yorkie

Is it just me but after the last international break weren't we a bit slow out of the blocks? Surely after this break and a "south coast" derby game will be different - but I think Gus may just shock us! This is by no way a foregone conclusion - I just hope we maintain the home form. Could we really look at 100% record in November - blimey this makes a change to counting points we could win from games in hand to see if we can get out the bottom three! I know we should only be looking one game at a time - but I'm really looking forward to doing Pompey at Fratton Park. A few games before then - probably come down for Blackpool - but definitely going to Doncaster.

I seem to remember Deby doing it for the keeper by surname - Poon...it sounded like they were booing!

For those of us lucky enough to be at The Dell for that game (even though we lost) - no goal by a Saints team will approach it at SMS. Unless we do it against reigning Champions next seaon in The Premier League...26-passes that is!

In Nigel's interview on Solent it was pass number 26 into the back of the net! I was watching a very good quality stream, and it was awesome. Saying all that Boro's defenders gave Rickie a bit too much space, but he dropped his shoulder and the defender bought it! Saying all that in previous years our forward would probably have been offside! Rickie Lambert is a true star - unselfish, a team player and all round nice guy who is worthy of a chance in The Premier League...just hope he does it with the mighty Saints!

Looked pretty good to me on a live stream for the second half. No real pressure and Boro lacked a cutting edge. Great 3rd goal, patient build up, but Boro defending woeful. The table looks good to me and hopefully another home game on Tuesday could well be even prettier come 9.35pm. We looked very balanced today - and I would say the starting 11 is the best we have. It works and plays together very well. On second half performance alone I would give MOM to Chappers - he was fantastic.

Well as far as news on Lallana - Pilchards (our correspondent from Staplewood) has had his perch chopped down and can no longer watch training or those watching training with or without crutches? Let's not worry about Lallana as Nigel will only pick him if he is ready! No good saying he was jogging around Staplewood so his foot is OK - he is chomping at the bit (according to Nigel's interview after Tuesday's game) - but he will only play when Nigel knows (not thinks) he is ready. Be nice to see him in with the 4,000-fans if not playing...but then again enthusiasm of some fans might make the injury worse!

Listening to Nigel's post match interview - he's not worried about that! Cutting edge - yes when we need to we go for it - but at 1-0 up against a "superior" side - when you have the ball they can't hurt you! All that aside I think this is when we miss Lallana - Guly never seems to want to go on one of those type of runs that seems to be Lallana's trade mark when we break. I guess it's a confidence thing and Guly is playing the numbers game to keep the boss happy. He doesn't go on those runs because he gets caught out after the third man when he should have passed it well before then! Still let's pick out the three positives from last nights game: 1. Score from a corner 2. Kept a clean sheet 3. No injuries

Message to Agent Pilchards at Staplewood...Is Adam still on crutches? Big Sam wants to know if you post yesterday was a hoax? Keep it under you hat - and PM me with the answer!

De Ridder went down in the area yesterday and I thought it was definitely worth a shout for a penalty. His direct running will produce this type of opportunity in the future.

Second full house in 4-days - if the players can't be up for it then I am very concerned. WHU will try to stifle our passing game and hope we resort to direct hoof ball by-passing our midfield - but we are far from a one dimensional team and we will sort that out. Still think we look weak at the back - and if we start as slowly against WHU we will go one behind for sure. WHU will then shut up shop - and we will be under pressure to break down a 10-man defence - and probably get caught on the break. The first 10-mins are critical and if we score early I think we will boss the game. The longer it stays 0-0 I would imagine WHU will run out of steam by 75-mins and we take them apart with our superior fitness. But then again what do I know? It is the biggest game of the season thus far - it could be Leeds all over again! A big away following with expectations to take us apart - yet little old Southampton standing their ground, going toe to toe, and coming out victorious. Bring it on - with or without Lallana I think we will be too strong at home for West Ham.

Never sat down once and I'm officially a Codger! Thought it was a pretty even game - Lambo nearly sealed the win in injury time still don't now how it didn't go in! Fair result but with Adam we would have won! Good day out and still top long may it continue!!

I just love all this months before anything kicks off - literally! Why are people so obsessed with going to that sh*thole? I've been there and run the gauntlet since the mid seventies - been there, seen it, done it...honestly not interest in going to their manor ever again - not even when Saints are there! Now at SMS it's a different matter... Still it's on terrestrial TV what more could you want? I bet it's a sell out and all the old morons come out to play...the blue few suddenly become the blue not so few...bet there's plenty of Saints in the home end(s)

Blimey I knew there would some I'd forget - how could I forget Rotherham, Stoke & Oxford United...been there too!

Simple really - just buy your ticket in the home end - there will be plenty of space as their crowds have dropped significantly - and they won't want to witness the humiliation about to be dealt out!

Blimey been to lots too! Arsenal, Bristol Rovers, Bolton, Brighton, Coventry, Colchester, Derby, Leicester, Man. City, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Southampton, Wembley. Really can't think of any others but some grounds have changed dramatically Chelsea for example. Many of the old stadiums had edge, terracing is a great memory and somehow made football feel more working class. Looking at some of the new locations out of town centres make for less drinking time and more expensive parking. Football is easier to watch in the new stadiums - but some of them are soulless lumps of steel & concrete!

I'd be happy with 8-points - keeping up the 2/game average. I'd be happy with 9, over the moon with 10 & ecstatic with 12! Over to the lads now to deliver the best they can...so 12-it is then?

