shurlock

I got to admit that it is a bit embarrassing to sing 'we're going to wemberlee" (in the paint pot) when they can trump us with "we are top of the league".

Also fantastic to see the skates get suckerpunched on the break.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3165670.stm

agree - also need to replace wotton who is still frequently used as a first-team squad player. thomas is also versatile enough to feature as a squad player.

How about Fonte/Seaborne/Jaidi? Fonte and Jaidi for me though not sure AP feels the same. Despite talk about fielding his strongest side today, I still think Pards was hoping Seaborne would step in immediately for Jaidi. At the moment, it seems like the transition will take longer. Agree with all your choices, except Barnard. Needs to maintain today's form over several games before I'm convinced. For me, Papa still offers greater variety (and he would have had a field day today with the space Norwich was giving us).

Agree - and he hasn't been bad in his other games (just most fans who don't go to games assume he's damaged goods -made worse by the fact that he was released by a club perceived to be smaller than us). Though he sometimes dozes off and isn't the most vocal of players (I bet AP's "quiet dressingroom" comments are especially directed at Semi) he's comfortable on the ball and gets forward well. Would have loved if Lallana had converted his assist (having run half the pitch). The odd time Norwich broke the funeral parlour atmosphere was to taunt Semi (to the Agbonlahor chant with load of sh*te thrown in), so fair play for staying focussed.

Back from the game. Puncheon my MOTM. Glad Hammond is back in the middle - steadied things when Schneiderlin was losing his head. Jaidi and Fonte are definitely the first choice CB partnership. And fair play to Semi who endured alot of stick and went a few marauding runs (Lallana really should have done better with one run) My only question mark over what was a great performance is what happens when Lambert isn't so dominant in the air? Norwich's CBs were absolutely shocking today - I can't stress this enough- Lambert had both of them in his pocket. We've struggled for ideas when we have come up against tighter defenses that can cut out the long ball and our ability to play off Lambert.

christ, a back-steet abortion in Manilla sounds more appealing and professional.

Davis Otsemobor Jaidi/Seaborne Fonte Harding Lallana Hammond Schneiderlin Puncheon Lambert Waigo

Yesterday's 5 live skate fan forum - a great listen as earlier comments on the thread testify. standout moments http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qs9py/5_live_Sport_Portsmouth_Fans_Forum/ 48m 45s on sol campbell 52m 40s on inbred conspiracy theories, we're a more attractive investment than west ham, newcastle and claridge's killer reply

Good spot - doesn't his old man coach at the skates?

A kiwi victor cattermole according to the Grauniad. Clocking up more miles than Phileas Fogg. Another case of desperately over-committing and desperately under-delivering? Comes across on various sites as a mutant hybrid of wacko jacko and mickey f. Think the Grauniad have been played here... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/19/portsmouth-ownership-victor-cattermole

This guy = what a prat. £60m = small beer. a global media conspiracy.

Sol - what a legend (but what a c*ck).

Join the back of the queue

Claridge -for a skate- is talking sense (as usual).

Love it - look at us and weep.

surely if we lose against the best team in the division, the manner of the performance will matter. if we play well, will you concede that's OK?

Who was not named on the bench but travelled up to Exeter a few weeks ago and was involved the various pre-match routine? Looked like Mcnish - can anybody else confirm?

Only 750 or so sold as of yesterday - pathetic. Come on people step up to the plate.

Fact is if people know about the rivalry -its less because people know about the historical enmity between the two cities than their knowledge of the 6.57 and the bulls*t mythology that's been peddled to sell a few books. In other words, we have the blue few to thank for elevating the rivalry in the rest of the country's consciousness!

I love how people suddenly feel emboldened when they have the OB in front of them. Saturday was a total nonevent - arrived at Soton central at 11.50am - felt like Xmas morning. Didn't hear anything till i got to the Premier Inn. The handbags were similarly isolated and contained to the garages afterwards. Never any sense that things might spill out of control - hardly surprising since both sets of fans seemed more than happy to eat out of the OBs hand. Certainly didn't add to the allure or image of the rivalry if thats what elements wanted.

Thats the sentiment.

Agree. Both Waigo and Antonio got into some excellent positions and just needed the right ball. Lallana was guilty at times of going alone rather than looking for a better-placed team mate. Schneiderlin was meant to provide that killer final ball but recently he's more likely to pick the easier option. Regards the OP -talking about pace sets up a bit of a red herring and confuses very different matters. Is it really pace of thought or just intelligence and technique - it matters because you rarely find a player who combines both pace of thought and actual pace (henry perhaps) - in fact they are often in opposition. Anyway dont these different kinds of paces basically exhaust most the attributes that you need to be a successful pro? So are you just saying we have to be better - if so that's a long way round to saying nothing. My two pennies is that power has become more important than pace in today's game.

Bristol Rovers and Luton brought the loudest support to SMS this season.