eelpie

We do play better football, but do we do defence better? We could be severely tested in that department. We have been fortunate that CCC forwards are not as ruthless and opportunistic as in many Prem teams, as we will find out (if we go up as we expect). Don't let us get carried away -yet.

That's a good point. If Lambert wasn't so crucial to us in the league, he would have started at the Palace cup game.

Agree. We have never had a better chance in all our history to win the second tier (except that year when we had Charlie Wayman in the team and screwed up a seven point lead near the end of the season). So we can't risk injuries spoiling things.

It always seems to be the first 15 minutes after the interval that we are most vulnerable. The playes know it, but still we concede.

He fell asleep during a Saints match? Must have been the bottle before the match

use of 'OF' instead of 'HAVE' We could HAVE .....(please) (and I hate anyone else shouting too)

Of course he would say that. Would you expect any player to admit otherwise. So his name is Steve, but surely we can come up with a witty chant to accompany it. When he does something spectacular 'Steeeeeve!' is ok. 'Steeeeeve!' when he makes a mistake ain't so clever. Not when he's still settling in. Sort it out guys.

I was quite close to the pitch in the Itchen and at first the chant was funny, but clearly you could plainly see that it did make him self conscious and contributed to mistakes. He is labelled as impact sub, has bags of talent and commitment, but the chant doesn't help him or us. He needs to settle into the team. Daft chant, so cut it out.

At Reading Saints were not as energetically forceful as they had been against West Ham. Passing was less clinical and sharp, and Reading's midfielders were usualy first to the ball, and frequently took the ball off Saints players. Hopefully, everyone will not be as fatigued this Tuesday though our players might again be feeling the after-effects of playing another top team on the Saturday. Fitness will decide this match. If we make mistakes Posh's sharpshooters will punish us in a way that Reading couldn't. I'm not predicting the result, though I will be gutted if we lose or draw.

Chaplow was unquestionably outstanding and far and away the mom despite Guly's fist half goals. But I'm surprised Kelv hasn't been awarded any votes because he made some terrific head to boot saves again.

I think we have yet to prove we are the best team on away fixture before we can claim that we really are the best team. Perhaps we'll be able to take some of that home confidence to Coventry.

He and Guly could have been brought on after the interval. They would have had opportunities to score, win the match, and they would have remained more invigorated and prepared for Saturday as a result.

I agree with FF. I was interested to see the youngsters in the team. However, after 45 minutes at Selhurst Park it was clear that the two lads had acquitted themselves well considering their age, but despite dominating the midfield, the match was going nowhere for Saints. We were never going to score. So why did not NA bring on first team players sooner after the interval? The second half became pointless, and I was dreading going into half time, at which point I would have left the stadium. Defeat came as an irritating and unneccesay relief. I couldn't wait to get home and forget about the game.

A strange game to watch. terrific support all around me from our fans as usual, while on the pitch we dominated the middle of the pitch and the two youngsters had a good game and look very promising. It was a bit like watching a team put out by the Dutch duo. Beautiful mid pitch passing skills but lacking the killer instinct to score up front. Forte as the lone striker was never going to work, and the substitutions should have been made at half ftime if we were going to win. Somehow it didn't seem that we wanted to. At the back of my mind was the important match against Borough on Saturday and the need to rest our first team. So why was Cork playing? He looked shattered on Saturday against Reading and this 90 minutes can't have helped. There must have been someone form the ranks who could have at least started. My main concern was that the match might go to extra time. The stats show 14 Saints fouls against 6 by Palace. No way. The ref was booking Saints for incidents and ignoring Palace infringements. It was by no means a dirty match. So, am I annoyed that we lost? Irritated yes. But we don't need a cup fixture pile up. If the full first team take it out on Middlesborough, then this minor cup set back will be well worth it.

Not only then. He was the only one to retain the same energetic running at Reading, when others had lead in their legs (perhaps understandably after the West Ham match).

They took ages to serve me. And three people behind the bar chatting, doing nothing. Which end were you at?

The team were coasting from the start with lead in their legs, probably the after effects of their outstanding lively performance against the physical Hammers on Tuesday (unless all but Chaplow and Kelvin were clubbing Friday night -surely not). At least they found the energy for a magnificent last 14 minutes, inspired by the Riddler. One fault that I have noticed creeping into their game in recent weeks is casual passing. Not as crisp and direct as it was earlier in the season, so too often being intercepted when not under pressure. We won't get promoted unless this is remedied in training, and we won't survive in the PL with this weakness.

Saints were pretty poor from the start. Lethargic and continually mispassing to Reading players. Only Kelvin (my man of the match) and Chaplow looked half interested until De Ridder came on. We only finally played as we can in the last 15 minutes when we were down to ten men. Too casual. Not good enough.

As the thread theme is good comments about us, and not our comments on West Ham, I treasure the write up in The Times which ended: " Southampton not only added three points, they gained credibility. The club are big enough for the Premier League, and for the first time in a long while, it looks as if the team are worthy as well." That's good enough for me. (Yet if we had drawn or been beaten by West Ham, you bet the comment would have been the opposite. Beating West Ham won't on its own be enough to guarantee promotion, but it is an important milestone for us, and more journos who have previously been dismissive are taking notice.

It was to say that NA had nothing more to add to his previous comments

As likely as Joseph Mills blocking Lambert's vollies on the goal line. Probably yes! But we'll still win 1-2

Reading 0-1 Saints And it will take me a week to get out of their car park.

lol -what he was actually quoted as saying was not quite so flattering: "The Championship’s style and quality may be different from a Champions League final, but I enjoy playing football *whatever the category." We're not getting carried away. 6-0 to Saints would do just fine after that (lol). In reality I will be quite pleased with a 3-3 draw after a thrilling and hard game. And a credit to CC football.

I expect to see Saints beat Palarse a comfortable 1-2. I always enjoy going to Selhurst Park. Then lets get the Arse at home so we can sing "You should have stayed at Saints!" to Theo and Oxo.

Re-read the whole post and don't quote out of context.