Saints 2 Watford 1 - Post Match

[badgerx16]

How shyte must Adams be in training if he can’t get in ahead of Long

Adams has started far more games than Long this season.

[HarvSFC]

Gunn's started seven more league games than McCarthy... He's talking about the here and now.

 

(Although I thought Long did his usual job well when coming on tonight)

[spyinthesky]

My view.

 

Wrong team selection and we were absolutely shi*te first half.

 

Reminded me of the Branfoot era.

 

Too many passes backwards, possibly due to lack of forward movement.

 

Great save by McCarthy (with his feet) from a volley. If we had gone 2-0 down then 'goodnight vienna'

 

I feel sorry for Jack Stephens. I think he cares more than most but he made two major mistakes, one of which gave Watford their goal.

 

Playing two in midfield is a mistake.

 

We need 3 in midfield plus two upfront from Ings/Redmond/Djnepo/Boufal.

 

You could feel the relief form the hardy Saints fans who were blasting out 'Oh When the Saints' at the end.

 

Despite all the euphoria, I reckon these are two poor sides who will be down in the Championship next season.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

People seem to have watched a better and different JWP than I did. The one trick pony’s one trick came off and he scored which I guess is why he gets picked. The number of sideways and backwards passes, the way he slows play down, I thought he was bloody dreadful, as was PEH and Stephens....oh and Cedric

Agree with this - straight after the equaliser instead of trying to captialise on it he was back in his own half just in front of the defenders, facing back towards his own goal doing the slow it down thing with his hands. Terrific strike for the free kick though. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

[Crab Lungs]

"Blonde bint" is a degoratory description and is sexist. If you think it isn't it says more about you than me!

 

Don’t worry, I’m a racist bigot as well so I don’t mind adding sexist to that list.

[DT]

Don’t worry, I’m a racist bigot as well so I don’t mind adding sexist to that list.

 

Excellent manifesto

 

 

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[stknowle]

Gunn's started seven more league games than McCarthy... He's talking about the here and now.

 

(Although I thought Long did his usual job well when coming on tonight)

 

Yes exactly.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I was stood with those cretins fighting and no they weren't Watford fans. After we scored our second some tw*ts were jumping on fans below them and pushing fans down rows of chairs. Some 15 year old kid with a mullet got angry with one of the people doing the pushing and some older woman he seemed to know who looked like a caveman started squaring up to people. It culminated in some old bloke squaring up to the 15 year old and telling him he would meet him outside and then another bloke they were with getting carted out by the stewards after trying to continue the fighting. The thick woman left shortly after.

 

Jesus that sounds better than the game

[hypochondriac]

Jesus that sounds better than the game

To be fair it made the end of the game go quicker so I wasn't as nervous!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

My view.

 

Wrong team selection and we were absolutely shi*te first half.

 

Reminded me of the Branfoot era.

 

Too many passes backwards, possibly due to lack of forward movement.

 

Great save by McCarthy (with his feet) from a volley. If we had gone 2-0 down then 'goodnight vienna'

 

I feel sorry for Jack Stephens. I think he cares more than most but he made two major mistakes, one of which gave Watford their goal.

 

Playing two in midfield is a mistake.

 

We need 3 in midfield plus two upfront from Ings/Redmond/Djnepo/Boufal.

 

You could feel the relief form the hardy Saints fans who were blasting out 'Oh When the Saints' at the end.

 

Despite all the euphoria, I reckon these are two poor sides who will be down in the Championship next season.

 

Pretty spot on. Stephens has heart so I can sort of forgive him but that was pretty shoddy stuff today which we shouldn’t forget amid the euphoria of getting 3 points. Redmond was incredibly poor and has been all season. I also think we won despite Ralph today because yet again that first 45 mins was an utter shambles and the manager must take the blame for our original set up.

[SaintBobby]

We were appalling today. The first half was as bad as the defeat to Leicester.

 

Bertrand was a disgrace, but he wasn’t the only one who seemed not to give a sh1t.

 

Only saving grace was Watford were even worse. It was basically a League One match. At best.

 

Still, we might contrive a way out of this mess with 3 vital points, I guess.

[SNSUN]

 

Despite all the euphoria, I reckon these are two poor sides who will be down in the Championship next season.