Really hard month ahead - Reading are a bit of a bogey team for us - but as for Boro & West Ham not a worry. More concerned about Derby next week but we are extremely fit and if we are still in it with 15-mins to go we will win there.

My take is that however we go up and when it will be different this time around. We are good going forward, combative in midfield but still creaky at the back. However we are not clinical enough - in the league above you have to take your chances, and we miss too many. OK we create a lot, but against better teams we won't create that much - take Man U (reserves) in the Cup last season. We will do better than many expect, but the problem for me isn't the team and spirit - it's about the pressure to bring in world class players for big money, and how Nigel deals with that. He has brought a kind of harmony to the whole club. Can you imagine the pressure from the fans and press to sign a big name? Big names means big money - and is that what Saints are all about? I would rather have a team giving 100% every week with honesty than have 5 Tevez's in the side on MEGA bucks and spitting dummies out, and be happy to sit on the bench and take their money. The problem for me is the fanbase in general expects big names - I only want a big name if he wants to play for us and be part of the team, and get on the bus. We are without doubt playing exciting and entertaining football - all I want from my team and to be fair in any League. The prize is The Premiership, but in all honesty our fanbase just want success. I can imagine going up and getting tonked a couple of times - watch the moaning minnies appear again. Life is too short to get too hung up on if and buts - just enjoy the ride of this season and se where we end up. The Premiership can wait - not sure Nicola can!

Think we are doing OK - and possibly better. After 10-games teams won't have fully sussed us out, but we can be contained and frustrated - and rely on great saves to stay in games. Saying all that after 10-games we cannot be any higher in the league, but one could argue we could have more points and a better goal difference. Like any report on progress - I think we are doing very well, but must avoid the over confidence scenario. I can't believe this is Saints we are talking about after the last 5-years...but compared to a lot of teams (like West Ham for example) we should be ecstatic. We have a compitent squad, not spent millions on fees or salaries - and from what I can see we are together as a fans for once!

This is why football is so addictive - we all share dreams and visions as fans, but a Chairman going public like this is great. Unlike Risdale at Leeds we want to live the dream - but not at any cost! Mr Cortese, Mr Chairman or just plain Nicola - our club is all together. some fans are never satisfied - personally I'm over the moon. As far as ambition goes - the players must be as hungry. The way some have stepped up to the plate has been fantastic. I just love our club.

The problem was at Leicester Cork went to RB in the second half and we dominated the game. Leicester had no threat on the left - so Cork didn't have too much defending to do. I personally think we played too deep in the second half - and invited Forest on to us. Not sure Fox is a natural left back - Harding looks far more compitent to me, cetainly better defending. The big Dutch lad looks pretty solid, reads the game well but looks short of match fitness at the intensity we play at. Sure he and Fonte will form a decent partnership - but with Fonte trying to cover for Cork as well - we looked really stretched at times. I expect a lot will be resolved on the training ground. Delighted with the result - and the speed which we counter attack. The second goal scored by Lambert yesterday was fantastic. Only trouble is the BBC show if from the cross - but the build up prior to that was brilliant. Adkins is right - but the character we show with people playing out of position is great. We have a couple of decent players in importnat positions - someone mentioned the spine of the team. From Davis through Fonte, Hammond to Lambert - and who can forget Lallana & Cork? Chaplow made a big difference when he came on - and Guly is great going forward but tries his best to support the RB. All in all a great days entertainment - bring on the Brummie's...let's just hope they struggle for one more week and we make it 13 on the bounce at SMS.

Reflection and hindsight are great tools for the mass debater to fall back on when all reasoning seems to have gone out the window. Walsall last season was a one off game - we battered them, played some lovely football - couldn't score and got done by their only shot on target from memory. So we lost - I think Rochdale was a bigger disappointment. For some the joy of football is only about winning - for others it is the way your team plays and whether you feel they have given their all. As fans we all have a right to an opinion - but that's all it is. Some people on here take everything written as gospel - and can't see the wider picture. This is my own view - watching Adkins create a team with spirit and a winning mentality over the last 12-months has been a joy. The commitment of the players has been second to none except for the odd exception. The fans away from home have been fantastic - the atmosphere generated has been excellent. Numbers don't lie - we take more away now than when we were in The Premiership. Perhaps nothing to do with signing a big name - but who needs them? I am really enjoying watching and following Saints at the moment - and one or two signings will not make any difference to that!

You complain now - wait until we reach The Premiership!!!!!

As much as I liked Beattie - he was a cause of disruption in the camp last time around from memory. He was never the most athletic of forwards - some might say lazy. He could hold the ball up if it was kicked at him but seem to remember if it was more than a forearm away from him he let it go. Seem to remember stories about him out and about town and some of his (urgh) alleged habits! He's not the sort of player we want around our squad with his dilusions of grandeur - and stories of conquests past in The Premier League. I can see him being liked by the squad as he is a bit of a lad by all accounts - but I think he would tend to be more trouble in the dressing room than it is worth. "Don't you know who I am - I'm James Beattie first name on the team sheet" - not any more mate you have to earn the right in training to play for us now - not just turn up in your Lambogini!

Am I the only one to feel sorry for the baptism of fire? It's all very well being part of a squad at Arsenal - but to be introduced at Old Trafford when already behind? What was his job to close down and support the midfield or provide an outlet and score a hat-trick? Clearly there were many who enjoyed the fact Arsenal got their arse kicked - but what will it do for his confidence? He's a bright lad and he will be stewing on it for ages! I didn't agreee with his motives and the timing of the move - but there is very little charity being expressed on here towards a potentially great English player. Chin up AOC - your time will come - one day!