ant

Timid. Half-hearted. Dull. The initial dynamism Eckert brought (or unleashed) feels a distant memory. And unfortunately I've zero faith there's the desire/know-how to revitalise or evolve us.

In isolation, 4 points from the Birmingham matches would be fine. But all in all we've had a grim end to the year. Needed to come out and show some mettle today. Yet saw very little to suggest things will get better.

Worth noting that Jelert made a really good run to get into a position to make the assist. Don't worry - we'll soon coach that out of him.

I'm so sick of watching us turn attack into defence.

Let's see how the precious darlings react, then...

In a 4-2-3-1 you're not actually that reliant on the full backs being strong defensively, as the central midfielders are the first line of defence. CDMs are a protective layer for the defenders, and recycle the ball for the attackers. They're not necessarily expected to contribute much to the latter. At the top, top level you may have some that can play box-to-box and, say, chip in with goals. But it's a bonus rather than necessity. Scienza, Azaz, Fellows and Armstrong are our prime sources of goals and assists. So let them get on with that. If nothing else Fellows would more frequently find himself in better positions to get on the attack, rather than starting deep - as he sometimes has to. Seems a better, more pragmatic fit to the personnel we currently have, rather than trying to shoehorn a club philosophy at all costs.

This daftness stood out. 2 goals and 5 assists in 17 appearances (only 9 of which he played more than an hour). A cameo role, but a key one.

While I understand the club doesn't want to loan in Premier League players (with the view that you have to spend to stand still), I increasingly feel frustrated by that logic. By my count we only have Jelert and Long on loan - neither of which making the matchday squad. That essentially leaves 5 loan slots we could make use of to improve the starting XI and/or bench. Perhaps we ought to make strides towards securing promotion before worrying about us not owning the players that spur us there? Also, we don't have to be sentimental about any loan players that do us a service. Like with Ryan Fraser after Martin got us promoted - thank him very much, send him a case of champagne and move on...

Our 'start fast' tactics are either no longer in place or have been found out - and when we can't do that, we flounder. Doesn't help when every sub makes us weaker, rather than giving us a boost or galvanising. Truly grim.

We made almost no effort to win it, and have reaped what we deserve. Overall quality? Awful. Zero plan, zero cohesion, zero clue. Colour me concerned.

Fellows starting.

Yep, did that one as well. The famous Craven Cottage 'neutral' blocks were right next to our away support, and were almost entirely Saints fans. I'd not been quick off the mark with getting tickets so was in that neutral area - but only across a set of stairs from our lot. It was indeed an excellent, sustained rendition of OWTS. When we were losing, some old boy next to me was calling Adkins all sorts. I told him not to be so wet, and he grabbed me by the scruff of the neck, ha.

Cardiff away in 2013. Made further memorable by driving there from my then-girlfriend's dad's house - inside Whipsnade Zoo. A commanding 0-3 victory, whilst the Cardiff fans were protesting their ownership. I remember it as being Gazzaniga's first clean sheet, though further research suggests he got one in 2012-13 - i.e. the season beforehand. A Poch team, containing prime Schneiderlin, Lallana, Rodriguez and Lambert. Good times.

It started in a Chapel, in 1885, I loved them as a nipper, I'll love them 'til I die, Le Tissier's our king, and Micky Channon too, Our saviour Markus Liebherr, we'll sing this song for you, Allez allez allez, Allez allez allez, Allez allez allez, Allez allez allez.

I'm late 30s. And whilst we really ought to have added to our major trophies during my lifetime, reading this thread makes me realise I've done alright out of big memories. For me, it'll take some doing to beat the Coventry match that secured promotion under Adkins. The thumping result itself, in such a crucial match; The feeling of being BACK, after nearly ceasing to exist; The celebrations at the final whistle, and long into the night; Being there with my uncle, who's the reason I support Saints in the first place - he used to cart me around to home & away games as a kid.