 

Our saving grace in previous seasons has been hoping there are 3 other teams worse than us. Annoyingly this season, poor teams like Sheffield United, Burnley, Brighton, Villa, Newcastle and you could even say Palace have all been picking up points when we haven't.

 

Watford have a decent team on paper, and if Flores goes (which sounds crazy but I don't think it will be long) and they appoint a half decent manager, they could still rise up the table. As will Everton if Silva goes. Our best hope is if a couple of those teams I mention go on spells of bad form, coupled with us picking up some points.

 

I look at Norwich and, despite my divided loyalty as they are my wife's team, them not signing anyone of note in the summer will probably be their downfall. That's at least one spot taken up. Then we have to hope that there are two other teams worse than us. I'm not sure there are this season, and that's the worry. Still, there's two thirds of the season still to go, so anything can happen.

[Shroppie]

People seem to have watched a better and different JWP than I did. The one trick pony’s one trick came off and he scored which I guess is why he gets picked. The number of sideways and backwards passes, the way he slows play down, I thought he was bloody dreadful, as was PEH and Stephens....oh and Cedric

Disagree. JWP contributed a lot today. The problem was a lack of movement in front of him, often forcing him to play the safe pass. I'd agree Cedric didn't have a great game - lack of forward driving when he had the chance. Yes, Stephens made a couple of mistakes, but overall I thought he was good.

 

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[Charlie Wayman]

My view.

 

Wrong team selection and we were absolutely shi*te first half.

 

Reminded me of the Branfoot era.

 

Too many passes backwards, possibly due to lack of forward movement.

 

Great save by McCarthy (with his feet) from a volley. If we had gone 2-0 down then 'goodnight vienna'

 

I feel sorry for Jack Stephens. I think he cares more than most but he made two major mistakes, one of which gave Watford their goal.

 

Playing two in midfield is a mistake.

 

We need 3 in midfield plus two upfront from Ings/Redmond/Djnepo/Boufal.

 

You could feel the relief form the hardy Saints fans who were blasting out 'Oh When the Saints' at the end.

 

Despite all the euphoria, I reckon these are two poor sides who will be down in the Championship next season.

 

I didn't see this match, I was watching Saints v Watford on TV. Lots of good stuff played by us, we jus meed to take a pause, settle down and get composed. All a little frantic at times

 

Ward Prowse was MotM by a country mile this evening. Good for him. Boufal and Djenepo on the wings must start. Redmond needs some time out, far too much aimless running around with no end product in sight.

[Bridge]

JWP, is so ****...I can't believe he is even in the team. No pace, can not tackle, losses the man around him, doesn't find space, corners hardly ever beat the first man the list goes on and on. Would prefer berty taking free kicks and corners. We need an upgrade on JWP badly...pinning my hopes on Armstrong as we do not have the depth in the squad at the moment.

 

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[Shroppie]

JWP, is so ****...I can't believe he is even in the team. No pace, can not tackle, losses the man around him, doesn't find space, corners hardly ever beat the first man the list goes on and on. Would prefer berty taking free kicks and corners. We need an upgrade on JWP badly...pinning my hopes on Armstrong as we do not have the depth in the squad at the moment.

 

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Just totally wrong. He had a good game. What is your agenda?

 

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[beatlesaint]

Just totally wrong. He had a good game. What is your agenda?

 

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He didn’t have a good game, nobody did really, let’s not let three points paper over the cracks. JWP and PEH is the weakest central midfield partnership in the league by a country mile.

[Jonnyboy]

JWP, is so ****...I can't believe he is even in the team. No pace, can not tackle, losses the man around him, doesn't find space, corners hardly ever beat the first man the list goes on and on. Would prefer berty taking free kicks and corners. We need an upgrade on JWP badly...pinning my hopes on Armstrong as we do not have the depth in the squad at the moment.

 

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Yet got us our first home win of the season today.

[S-Clarke]

It wasn't great, two very, very, very poor sides on show.

 

Somehow, we got over the line with a bit of huff and puff towards the end, but christ it's a painful watch. We were devoid of anything for the majority of that game.

