(not THE) Kevin Moore

ok then, taking into account the loss to MK Dons (hardly fair IMHO) puts us on 2.02 points per game if you're going to be a noob about it. Still ahead of all those AMAZING teams on such great runs of form.

Don't disagree with the personnel, but I'd probably go with a 4-2-3-1 with Hammond and Stephens holding, and Chaplow playing further up the pitch where his late runs into the box and constant running could prove fruitful... and where his late challenges mean any free kicks conceded are as far away from goal as possible ;o) Also the two holding MF's can perhaps unshackle our full backs to provide some additional width when Guly and Lallana inevitably go a bit narrow.... But then what do I know.

Less obviously, Monk also played in the 3-2 game against Arsenal (referenced when mentioning Kachloul) and he's gone to carve out a pretty good career at Swansea, and looks to be on the cusp of premiership football once again.

I think we're all just N'Speculatan here to be honest. Nobody (outside of St Mary's anyway) knows.

Injured by the looks of things, got crocked in Jan and (according to wikipedia) doesn't seem to have played since, he has 16 apps and 2 goals for Donny this season.

So as I understand it, we rocked up 15 mins before kick off, away, to a team on a really hot run of form, fighting tooth and nail to make the play offs, and lost 2-0 (partly due to a KD off day). I see no reason why normal service can't be resumed at home to Rovers on Sat. So here's to a (hopefully comfortable) 2-0 win. Let's not forget our frankly excellent run of form over the last few games due to a blip last night, we weren't going to go unbeaten for the rest of the season and Rochdale was always going to be a tough one.

Steve Morrow got dropped by Tony Adams in the post match celebrations for the league cup years ago, dunno if he was the goal scorer but he broke his shoulder/collar bone. Is that what you were thinking about? I think it's difficult to legislate for goal celebrations and they should stop trying, it's all about protecting the rights of the sponsors rather than anything else, when a player scores it's an ideal time for the sponsor because the logo is featured in close up, only it doesn't happen if the player hoicks his shirt off. Personally, when I've scored goals I've pretty much gone bat**** mental every time... and that's just Sunday League parks football, god knows how mental you go in front of 32k fans and playing in a CRUCIAL relegation decider (a la Stern John).

I can't see it happening personally, but there have been plenty of teams who dominate all season, then seem to struggle to get over the line at the last, psychological pressure or some such. I don't think Brighton will do that but it could happen. 2nd is fine for me anyway.

In order of preference: 1) Game abandoned - 3 point deduction for both teams 2) Draw 3) Posh Win 4) Huddersfield Win

If it was Wayne Bridge saying the same thing then I'd say yes in a heart beat, because it's a different scenario and he's a much better player... and as such less likely. BT, I wouldn't be disappointed if he came back, but I would have nagging doubts about it, he did a good job at Stoke a couple of seasons ago, but these days he seems to be dragging along baggage and an attitude problem (in fact arguably this started at Saints, if rumours are to be believed). Not sure he's the sort of 'character' that Adkins would want around the dressing room.

It's pretty much where I always position myself for corners, right at the furthest edge away from the corner taker and I've profited on many occasions, either the corner is over-hit or a defender gets a glancing contact on it meaning the ball often comes to you... which is useful when (at 6ft and nominally a striker) you're not particularly strong in the air

You raise some good points, but in your scenario MK Dons may well be playing to decide who they face in the play-offs... and I guess it's a case of would they rather face us or Udders. I think they'll be busting a gut in that game regardless of whether it will affect their own league position, plus the higher you finish the better the draw in the play-offs.

Looks like a good signing for the future and it's nice to see the recent signings, the Stephens brothers , have been made with an eye to the future rather than just knee jerk reactions. Something about this signing reminds me of when we snaffled theo from Oxfords (??) academy all those years ago.... and that didn't work out badly did it? (not wanting to build up expectation too much mind). Although looking at his stats, height, defender/stroke midfielder... the next Gareth Bale?

I'd say coming back from 2 down will do more for the collective confidence/team spirit than a comfortable 2 or 3 goal margin would have done. It sends out a real message to those around us that you are going to struggle to keep us down and if we are a goal or two down again in the run in we will now know that we can do it.... and so will the opposition. Huddersfield and P'Borough must have been rubbing their hands at 2 down but will be properly gutted to see us come back from that to pick up all 3 points!! I thought we'd get the draw but never thought we'd pull this out of the bag. Really good win and great to see Forte come good, those goals alone justify his signing IMHO. We sounded more solid with Stephens on the pitch although I didn't hear him mentioned much... any good?

GET IN!! This, This RIGHT here could well be the defining moment of our season!!! Peterborough and 'Udders must be GUTTED!! Come on Saints and Jonno Quick!!

I'm going to wear a groove in my lounge carpet... the amount I'm pacing up and down!!!

