Shroppie

We're of a similar vintage and I respect your experience. I too think many modern interpretations of laws are incomprehensible. But in this case I think it's clear cut and you don't. Best we agree to differ

It's not against the spirit of the laws. It's totally correct according to the Laws of the Game, which is what matters. You simply don't seem to understand that once a defender has deliberately played the ball, it's a new phase of play, so not offside.

I have to sympathise with those who've left. I rarely visit nowadays. Too many obvious trolls - Skates or PL groupies who love running down anyone except the glamour clubs. Look at the gloating when Saints lose. Very little reasoned discussion. Virtually no humour or wit. Hardly any understanding of the reality of Saints' finances and principles. Just over-entitled keyboard warriors who should stick to computer games.

As you don't understand the rule, I give up.

Being played on is the out-of-date expression describing when a ball just touches a defender, which no longer stops offside. But this was a clear deliberate chesting down before the challenge. Mings has his back to the City player. All the analysis after the game correctly quoted the rule. It wasn't offside. And it's not a question of interpretation. It's the rule, clear and simple.

I don't agree. Here's the moment Mings played the ball. The City player is not competing: if he does, he's offside. Once Mings has brought the ball down, it can't be offside - you never can be when the ball was last played deliberately by a defender. Compare it to a situation where a keeper passes out but it's blocked by a forward standing in from my of him in what would be an offside position if he received the ball from a teammate, but not from the opposition. The decision looked a bit strange, but was absolutely correct.

To be fair, that was the plan. Experienced and solid block in midfield/central defence to control the game (which they did, very well) giving youth and fringe players the chance to create and show what they can do. Of these, Forster was ok when needed, Valery good going forward but suspect in defence, Vokins looked no better than ok but should improve, Watts and N'Lundulu look promising, Long looks past it, Chalke hadn't impressed me yet. The young subs didn't get enough time to show anything. Armstrong (and Adams except for his miss) demonstrated how big a step up it is to the regular first choices.

Appalling conditions. Tipping it down

Agreed. And I don't think you'll ever stop JWP starting a game

This.

I doubt Armstrong or Walcott will start. And can't see Tchaptchet being thrown in. I'm guessing Forster Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vokins JWP, Diallo Long Ferry Adams N'Lundulu Maybe Ramsey at CB if fit. Chaulke a possibility. Danny/Romeu could make the bench.

No-one except a few top clubs has in the current situation. I'd agree with backup at LB, but otherwise we're not badly off, and we won't we spending anyway. With 3/4 certain starters out and 8 possibles in total missing, not surprising we're struggling a bit, but we still played well tonight. Their first goal was lucky on two counts - missed earlier foul and a blasted shot that misses 99 times out of 100. Game was gone when they got their second. And Armstrong, Adams came close. JWP had a good chance. If Long hadn't strayed offside for the follow up to Armstrong's shot it was a stonewall penalty. Yes, they had chances too. Bednarek and McCarthy were great, not that the rest of the defence were in any way poor. Blue line. Hope to get players back. Move on.

I doubt we'll manage a strong team against Arsenal. It would be stupid to rush players back.

I agree, but perhaps you could learn his name. It's N'Lundulu.

The ludicrous gloating trolling by those happy that Saints finally lose a game has reminded me why I don't bother with this forum much nowadays.

This. McCarthy was excellent Good to see someone actually assessing the game rather than trolling.

This wins the prize for the most ridiculous trolling tonight. Absolutely clear foul, agreed by taters and their pet ref.

This. He missed a foul that would have out us in possession. Leicester instead kept the ball and the passage of play that followed led to a goal. So yes, he cost us.

We really have the trolling idiots out tonight.

Decent performance, when you think we were missing Ings, Redmond, Djenepo, Tella, Romeu, Obafemi, Vestergaard. All the starting eleven did well and we could have been in front at half time. But we had little to offer from the bench, although N'Lundulu impressed. Man of the match between McCarthy, Bednarek and Armstrong. Blue line. Hope to get injuries sorted. Move on.

That's utter rubbish. Please take you ignorant trolling somewhere else.

You can't blame McCarthy for that. It was absolutely smashed at point blank range. 99 times out of 100 it misses, but if it's on target, no chance

It was a foul

It's "The pact". The pact is, we keep his name secret.

I think Tchapet is an anagram.