NewYorkSaint

Great to have Bree back. Matsuki two stunning back flicks. Hoping Stewart can stand up for half an hour at the end... And would like to see Fellows in action. We can do this!

Actually, I'm a Brit, spent early childhood in Southampton, which is why I'm stuck as being a Saints fan for life, despite the guarantee of agony on a regular basis. Baseball's OK. Football is what is actually worth dreaming about... I just prefer excitement to hatred.

I love you too...

I'm a passionate Saints fan but truly struggle w the level of hatred on here for Pompey. Football's tribal, yes, but this is more like cannibalism. Some secret facts about their players, managers and supporters: they have DNA. Their hearts beat and they sleep and wake up every morning just like you do. They have jobs and kids and dreams. My personal vote... determined rivalry yes, disgust and loathing... really?! not needed. I just want a pulsating game - and yes, a memorable saints victory.

Remind me what our formation was when we blew away every team in the first half on four different occasions? Oh... that's right... five at the back. It's weird that once the fan-base gets locked into a single explanation for our woes, any appeal to actual evidence goes out the window. The first 20 comments on X on the team announcement are all winging about that one thing. As opposed to saying... this is about the best line-up we can field right now. To me the main thing that's needed is a real commitment to moving the ball fast, even if that sometimes goes wrong. When it goes right, confidence builds and we become unstoppable. I think it's 50/50 that we return today to a thrilling first half and a minimum of two goals.

I'm the biggest optimist on here, and today even I have nothing... Just awful.

think VAR overturns that... offside

This is more like it...

Look.... we more than held our own away from home against the team lying third. Had the better chances. The team lacks confidence right now, and makes us v jittery in front of goal... it's really too bad. I thought Quarshie had a fine half. He cd be a great player for us.

It ain't over yet. tom fellows chance to be a hero...

So frustrating. On another day the first half ends with us 2-0 up and Darling off the pitch. It was shocking what he did to Leo... But we really failed to respond second half. Big big disappointment. We can't have this depend on having our perfect starting team avail....

c'mon Archer... Make my day.

We are playing such exciting football. Sure, it would have been nice to get some goals... but I LOVE this Saints team. Norwich being pretty lucky getting away with ugly play.... We now will see whether, when needs must, Eckert can deliver a sensational second half....

You're saying 13 is a lucky number for Norwich? Hadn't read that.

No two ways about it... we were lucky. one gifted goal... and one glorious miss at the end. On another day...

Here's the biggest single thing for me. We're actually an EXCITING side to watch again. It's not just the goals. It's the way we're scoring them. Combination of stunning pace, ping-ping-ping passing and sharp shooting. After a year of crushing disappointment, I'm hugely looking forward to every game, and watching a lot of the play in delighted awe. Anyone else?!

By my count Downs had exactly one touch in that game? I'm genuinely looking forward to his first goal ... but if no one ever aims a ball at him? In other news... I really hate the red card rule. It often ruins games for both sides. penalize the player not the whole stadium!

This is pretty....

One of the best things of today... suddenly it seems like our signing strategy wasn't quite as crap as we feared. Scienza, Fellows, Azaz and Jander all looking really really exciting. Our current odds for promotion 6:1. I think that's a good bet. If I was in the UK and could legally make it, I would.

Disagree with the mob rule on Downs. There were enough glimpses on the pitch today to see possibility of a strong player there. He must be doing something in training to hold belief that he should be given chances. I think it might turn out he's been hobbling himself through nervousness and the first goal will unlock a much better player.

For the first time in ages, you could imagine Saints actually competing in the PREMIER league.

Ah, this feeling... first time since Wembley!

It's a wonderful chance to catch up on my favorite song.... You packed your bags as I recall And you walked slowly down the hall You said you had to get away to ease your mind And all you needed was a just little of time Oh winter's passed, spring and fall You never wrote me, you never called Nathan Jones you've been gone too long Gone too long...

We shd play him as striker... I've only seen him in the app penalty area twice. Both times he's scored or forced a goal. lethal header of the ball. Two problems solved in one move!

"We all hate Manning!" You mean that guy who's scored one sixth of our goals this season? I'm sick that Stewart is injured. Looked like hamstring... 2 months out? Just as it looked like we'd found our striker.