cambsaint

He is probably the first time I took a real interest in football. I can remember to this day the playground chat was all about him and Munich I was at Western Primary School in Winchester at the annexe. I remember one morning a friend excitedly said that he was reported to be improving, unfortunately he passed away shortly afterwards, We were all in mourning. We had not long had a TV a Bush in a massive walnut cabinet with a tiny 12 inch or so screen. I think I saw him play in an England international on TV but I cannot be sure but to my amazement my Mum watched some of the following Cup Final in memory of the Babes, possibly the only football match she was ever interested in, ( she and my sister even went out during the 66 final leaving Dad and I to watch it alone}

Richarlison, Calvert -Lewin and Delle Alli (if he plays) are all threats but if we can avoid breakaways we should hopefully be alright

I remember the first time I went to White Hart Lane, I think it was in our second season up.-67/8 Chivers had just gone and they had some great players I can only really remember an outstanding display by Dave Mackay who looked as if he was hewn from granite and completely controlled the game We were completely outclassed. Other times happier, especially the "You're getting sacked in the morning* game against Hoddle's team when we thrashed them.

RE nylon studs It wasn't unknown in rugby for vicious players to deliberately sharpen their nylon studs and try to rake players on the ground The game has changed completely since then

With regard to City only being a "nouveau riche" club. Yes they are. I used to go and watch them at Maine Rd (right in the middle of Moss Side a terrible neighbourhood) only time I dared go near there at Uni. They were a proper local Manchester club unlike the glamorous Manure who even then had many no Manchester supporters. The certainly had some good times back then under the great and good Joe Mercer and the not so likeable Malcolm Allison. Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike (I'd walk a million miles to the end of your nose) Mike Summerbee were an outstanding team. Up till the Arab money and the Commonwealth Games Stadium (the Etihad) they were rather like us. Many years later I still have a soft spot for them and I like to see them doing well particularly if they are doing better Than Manure, Liverpool and any London club.

Hate is a very strong emotion especially as i'm sure no-one mentioned had done anybody personal harm Cannot understand why you would hate somebody for advancing their career and earning shedloads more money for themselves and their family. Many are probably arrogant and uncaring and earn ludicrous sums for kicking a ball about. But so do bankers and they impoverished most of us in the 2008 financial crisis which was brought about by criminal greed which went unpunished. It would more interesting to find out who did the most good. I read that Sadio Mane doesn't like flash and gives millions to charity in his home country where he was very poor as a youngster. However I think it's ok to loathe a club rather than a person.

A magnificent team performance every player can be proud of. The comments on the current offside rule are very apt. It was quite obviously a tactical decision to have two or three players running in offside with no intent to attempt to play the ball while a couple of players time their runs to defined areas where the ball is aimed and take advantage of the confusion the "off side but not offside " players have caused. Very clever. I expect it to be widely copied and hopefully law will be amended to bring some sense back to the offside law

Even if Antonio has recovered from worst of virus, I doubt he'll start and even then doubtful if he is even subbed as there is some evidence that hard exercise shortly after a serious virus can be danger to health.

My son and I went to that game. My wife's family Hammers supporters. Went to and from their East End home on the tube surrounded by Hammer's supporters.Great occasion.

Feel a little more confident tonight that we can stay up.Team really fought after being caught cold for first goal. Second against was poor defending, but overall was pretty good. Impressed by Broja and Tella,and KWP. I just wish RH would try playing KWP at right back and Livramento as a midfielder ahead of him.Thought Caballero had a good game tonight, very impressed with his ball distribution and footwork, also noticed him shouting at defence to move out,so perhaps with his experience he can organise our defence better than incumbents. Wouldn't e too surprised to see his contract extended if he continues like tonight, and could even be taken on as a coach if he wanted. Still not confident about R H but if we are going to replace him it must be done immediately to give a new manager the Jan window imo. It does of course depend on availability and affordability, Also wish KWP would pass the ball forward sometimes, he seems totslly obsessed with the initial risk free pass that just allows the opposition too much time, but he certainly fought for every ball tonight. A bit too much head tennis at times though for my liking in the defensive midfield.

It was very noticeable on MOTD that our three central defenders played in a straight line in the box.I suspect this is the reason for our appalling defensive record. I don't claim to be an expert but when watching match analyses the most effective seems to be a diamond of four. The way we played yesterday left the front of the box open.

Re Flat hunting, North Norfolk and Norwich and the Broads are delightful places to live and now a lot of N Norfolk coast is millionaire second home country. Much nicer than the West Midlands except for the cold North Easterlies

Firstly I would like to make it clear the small c at the beginning of the title was a typo, probably should have edited it. Although a Saints supporter for over sixty years, I hope I'm not blinded by emotion. When VAR came in as a cricket fan I thought it would be a good thing as reviews in cricket have by and large been completely positive. However in the Prem imo it has been by and large disastrous. In the Euros it worked very well. My post was made in the hope that some good debate would be engendered.

