Upton72

Classy look about the new site, well done Steve

I'm a bit surprised that a lot of people believe the club should have let this incident go. The referee, by definition, is impartial, neutral and unbiased. If the referee fails those tests all credibility is lost. It's part of what is called "Respect". Referees have sanctions against those who scream abuse at them. Some take a stronger view than others on swearing, others live with it. In no case can a referee show bias. In my view, Clattenburg showed bias and should be disciplined. He lost credibility the moment he made that personal comment. Like other posters, I tend to think it is part of a wider club effort to get him off our games. I only wonder if it now marks Southampton, and Adam Lallana specifically, for the future. Do Clattenburg's mates in the profession close ranks and look for anything that can get back at us. I wouldn't be surprised. But, behind it all, I think the club is right to raise the issue.

It was a Capital One Cup tie and Saints had 11 on the field who had never started a match together. It was an attempt by the coaching staff, as said by Wild Saint, to give a number of people 90 minutes. You could see that Jack Cork struggled after 45 and was barely visible in the 2nd half when our midfield was overrun; but he got his 90 minutes and will be better for it. In the 2nd half, Bristol could easily have won it. Yoshida showed his class, Gaston's stunning volley could hardly be bettered, Jos was Jos, it didn't run for Guly, JWP will mature into a fine player. MP won't have the same side out for the next round unless it's a "no hoper" away to Liverpool; oh!

I've always preferred the talented to the "water carriers" so my bias is there for all to see. Look, he got his first 90 minutes in a long time and he provided the only quality moment of a tie that, and, 2nd half, Bristol could easily have won. He is also the only attacking midfield player prepared to run at defences through the middle. OK, he loses the ball quite often but, come Saturday and Palace "park the bus", he's the only player we've got who can, potentially, unlock a defence. Others have pointed out that "he's only 22". I think that's irrelevant. What's more important in my mind is, he's in a foreign land, (don't say he's played in Italy and that's foreign because players from Latin America feel a geater affinity with Mediterranean countries, less so to England), he's got different pressures, language, culture and those can contribute to a lack of confidence which he alluded to in his Twitter messages. Those 8000 Saints Supporters who were there last night will have seen have much that goal meant to him, even if it was in an empty stadium and the Capital One Cup. He won't play every match and I believe he'll be better at home than away for all the reasons cited in earlier posts, but, I'd like to think he'll come good.

I watched it on Sky and struggled to understand why Cork wasn't even on the bench. I think the points about Wanyama are valid, to which should be added that coming to this league from the Scottish top tier is quite a step and he needs time. As far as I can gather, he's inconsistent at present. It is a squad game and they are all there to put pressure on each other and, hopes MP, to improve all their individual performance levels. It looks like Morgan's game has suffered from Cork's absence but then again it takes time to adjust to a different player being alongside. It'll be fascinating to see MP's selections for the next 3 games. It'll give us a better indication of his capacity to make crucial decisions.

Absolutely fascinating 30 minutes; credit to those who filmed it and to those who allowed it to be filmed; mind you, nothing contentious, no tunnel fights, all seemed very amicable. Interesting, but not altogether surprising that Ramirez & Suarez were comparing notes at half time, seemed reluctant to part. I didn't realise how early the officials arrived.

Is it the time for NA to have a substitute goalie on the bench? Hunt has previous with goalkeepers and i wouldn't be surprised if their big lads targetted Kelvin at corners & free-kicks.

I imagine that very few players come here with a level of fitness described as "Saints fit". Billy Sharp falls into that category. All credit to the medical & coaching staff for giving us a side that can still put maximum effort in on 90 minutes. Just look at how Rickie's fitness has improved compared to the aftermath of that disastrous pre-season under AP. Billy shows good movement and anticipation. Nigel and the team will build on that for this season and next when he'll be much fitter and more acquainted with the system. Billy will play 90 minutes when Nigel decides he can do it at our tempo.

Its an award given by the managers and, with the odd exception, there can't be more unbiased judges of opposing players. In that respect alone Rickie is obviously highly regarded by people who matter. I think he's had a tremendous season, giving all-round quality to the team; just hope the award isn't the "kiss of death" in the way MoM is! (wouldn't mind the "kiss of death" for Gus though.)

