Fitzhugh Fella

Just back. As someone who is hard to please I have gotta give praise where praise is due. Every player played well tonight. Best performance for many a year and against a side who are no mugs. Saturday was out biggest win in 14 years and yet within 3 days we better it. And when was the last time we had 5 different scorers? I know I should know but it must be way back when. Will check tomorrow. Puncheon has made a big difference - so much more to his game than Antonio or Waigo. Barnard is on fire - full of confidence. Tireless runner in the Ormerod style but feel he has more to his game. A good buy. Ostemobor - improving every game. He got stick at first but he is blossoming. Schneiderlin - not a fan but his last two performances are starting to make me think I could be wrong. Lambert - buy that man a beer, tireless and a talismanic figure. Has intelligence too. Harding - committed as ever and very mobile. Hammond - growing on me, great header tonight. Lallana - Saints always look good when he is on form. And he is at the moment. Sometimes makes the wrong choice but hopefully that will improve with experience. I would never leave him out. Jaidi and Fonte - best centre half partnership in this Div by a mile. I wish Jaidi was 5 years younger. Fonte is pure class. Davis - wish he came off his line more but in truth had little to do. Subs Waigo - he will always be a handful coming off the bench and took his goal very well. Oxlade-Chamberlain - could have scored, coming on will do his confidence a world of good. His pedigree means he is one to watch. Seaborne - young legs, perfect replacement for Jaidi.

According to today's Echo the reason Pardew has given for being a tad annoyed on Saturday was "negativity" although he is refusing to say where that "negativity" originated. I really hate to say this because I know its not what most of you want to hear but I think there is ongoing tension between AP and NC.

I am always having issues in my family life - they call it teenagers I believe!

Just got this from my source - I see the News of the World are reporting Kevin McCormack's salary as £46,000 plus bonuses. It was the 'bonuses' that took his earnings up to £73,000. And how did he earn those bonuses? He got paid £250 'bonus' every day that he put the cones out at the training ground (and collecting them back in, of course) as that was not considered part of his normal duties as kitman. £250 a day to put cones out?

Just got this from my original informer - juicy stuff. I quote - "The Pompey kit man, Kevin McCormack was on.....£73,000 a year! F**k me, I know junior hospital doctors who don't pull that in. Not sure how much Woggy earned, but I bet it wasn't half that. £73,000 for hanging the players' kit on hooks for them, collecting it up after the game, putting it in a skip and taking it to be washed. Apparently, it was part of Storrie's modus operandus to give everyone huge salaries, which didn't make his look quite so bad. Gary Double, their director of communications (ie, press officer) pulled in £135,000 a year as a freelance consultant, but he hadn't been paid for three months when he jumped ship on Thursday. There's going to be loads of this stuff coming out".

I agree regarding Staplewood, especially as it is being refurbished. Articles like a day at Staplewood for instance.

NEWSFLASH Osama Bin Laden has just sent a new tv message to prove he is still alive. He said "Pompey were effin ****e on Saturday". However, British Intelligence have dismissed it saying "it could have been recorded at anytime in the last 34 years"!

Its nearly up there with the Marc Jackson at Bournemouth interview.

I think some of the programme is very worthwhile reading. My fellow historians Dave Juson and David Bull always write original historical pieces which I sometimes think are wasted in the programme. The editor, Simon is also very diligent and painstaking in trying to present a readable programme sometimes twice a week. I know recently the size has been reduced so NC obviously thinks there is a lot of crap in there too. I think loads and loads of pictures of sponsors etc to be ott and I would personally (now the Echo have been sidelined) like to see more info on the Reserves and Youth.

About 100 Saints fans (2 coaches) decided to go into the Sheffield end soon after the turnstiles opened. So in effect when all the locals turned up they were not best pleased to see "their end" inhabited by intruders. I never forget all of a sudden there was a large chant "you're gonna get your effin head kicked in" and thinking they are right I am. The Saints mob stood thei rground surrounded by about 1000 United fans and I remember looking for a convenient escape route Fortunately the old bill intervened as as far as I can remember we were all sheperded to another part of the terrace. I seem to remember Clint Hodder being there - I often wonder what happened to him, way ahead of his time fashion wise - one of the first skinheads in Southampton and then one of the first to grow his hair and get into Bowie. Talented artist and a nice guy too. Had a brother who's name I can't recall.

A man desperate for votes will say anything.

After 17000 posts can I now be permitted to say "I told you so" and shall I buy my original informer a beer?

Some of our best passes this season have been Waigo's first touch!

I agree with them on the club crest but if they think Harry did us more harm than them they are seriously deluded.

Good idea

It certainly could be a lot worse Jam and if the Wembley experience helps cement a long lasting affection for the Saints then great. I still think AP needs to buck his ideas up however and NC is very aware that tactically things aren't right at present..... Wembley visit or not.

Because I am a cynic? Seriously there is so much bull **** in football - just look down the road - I tend to treat everyone as guilty to proven innocent. That picture is good evidence.

That picture is somewhat reassuring. Let's hope they enjoy the big day and want more.

You are correct Ian - ML paid out around 12m which satisfied the creditors and wiped out debt and morgage. A bargain when you see what is on offer down the road.

On paper our players are good but something is still not gelling. A lot of our problems are in the head. We have no composure and no leadership. Waigo and Antonio have good points but both are erratic - great coming off the bench but over 90 minutes both are light weight. In my opinion , Wayne Thomas was an absolute disgrace - he should have been sent off tonight. Having been booked 5 mins earlier he then chose to run across the pitch to assault a MK player who had just committed a foul. He was a lucky person to stay on the pitch. At that point there was only 2 goals in it and with us down to 10 men, it could have been awkward. As an experienced pro he should have controlled himself and even as he went down the tunnel he had to be restrained from approaching Ince. If ever this team needed a Jimmy Case/Alan Ball type figure it is now. I do feel once we get this problem sorted we can build but at present we suddenly get shambolic under pressure. Sorry to rain on a happy parade. It is marvellous that Southampton are going to have a day at Wembley but there remains an awful lot of work before we can be regarded as a solid outfit. MK Dons were without their main forwards (Puncheon and Easter) and yet they still caused us awkward moments. We flattered to deceive but now we are there I hope it is an enjoyable day - but if I was AP I would be far from relaxed tonight because there are still massive deficiencies in our makeup.

Thats a good question. On paper our players are good but something is not gelling. A lot of our problems are in the head. We have no composure and no leadership. Wayne Thomas was an absolute disgrace - he should have been sent off tonight. Having been booked 5 mins earlier he then chose to run across the pitch to assault a MK player who had just committed a foul. He was a lucky person to stay on the pitch. At that point there was only 2 goals in it and with us down to 10 men, it could have been awkward. If ever this team needed a Jimmy Case/Alan Ball type figure it is now. I do feel once we get this problem sorted we can build but at present we are shambolic under pressure. Sorry to rain on a happy parade. It is marvellous that Southampton are going to have a day at Wembley but there remains an awful lot of work before we can be regarded as a solid outfit.

I hope not trousers - we were pretty awful again from 40 mins onwards. I would never start either Waigo or Antonio - they are both impact players. Great we have got to Wembley but it was another unconvincing performance and we were tested by a very much depleted MK Dons.

"Rumour" has it though that he gets a multi million bonus if we get to the Prem in 3 which means if we don't get up this seson we are going to have to do the dirty double in 2 consecutive seasons. NC has a lot riding on Ap's abilities.

Things move

Plain speaking and no doubt you will attract flak but I think you are spot on.