Totally agree on both Wright and Telfer, Telfs was a brilliant signing, him and Willo on free's and instantly the most porous defence in the leak looked much more robust and gave WGS a solid platform on which to build. It never ceases to amaze me that the likes of Oakley/Wright/Telfer/Idiakez/Pele (Only in midfield, I totally agree that he was not a CB) get totally slated while the likes of Viafara/Prutton get standing ovations and adulation... just because they 'looked' like they were doing something.

Viafara. But I might be on my own in thinking he was the most useless player (aside from Bernard... obviously) but he ran around a lot and went flying into tackles and scored two (very good I might add) goals against Derby... but everyone thought he was amazing..... he was amazing at giving the ball away and conceding cheap free kicks... but that was about it. But I was delighted we only signed Bernard on loan.... phew!

Gonna echo some of the other thoughts on here, the N'aarch game was amazing, Camara came on and the first thing he did was shank a cross into the chapel... I was thinking it wasn't going to be our day. the next thing he does was pick the bottom corner out from 20 odd yards and I've never heard a noise like it, thought my ears were going to bleed!! Otherwise, I'd go with the Sheffield United game, goals, action, sendings off, desperate defending, tension... and my sons first pitch invasion at the end. One that hasn't been mentioned is the Fulham game... first 20 minutes fulham ran us ragged and if it hadn't been for Niemi, Hayles would have put them 3 up... then somehow we came back into the game and ran out comfortable winners... an amazing turnaround!! The Brum game as mentioned, was that the one where BWP came off the bench and scored with his first touch? that was a cracker as well. The Arsenal game was also special, and the Poopey game where Pahars scored 'THAT' goal... god there have been so many... and yet we often only remember the terrible performances.

There's a lot of old sh1te written about Walcott. Just because Waddle (a hero of mine and someone who should know better) and Hansen castigate him (Hansen by carefully selecting isolated moments in a game where Theo scored a ******* HAT-TRICK, monents that PROVE he can't cross, and has no end product... even though there were other moments in the game where Theo showed excellent awareness to cut the ball back to team-mates instead of going for the standards 'sling it across the box' approach... ignored by Hansen cos it doesn't support his argument). Theo is about more than just pace and to claim he is 'static' and doesn't know how to create space for himself... is plainly bonkers, he's all about finding space and getting in behind his man. Apart from his pace it's his balance that enables him to change direction better than other players, ally that to pace and you unsettle defenders, then add in his skill and his instinctive finishing and you've (almost) got the complete player. He DOES have problems with injuries but if you consider how many games he's missed this season and how many goals he's scored (in ALL competitions), it's very impressive. Also he has TWICE caused Barca all kinds of problems in games against them and you wonder what Arsenal might have achieved had Theo been fit to play the second leg and provide a link between the midfield and Van Persie. For those that argue 'anyone' could score loads for Arsenal... I give you Niclas Bendtner....

I was going to liken him to Lennon as well, I think he's much closer to being a lennon type player than a Walcott, he's strong, quick and direct, much like Lennnon. Whereas Walcott has great balance, the ability to ghost past players and is an instinctive finisher (his crossing isn't brilliant but then he's played most of his best games for Arsenal on the right of a front 3). I do rate Chamberlain, but I don't think he's a 'unique' player, that's not to say he can't improve exponentially and become a great one.

New Wembley, the Stadium is stunning and a brilliant venue... New Wembley (much like Old Wembley really) for matchday experience is not a patch on Cardiff, it's the arse end of nowhere, horrible area, difficult to get to. Cardiff you roll (literally) off the train and then crawl the pubs until you get to the stadium, amazing day out!! I've seen: Saints v Forest - ZDS cup final - (old) Wembley Saints v Arsenal - FA Cup final - Cardiff Saints v Carlisle - JPT final - (new) Wembley (a win at the third time of asking!!)

This. I took my son at about 4 and we chose a pre-season game (Chievo) because I didn't want to force him to stay if he was bored (I didn't want 'going to the footie with Dad' to become a chore, but something he wanted to do) and I'd resent leaving early if I'd paid full price and it was a game of importance!! He lasted until about 80 minutes then we bailed... and I missed 'Jean Claude's' only Saints goal, but he was hooked and we've been regularly since. I took my daughter to her first when she was 5 and that's probably a slighter better age as they can concentrate a bit more and for longer (it didn't help that I chose the Swindon JPT game mind).

I'd take the 3 games in hand, using the form since Adkins of approx 2 points per game we'd be good for 6 points from the 3 game spell, so I'd take the 3 games... but like Chez said, it'd be a tight call. Obviously this is without understanding the extent of Oxo and Lallana's injuries, if they're both out for a few games then I'd want the 5 points.

BUT do we really need a player who (it appears to me) excels in the hole? We need a proper, authentic, box-to-box midfielder and that does not appear to be Howard. If signing Howard would gaurantee promotion then hell pay him £20k a week or whatever but he simply isn't THAT good, or even the right kind of player (we already have Guly, Lallana, Oxo who can play in the hole so why sign Howard). Just cos we have a wealthy backer doesn't mean that we should be ignoring value for money. Stephens looks a shrewd signing, a player very much for the here and now but also one for the future (if we sign him in the summer).