Piran

Just home after a 440-mile round trip to SMS. I saw Forest earlier in the season, and now Boro. Saints are growing in confidence on the evidence of my only two home games this season so far. I hope they are still performing like that when I next come up for Blackpool. What a pleasure to watch! Two comments - like Charlie Wayman above, Guly's header was indeed finely judged, and just in front of us, but the defenders were panicking trying to pick up Lambert, and left him space, so in my book Lambert should claim three assists yesterday! My other point is the way that Saints don't go arguing all the time with the officials. I know it's easier when the game is going your way, but it really gets up my nose when players continually harangue refs and linesmen. I've never seen one change their mind because of the abuse they get, and to me, if I was refereeing, it would turn me against that team. I put this good behaviour down as one more example of the excellent job Adkins and his team are doing. Keep it going Saints!

Back in (I think) March 1971, I was at Elland Road for the only time, and watched the humiliating 7 - 0 thumping Saints received that day, and believe me, it could have been more. I was staying the weekend in Nottingham with a pal who was a Leeds fan. (Many were in those days - think Man Utd nowadays). To make it worse, we arrived back at his parents home just in time to see Match of the Day! Ever since that day, I have had a dream of Saints reversing the scoreline, complete with the "Oles" from the crowd, and the retention of possession. Every time since, when we have played them, I have obviously been disappointed, even though there have been a few good wins along the way, but one day...... How sweet it would be to create a new record against the Mighty Leeds, and I don't give two hoots about it straddling two seasons!

Mmmm.... You really picked an appropriate name for yourself, didn't you?

Well, I guess your theory would explain why Saints always seem to start the season with a loss.....?

I've just spoke to Matt Le Tissier and he says he'll do it if no one else will

I think Charlton over achieved this season, and do not believe they will be a threat next year. I do know a bit about Plymouth though, being nearest to my present home. I watched more Argyle games last season than Saints, though not from choice. I often accompanied my neighbour to their games, just for moral support for him! I will be surprised if they don't have another season fighting relegation. Whoever said Wright Phillips was their best player was spot on in my opinion, so that will tell you something. I believe the loser of the play-off, plus Huddersfield, will be the biggest rivals to Saints next season. I have utmost faith in Pardew and his management team. It is clear they know what they are doing, regardless of the opinions of some experts on this forum, some of whom have quite wonderful ideas of their own judgement. I especially liked the comment of one expert, from one of the higher regions of Europe, who questioned the playing of just one forward. Away to Bristol Rovers it was, and we did go a goal down. Can't remember the final result, though Pardew did persist with 4-5-1.

I won't get involved in the 'should-we-or-shouldn't-we' discussion as I didn't see him play often enough to comment, but what amuses me is the suggestion by some posters that Pardew should be told about his abilities. I'm sure with two experienced players in the squad - Davis and Perry - who have played alongside JPS and who will no doubt be in regular discussions with Pardew, he will have been mentioned. If Pardew chooses 'no', then I respect his opinion, equally if he ends up bringing him in. That's his job, and so far it almost appears as if he may know what he's doing.

One Saturday morning in January or February 1968, a mate and I were given a weekend off from our ship which was docked in Plymouth and we decided take in a Saints match and have a day at home. We hired a car from a garage near the dockyard, and 20 minutes into our journey something flew up from the road and smashed the windscreen. We returned to the garage and they gave us a replacement car. Travelling across Dorset two hours later, overtook a lorry and a stone broke the windscreen. We found a phonebox and called the garage and they told us to get it fixed and sort it later. We carried on to So'ton, freezing, and just made it to Carey Lambert before they closed for the weekend. The odd thing is that in over 40 years since I have never had another broken windscreen, despite two in one journey! Can't remember the opposition or the score, soory.

I saw Derek Reeves, that's when it all started for me, through Paine, Davies, Channon, Chivers, Boyer, Le Tissier - all greats to me, but top of the lot was Micky Channon. I enjoyed seeing the mention above of Ted MacDougall, who I thought was incredible. How often at the Dell would you see a goal scored from amongst a goalmouth scramble, and who would come out with his arm in the air - MacDougall! Time after time. And the incredible thing was that despite an amazing scoring record, he appeared a crap footballer - I've seen milk turn quicker, and he would have had trouble trapping a bag of cement in the outfield, but put him in that box and he was magic. Happy days!

Just back after a 500-mile round trip to see my first game this year, and I was really encouraged by the performance. I saw 7 home games last season, plus the Plymouth away game, and this was so promising compared with them. Yes, we faded, but the players were knackered at the end. Don't forget this was much of last year's reserve team playing Birmingham, fresh from the Premier League, and their power pulled them through at the end. In my opinion, this team will improve to a position way beyond the Saints team of last year, if only because there was a lot of understanding between the players, and at least they look like a team who know where each player belongs. I must disagree with Chez, concerning McGoldrick. He was playing in front of us first half, and looked like a good player to me. He put in a couple of decent crosses, including one for the effort that Gillett had saved, and knew exactly what he was doing. Yes, he did appear to fade 2nd half, but then so did the whole side. I'm looking forward to my next game, and it's a long time since I felt that!