Ian the Red

Yes, was looking at this as well!! A couple of interesting points from the last 3 seasons, the two promoted teams at half way point and end of season: 2010/11 QPR from the 1st 23 games picked up 47pts; from the last 23 games 41pts Norwich from the 1st 23 games picked up 39pts; from the last 23 games 45pts 2009/10 Newcastle from the 1st 23 games picked up 50pts; from the last 23 games 51pts WBA from the 1st 23 games picked up 46pts; from the last 23 games 45pts 2008/09 Wolves from the 1st 23 games picked up 53pts; from the last 23 games 47pts Brum from the 1st 23 games picked up 47pts; from the last 23 games 36pts So we appear to be on course............

And a goalkeeper

1st signing then!! Great news. Now we need another striker, another centre half and a player with real pace and the title is ours!!!

No email yet but 5 tickets showing on my online account! We're coming for you, you dirty skate b$%^&rds we're coming for you!!!

Not bothered about WHU. We will finish above them as champions. We are top on merit, we are the best team in the Championship, we have beaten WHU once and will do so again in February. Just 48 points from 27 games will give us automatic promotion, as we are currently averaging 2.21 points per game we'll probabaly end up with 101 points. No worries, the future is bright the future is red n white!!!

Gr8 buy!! Worth every penny!

Are you being serious? Adkins has more football knowledge in his big toe than you do obviously! We were not playing that well in the 1st 45 yesterday, NA changed it, gave us the option of pace and width in De Ridder and we won. I have seen the last 10 league games and whilst I do agree we are not the finished article we are good enough for this league. We have played very, very well for most of this season so far, so we are due to put in some below par performances. That's the nature of football, not many teams can maintain top gear for the entire season. We have played poorly in the last two; Bristol was the worst we have played all season; but Brighton? A solid performance and one very dubious penalty, and two defo pens not given. WHU were always going to be there and there abouts but they are not still not top and we made them look very ordinary at SMS. Yes, we do need to strengthen in January, thats obvious. Once we are back in the prem we will need to strengthen again, thats obvious as well. Played 19, 42 points, two below par performances but 3 points. And you are questioning NA?????

Totally agree! Losing 4-1 at that sh£$ hole hurt, really hurt. Stuff the skate b"£$%ds and win the league!!

Think everyone is missing a couple of points here: BC scored two hugely deflected goals apart from that what did Davies have to do except failed to hold a cross? Fonte missed an absolute sitter, Lambert had no service, hardly receiving the ball in any areas that were dangerous; Guly was simply poor: Hammond was worst; AL tried to over complicate; we did not have any width until SDR came on and overrall we played very poorly. We have lost; we didnt deserve to win. In my opinion NA needs to freshen up the starting line up on Tuesday. Worst performance this season for me, maybe we were a little over confident, maybe we trying to walk the ball into the net too often, maybe BC closed us down too quickly. We were due a poor performance and now we had it so it is very important to put in a performance on Tuesday.

Anyone had confirmation yet that they actually have tickets?

Well have 5 tickets!! My brother applied and he has not been to an away match this season!!!! Think I'll apply for 5 more tickets!! COYR

Agree totally; this was a very, very goood team and brings back many fond memories.

Great highlights, think it showed how superior we were in the 1st half, indeed it highlights the fact that we are not ruthless enough. The 1st 45 minutes really was men against boys and was embarassingly one sided and to go in only 2-0 up was dissappointing. Isn't great to be critical and complain that it was only 2-0 at HT!!! Think it also clearly shows why we need another goalkeeper!! KD mistake for the corner and KD failed to collect the cross......

Our defence is a little bit leaky at times. Yesterday clearly showed that we need more cover. Jos to sign plus a utility defender, a a big goal scoring forward and a goalkeeper. When we are in the prem next season we will need a goalkeeper. Kelvin has be wonderful for us but unfortunately he is making too many mistakes for me and his passing is dreadful. He does not command the 6 yard box enough and that was probably the problem for the 1st goal yesterday. Obviously we need someone upfront; without Ricky we will struggle.

Wonderful performance and fanatsic support. Voice still very hoarse but well worth it! Even when COventry equalised I had no doubts we would win. But we should have been 3 or 4 up in the first half. At times we seemed to be a little too complacent, it was incrediably easy in the first 45 minutes but I do believe we need to be more ruthless; we wanted to walk the ball into the net and perhaps over complicated at times, bit like Arsenal in many ways!! But if this is the only criticism long may it continue. Great determination to win the game in the 2nd half. League title this season no worries!! COYR

I despise dirty Leeds almost as much as the skate ba£$%^ds down the road. Remember the embarrassment of the 7-0 thrashing at their place. Absolute joy at their result last night. What would be delightful is for Saints to go their in March and destroy dirty Leeds 7-0, now that would be priceless!

Wasn't sure when he first came to Saints, but he has such ability, scores regularly, sets up goals for others that he has to be in the starting 11. Excellent article by the way, and agree best position alongside Rickie.

Minty, the point is we still win at home when we dont play that well. eg, Millwall or even last night when we should have scored 5 or 6 but let our game slip. So we've had a few games where we have underperformed but we still have the wins. What gets me is the negative "its inevitable" attitude when clearly Adkins has installed self believe, motivation and coaching techniques that have improved every player, plus a winning mentality. Yes, we will be beaten at some stage, no one knows when; but we have an opportuntity to break a long standing record and it is not inevitable that we will not do so. We have as much chance as any team in our position. And yes I have been following Saints since the late 60's so am well aware of the previous Saints teams that promise so much and fail to deliver but this team/squad is different.

Why? It is not inevitable that we're going to have an off day. 18 consecutive wins seems to dismiss your argument! Did Arsenal have an off day when they went the entire without losing? NO. So why is it inevitable that we will? Do you watch Saints regularly?

Lambert - no one including Chappers has created so many goals and chances and scored

Tue 1 H Peterborough WIN Sat 5 A Coventry City WIn Sat 19 H Brighton WIN Sat 26 A Bristol City WIN Tue 29 H Hull City DRAW December Sat 3 A Doncaster WIN Sat 10 H Blackpool DRAW Sun 18 A Portsmouth WIN Mon 26 H Crystal Palace WIN Fri 30 H Bristol City WIN 8 wins and 2 draws so that'll be 56 points by the end of the game against Bristol.

Peterborough - 1st (H) WIN Coventry - 5th (A) WIN Brighton - 19th (H) WIN Bristol City - 26th (A) WIN Hull - 29th (H) DRAW 13 points and still top of the league!!

Big fan of Spiderman, excellent player, superb vision and someone who has always given 100% to the team and clearly loves the Club. I would play Spiderman and Cork in the middle with AL and Chappers out wide. Think this midfield will destroy everything in the CCC. Our strength in midfield is a key influence in our perfromances to date, to think we can add Hammond, Holmes, De Ridder, Guly(might just be upfront now), Ward Prowse to those 4 players shows the strength in depth we have in midfield.

Should take the next 11 games! That would take us to the end 2011, 7 home 4 away, 27 points for me, thats 8 wins and 3 draws.

Well last time the tickets didnt get to general sale, they were sold on the ballot. With our support away this season, think you'll need 3-4 away games to be sure of getting a ticket................ have 5 away games plus Bristol so I'll see you in the sh%6 hole that is home of the skates b!"£$%ds