NewYorkSaint

I kinda like it. gives 3 and 4 a significant advantage over 5-8, which they prob deserve. 5 and 6 still get the benefit of playing at home... I remember thinking while at Wembley on that magic day that the playoff winner had a far BETTER season than those automatically promoted.... More broadly, it's good to give more clubs more to play for for longer into the season. If it were just top 3, hope dies early for many. But this is quite a clever system, giving graduated advantage the higher you place.... but still giving hope to a lot of clubs. In fact most clubs for most of the season can have a pathway to finishing at least 8th. So yeah... I'd vote for this.

Thank you, universe.

Trying to imagine if there's ANY way back here. Archer and Jander off for Stewart and Wood. One goal back and then Leicester manage to do their usual and pick up a red card..... C'mon universe. Give us something?!!

incredible how a single 3-second moment completely changes the narrative of the entire game... and maybe the season. Oh Cyle... we are so happy you've joined us.

Really hope Downes is OK... He's been such an important player last few games.

I expected him just to be tall, strong header of the ball, but the highlights reel shows a lot more...

Great to have Bree back. Matsuki two stunning back flicks. Hoping Stewart can stand up for half an hour at the end... And would like to see Fellows in action. We can do this!

Actually, I'm a Brit, spent early childhood in Southampton, which is why I'm stuck as being a Saints fan for life, despite the guarantee of agony on a regular basis. Baseball's OK. Football is what is actually worth dreaming about... I just prefer excitement to hatred.

I love you too...

I'm a passionate Saints fan but truly struggle w the level of hatred on here for Pompey. Football's tribal, yes, but this is more like cannibalism. Some secret facts about their players, managers and supporters: they have DNA. Their hearts beat and they sleep and wake up every morning just like you do. They have jobs and kids and dreams. My personal vote... determined rivalry yes, disgust and loathing... really?! not needed. I just want a pulsating game - and yes, a memorable saints victory.

Remind me what our formation was when we blew away every team in the first half on four different occasions? Oh... that's right... five at the back. It's weird that once the fan-base gets locked into a single explanation for our woes, any appeal to actual evidence goes out the window. The first 20 comments on X on the team announcement are all winging about that one thing. As opposed to saying... this is about the best line-up we can field right now. To me the main thing that's needed is a real commitment to moving the ball fast, even if that sometimes goes wrong. When it goes right, confidence builds and we become unstoppable. I think it's 50/50 that we return today to a thrilling first half and a minimum of two goals.

I'm the biggest optimist on here, and today even I have nothing... Just awful.

think VAR overturns that... offside

This is more like it...

Look.... we more than held our own away from home against the team lying third. Had the better chances. The team lacks confidence right now, and makes us v jittery in front of goal... it's really too bad. I thought Quarshie had a fine half. He cd be a great player for us.