 

It's going to be a very long season, although a win is a relief, it doesn't change my view that we are utterly, utterly dreadful at football in the main.

[Shroppie]

He didn’t have a good game, nobody did really, let’s not let three points paper over the cracks. JWP and PEH is the weakest central midfield partnership in the league by a country mile.

But just for the moment, I'm celebrating a win. You're obviously disappointed with that. But I'm a Saints fan.

 

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[Forester]

Awful first half with two teams lacking in confidence. Felt like a 4-2-4, a throw back to the Chris Nichol era but without the quality!

 

Credit though to Ralph for his subs who I changed the game. Long gets loads of stick but he injected energy, and Boufal was the best player on the pitch.

 

I have been saying on here that we should reserve judgment until we have played everyone once. With the anomaly of Chelsea being played a second time before we play Palace the minimum target remains 20 points after 20 games. That means eight more from six matches which is very credible.

[Saint_Tony]

VAR have admitted making a mistake in allowing our equaliser to stand. Bit of an odd thing to do as it's made so many errors, and I think it would have been incredibly harsh to rule it out for that.

 

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[washsaint]

Disagree. JWP contributed a lot today. The problem was a lack of movement in front of him, often forcing him to play the safe pass. I'd agree Cedric didn't have a great game - lack of forward driving when he had the chance. Yes, Stephens made a couple of mistakes, but overall I thought he was good.

 

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Spot on Shroppie. The haters hating on JWP: he was tenacious (yes he misplaced some passes but quite often no-one was showing for him so only pass was back) and in case anyone has forgotten - he has scored 4 of our Prem goals this season and him and Ings (6) are our only scorers of the last 10 Prem goals!

 

Stephens has heart and was unfortunate for the first - Bertrand and Cedric were far, far worse than the 2 CBs today. I would happily see neither in a Saints shirt again although we are stuck with Bertrand.

 

We are still an awful side but will enjoy the win!

[washsaint]

JWP, is so ****...I can't believe he is even in the team. No pace, can not tackle, losses the man around him, doesn't find space, corners hardly ever beat the first man the list goes on and on. Would prefer berty taking free kicks and corners. We need an upgrade on JWP badly...pinning my hopes on Armstrong as we do not have the depth in the squad at the moment.

 

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WHat utter s***e. Do you have an agenda? Bertrand was f*****g awful (again) and nearly cost us the game. Did you have your eyes shut when JWP was making tackle after tackle?

[VectisSaint]

WHat utter s***e. Do you have an agenda? Bertrand was f*****g awful (again) and nearly cost us the game. Did you have your eyes shut when JWP was making tackle after tackle?

JWP did not make tackle after tackle. He was absolutely woeful today (goal excepted). No idea what you were watching.

[Batman]

He didn’t have a good game, nobody did really, let’s not let three points paper over the cracks. JWP and PEH is the weakest central midfield partnership in the league by a country mile.

 

Wait, are saying we don’t have the best midfield in the league?

[sydney_saint]

Spot on Shroppie. The haters hating on JWP: he was tenacious (yes he misplaced some passes but quite often no-one was showing for him so only pass was back) and in case anyone has forgotten - he has scored 4 of our Prem goals this season and him and Ings (6) are our only scorers of the last 10 Prem goals!

 

Stephens has heart and was unfortunate for the first - Bertrand and Cedric were far, far worse than the 2 CBs today. I would happily see neither in a Saints shirt again although we are stuck with Bertrand.

 

We are still an awful side but will enjoy the win!

He had a good game today. Yes there were some misplaces passes. I haven't seen the stats but he probably had the highest passing retention rate in out side. Whilst that might be frustrating as sometimes he does go back (but actually not as much as some think) we simply do not have a good enough defence to win games if we only have 40%. And it's interesting how much stick he gets about his passing when Hoj goes equally sideways and backwards but loses the ball when doing so. Ultimately though it is those players that are good at retention that fans turn on first- see winks at spurs. Yet those same style players are really valued by managers

 

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[doddisalegend]

We won great to win at home at last and get 3pts... but ****ing hell we where poor for much of the game any team better than Watford would have been out of sight in the first half.

 

Redmond and Obefemi where very poor and deservedly replaced and the subs played better.

