Fitzhugh Fella

Accept but even when they pulled back to 1-1 they still kept pressing and they were the away side

In your haste to be clever you missed the point. As soon as we went down to 10 men Koeman withdrew a striker (Mane) and Replaced Fonte with Yoshida, suggesting he was content to hold onto what we had, then a 0-0 draw. Even when Liverpool were level with Palace and with 10 men they didn't settle for a point

Unlike us, Liverpool when down to 10 men weren't happy settling for a point

That, actually is quite an attractive thought.

Koeman basically says the same thing after every game but then carries on making the same strange tactical and selection choices. When Fonte was sent off was there the need to bring on Yoshida? He was settling for a point which against Sunderland at home, even with 10 men, I thought pathetic.

Clasie's is ok but to describe him as a great player for us is way over the top. At present it is a miracle if he gets through 90 mins

Load of words and soundbites but pretty pathetic

It's ok being a smart arse when the smoke of the battle has cleared .....but not until

Tadic, Mr 100% and never say die attitude just shades it

Bit of a nothing game for us - can't see the players busting a gut. Sunderland are poor probably a 1-1 but our season is over.

Welcome Back I've missed you

Thanks for the sensible reply - you make some valid points but I still don't regard him up to that job. he just doesn't seem able to give 100%.

What a cheap little shot, what's Gallagher got to do with Tadic? For those who think I am obsessional re Tadic should check out what RK has been saying about him this week. Yes he has skill, yes yes yes I don't disagree and he is our most creative player when things go well but he is ridiculously inconsistent, he has hardly completed 90 minutes for us ever and he is fragile in so many ways. I have no idea what he is like as a bloke, he might be a cracking lad, but I remember him doing his utmost to get that Norwich player sent off earlier this season which left a bad taste. Those who disagree with me, well football is all about opinions but ask yourself if he is so good how come RK hardly picks him these days.

Tadic is ****, even Koeman has wised up to that judging by his comments in the Echo. It's not creativity we need most at present but character and leadership, qualities sadly lacking

You can be quite a **** when you feel like it, not sure anyone really appreciates a smart arse at a time like this

"Baggage"? His departure was very well handled by both clubs with no rancour whatsoever and he is always applauding Saints fans post match when Arsenal and Saints meet.

Most linos do that anyway week in week out. I thought both men were very poor yesterday and Atkinson correctly over ruled them several times. He obviously had little faith in them and was reffing solo towards the end, no wonder mistakes were made.

Think you are wrong saying he was "quality" last season. He had his moments I grant you but went off the boil and had some poor performances. Also while RK can't help what Pelle does once he has crossed that line, he is responsible for picking him. Koeman was the only person in SMS (and I note on this list too) who thought he was the right player to bring on for Long.

Koeman's fault - only person in the stadium who thought introducing Pelle was the right move! Saints were v poor and niaive in the last 20 mins, no leadership on the pitch and a lack of fitness proved our undoing - maybe letting the players loose in Dubai wasn't a good idea

Him and Walcott seem forever to be picking up injuries but I would love him back. He's got a good temperament, works his socks off and would be an ideal replacement for mane. Yes please!!!

:lol:

Coming late to the debate but Nick I and Turkish are correct in their recall. I was with about 15 mates, sitting around 2 tables just around the corner from the main square where all the joviality was. I noticed a group of about 50 Dutch fans tightly packed come around the corner from that square and head towards us. Instinct kicked in as I thought there was a chance they might have a go at us (we're all old men average age about 55) but they passed us by. They looked very intent and seemed to know exactly where they were going (they turned left shortly afterwards and headed for the other square where the trouble took place about a minute later). None had colours on and they were chanting Arnhem songs. Had they attacked us, then there would have only been one thing to have done and that was fight back to defend ourselves. I am sure that is what all of us would have done and there was (as far as I know) not one convicted football hooligan amongst us. Had I later received a banning order for defending myself then I would be mighty peeved. I don't believe there were any Saints fans there looking for trouble, but that doesn't mean to say a lot of people there weren't prepared to stick up for themselves if they had to. The echo reporting is shameful - it is no more than a rag these days, I feel sorry for the few decent people that still work there.

No the whole squad have been there but none of the coaching staff went. Guess there has been a bit of team bonding going on.

I went to watch Portsmouth in the 1966-67 season a couple of times and even went in the Fratton End but there was no real hatred then, but football hooliganism was in its infancy. The real nastiness started when we met them in the early 70s after we got relegated and boy did it get nasty. I remember a mob of about 100 attacking the Fitzhugh pub when there was about 20 of us barricaded inside and boots coming through windows such was their desperation to get at us. From then on it went downhill but their hatred for us has always outstripped our hatred for them; mainly because of our greater success ever since.

Hmm the who first team squad are in Dubai and they are there unsupervised I hear