Graffito

All the more reason to protect them.

Arsenal had 70% possession.

He used to say that. Suggests to me he may not have got in the transfer window the defenders he wanted.

Don't disagree but the fullbacks are not getting any protection. Lallana and Puncheon do not defend.

Just back, loaded up with beer. Out fought, out thought, outplayed.

Why can't you do the decent things and stop polluting this thread?

I used to live in Gartmoor Gardens so I know there's a distinct lack of pubs in Southfields because much of the land used to be owned by Methodists. Handy for the tennis though.

Badvoc, I was able to take a look round because my Co was considering converting the former hotel rooms to flats. We didn't go ahead which maybe is where the Evangelicals came in. I used to use the pub about 20 years ago when we lived for a while in my wife's flat in Warwick Gardens. She wouldn't go in the pub though. It was a bit rough in those days.

The Salisbury featured in the film "The Long Good Friday" starring Bob Hoskins. Charlie Chaplin would stay there when in London. Trivia you probably know since you're a regular. I had the opportunity some years ago to look at the upper floors. There was a large ornate ballroom on the first floor. This was pre renovation.

Well done VFTT and one or two others in posting the facts. There are some comments on here I find quite astonishing. Being generous I can only put them down to ignorance of the facts.

He might surprise some. He wouldn't surprise us.

Agree the selection could improve matters and one or two of the better players were obviously missing but we don't have the players throughout the side. Some can do it some can't. Lescott and Jagielka saw a lot of the ball. What do you reckon?

Didn't think much of that. Got to persist with trying to keep possession but just don't have the players to do it throughout the side. Stating the bleeding obvious but what can you say. Thought Lallana was a shoe-in to replace Cleverley.

Lallana's a great role model for the academy players. He stayed when he could have moved, he's made captain, and now he's called up by England. Excellent news.

Except that the "thieving post office workers" didn't actually rob you did they? One of my kids once accidently posted with a handful of letters an envelope containing cash. I telephoned the sorting office and established within minutes that they had the envelope and had been waiting for someone to ring and claim it.

Half the tickets went out yesterday and half are being sent out today.

I still do.

The Drayton Park on Drayton Park Rd is a stone's throw from the stadium and is where the Saints fans congregated last time we played Arsenal. Likely to be crowded and noisy. A quieter pub with better beer would be The Bank of Friendship on Blackstock Rd. Been there many times but never on a matchday. Would have thought it's fine though. There are loads of pubs along Upper St in Islington. Most will be busy and noisy. Start at Highbury and Islington tube and work your way down or start at Angel tube and work your way up (i.e. towards Highbury). Allow time though. The stretch between Angel and Highbury and Islington is probably about a mile and then there's another 10 minute walk from H&I tube to the Emirates (quickest route across Highbury Fields opposite tube). The Compton Arms tucked away on Compton Avenue just across from Highbury and Islington tube is a quieter option.

Good going forward, weak at the back. As we know, the defensive weaknesses were there last season but were less frequently exposed due to inferior opposition to what we have faced this season. In all probability the current defence, with the addition of Yoshida, is what we've got to go with until January. It's down to the coaching staff to tighten up defence and cut out the basic errors seen in Davis's distribution, Hooiveld's tackling and above all defending from set pieces which ought to be the relatively easier faults to rectify. In the Five Live interview with Lambert last night, Claridge highlighted flaws in the zonal marking system Saints are using. This two week break could be really useful in sorting out some of these issues.

He probably does mean that and it's a fair point as far as going down at the end of this season is concerned because after this season relegated club will be in a stronger position vis a vis other Championship clubs due to enhanced parachute payments from 2013/14. If we are to go down it should be from 2013/14 onwards as we'd have a much better chance of bouncing straight back.

How can you be so sure the gap will grow massively after next year?

Clubs are going bankrupt in Australia. If he goes there I think it's a lifestyle choice for him and his family.

Do you not think Ferguson's subs made a difference? The one thing I don't understand about Adkins' subs was why he didn't put Rodriquez up top to hold up the ball and give us a chance of retaining possession.

Oh well, move on. What's Baresi up to these days?

There have been occasions where that's happened but I think the answer's in what you have said here - players to show for the ball quicker. I'd add to that, speeding up the whole process. Remember how Reading under Coppell stole a march on us a few seasons back by instructing the ball boys to recycle the ball quickly to their players but at snail's pace to Saints' players?