Minty

Typical game where patience and a little bit of composure is required. Keep the faith.

Koeman himself said in the Palace pre-match interview last week that players would NOT be put under pressure to sign contract extensions in January, but that we would expect a reply before April. The Mirror article appears to have no basis.

Targett on for Gardos... interesting!

Osvaldo at QPR? Just in time for our game there on 7th Feb? Watch the odds on a yellow card for Fonte drop through the floor if that happens.

I'm not sure he was awful, but the main point I want to pick up here is in bold. This is the single most important thing IMO. Pochettino started it, Koeman has developed and tweaked it, but players are coming into a solid system, hence why when Morgan and Victor are out, whilst we obviously lose something, we don't just fall to pieces. The system is designed to do a lot of the work... individual ability is the cherry on the icing on top. That, coupled with Koeman himself clearly being a strong motivator and man-manager, and the benefit of hindsight of last summer, means I am less worried about losing ANY player than I ever was at any time supporting Saints. As much as we loved Matt Le Tiss, we are now in a strong position so completely opposite to that time where we relied on the individual. It's why young players, in defence and midfield especially, can come in and develop further with Saints than at most other clubs, where more reliance is placed on their individual ability. In attack it is slightly different because more individual flair is needed to create and take opportunities, but still, the system helps too.

Here is last seasons prize money http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2014/05/14/where-the-money-went-liverpool-top-premier-league-prize-cash-in-2013-14-140501/ And here's Champions League money: http://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Finance/02/11/95/44/2119544_DOWNLOAD.pdf

Not sure I get your problem with Gardos. Yes he has dwelt on the ball a couple of times, but only in early games, and he is sharpening up with every game he plays and is pretty comfortable on the ball overall. He's clearly not yet at Toby or Fonte's level, but he is a very competent player who, given his age, will only get better with experience.

I always said I liked you alps.

Well yes, that was my initial thought, but then you start to over think things... is this improved Arsenal likely to continue, and put us under pressure? Or will their own inconsistency come back to haunt them. In which case them winning keeps City closer to us and gives Arsenal false hope, before they drop off again. And surely this is just a blip for Man City, they'll storm away from us again in the next few games. Or actually will they themselves crumble, so this gives us the chance to catch them... but then again maybe this defeat will be the kick up the arse they need to get going again!?!? Argh! As for 'arry and QPR... I had vague hopes but watching the game it was clear that the only thing that might've stopped Man Utd winning was their own incompetence. QPR are shockingly sh!te, and 'arry just reaffirms that by coaching even more sh!te into them. How he still has a job at the top level is beyond me.

I guess the key difference is that if we don't quite manage to stay in the Top 4, it's not a disastrous situation that could see the very existence of the club threatened due to the financial implications, like relegation pressure. But it undoubtedly does feel similar in many ways - and just as when two fellow relegation candidates play each other, one below, one above, I followed Man City v Arsenal yesterday convincing myself of the reasons why whatever result occurred was good, even though I wasn't really sure what was best! Deep down though, I am loving this 'pressure', however I have to be honest that I am already thinking ahead to next season - that if we can add a little more variation and depth to our squad then we can be a little more consistent and a little more dangerous in attack, then we won't be relying on our defence so much and can consolidate whatever position we get this year. I predicted 12th before the season began, so frankly it's all a bonus.

We are finding ways to win games even when we're knackered and with injuries. That is some achievement. Add some depth and a little more quality, and keep improving and who knows?

We're not bigging ourselves up, the players have to do interviews to fulfil their media commitments, they're just answering questions honestly. And I think what he said was just fine. Don't take it out of proportion.

Fair enough if you ask me. Most people expect him to leave, but lets see where we finish and who knows?

Go on...

I can confirm that one of the replies above is correct.

Another good article IMO: http://mic.com/articles/108028/we-re-asking-all-the-wrong-questions-about-the-charlie-hebdo-attacks

Another good piece IMO: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/11/charie-hebdo-danger-polarised-debate-paris-attacks The cartoon that pap posted was very good too. In the same way that some of our older relatives think nothing of using terms and language which is now considered racist or sexist, so too different religions/countries/cultures move forward at different pace with regard to tolerating and accepting criticism/satire/mockery etc. As the article above discusses, the lines of acceptability are drawn and moved by society as a whole, in different places for different groups at different times. It is not for other societies to tell the world how ours should be, and vice versa, but where two societies overlap, it invariably needs a lot more thought and consideration of how that overlap may influence behaviour on either side.

Robbie Savage is saying some good stuff on 5Live.

2009? Wow.

A big fat zero. I hope a statto will be along to tell us when the last time that happened...

Did they have one? Don't even remember it.

He'll settle in. Shame some people still feel it appropriate to judge him after 45 minutes. Much better from us at the mo.

Well done.

Smalling is all over Pelle again at that corner.