Graffito

Wasn't there. My impression from the radio commentary was that we lost it in centre midfield where games tend to be won and lost. Was that so?

Ever the optimist Nick and why not. I take your point but we do need consistency of performances both home and away and that will see us promoted. Up to today away performances generally have been ok even when we've dropped points so let's put today down as an aberration.

I don't understand how teams have got us sussed when playing away but not when playing at home. Can you explain? An observation; Guly was our best player away to Coventry.

I looked into it and quickly realised you need to be legally aided.

Agreed. Season's ticket holders have had their chance. It should have been opened up solely to non STH's at this point and which would have reached more of those that have done 4 away games or alternatively have been able to offer to people who have done fewer away games. As for not selling out to STH, that's exactly what happened last time we played down there so nothing new. As to the propspect of not selling out at all, that's never going to happen. I'm desperate to go having been subjected to the torture of the last two visits there but won't be going because I've only done two aways so far and I think there are plenty of people like me that will be desperately disappointed to have missed out.

Saints fans, followers, customers. Each can mean something slightly different. All welcome at St Mary's. Whyever not?

What did the Uruguayans ever do for us!

I'll answer that with a question. Why do you think organisations invest in PR? Do they do it because they think it's a waste of time and money? Two questions. Sorry.

Hayward has a point though we don't know to whom he wanted access and what he wanted to write. Nigel Adkins promotes the club well but beyond that the clubs PR is poor and I think they're missing a trick.

The FSF made a few suggestions here about what can be done, though even if implemented the impact would be marginal: http://footballsupportersfederation.org/news/Bubble-trouble-for-Burnley-fans.php In our experience at the FSF it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to get police to backtrack from a bubble match once they’ve set their sights on it BUT there are a number of things we’ll be asking the police and clubs to promise: Disabled fans must be exempt from this. Exiled fans should be picked up en route or have tickets posted upon proof of address – this should be easy to administer as they’ll be season ticket holders anyway. The police change the timings on this trip – forcing people to wait in an empty stadium for more than two hours is unacceptable. We’d recommend fans email the above demands to their club and think of ways they can fight these matches happening in future. Can't see Nicola agreeing to pick me up from my house in London somehow but it might be worth emailing the club to try to get it toconcede on collecting a coach pass in person. I see also that Wales based Wolves fans managed to get individual concessions allowing independent travel to a match with Cardiff but that was 2008.

The PL is a mixed blessing no question. The Championship feels like a good place to be right now, not just because it's a more even contest than the PL and because we're currently top but I think because we've been promoted into it. The Championship didn'tfeel like a good place to be when we were relegated into it and I reckon the novelty would soon wear off if we got stuck in it like, say, Coventry. We can't not aim for promotion but going back to seasons of failing to get in the top 6 or avoiding relegation or spending big and failing or becoming a yo yo club isn't greatly appealing. It's down to the skewed economics of football. It's a conundrum. Maybe all we can do is enjoy the moment.

Only a fool would think that people are idiots just because they think Guly has played badly at times this year. No, what I hear toooften at St Mary's is people who only criticise and don't give credit when it's due.

Commiserations. That would have been me but for flu. I bet you weren't thinking of 5 positives and 1 negative.

Yes. The optimum time to strengthen a squad is when it's winning. Striker and centreback.

Yes the default position of most of us saints fans is "miserable sod". You don't get so disappointed that way. It'll take some turning around.

Headline in the Telegraph: "Guly's genius finally breaks Coventry resolve". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/gulys-genius-finally-breaks-coventry-resolve-6257933.html? The OP shouldn't be necessary but sadly it is. Perhaps the penny will drop eventually for those I encountered, in the unaccustomed position for me, towards the rear of Block 33 at the Middlesborough match but somehow I doubt it will.

What I found funnier was Ferguson's claim that they conceded two sloppy goals. Funny that because Middlesborough conceded three sloppy goals on Saturday and I don't know how many other sides have been gifting us goals over the past 19 home matches. What have Saints done to deserve such generosity?

But Adkins' record at Saints is demonstrably better than most (than all but Ferguson's I believe). If it's not tactical selections like the one mentioned by the OP then why do you think Adkins recent record is better than his peers? It seems to me he makes the right callsmore often than most and the selection of Butterfield is a good example.

I can understand you saying that because the build up was class but take a look again at Connolly's movement in the box just prior to Lambert's pull back.

One of Boro's centrebacks looked a little on the short side. Credit to Adkins for playing Guly up front alongside Lambert and for selecting Butterfield, who looked very rusty at Palace, to supply crosses.

Palace got lucky. They won't win the cup. Neither would we have won it. Who gives a ****.

FF, when you say the club doesn't seem bothered about the cup, did you bother to go?

Sums up my view exactly. Lallana can beat a man but wasn't playing of course. We need pace up front so that teams are wary of playing a high line pressing game. This is why the balance of the game changed after De Ridder was introduced, even when down toten men.

If Allardyce thinks our strength is in midfield then surely he'll revert to type and by-pass it with long balls to a front two who might cause our centre backs problems. Carew's height and strength and Baldock's speed and mobility.

FWIW the Skate on the Red Button was very complimentary again. Said Saints are "The Full Monty". Fair play to the ****.