Lighthouse

Has it ever been the board's stated ambition to raise the clubs profile in the US? As far as I can tell the US sports market is pretty much saturated. They've got NFL, NBA, NHL, Indy Car, NASCAR, MLB and MLS. Even massive global brands like Formula 1 and the Premier League generate limited interest, compared with the rest of the developed world. I can't see an irrelevant, medium sized, English 'soccer' club like Saints generating any kind of interest 5,000 miles away in Arkansas. I think our 'commercial' interests are closer to home and we need to give Ralph more than a year before we start judging it. You can't just flick a switch and generate support. Just look at the Skates, who pumped tens of millions into their 2 or 3 years of glory and people still didn't give a sh*t.

I've heard this sort of thing a lot about the artificial turf but it's not as if players legs are falling off in every game. Seems like every time there is an injury on one of these pitches, the astro-grass gets blamed. If it was that bad we wouldn't be playing on them, as it happens I doubt they are any more risky than pitches which are too cold/hard, too wet, too dry, too lumpy, grass too long etc. Glad Bert isn't playing anyway, grass or no grass. Would be sod's law for our only competent LB to get injured in a meaningless game.

I don't remember it being when he first joined so much as that run up to Christmas when we were losing games and TBH Mané was awful; in that period he really did look like a more expensive Mayuka. Against Burnley and Sheff Utd I think he was especially bad, getting dragged off having made no impact at all. Then on that Boxing day trip to Palace he suddenly turned it around and looked a decent player again.

Linked with Lewa in some media outlets. Any know it's just paper selling, column filling BS but come on, really?! Surely even the Scousers don't believe that one.

Got to wonder how good you actually have to be to get a game for Gibraltar. A country who's population is only 1.5 times that of Hedge End can't have a massive pool of talent. Still, they managed to score against Scotland and Poland so fair play.

Weird hearing a bit of atmosphere at the Etihad this evening.

I just hate that they still talk as if they are European greats, belong in the Champions League and should be competing for the title every year. They've not won the league for 25 years. One European Cup in the last 30 years, same as Partizan Belgrade, Marseille and Steaua. They talk about how they did the treble 15 years ago, without actually winning the League or CL. They've won 1 League cup in the last 10 years. They're a big club no doubt but as big as Spurs, not Barcelona.

Erm... no.

We should certainly look to offer him an improved contract if it's within our budget but we will never be able to offer him the same money as one of the big clubs.

TBH he hasn't really done any harm other than to himself. I can't see Bobby Madley getting any death threats from what Jose said after the game, even from the most hard-core rabid Chelsea fans. Maybe from people who had money on a 5-1 Saints win but that's about it. All he has really done is make himself look a complete tit.

I'd go along with this, I really can't remember too many Hollywood saves from Forster, yet he had the best record in the League. Meanwhile Kelvin pulls off some great saves, whilst flapping at crosses and letting in suspect shots at his near post. Stek has been very good so far, he might have done better for Willian's goal but not a howler by any stretch. Overall I'd still say FF is better though.

Redknapp please, that would be fantastic.

FFS! Wanted him to stay, they might actually get someone good now.

Rodgers - Gone!

Good set of results there with 4 rivals dropping points.

I think the 8-0 was the one that really blew my mind. Sometimes smaller teams catch the big boys with their pants down, like we did yesterday and at Old Trafford but nobody else has pulled off an 8 goal win since that Spurs/Wigan game. It's once every 10 years stuff, so that gets it for me. Yesterday a close second OT third Beating City at home 3-1 Beating Liverpool at Anfield Beating them at St Mary's 6-1 against Villa 2-0 against Arsenal on NYD

So much space for Arsenal in the middle. Rooney looks like he'd rather be scoring penalties against Estonia.

Meanwhile at the other end - HOOF. Chase that Martial. This team needs Morgan.

I have missed Lou. These dark autumn nights just aren't the same without her/him.

Only saw the last 1/4 of the game. Maybe that wasn't representative but neither team looked anything special. We can definitely beat them this season if we play like we have in the last 2.

Lallana was excellent two years ago. I wouldn't say more exciting necessarily but he had some great moments, like the goals against Hull and Newcastle.

Last time we won away to the Champions anyone? My best guess was Blackburn but apparently not.

I just hope he goes to some big European club and not some sh*te also rans for money, like Liverpool or Spurs.

Hilarious. Utterly deluded. Eva and Arsene must we rolling on the floor laughing at that game and interview.

Hard to say. Man Utd were playing better at the time but they also had strong points in that match and missed chances to win it themselves. Today we absolutely battered Chelsea. Only one team in it from 10 mins onward.