I used to take the view that refereeing is extremely difficult and make allowances. However VAR has changed all that and there should be no mistakes and real consistency. Compare and contrast James Milner staying on the pitch after three fouls, two very violent and intentional and one denying a goal scoring chance. All three deserved a straight red in my view but for some inexplicable reason he remained on the pitch and Liverpool gained an undeserved point. James Ward Prowse who hasn't been red carded for years, makes a rash challenge trying to get to the ball first. NBB not a tackle and definitely no intent to injure, makes virtually no contact and after our nemesis Mike King reviews it, is sent off, thus changing the course of a closely fought match. Obviously one will draw one's own conclusions about big club favouritism , incompetence and outright cheating. The libel laws prevent one from saying very much but one thing is absolutely certain and that is that the refereeing and use of VAR in the Prem need a forensic examination by a suitably qualified person/s if VAR is going to be used correctly and referees are going to keep the confidence of players, managers and supporters.

A sensible and rational person only changes a manager is there is a better one readily available. I'm not and never have been a great believer in RH's tactical ability. However we drew against three very good teams, two of which can pay ten times as much for a player with no problem R H has to work with what he's got and can afford, and it looks as if for the foreseeable future our main ambition is avoiding relegation The negativity on this board and the desire to blame players for mistakes is beyond belief at times. Could any of the armchair critics find a better manager who's prepared to come and is affordable?

I would like to see Perraud and Livrimento as backs and see how KWP gets on on the right of a midfield three He and Livrimeto could interchange at will. Play 4132, midfield 3 a.n.other (dont see much between any of the presently fit candidates) but Stuart Armstrong asap JWP KWP I think that KWP on the right would be a better option than Redmond on the left. Other than that a very disappointing performance, one moment of great skill and a bit of lick won it for them We are not a very tall or physical side and crosses aren't the way forward. Also I was very disappointed with crowd support, just where do Sky put their mikes, (in front of he away supporters?) and on some of the crowd shots I thought we had placed a bunch of stony faced, emotionless gargoyles on the seats. Regrettably I can never get to matches except for a few away games, due to health issues and no longer having family in the area. I also can't stand up for long so it's not much point going to away matches unless I can get a front row seat

I consider the endless criticism of Redmond by some on this column to be both inappropriate, unhelpful and it must be very upsetting to the player himself hardly the best way to instill self confidence. I look at it this way, he is obviously given instructions by Ralph as how he wants him to play. Presumably if the manager considers his performance poor, or not as instructed he will either substitute him or not pick him. Many many years ago the fans were exactly the same with Frank Saul (possibly deserved) and John Sydenham (definitely undeserved). I cannot understand why some Saints fans appear to need a whipping boy .I have never witnessed it to such an extent at any other club. Clearly it is the manager's decision as to who plays and fans should direct their criticism to him. If you support the team you should support the players. Clearly this dose not preclude rational considered criticism, but imo with Redmond some take it far further than this. PersonallyI think he's a reasonably sound squad member, certainly not outstanding but as good as his equivalents in the several of the other teams in the bottom half of the Prem, but I just wish he he could score goals, it must be a matter of confidence that he nearly always misses.

Still have fond memories of the 1967/8 season third round tie, drew at home after playing very badly, went to away match with mates on Weds night, fortunately the first Severn bridge had been opened by then. We didn't play particularly well but won. I remember mentioning to my friend what do you think those TV cameras are for. He replied rather too loudly "Oh it'll be just Welsh Git local TV, Fortunately we were sat in the stand and got out alive. When my uncle lived there Newport was a prosperous if hard, working class town, with huge docks carrying enormous amounts of Welsh coal, and a thriving marine based engineering industry (which employed my uncle), and a massive railway operation. It has suffered appallingly due to closure of coal mines and docks. The railway sidings and docks covered a huge area then. It's problems aren't comparable to Portsmouth. Imagine if Southampton docks and local industries had closed down over a decade or so, and it not being a convenient and popular area for higher tech industries.

Harry Kane isn't particularly fast but he's quick thinking and gets in the right place and doesn't miss many one to ones. If all you needed is pace then Shane Long would have scored hundreds. Let's just hope he is quick thinking enough to get in the right place at the right time, and hold his nerve when shooting.

