Sour Mash

F**k me, they are happy with last night aren't they? Shows how badly they must have been playing recently and how low their expectations have dropped, when they're that happy with a 1-1 draw at home, which involved them time wasting in the last 5 mins, I'd be embarrassed if we ever did that in a home game.

You got a link mate?

It depends what you mean by whether the majority wants to stand. Are you talking about Saints fans here? Or supporters in general? Fans at home games or away? If you'd been at the game last night, you'd have seen 3,000 Saints fans perfectly happily standing for the home game, no-one can tell me it doesn't make a difference to the support given to the team. Look at the away support of any decently support Prem team. Those who prefer to sit at games (particularly away games) should be campaigining for this more than anyone, as they should benefit the most, with less problems of restricited views. Out of interest, why are you certain it won't happen? I know it would be a long, slog to get it through and it's not the sort of thing are nanny state government are particularly keen on, but its certainly got to be worth a decent effort.

Yes, I am well aware of the deficiencies of the reverse take over. However, you honestly want us to believe you were saying "If he was in attendance I'm surprised we didn't lose; the bloke is like a miasma of crap over anything to do with Saints." back in 2003? Because it is clearly wrong, whether you disagreed with the reverse takeover or thought that Lowe was poor at running the club (both arguments that I do partly agree with), that statement, certainly in 2003 was factually wrong. We were qualifying for Europe and playing in a cup final, playing decent Prem football infront of 32k fans every home game.

We haven't played particularly well for the last few weeks, even when winning. Probably since the 6-0 win at Oldham we haven't rally impressed and our results have fortunately been able to cover that due to the very poor quality of the majority of our opponents. Of course two of our better players going off isn't going to help, but that just showed up how weak our overall squad, away from the starting 11 is. Charlton's subs looked a lot more impressive than ours.

You are making the same mistake as many others on here. Everyone is able to read a league table and see that we have two games in hand on the team in 2nd and a two point gap to make up, of course we have a good chance to go up. But if you want to really see a "strong position" look at what Brighton have done, they have shown what is possible and what we haven't been able to do. I don't think it overly harsh to measure Saints against the very best that the 3rd division has to offer, rather than compare us against various also rans.

Oh and what a bunch of morons, some of our fans singing the Bradley Wright Philips song in the first half!

What a lot of people don't realise is that although we've had a decent run of results, we haven't played well, we don't steam-roller teams like a side heading for promotion does. Apart from the Bournemouth game, most of our wins have been against vey poor sides. Charlton were rubbish, low on confidence and there for the taking. Our build up play is too slow. Our bench is far too weak. N'guessen isn't good enough, does anyone honestly believe he is? As stated by others, there were a couple of times during the game when he was in loads of room and Lambert turned away and played a less obvious pass rather than give the ball to him, not something that helps you win games of football. Everyone knows that we won't win every game we play, but after years of struggling and considering the resources we're now meant to have, I don't think its too much to hope to have had a season like Brighton's, properly smashing the league and going up in style, not coughing and spluttering over the finishing line, slogging it out at the death with the likes of Peterborough, Huddersfield and MK Dons! Thought D'Urso had a poor game. Lambert and Barnard get kicked all over the place and often don't get the free kicks they should away from home in particular, last night was one of those nights. Excellent support from us, 3,000 all stood up, but it varied from the really loud with a few proper renditions of OWTS (though some people just can't help clapping along, oblivious to what everyone around them are doing), through to a few really quiet periods. Charlton's support was weird, back to their old Pre-Premier League days support. Don't know what all that at the Station is about, keeping away fans penned in waiting to enter the platform while the home support gather on the opposite side to bounce around, point and sing more than they did all game, bizarre.

Right. That wouldn't have really made sense would it?

Since Barnard has been at the club, he has always been taken off around 70mins, under both Pardew and Adkins. Weird as itmust be tempting to keep him on a bit logner, as he does really work defences.

Exactly. And fair play for having the balls to go to the game and travel up on the train with fans, more than most would do I reckon.

And I bet you were saying that in 2003.

Depends what you want, but the Anticgallican right by Charlton Station and 5 mins walk from the away end will be rammed full of Saints fans, but it will be packed, noisy etc (not my cup of tea). London Bridge is a good bet if you're going by train?

I "get it" fine, thanks, sat in the Itchen many times myself, as well as all other parts of the ground, so I'm perfectly well placed to judge. "You are not as loud as you think" - well if you're making assumptions, how loud do I think we are? I never said the Northam were the best thing since sliced bread and everyone knows that having blocks 1-3 make a big difference, but there is not too much any of us can do about that. Man United drowned out the Northam without a doubt, but then they did also have block 42 and their away support is different class and do that everywhere. Brighton, maybe, their support was good. That's it for this season though. Or are you going to tell me that Yeovil, Carlisle, Notts County, Huddersfield etc all drowned out the Northam One thing that people always overlook when talking about the atmosphere at St Marys, is that it would be much, much better if more people, all around the ground bothered to get involved and make some noise - they don't, it's as simple as that..........

OK, give me a list of teams this season that have "drowned out" the Northam?

Right, so you're trying to tell us that Sheff Weds drowned out the Northam on Saturday? Back to your original point - If those in the Kingsland, Itchen and Chapel made more of an effort, then whether or not the Northam was "drowned out" or not, wouldn't make any difference. I go week in, week out, home and away and I've sat in every stand this season at St Mary's and while the Northam is far from perfect, it makes a far better effort than the vast majority of other home supporters around the country.

Who are you trying to kid? Large parts of our home support don't sing because they don't want to, its as simple as that. How many home games has teh Northam been "outsung" by the away support this year?

Probably me being even more cynical than normal, but I noticed the initial Plymouth allocation sold out just before a home game and we've received a new allocation just after a home game, all coincidence I'm sure.

Agreed. I don't think Cortese has been "bad" as such, certainly not, but neither has he really lived up to the hype. Singing is name is genuinely cringeworthy, but not surprising considering some of the stuff our fans come out with.

What a joke, absolutely bizarre idea. Prob worth buying two adults and two kids tickets, still work out cheap and worthwhile for you?

Chamberlain has loads of potential, but in my opinion, its just that at the moment, would be a big gamble for a champions league type team to pay big money for him. Long, long way from the finished article that would do a job at the very top level.

Also, while I'm having a moan, how come the tickets go on sale the Monday after a home Saturday game? To ensure as many as possible have to pay the £3 fee I reckon!

How will this change in allocation make any difference either way to that? Not like we're getting put in an upper tier is there!

Why two per season ticket holder? Bit of a strange one. Also, annoying that they've cut our allocation for what should be another popular away day. And another thing, why the 525 "family tickets". And releasing them on the Monday after a home game, so everyone has to pay the £3!

Agreed. No reason why ot should be two per season ticket holder. Also, weird that our allocation has been dropped from last year. Plus a bit strange that there is 525 family tickets, might be good to keep the support divided between those that stand and those that don't, but that is a fair old chunk of the allocation.