Sour Mash

Exactly. Actually surprised he doesn't seem keen, bad conditions might level the playing field a bit, negate a few of our better players perhaps? Have any of you geeks had a look at any Hartlepool forums to see what they're saying about the chances it goes ahead?

Thursday morning? I bet you they don't call it off anywhere near that early. For what it's worth I reckon it should be on.

Would have been better for one of out many limited allocation away days that are coming up in the 2nd half of the season to be on sky. Guess they've gone for this as there's a chance of a fair few goals, two relatively big sides in this league that should both be pushing for promotion.

Read the article properly you cretin.

What you need is what a lot of other clubs have and have people running independent coaches mini buses etc, especially from places like Salisbury, Newbury etc. Just guess it's too much hassle for people though.

Ticket details http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2234227,00.html Cortese will get his £3 out of us one way or another, bit of a p**s take really.

No. No reason why a decision will be made before the team set-off, look at Hartlepool's home game Saturday just gone against Yeovil, was called off at 1.15pm. Think they tend to wait as long as possible to ensure that if there is any chance the game can be played it is, only tend to call it off when they're 100% certain its unplayable. I'd be surprised if its called off Friday, but we'll see.

Agreed, unfortunately. No trains, early kick off on the 26th Dec, expensive tickets, ground most have done a few times before, all told will mean a relatively small turnout for a London game. Still reckon we'll take about 1.5k up, decent.

Agreed. I've said throughout all last season and this that Lallana is different class, forget his occasional poor decision making around the 18 yard box and wayward shooting at times, the lad is absolute class. Overall I thought it was a good, professional performance. Yes, we never looked amazing, but always looked comfortable and was never too much doubt as to the result. Anyone know why Lambert got taken off at half-time? One of the coldest days I've ever experienced at football by the final whistle!

So, in the albeit unlikely circumstances, if Saints were to go on a great run and make it to the quarter or semi finals, you would have no interest in going and only those you'd consider "sad" would attend? Am I correct?

Been there twice, both utterly sh**e trips, can't blame people for giving it a swerve in favour of other aways. Train deals might be available going up via Brum etc, just thought I'd stick this on here in case anyone is waiting for them to release the cheap ones from London (normally a fair few go up that way).

Just an update for anyone who might be looking to book cheap/advanced fares from London for this game, I've had confirmation from Virgin Trains that no cheap advanced fares will be released for that Saturday as West Ham are playing at Everton. Worth looking at other routes/options if you're planning on going up that route.

Agreed, excellent post. Think it's fair to criticise Brighton for the tactics they used, as I've nexer seen a team time waste and be negative in a first half like that before, but it was all done for a reason and is certainly something we can learn from, like you say, would have helped us massively up at Huddersfield.

Load of cr@p on that forum, makes this place look sensible. However, anyone more knowledgable on these things than I am know quite how "understrength" they were yesterday? Does seem like they had a fair few key players out.

Cheers. As I'm down that end of the ground for a change on saturday I might give it a go, won't do it as a regular thing, but worth a look and actually credit to the club for doing something different. Take it the beer etc is the same as the rest of the ground?

Is this still being done every home game? I'm in the Itchen this Saturday for a change, might take a look if it's still going.

Excellent performance first half, we looked much the better team, just poor decision making and a lack of finishing stopped us going in at half time a couple up. 2nd half was a very different story and they finished much stronger, we looked very tired, can't believe Jaidi continued, he looked f****d! I think the best word to describe Brighton's attitude to the game would be "embarrassing". To be top of the league and approach a game like that, with so much time-wasting and negativity should be embarrassing to any professional supposedly at the top of their game. No problem with teams being defensive/cautious etc, but their attitude at times last night was pathetic. Thought the atmosphere was poor considering the size of the crowd and importance of the game. Not sure what it would take to get 75% of the St Mary's crowd animated and on their feet getting behind the team.

Can't be too far off from opening the Itchen North.

Any idea on number of tickets sold yet?

Exactly. Even if what he said wasn't "right", he was making a valid point worth considering - that should then be debated and considered by us all.

I doubt the contracts were renegotiated to get better value for money, that doesn't happen in the COnstruction industry. More like they went back to the plans and revisited what they were going to do, where savings/improvements could be made before going out to tender with a scope of work NC was fully happy with.

I wouldn't have ever mentioned it again if I was you, but fair play for trying to come back from that one!

Can't believe anyone is even remotely surprised. Surely giving Capello a new bumper contract is one of the worst decisions in English football. What value does he add at all for his circa £6million a year?

I personally think that the whole ground should be open, I agree with you on that. But it's not an excuse to not go to one match. The corners make up a relatively small part of St Marys and it is VERY easy to avoid sitting in those parts if makes such a difference to you. It was VERY easy to buy a seat with a decent view for the Shrewsbury game and it'll it'll be the same for this Cheltenham game, so that's no excuse not to attend I'm afraid. For what it's worth I've sat all over St Marys for various reasons and although, the far corners don't provide as good a view as the half-way line, I can honetly say I've never had a problem enjoying or following the game from them and my eyesight isn't even that good!

I think you're definitely on a wind-up or just looking for an argument. 1) If the view mattered that much, then they could have made an effort and got as close to the half way line as possible as I know plenty of people didn't have any trouble doing just that. I ended up sitting as far in a corner as was possible (went to sit with a mate who had a ticket on his own and a spare seat next to him), back far corner of the Itchen North, view was fine, no problem following the game and plenty of kids there etc seemed happy enough considering the game wasn't the best, certainly no problems with the view. It is just an excuse and a poor one at that I'm afraid.