itchen

I sense an appearance from Alpine is due...

Don't get all this faint praise of Davis "he's a good shot stopper". He does so much more than that. On at least two occasions yesterday he saved us by coming out of his area and heading the ball away. He reads the game so well and is almost always in the right place at the right time. What more do his critics want?

Guardian hasn't written us off either http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/25/crystal-palace-southampton-carling-cup . Last paragraph: His [Adkins] players monopolised possession here but were blunted in front of goal, their best opportunity flicked wide by Jonathan Forte, leaving Palace their opportunity to capitalise. In the last eight of this competition for the first time in nine years, and with young talent propelling the team, this corner of south London can afford to be optimistic again.

I was at the game. Thought we outplayed them in the first half. De Ridder and Holmes were going past people at will and Morgan was pinging some incredible passes. The trouble was there was no-one to finish in the box. Forte, although I admire his effort, simply wasn't very good. Ward-Prowse and Reeve both very assured and look good for the future. 2-0 flattered Palace. The ref gave us absolutely nothing. And the bloke in front seemed to want to fight anybody and was brave enough to punch someone in the back of the head when, by definition, they weren't looking. No idea what his problem was. But, though I would rather we had won, I'm not that bothered. Saw some promising youngsters get a chance and realise that this is not our first team. To make any sort of prediction or judgment based on that line-up is something only an idiot would do.

Last minute decision to go. I'm combining this with a family visit in SE London so am going by car. Anyone know if parking possible near ground?

I've always preferred the Guardian to the Telegraph: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/18/southampton-west-ham-united-championship

Article from Guardian online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/oct/18/southampton-west-ham-clash

OK I'll be Alpine. If we lose, it will be because we can't beat our peers (whoever that may be), are poorly prepared and being top of the league was an illusion which our more stupid fans were fooledby. If we draw, it will be despite ourselves and because we were facing a poor Derby team. If we win, see comments for draw but add that this will only postpone the illusion for our more stupid fans that we have a good team and manager. We are clearly not good enough. OK Alpine, no need for you to post anymore.

I'm not usually here during home games (cause I'm at the game) but I sometimes go back and read the threads. And, you know, the absence of Alpine is noticeable. Maybe that's cause we're usually winning. But, go a goal behind, and there he is.

Alex who?

Easy!

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Time for De Ridder!

Connolly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are the other reasons?

DeRidder scores

Well all of these predictions need to be taken with a large pinch of salt because none of us know. But I was struck by your claim that West Ham still have the basis of a mid-table Premiership squad. That mid-table squad was relegated. I'm not saying that West Ham won't be strong. Just making the point that you can't necessarily predict results against perceived strength of squad. I predict we'll do quite well. But that's as much blind faith as any skilled analysis. And probably just as valid.

I thought they were loaded now?

Now come on, £10 million may be too much but you've gone a bit far.

Two weeks wages? Doesn't sound like the club is worried about upsetting him. I can't knock his ambition. I'm a useless footballer but, if I had his talent, I'd want to go as far as I could as quickly as I could. But it's not just down to him, is it? He is under contract - a contract willingly signed. Saints have a valuation and, until somebody meets that valuation, he isn't going anywhere. Yes, I know all clubs lose players. But when Utd lost Ronaldo they received a shed load of money in exchange. It seems fair that, if another club wants Chamberlain, they pay what we want. I think the truth is that the top clubs will look at him, recognise his talent, and then ask themselves if they want to pay a huge fee for a player who has had about half a season in League One. They may decide to wait a while and see how he does over a full season in a higher quality league. But if he does go, while I thought he was good with enormous potential, I'm confident that him leaving Saints wouldn't hugely affect the team. It would be disappointing and a sign that we will still sell if the price is right (but so will every club) but we'll carry on with the players that got us promotion plus a couple of extra bought with the Chamberlain money. Whether Chamberlain will make it at the top level is an unknown. And the top clubs will have to gamble a lot of money to find out.

Erm, when I started this thread it was to point out a seeming difference in the way Mr Wenger conducts his own business from what he expects of others. I made no comment on his other abilities as a manager, his Frenchness or the the attractiveness of the football his team plays. FWIW, I (and I suspect most people) would far rather watch one of his teams than one managed by Allardyce or Ince. That doesn't mean Mr Wenger is exempt from all criticism.

From the Guardian website: Wenger began the tour by declaring his determination to keep Nasri this summer was so absolute that he would be prepared to lose him on a Bosman free transfer next year, and he ended it with a stinging rebuke to his Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini, who has said that he still hopes to sign the midfielder by the end of the month. "This comment is out of order," Wenger said, before addressing the issue of its disrespect. "I cannot say otherwise. These comments are not allowed. They are against the basic rules of football and he should be informed [of that]. "I don't know what should be done. I don't spend my time worrying about what other people say because we are focused on our game. But what we want is respect and we don't make these comments about players who are under contract at other clubs. It's time football in England came back to these basic rules." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/16/arsene-wenger-manchester-city-mancini

Their stadium looks great. Good luck to them. It will be a nice day out when we go there.

Unfair I think. Brighton are a proper club and I think their promotion and their shiny new stadium will attract fans in large numbers. Yes, Poyet has been ungracious. And, yes, one or two of their fans couldn't resist having a pop at us when they were so far ahead. But, I'm sorry to say, some of our fans can be idiots too. And, in the end, it was pretty close between the two teams. I hope they do well in the Championship (but not quite as well as us).

It doesn't sound like Adkins expects Oxo to leave: 'The season was capped off in style for two members of the current squad, as Alex Chamberlain and Adam Lallana received call ups to England's Under-19s and 21s respectively. The gaffer hailed the progress of the duo, and predicts that they will be instrumental to the team next year should they come through their international involvement unscathed. "We have Alex and Adam Lallana which are two fantastic call ups. They have done ever so well, but we have to make sure that we get their bodies right because both of them have had injuries. "We need to get them right because they are massive for our football club for next season, but likewise it is great to be selected for England and I'm sure both will want to be involved with it."' http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2357231,00.html