Done

He does know his stuff; really knowledgeable and infinitely less biased than he was a season back.

I don't think there's any doubt Humpries either hadn't done his homework or is really biased against the Saints. I tend to think it was the former. Very obvious he prefers the glamour of Formula 1 and it was left to Claridge to place the Saints performance in context, "they've played better than this", which, he's done fairly on the FLS whenever I've seen him. Shearer performed as he does on MOTD, totally anodyne, little insight, and, again, poor preparation.

Just caught up with Hollow's comments on the FLS; much more measured, perhaps he'd had time to calm down and he was very complementary about NA.

Football makes us all see things/players differently; see every post-match reaction above. The shift that Cork put in, particularly 2nd half was terrific and the ground Guly covered was amazing. Let's stress the positives. Thanks to the referee, (where do they get them from), the crowd was a noise and contributed to the passage of play that eventually led to the 2nd goal. We preserved our unbeaten record, that's worth a lot. WHU got stuffed. Keep positive. Blackpool played their football on the ground and were a good passing side. We were worth our point and the timing shows that Nigel keeps them going until the end of full time. I've not heard what Holloway said but nothing surprises me what he says down here. He's not really recovered from the roasting Saints fans gave him after their cup defeat. I'll be interested to see the 2 penalty appeals on the FLS later.

Hull were arguably the best footballing side we've had at SMS. To think what WHU were noted for and then to see just what Big Sam does to his teams doesn't bear thinking about for anyone who appreciated football played at ground level. Still he'll get them promoted and that'll be enough for a time, but not forever with the WHU fans. I can't say that Hull were really threatening and neither were we which was why the first half was devoid of atmosphere. There's absolutely no doubt that Nigel has Plan B should it be necessary and last night it was. Interesting to see the comments about Guly. As some one said, the beauty is that he's so unpredictable. Equally, talking about first touch, for a big man Rickie controls the ball beautifully. We showed character to come back and that's about team spirit.

I'm coming round to the opinion that Walton, having realised that he'd incorrectly awarded the first one, decided he'd better even things up by not giving the man-handling one. As the FLS showed, he was absolutely right in line with that incident with a clear line of sight. It was like a mugging. If that was Walton's approach, "make amends, it'll be alright and people will forget"; perhaps human nature but totally stupid really because I'm not entirely convinced, after watching the FLS, that Calderon actually made contact with Rickie for his 2nd penalty. Perhaps by that time Walton had lost the will to make a correct decision by then and wasn't sure whether it was our turn or not!

He's got a better Plan B than Gideon Osborne

West Ham were always the by word for attractive football for those of us with long memories. Big Sam isn't that sort of manager and, as pointed out earlier, a fair chunk of their fan base, remembering their heritage, didn't like his appointment. Like most football fans, if the team is winning, it's all good. I've got friends coming down for the match, long time season ticket holders and I've advised that "silky football and towering individual skills may not be on Big Sam's agenda for the evening" They have got players with some pedigree and they'll be dangerous. Too close to call for me.

Its one we wouldn't have won last year. The Mark Clattenburg Premier League Show was in evidence Full credit to Nigel who got his tactics spot on. Barney got booked for his celebration but I'm not sure if was the gestures to the home fans of for being submerged in our fans. Absolutely brilliant centre back pairing

