mrfahaji

Come on Forster, I could've saved that. Awful awful goalkeeping AGAIN.

Does Redmond seem to just "miss the ball" more than the average player? Sometimes it's miscontrol but sometimes he kind of runs the wrong direction and the ball goes past him...

Not sure if you're replying to my post, but it was just a joke in response to Dalek's usual take on things... Although I think it's reasonable to say that the Dell had, due to its small size, a higher proportion of "singing" fans. Even with quiet sections it didn't feel quite the same barren landscape that's St Mary's does when no-one is making any noise.

Plus the atmosphere down there would have been useful for our impending relegation battle

All it would take is for everyone to join in with the songs now and again. I totally understand that people don't want to be standing and singing all game, and if we're being thrashed it can be hard to muster enthusiasm, but 1-0 up in a semi final against Liverpool, creating chances etc and the section I was sat in (Itchen South) was so quiet. I was joining in the Northam songs at the top of my lungs, in the hope that others would join in. But all I seemed to get were disapproving stares. It really is quite unbelievable. Funny how singing goes hand in hand with behind the goal stands, not sure why you can't be a singer while also wanting a half decent view of the game!

Think it was more recent than the Atkinson one, but I vaguely recall a game in recent memory where the ref was dreadful, but equally for both teams! Those ones are easier to accept though. What about Kevin Friend at home to Liverpool a couple of years ago? Think we lost 2-1 in the end, but remember Djuricic being brought down by the last man and nothing doing... Friend did a bit of a Swarbrick with his endless marginal decisions, but also made a couple of big calls too! Remember Jeff Winter giving Chelsea everything one time at the Dell (Nov 2000), but we still managed to run out winners. Chelsea and Winter got them back from 2-0 to 2-2 and Beattie grabbed a late winner. Thing is, any supporter of a big club (or 'neutrals') would just write it off as some sort of inferiority complex, or small-time mentality, moaning etc. Used to love it when Elleray sent off Man Utd players

Ok that would explain why he came off instead of Tadic. Fair dos.

They weren't the only ones though. The whole team were suffering at the end. I was surprised Tadic didn't come off instead of Davis, as he was struggling to get anything right or make any runs - had a chance to do a bread-and-butter (for Tadic at least) whipped ball in for J-Rod and only managed a lame scuff of a pass. It is slightly concerning that we are clearly knackered by the end of the game yet we don't play a particularly high tempo game. Teams that aren't super fit annoy me!

I thought he was excellent last night (I gave him motm, narrowly over Yoshida). He squandered that chance, but I don't think Rodriguez made a purposeful enough run for him to find the pass, he was hovering behind the defender and not making it clear where he was going to run to. At least that's how it seemed from where I was sitting. Nevertheless Cedric should have put it across the keeper - was a typical finish from a full back that had just sprinted the entire pitch!

So disappointing how so few people want to sing or chant. It's easy to criticise and yet not do anything yourself, so last night I made the effort to join in with the Northam OWTS (was sat in Itchen South) at the top of my lungs in the hope others would join in. Instead I got looks and stares as if I was singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" while waving a Pompey flag.

Possibly, I'm not immune to subconsciously falling into that trap (though I'll still spell their names right), but I'm not actively looking for a reason to criticise. I thought our central midfield as a whole was looking pretty shaky for the first 20 minutes, Liverpool were coming straight onto our backline with ease, but improved drastically as the game went on.

Yep, must've done. Certainly tried to pay attention to him in the first half and while he did a few smart simple passes, I noticed him failing to get a foot in and not being quick to loose balls. I've never expected him to ping 40 yard passes, but doesn't have the energy or tenacity I would hope for. I remember him doing well towards the end, wriggling out of a sticky situation and playing a decent pass. But equally I recall him going in for tackles and having nothing to show for it, in contrast I kept noticing Romeu popping up and emerging with the ball. I'd put Clasie in our strongest XI (more accomplished than Hojbjerg but doesn't offer as much going forward), but still think he could be upgraded.

Quite a few people saying how good Clasie was today, I didn't see it. A few neat passes but I find he never seems to win the ball in tackles (unlike Romeu and Schneiderlin who have/had a knack of always getting a foot on the ball). He also doesn't seem to be very quick off the mark to pick up loose balls. Maybe I'm missing something, especially if he did his good work in second half as it was further from where I was sitting and harder to notice! But I'm still unconvinced.

Yep. People would argue that there weren't any "howlers" from the ref but it's the little ones that add up and make the difference. A push here, a throw in decision there, booking Rodriguez for a tired shirt pull and yet not booking Lucas for clattering Romeu and stopping us breaking. So frustrating, but obviously won't be scrutinised by the media because it all fits in with their agenda of getting a United-Liverpool final.

Probably would have brought Tadic off instead of Davis but the others were understandable.

Arrived at St Mary's telling myself that supporting the team in a semi final was the main thing, and even if we lost I'd have to accept it. It could even be a thrashing, but fingers crossed. Strange then to be coming away from the game having beaten Liverpool feeling a tinge of disappointment! Good performance, particularly defensively. Yoshida & Cedric both excellent and of course VVD. Romeu always puts himself about, and gets a foot in, something Clasie still struggles to do in the same way. Tadic struggled, looked a bit tired/unfit at the end (that tired ball to JRod when it should have been whipped across was the sort of ball Dusan normally puts in with ease), yet when he gets it you still feel something could happen. Need to get him back on song as he's not the electric player he can be at the moment.

I thought Schneiderlin was excellent for us and would go on to be a top player for a top club. Surprised it hasn't worked out for him at United, but in truth Arsenal always felt like the place he should have gone. I am also a fan of Romeu, and don't think there are leagues between them. The idea that there isn't much between Schneiderlin and N'Golo Kante though... come off it!

But he wouldn't be playing anyway because he was at the AFCON... While there is a chance he may now be out for longer than anticipated, there's also a possibility he'll be back earlier. It's also a 'vein' of form.

Also better than him playing a few more games and then getting a longer term injury later on in the tournament. Not sure if that way of thinking makes me glass half full or glass half empty...!

Knocking Liverpool out of the league cup and finishing above Everton would be a great season! Funny that we have been so poor yet 7th is still easily within our reach. Equally we could be as low as 15th next week, looking nervously over our shoulder, with any hopes of a Cup Final looking somewhat distant. Taking these one-off matches out of the equation, top half would be a decent enough outcome for the season, but as others have alluded to, I would like to see some comprehensive victories and encouraging defeats rather than comprehensive defeats and unconvincing wins like at the moment. I would be tempted to say that even a bit lower in the table would be ok if we started playing better and either acquired some good players or saw an improvement in current players, but I'm not sure how we could improve those aspects and yet end up finishing lower!

How bad was Tadic? I know a highlight reel far from tells the whole story, but he seemed to be involved in nearly every worthwhile chance we created. Surely he's at least partly playing his role as one of the team's creators, not sure how many other players would have picked out that cross for VVD.

This. Not sure how we can be so slapdash in such a critical area at such a crucial time in the game.

They should allow teams to nominate whether they want a replay. If both teams nominate 'no', then the game is settled in ET and Pens.

Was it really too much to ask to hold out for another 2 minutes against Norwich FFS.

Dave Jones always said that Todd's difficulty in adapting was one of his biggest surprises as he really thought he had what it took. It was pretty clear that after a game (or two?) he didn't though...