Pilsmer

I think we're strong beyond the starting XI. There are still a few positions where the cover could be stronger but I look at the bench on match days and am generally happy with the strength of it. I do agree that we're not playing as well as I was expecting or hoping before the season started though. That being said, I am going to put my faith in Poch and say that he will get this team performing to their potential and we'll finish in the top half. 7th - 9th.

I would agree with this. I think we got a glimpse of what we're capable of at the start of the second half yesterday. There was an urgency and an increase in movement which was lacking in the first half. I don't think our problem so far this season has been accommodating Osvaldo and Lambert or the shape of our team in general; our problem has been the pace of our play. When we switch the ball across the back, it needs to be quicker, midfielders need to drop and give the defence options and it generally needs to be more fluid in order to pull the opposition around. J Rod's touch was poor yesterday but I think with his pace in the side we are more capable of playing at a higher tempo. Wanyama was the other poor player but he won't be dropped regardless of how capable I, or anybody else, thinks Cork would be in his place. This being said, I don't think we'll get anything from our trip to Anfield.

He stands at over 6 foot 3, Rickie, Rickie He got us to the Premier League, Rickie, Rickie And now with Rooney's boots to fill, he's gonna take England to Brazil. Rickie Lambert, England's Goal Machine! I think he'll get a couple tonight.

Before the match I thought we could win by 3 goals and after watching the match I thought we were by far the better team and could have won by 3 goals. No change.

Congratulations Rickie! A last minute, 25 yard free kick winner please!

My wife joins me and my friends regularly for trips down to St. Mary's and also a few away games when we're visiting my parents up north. She certainly enjoyed the City and Newcastle games last season more than the visits to Tranmere and Burnley she had to endure in previous seasons.

Wanyama can tackle, Hakuna Matata... Doo dee doo dee. Dum dee dum dee dum. I reckon I'm going to be humming this damn tune for the next couple of hours. ...and all the Tims sing Hakuna Matata.

That's fair enough but what about those 5% of matches? The one that sticks out from last season is the Norwich game when they got a last minute penalty. I was in the depths of despair when the penalty was awarded and we looked on our way to an undeserved defeat. Moments later, when Artur saved the penalty, I was jumping around like a loon even though we had only managed a 0-0 draw. That, in my opinion, is what its all about.

If at 4:55 on a Saturday afternoon your mood has been significantly changed/enhanced by the result of your team then you get it, IMO. I don't think it matters who you support. Its easy to cite Man Utd fans as not getting a full experience because they have had prolonged success but they were in the old second division not that long before Fergie took over and there are no doubt a lot of fans who remember those times and as a result fully appreciate the success of the last 20 years. You also only have to witness their away fans to understand that a large number of them 'get it' even though they support a club which is bound to attract glory hunters. We've been through the mill recently as Saints fans and we are currently experience a period of relative success but I don't think the ups and downs have in any way allowed us to become truer football fans. Its not about the journey your team goes on but how the journey affects you.

I have emerged from my natural lurking state to vote 'Yes'.

May be an idea to play him in front of cork.

Done and done.

I've got 3 spare tickets for the Liverpool game due to a severe lack of communication between me and a friend. They are in the Chapel, Block 16, Row JJ. £39.50 each (£118.50 for all three). PM me if you're interested.

How about to the tune of Addam's Family (With no other basis other than the fact that he's French). He likes to wear a beret He gets home on the ferry We love him at St Mary's Morgan Schneiderlin Alternatively just sing Morgan Schneiderlin to the tune of D-I-S-C-O

I'd have no problem with Davis getting another chance. He does deserve it and unlike the other two, we know all about him - his strengths and his weaknesses. I don't think he will get another chance any time soon though. I'm not convinced by Gazza at all and I agree that people are willing to give him some slack that they're not willing to give Boruc. I'm also not convinced by arguments that Gazza is the reason that the defence is looking more comfortable recently. The last two games have seen the return of Cork and the introduction of Shaw. Maybe the reason for the improvement in our defensive performances are the result of an improved, settled back four and more support from the midfield. I can't see that the poor decision making that Gazza has shown with crosses, etc - not to mention the terrible pass to Yoshi in the Swansea match - can serve to instill confidence in the defence. I think Boruc has the pedigree to be a top signing for us (based on his previous acheivements) but only if Nige and the staff can get him match fit. I don't mind that he seems to be an absolute nutter, in fact I admire that in a keeper.

Has anyone managed to successfully buy tickets online today? I'm getting an error when trying to buy tickets. Has it sold out or is the match not on general sale yet... or is the site just playing up? Any information much appreciated.

Lightning Seeds - Life of Riley. This was the Goal of the Month music when Le Tiss featured pretty much every month.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/people-paying-to-watch-football-2012101845515

Just got back home to North London. What a great afternoon in the sun soaked Itchen! Well done Saints and particularly Billy Sharp. Just seen the goals again, what a cracking header!

This has got me giggling.

A quick look at the stats suggest that I am almost half as active as you Jasonb. You must try harder... or stop trying as hard.

I must be in the running.

I agree. I think Hooiveld has looked very good since he's arrived and hopefully Barnard's troubles will soon be behind him and he'll be back in contention. Even so, we've been relatively lucky with regards to injuries during the first half of the season and if this luck were to change then we could start looking weak in these positions. With regards to this month, I think we'll take a majority of points on offer. This team creates so many chances - even in the games we don't win - that it'll be hard for even the best defenses in the division to stop us from scoring. We may lose key players to injury throughout the season or just lose form but I don't think that will happen this month. I predict we'll get at least 7 points and progress to the next round of the Carling Cup but as people have said above, this won't have too much bearing on where we are come the end of the season.

Not songs or jingles but I did notice how many random things were sponsored up at Burnley. "The fourth official has indicated that the amount of time added on at the start of the first half, Sponsored by Roger's Black Pudding, is 2 minutes." "Burnley's first substitution, sponsored by Betty's Lancashire Hotpot, is..." It was all very strange.

Racist. Its a common misconception that this is the preferred playground torture of the Chinese. They much prefer wet willies, petrol pumps and goosenecks.