Cracking game, MKD, 2 attempts, 2 goals; the first, our marker, possibly Lambert ended up on his backside, the second, Butterfield lost him for pace, might have been a slight deflection but I don't think KD ever expected the lad to get through. Butterfield is a very good tackler and no one can fault his application this season but those with speed exploit his lack of pace. I thought Richardson did a fine job when he came on and it'll be a tough call for NA on Tuesday for RB. The changes made by NA, coupled with the enforced departure of Baldock, put MKD on the back foot. To be fair their sub up front looked sharp and gave us some trouble. Lambert did what so many on this forum don't appreciated, he had a major part in all three goals. Centre across to Forte; pinpoint pass to Lallana who controlled it as perhaps only he can and sent Harding through on the overlap that the goalie spilled, slipped the ball through to Barnard for the third. All credit to Forte for being in the right place. If you think team spirit will have a lot to do with it, just look on the OS while Barnard is running to celebrate, there's Lambert, fists clenched giving a "we've done it". Very nervous last 5 minutes and that free kick that hit the bar makes you think of a "defining moment" Some of the earlier comments are worth repeating, particularly about the impact coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 does, not only for the team's confidence but a result like that frightens other promotion contenders and does anyone think NA will have a job motivating them for Tuesday night. They'd have played today if they could! There's still a job to do and, I suspect we'll lose again; but never doubt their will to win.

Wrote to him middle of last season to compliment the performance of the Ticket Office who helped me over a problem. He replied, a little while later, but well within the time I'd consider reasonable for a CEO to respond. Ever tried dealing with HMRC and getting a sensible response?

I think most comments from people who went to the match have got it right. D&G weren't up to much but they never stopped trying.It did go a bit flat after 70 minutes but that's surely because we aren't used to "coasting" Which other team in the division can afford to take their two top strikers off after 65 minutes and still play in the opposition's half. Rickie looked better; his nod on for Lallana to create Barney's goal was how it used to be. Richardson shows just how difficult it is to get back to full match fitness in two matches; but he'll come good. Adkins comments about OC, spot on; he'll have good days, he'll have bad days and we'll bring him on. First goal, flukey and down to a last minute replacement goalkeeper, 2nd one, I'd like to think he meant it. What's important is a good win against poor opposition of the type that seemed to cause us problems last season. Big tests to come and I don't mean Shrewsbury.

For me Lambert has to stay in the team, he's one of those players that needs to rev up and only first team games will get the engine moving to what it was in the 2nd half of last season. Equally, don't dismiss his ability to bring other players into the game. It's not like last season where the flick ons were headers, that's not working yet and NA alluded to it last week that they are "still working with Rickie on some body issues". One thing's for sure, he didn't like being taken off. OC is still an impact player. He's young, has undoubted talent and seems to be one of those players that the richocets always come back to him and not go elsewhere. He's liable to score goals like Saturday; he's also liable to give the ball away in dangerous areas. He'll continue to learn and I think NA is getting his education right and at the correct pace. Midfield remains a puzzle. We've not seen the best of Adam yet and that's because he's only just coming up to full match fitness. One thing's for sure, we miss him when he's not on, or he's closed out by the type of marking Oldham gave him. Only when the subs came on and forced Oldham to shore up other parts of the field did he achieve more of what he is capable. Chaplow had a miserable first half but plugged away and kept going. He was also lucky not to get booked again for going in with his foot up. Puncheon is putting in the work rate, he'll get his goals soon, we should persevre. I take the point made by others that Morgan takes some time to "adjust" to League 1 after days with Les Bleus. Wonder why that is? You won't see many better saves anywhere than that made by Kelvin to secure 3 points; priceless and almost worthy of forgiving him for the wayward play out from the back that nearly cost us. Guly; I'm still not sure but he continues to improve and contributes more each time I've seen him. It must be a massive culture shock for him. Butterfield didn't have a good first half, improved in the second. I don't think it'll be long before NA finds a starting place for Frazier. Interesting point made by one poster; where you sit, and at what height, determines your judgements of players and their movements. I think there's truth in that. May be we should initiate a thread that delivers opinions defined by where the poster sits; look for correlations between Chapel and criticism of Puncheon; Northam and total support for Jose? One final word; D'Urso, unable to get basic decisions right, unable to exercise control, (quite how he let Feeney get away with dictating the drop ball situation is beyond me) and seemly no respect from the players. Wessex League looms if anyone does the assessment properly. Still, he warmed us up didn't he?

Saw him demanding the ball be played to him along the back line against Colchester. His confidence is way up.

Yes, wonderful to have a new player, young Darren! Sloppy journalism as it so often is. No wonder regional programmes are under threat in the next round of cost-cutting