del boy

Today's Mirror.... "Southampton are set to raid Bristol City for centre-half Liam Fontaine"

and who will open the bidding please, do I hear £5m please in the room? ...oh man from Leicester says he'd rather pay £7m, thank you sir... anyone else now?

West Ham to screw up our Championship top spot seems about right, failing that similar logic with Cardiff, Middlesborough, Hull, Leicester, Birmingham, Leeds etc...

seen saints players slipping a lot today

West Ham win 1-0 (booo)

Big Sam sent to the stands by the ref. West Ham not playing too well by the sound of it - but doing just enough

Just read most of this thread - hard work. To sum up, Bart was, and probably still is, a good keeper. Yesterday was all about confidence (as is so much of football / sport). The only sensible thing seems to be a loan out to get time on the pitch playing proper games. We still need a credible, reliable second keeper though in the meantime - loan signing?

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "We are in serious trouble now player-wise and will be struggling to get 11 out."

You're lucky only worrying that we'll lose to Pompey, I worry that we'll lose to everyone - it comes from watching the Saints since the 60's. Its very strange this year - we're not! (or not till recently) The Brighton game involved a major change of mindset. I hadn't been to see Saints at home this year until then, so was braced for the inevitable loss. I'm now coming round to the realisation that results must be completely unconnected with my attendance! wow!

I wonder who will take our penalty?

Good thinking - wear them out and get them soaked by swimming the moat ...then the electric fence

One of my favourite moments from the exquisitely sweet Brighton game was of Jos helping one of the Brighton amateur dramatic troupe up off the ground with a big smile on his face. I hope the contrast to the diving, writhing and shirt pulling theatricals was noticed by the Brighton team and someone might have thought " mmm perhaps there is a better way to play this game" ... but I doubt it. Well done Jos, good to have you on the bus with an extended season ticket

Skysport are saying "a deal worth just short of £2million" ..not sure if this has any connection with reality

Rodriguez scores for Burnley

so whats the best result for us in the Midd v WH game?

its all about confidence isnt it - we seem to have lost it at the moment - just needs a Saints goal

I predicted a loss yesterday, even making £100 to soothe pain, I'm still very positive about Saints however and think we will bounce back. We are still, yesterday aside, playing the best footy I've seen from a Saints team. Bristol City are a good side right now, they'd got a draw at West Ham, and don't forget it took two deflected shots to score against us, but I think NA and the boys will put it all right on Tuesday (please!)

Gus: Eez no fair, I told ref he muss allow boys 1 minoot for throw in an 2 minoot for goal kick Nige: Can we play you again next week?

I think our success is hugely about NA, so maybe the biggest risk is Nigel being given an offer he couldn't refuse by one of the even bigger big clubs (i.e. premiership top 6)

Looking at the footy league show I loved the way Barnes barges the ref after the second pen is awarded - straight out of the Poyet coaching manual

1st half Rickie nearly lost his shirt being pulled back in the penalty area - not sure how that was missed. I think the ref was trying to even things out later We seemed to be cruising up to half time and then turned it on after the goal. Can't remember a better time being a Saints fan (and I go back to watching in the 60's ... 1960's) On another note - do you think Gus actually gives coaching lessons in time wasting and theatrical writhing? ...maybe its part of the South American coaching badge.

I think the pens evened out - we had two dodgy ones to make up for the two cast iron ones he didn't give. He might have though about the ones he got wrong and thought "I'll give 'em a couple to make up for it when I get the chance" 1st half Rickie nearly lost his shirt being pulled back in the penalty area - not sure how that was missed. On another note - do you think Gus actually gives coaching lessons in time wasting and theatrical writhing? ...maybe its part of the South American coaching badge

I'm mentally prepared for the time wasting, gamesmanship and over acting from the Brighton boys this time, must just accept it and not get so despondent with their abuse of the beautiful game as I did last year. A Saints win would help but I've taken a precautionary insurance bet just in case.

That was the problem with the old squad....too much beet

classic...."understands" ...thats about as good as ITK on here