pretty decent I thought.

I'm sure I heard Taylor Harwood-Bellis being sung at Watford (on the stream, I wasn't there).

I'm encouraged by the line from Wilcox about him coming back next season. It's been a frustrating season for Charly but it's clear he has plenty of ability and I think he's more suited to the PL than Championship. Hopefully he'll be back there next season with us! I'll be keeping a keen eye on how he gets on at Juve, whatever happens it's a great move for him.

Whilst he was 19/20 years old, in his first season at that level. It was a pretty impressive showing, and he was about far more than just the goals he scored. Admittedly he did fade towards the end of the season but that can be expected given his age. His injury has probably set him back a fair bit. Would love him back here, but unless we go up there's zero chance of that happening.

Just don't understand why anyone would have a problem with this. Big flags, tifo's etc look great, help the atmosphere and give the stadium a bit of identity. Many other clubs do it. If you don't want to be a part of it then fine but personally I'm bored of being sat in a silent, lifeless stadium and anything that might change that is a positive.

Good post and I am in agreement with most of it. I also go to games as much for the atmosphere. But I want it to be our fans creating that atmosphere not the away fans. Not that being moved will stop them singing, it will just give them slightly less influence when the away team are attacking the Northam second half. Even though we've been winning I haven't enjoyed it hugely due to how flat the crowd has been for most games. The Itchen North have been brilliant this season, from directly across from them in Kingsland North I can hear them loud and clear, but they are only small in number. In fact it might even be a good thing if they want to move to be next to the away fans still, as then hopefully there would be singing at both ends of the ground.

I don't think we've seen that at all. We've been really good at home this season and the atmosphere has still been shit. And I fail to see how fan safety is being reduced.

I get what you're saying, and agree to a certain extent that some of those in the Northam are annoying with their 100mph clapping etc. But I think the Itchen North can still keep going as is if the people there want to stay there and it can co-exist with the Northam. As with anything, some will moan and some just don't like change, but I think the majority are really happy with this change and have been wanting it for a long time. I hope/suspect there are quite a few fans dotted around the ground who would like to be more vocal but feel out of place singing in the quieter parts of the ground, and also some who don't go much due to cost/crap atmosphere etc who will find this very appealing. Let's be frank, the atmosphere has been depressingly bad for a long time now, even this season with us doing well. The whole fan experience/atmosphere needs a shakeup and while I don't expect expect us to become prime Galatasaray overnight, I think it's an important development for the future of SMS to give it some soul, and should have happened years ago. I'm tired of the away fans dominating the atmosphere. Ultimately whether it works is down to the fans which is why it's disappointing to see some negative comments, but I think they are the minority and no one is being forced to sit/stand there. We also need some new and decent songs but hopefully this change will make it easier for those to gain traction.

This is great news and long overdue! Kudos to Sport Republic for listening to fans and actually taking action. I'm in the Kingsland North corner and to be honest the Northam has been utter crap for a long time now. More interested in what the away fans are doing and hardly even sing anymore. Itchen North have shown them up this season. It's no use having little pockets of the more vocal fans spread over different parts of the ground, to make a decent atmosphere you need it more concentrated. It's now up to us fans to make this work. For those that are more obsessed with being next to the away fans than making noise, let them move. For the rest of us that actually want to create a proper supportive and intimidating home atmosphere, let's get behind this. I will almost certainly relocate to the safe standing area. It also means our home end is unaffected for cup games with large away followings which is great. As said above this is how all stadiums with a proper atmosphere are laid out, I'm actually really buzzing about this. Well done Saints.

Yeah, god forbid we actually get behind our players... He wasn't great yesterday but not that bad either. Missed a sitter but took his goal well.

Yep, in just 4 games we've gone from being 12 points behind to 3, and also caught them up on goal difference. Still plenty of twists to come but it's a long season and some on here were writing off our chances far too early.

Another excellent performance off the bench and some great work rate tracking back. Really like what I'm seeing of him lately

I've been one of his biggest critics but give the guy a break. He's been much improved this season and given the way we play it was inevitable that was going to happen sooner or later, it happens to the best. Think he just seemed to get caught in two minds. Just hope it doesn't knock his confidence too much.

This. It surely can't be that difficult to place away fans in the Kingsland South, for example, with coaches parking on Melbourne Street. If necessary that whole area could be fenced off before/after games. Then we have two full home ends, one hopefully with standing. Away fans are out of sight of tv cameras and not in a position to have as much influence as they do now. The Northam is pretty crap these days anyway so if they want to, let them. Make the whole Northam End for anyone who wants to sing and properly get behind the team.

People tend to forget how young he still is, and is obviously far from the finished product. But I definitely see a player in him and his recent cameos have been very encouraging. I'd like to see him given more minutes.

It's weird how our 'sell-outs' are so low these days. I'm guessing it's a combination of segregation netting and maybe the corporate boxes not selling, but would be nice to get over 32,000 again.

I agree and it will be very difficult. Personally I think we're nailed on for playoffs. But it's still possible even if we don't win today. I would be amazed if Ipswich maintain close to that ppg ratio, and if they do we ain't catching them regardless.