Lighthouse

I think Barnard could be very useful when fit. I really don't get people saying he isn't up to it and that League 1 is his level, based on absolutely nothing. Give him a run of games to get fit, then make a judgement. Connolly I just don't think is that good. He plays well when Saints are playing brilliantly and dominating the oposition (Forest, Boro) but in any other game he just goes missing. Wouldn't get on the bench for me when the others are fit.

I'd probably go with the same 16, except Sharp in for Connolly. Possibly have De Ridder in for Falque too if he is fit. I'd take a draw in this one, it's one of those 'must not lose' games really.

Just back, overall I'd say it was a pretty promising night with a lot of possitives. 1st half we were pretty forgettable can't remember us actually troubling their 'keeper although how Lambert didn't win a penalty for being wrestled to the ground I'll never know. Their goal looked like just sh*t defending from a corner. Looked to me like Kelvin had a flap at it, but I couldn't tell from the back of the Northam if he was fouled. Second half we were all over them and by far the better team, but f**k me we weren't half predictable at times. Our final delivery let us down, every time Richardson with the slow, high floating ball to the back stick. Sometimes Lambert got on the end of it, but then Cardiff won the second ball. Other times it just went straight over everyone for a throw in. Our corners (about 10 in the 2nd half I think) were sh*te too, Cardiff's were much better. We dominated possession at times, but Morgan needs to adjust his sights a bit. His crossfield passes were way off at times. I felt defensively we were pretty solid. Kelvin didn't have his best game. Lambert was my MOTM, but the problem was nobody was close enough to him to feed off his good build up play. Thought Connolly was pretty crap again, although it was encouraging to see Lallana, Puncheon and Lee playing well. Player ratings: Kelvin - 6 Spilled a shot I think Bart would have been crucified for. Can't tell if he was fouled for the goal or not, couldn't see. Richardson - 6 Good defensively, but his crosses were predictable and there was no variation. Fonte - 7 Worked well with Martin. Kept Cardiff's strikers very quiet between them Martin - 8 Looked very good in the air and a good composed performance Fox - 6 Good defensive, but a few crossfield passes went astray. Looked a but tired if I'm honnest. Puncheon - 7 Was everywhere first half, looked like he has a point to prove. Cork - 8 Ran the midfield Morgan - 6 His passing was off today Lallana - 7 Looking more like the Lallana we all no and love. Thought he could have used the spaces better at times. Lambert - 8 MOTM. We're just not the same team without him leading the line. Connolly - 5 Didn't really effect the game for me. 6th choice striker now IMO. Subs: Lee - 7 Very promising debut. Has an odd running style, but it seems to work. Quick, a good touch, good possitioning and not afraid of a bit of argy bargy. Hammond - Wasn't on long enough to make any judgement Overall I'd have said our team looks pretty promising. On tonight's evidence I'd say Cardiff really aren't all that, and neither apparently are West Ham The Brum game on Saturday is going to be massive. If they win that and their game in hand, they go above us. I fear them more than Cardiff and Wham if I'm honnest.

Good, saves you from having to huddle up underneath mine.

Starting 11: Davis, Richardson, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox, Chaplow, Cork, Hammond, Lallana, Lambert, Sharp Subs: Bart, Martin, Morgan... Now the last 2 are complicated. For me it's a winger from De Ridder, Puncheon and Falque and a striker from Lee, Guly and Barnard. As things stand I'd have De Ridder and Guly but it's very hard to pick a definitive favourite from that lot. Holmes and Connolly are surplus to requirements IMO. We have far better options in the squad now.

I'd have said I was a bit Although not quite as black.

I think what football needs is a gay player who is thick skinned enough to say, "yes I'm gay, I like holding hands and shopping, sing what you want." I mean seriously, the stuff we've sung at Kevin Phillips and Marlon King this season is worse than the stuff we sang at Brighton fans.

Apparently Blackburn now have the Olsson twins in their team.

All Quiet on the Western Front

He signed for Aston Villa for about £10m then moved to Brum when they were still in the Premier League. At no point in any of this is he likely to have taken a pay cut, his wages will be massive. We have 7 strikers, 5 centre halves and 5 wingers on the books and a lot of players on big money. We really need to let a few people go and trim down our wage bill. We're in danger of repeating out 07/08 wage bill which got us into administration.

I don't actually think it would be an issue if someone came out in the modern game, I think the prejudice of football fans as a group is greatly exagerated. I know there will always be a few idiots, but I really can't imagine the whole Northam screaming homophobic abuse at a player. Singing silly songs about Brighton fans holding hands and shopping really isn't that much of a big deal. It's not funny, but homophobic really? It's like making a joke about ironing with a woman and being called sexist. It's not sexist really is it, it's a silly joke. Sexism would be not hiring a woman for a job because she is a woman, or paying her less etc. I think if anything a player would be applauded and supported by most fans for coming out. It isn't the 1970s anymore, St Marys isn't full of 20,000 Jim Davidsons every weekend. I'm sure a very small minority shouting homophobic would soon be reported/banned/arrested the same as anyone shouting racist abuse at a black player.

Been to Riga, Parnu and Tallinn. All were very good in different ways, but Tallinn really stuck in my mind as being the nicest. There are a lot of cultural sites around the central square. Everything is very clean, the people are friendly and there are some good bars and restaurants around. Without having done it myself, I'd say a route of Stockholm - Tallinn (on the ferry) - Riga - Poland would be a decent start to rail trip. Perhaps from Riga to Warsaw, then down to Krakow.

Horses for courses. A wide open game at SMS would suit Morgan more. A tough, ugly away game on a crap pitch would probably suit Hammond more.

I'm not so sure they are ahead of him so much as he hasn't been fit. It's quite confusing why so many people think Barnard is out of favour and not up to the task. He could be Adkins first name on the team sheet (he's not) and still wouldn't have been in the squad this season. If we have to get rid of anyone, for me it would have to be Connolly. Very much a fair weather friend; great when we're playing brilliantly, but otherwise not that effective. If you don't believe me, name a game he scored in when haven't been playing well. A trip to Gillingham 2 years ago is the only one I can think of.

I've been to his house and seen them. They're literally everywhere. Every time I look around...

Mike is just an odd bloke who collects spoons, he has over 10,000 of them. Ignore him.

I saw Upson play in the Europa League match again Dynamo Kiev a couple of months ago. Certainly isn't the player he was from Wham 2 years ago, but CDAJFU at this level. Scored an own goal in that match, although I'd have said it was more of a deflection on Aliev's shot. Can't see this happening. Just my $0.02

I disagree about Guly's days being numbered. He is still a decent striker at this level, but he isn't a midfielder IMO. I remember frequent complaints about his poor work ethic in midfield and he often left our right back exposed making runs into the box and then casually tracking back. I honnestly think Rasiak would be the nearest Saints comparison in recent years. Good finisher and good with his head, but his attitude can be a little 'casual' at times. A useful player to have, but I'd no sooner play Guly RM than I'd have played Rasiak three. Guly is a decent striker, but Puncheon and De Ridder are both far superior on the wing IMO.

W00t!!!! Welcome aboard :D

Guly has 2 goals from midfield this season. De Ridder has 4.

First start in about 9 months I think. "Rusty" would hardly do it justice.

I hope that's not true. I want to see just how few goals Vokes and CMS can score between them.

I really don't get this. Based on what exactly? Barnard was better than Guly last season and Guly is the 3rd top scorer in the Championship. Can we at least see him play a game in the Championship before deciding he isn't good enough?

Colin Squarepants? Another left back FFS!