In the cold light of day after some contemplation, after an initial shock and horror reaction I have come to the considered opinion that Saints did a piece of good business. We sold Ings, admittedly a very good striker and our best for a reasonable 25million, but considering he's in his last year of contract and appears injury prone, and probably only has two or three years left 9(perhaps even less) at the highest level it's probably not a bad deal. It is absolutely pointless trying to keep a player who wants away, if he were unhappy would he have played to his best? I suspect he is on a very generous wage, as rumour has it that Levy wouldn't meet his demands. As a bonus we don't have the humiliation of having to sell him to Levy, and can watch the shenaniagans surrounding Kane unfold.

Particularly when the Barmy Army sing "God save your gracious Queen" to the Australian supporters. I completely agrre that its not reasoanable adult behaviour but what can the FA do about it. Sweet FA is the answer to that.

England were so poor and lacklustre to be almost unbelievable. Scotland played their hearts out and by the end for the first time in my life I didn't want England to thrash the Scots (in any sport) and was hoping it would end a draw. On thes last two performances Levy won't be able to give Kane away. Is he completely unsettled?

I think that some of our younger supporters have delusions of grandeur and a hopelessly optimistic belief that some very hard headed billionaire is going to buy Saints as a novelty purchase for a bit of fun. Highly unlikely in the present Covid climate, even if it was before. There probably has never been a more inopportune time to sell a n average Premier League club. I don't know how Gao will get out of this except at a truly fire sale price. We just have to hope that the club remains solvent and tailor our ambitions to existing in the same cohort as the bottom half Prem clubs and the better Championship clubs Hopefully we still can find a bargain or two, and hopefully our academy will produce more good youngsters. Realistically our best hope is to remain mid table and with the glaring exception of right back and very sparse cover. The players we have if well managed and coached are capable of that. We will of courese remain a selling club. I can foresee a merry go round situation taking place with relegated clubs often returning due to parachute money which gives them a huge advantage over the bulk of Championship clubs. Hopefully post Covid we may become a more attractctive purchase. In the mean-time I shall console myself with the thought that when I started supporting Saints they were in the third division South

I don't disagree that Redmond has his manifold flaws (which could possibly be coached out). My point was that he doesn't pick himself, we have capable alternatives albrit inexperienced, so RH must think he's carrying out his instructions adequately. A team doesn't leak as many goals in defence or miss so many chances just because of a wayward left winger. My point was that he shouldn't be made the whipping boy for managerial weknesses and poor performances and mistakes by others. Last week McCarthy was responsible for two of the goals conceded, and othere defensive howlers contributed to our defeat more than Redmond's lack of end product. I think some of the derision is down to frustration with him, he is so nearly a very good player but lacks a cutting edge.

MY thoughts are; last year with a full team and a largely fit Ings he did very well, but the more tactically aware managers soon worked out how to bypass the high press and exploit a defensive structure which his tactics allowed or even encouraged to be pulled out of place, I consider him to be an inept defensive coach, and the old adaege that if you don't concede you don't get beat always applies. I admit he has been unlucky with injuries but to keep on playing the same way was foolish especially as we had good defensive players. I have always thought that after Salisu got used to the league he should have played three at the back, Bednarek, Vestergard and Salisu, with fout in front. KWP, JWP, Dialleio, RB, then two, Armstrong and An other, we have a surplus of players for that position and Ings up front. I really don't see many other teams outside the top eight ot nine significantly better than that, if you include Romeu. I believe that he isn't flexible or open-minded enough to change a system that is quite honestly no longer fit for purpose at this level. His substitutions have always been bizarre in the extreme, refusing to strengthen the defence when we are leading, and many other examples. Yesterday, where did WHU 's third goal come from-where one of our best players KWP had been covering. Fianlly although I don't necessarily think Redmond has a particularly good tactical appreciation, to make him the whipping boy for our ills is nonsensical and also very cruel to hm. He is presumably picked and sent out to follow his manager's instructions and for him to be picked so regularly suggest that RH is satisfied that he does that.I accept that he can't hit a barn door from five yards most days, but I think this may be a conjidence thing and he;s certainly not alone amongst our players in that department. His standing still offside on Sunday was inexcusable but perhaps he had had it with this season. I hope it wasn't because RH has lost the dressing room, but there were certainly a few others who didn't look very happy. If so then we face an exodus of our best players and certain relegation. To conclude that unless RH very quickly gets an assistant who can coach and organise a defence and has his advice listened to on substitutions then I think RH must go. Also as has been commented on we have the most physically imposing goalie in the PL and we don't play him against physical teams. Bamford wouldn't have got near him on Tuesday, and he would have been much better against WHU. He still has a weakness of getting that massive frame down to low balls near his feet that the best forwards can exploit, his kicking out is dreadful, but he has two CBs who are good at that, and he is a superb shot stopper.