shurlock

Only Charlton. Leeds and Swindon have got a longer unbeaten record than us. Got to be worth something even at this early stage.

Still worth remembering that most of our goals this season have come from open play crosses (Northampton, Brentford, Charlton) or set-piece ones (Huddersfield, Stockport resulting in a pen). Perhaps, this just means this is an area we should be hurting people but aren't capitalising on; alternatively, it might mean we are in fact improving. Personally, I have less of a problem with our corners than our tendency to loft balls in from deep, normally harmless positions. With Lambert who's been getting flick-ons to most things, its always a temptation. But its too much of a get-out.

The difference was that last year we looked like we could crumble at any moment not just whether we could sustain the form. Recall that at the same point we had already lost more league games -Cardiff, Birmingham, Blackpool and QPR and had a worse goal difference. This season we look stingier and much more competitive; the question is whether we can now build on this and add some creativity and threat going forward. But personally (and doubtless for the forwards) there is nothing better for the nerves and confidence than a team that looks solid at the back.

Probably more true down our right hand side than down the left (Harding+Mills).

You're right that Jaidi and Mellis made a big difference when they came on. AP deserves credit for the switch, especially as people around me were calling for Waigo. Mellis was definitely looking for his penalty, so the decision was probably correct. The second was a better shout though there were so many bodies in the box and the ball was actually going away from goal at the time our player went down.

Just back from what is a local fixture for me. Haven't read any of the other reports but just to say that APs game plan worked perfectly. We essentially went 4-5-1 with Mills and Lallana playing slightly further foward in midfield and as a result had them playing in front of us for large chunks of the game. So much for the showboating some were calling for in the prematch. The game swung back and forth. We started the brighter and Mills should have scored from a nice floated ball from Schneiderlin; they then had a good 20 mins before we finished brightly and got the goal. We also started well second half - indeed, they looked like the away side, happy to hit us on the break with pace (which led to the equaliser). Their goal was slightly dubious -KD looked to be fouled - if not, he possibly should have done better; saying that, we had to soak up a ton of pressure and survived a few close-shaves; but this was no Huddersfield. To this extent, I thought AP's substitutions were excellent. Doubtless, people will be criticising him for not bringing Waigo on but I don't think this was the time or the place as we weren't seeing much of the ball and needed a few more bodies to stop the game getting too stretched. Both Mills and Perry were tiring, so Jaidi and Mellis freshened things up. Things calmed down after their arrival and if anything we had the better of the half chances. A couple of 'cheeky' penalty shouts at the end (Mellis certainly went down too softly for one) but a point was a fair reflection. My man of the match was easily Hammond - he was absolutely everywhere - indeed, he was further foward than Lambert at points. Also thought Mills had an excellent game; both he and harding stifled Sam and Mills has a nice tendency to ghost into space. Lallana also was very lively, though his final delivery continues to let him down. Thomas also impressed - some telling headers at the back post while he actually showed he was no mug getting forward (rather than taking the easy option and hitting it long) All in all, it was one of the best performances of the season (Birmingham also up there) and a decent atmosphere. Still need to be a bit sharper around set pieces (they kept playing short corners to bailey each time who managed to get away shots and nobody picked up on this) while another Hammond in the centre of midfield wouldn't go amiss (Surman would be ideal for this set-u). Otherwise, I think we have the nous and resources to kick on and impose ourselves. Yeovil is now a must win, albeit for different reasons.

Without stating the obvious, would be good to pick up a team that also attempts to neutralise Charlton's strengths (after all we are going to their place). They like to get the ball wide where they have pace to burn. Maybe we need a greater screen in midfield (so Schneiderlin misses out?) or Waigo plays on right wing rather than down the middle to track back with his pace (an added bonus that he's had experience of playing RB in the past). I do fear that if we just try and set our most attacking stall out as most posts are doing, we'll actually see very little of the ball and might have another Huddersfield on our hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6RFUWEqWTk

Throw in the legendary Saints depreciation rate -that big time charlies go horribly off the boil after arriving here- and I doubt the value of our team is that high. When was the last time we bought player who performed better with us than at any previous or future club, whom we got the best out of relative to their potential?

A partner for Hammond in central midfield and the right balance up-front. Think RM and LM will sort themselves out now that Mills (and Holmes) has returned on the left and we have the possibility of Papa Waigo or Lallana on the right.

Ray Winstone = poor mans Wally Downes

Too true - need somebody who is a bit more vocal, channel that us vs. them camaraderie to productive ends. alot of our players seem a tad too withdrawn. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-509622/Why-hump-Wally-Downes.html

I watched the Saints u-18s against Man U u-18s on the player and the shapeless, hit-and-hope way we played eerily resembles parts of the first team (even with the two awful, arrogant manc commentators, I could see how we didn't deserve the 3-1 scoreline). I do think the Academy is a bit of an empty shell ever since Prost left and we're living off its former glories.

In the "good old days" it would only be around the six game mark that the media would start posting the league tables. We now live in a breathless, hyped up world where Sky can spout with dead seriousness the cliché that it "might be too early to win the title but its certainly not too early to lose it". I'm not worrying just yet - what i want to see is similar to the end of 2005/2006 season, our first season in the championship. With the instability of Redknapp's departure and wise-bassett's caretaker mangership, Burley took over what was a pretty precarious situation. We eventually pulled away with a month or so to go (I obviously don't mean we leave it so late this time) and went on a run that took us to lower mid-table. Not great seen overall but the momentum set the foundations for a proper play-off/promotion push the next season.

Would be interested to know where this hoofball has suddenly come from - AP didn't have a reputation of hoofball with either Reading or West Ham. Alway's known for playing quite attractive football.

Am a big fan of Schneiderlin but have rarely seen him come out of tussles or bits and pieces with the second ball. He tries to close down but everything goes in and around him. But think the likes of Trottman and Jaidi will possibly strengthen the case for his inclusion. Some of the earlier games I've seen, esp Huddersfield away, our defensive weaknesses required extra cover at the back. While people praise Perry, I think he's a liability - his lack of pace has meant that we've often dropped back and conceded too much space between defense and midfield. Now that's being sorted and we can hold a slightly higher line, I think Schneiderlin will have the chance to play his own game.

Paterson is not a target man!

Think that apart from the Swindon interview which Goebbels would have been proud of, I think he's been pretty honest in his assessments, especially the specifics of games while naturally looking for things we can take comfort from on a general level. Do our players really have 'mental problems' given so many are new and have no baggage or is it us, the supporters who are the real head cases?

Dowie's feats at palarse have to be up there

I wouldn't call Spurs successful - they've massively underachieved - and what did they do they once they tasted a bit of success with Martin Jol but had a sticky spell, sack him and bring in Juande Ramos who put their progress back.

Glad to see the news agency is doing its homework. Debrecen have signed former Strasbourg's Hungarian international defender Rudi Skacel (26) until June 2010.

Read my post;) he first switched sides when Mills came on for Mellis and then went down the middle when Thomson came on for Paterson.

Yes down the middle (with Lambert) after Paterson was replaced by Thomson.