 

Our defence playing the ball around at the back was giving me kittens as they aren't good enough on the ball for that ****.

 

Defence still looks shaky as hell if Watford could finish we would have been in real trouble.

 

Central Midfield was dire for most of the game giving the ball away a lot. JWP set pieces where poor but he redeemed himself with his one decent set piece of the game.

 

We played much better against Arsenal and didn't get what we probably deserved. Today we where poor but got more than we probably deserved .....funny old game football.

 

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[saintwbu]

For Ward-Prowse to keep stepping up time and time again to take corners and free kicks, despite his own fans booing him and chanting for an alternative player to replace him, shows some pair of ********. He never hides, he never goes missing. He’s not always good, but he’s got a hell of a lot more about him that a lot of players to keep trying and trying. The atmosphere today was absolutely embarrassing, I actually felt like I wanted to leave and it wasn’t because of the players. The reaction Alex McCarthy got for not playing the long ball to Djenepo we all expected, and instead delaying and playing a safe pass instead, was horrendous. If ever there’s a player who has done nothing to deserve stick then McCarthy is one of them.

 

I’m so glad we won, but until about 60 minutes I was absolutely appalled by our fans. So pleased for JWP to score the winner and get his chance to ‘sshhh’ those ******s as he celebrated.

 

The only time it should be considered even remotely acceptable to boo your own player is a clear lack of effort, and even that is going to be opinion in most cases. You absolutely should not boo your own players just because they’re not as good as you think they should be.

[Bridge]

JWP is a dog sh!t player. Open your frigging eyes and watch him play if you disagree. He is one of the reasons why we are so bad...It's not a hate thing going on. Anybody with a bit of football nouse will tell that.

 

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[tajjuk]

The first half is honestly understandable, we have been completely gash at home for a while and we have been worse at breaking down teams that just defend at home for even longer, and you could see the nerves and the pressure there on the players because of that, terrible home record, pressure to win a 'winnable' game, an opposition that just wanted to sit in and defend, it was the exact opposite of last week.

 

Watford just sat deep and lumped it into the corners, any chance they had was our own making and that was where the goal was from (though I think Stevens was unlucky with it). Then going forward it was aimless at times, we needed to be more patient, work Watford but instead often rushed the pass or lumped it into the corners as well where there was no space because they were defending deep.

 

Second half was much better and hopefully that win will give the players confidence, its two monkeys off the back, its a home win and we held on to a lead for once.

 

Just have to follow it up against Norwich, but they have to start better than that, honestly this team seems to be able to only play 2nd halfs, the seem to coast through 45 minutes, get a bollocking from Ralph and then show what they can do. I can't remember a good first half from us this season, aside maybe Arsenal last week.

 

Also need Leicester and Man Utd to do their jobs tomorrow to keep Everton and Villa 2 points away. Come Wednesday we could be easily out of the relegation zone, Brighton are away at Arsenal, Everton have Leicester then Liverpool, both away and Villa have Man Utd then Chelsea, also both away.

 

In fact Evertons next 5 is Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd And Arsenal, 3 of them away.

 

If we are not above them by the end of the end of the December then we are down.

[woodsaint]

We were appalling today. The first half was as bad as the defeat to Leicester.

 

Bertrand was a disgrace, but he wasn’t the only one who seemed not to give a sh1t.

 

Only saving grace was Watford were even worse. It was basically a League One match. At best.

 

Still, we might contrive a way out of this mess with 3 vital points, I guess.

 

A disgrace? Have a day off....kept offering the overlapping runs for Redmond. Played a great ball in behind for Ings which led to our best chance in the first half. Looked to play forward unlike the rest of our defenders. If you want to criticise somebody, compare Bertrands performance to Cedrics

[saintwbu]

JWP is a dog sh!t player. Open your frigging eyes and watch him play if you disagree. He is one of the reasons why we are so bad...It's not a hate thing going on. Anybody with a bit of football nouse will tell that.

 

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What’s your opinion on Hojbjerg? A player with no discernible attribute that helps the team, and is lazy. He gets absolutely no grief.

[angelman]

So what changed things? Bringing on Boufal and a bit of JWP class?

 

For me it was hooking Cedric. After that Djenepo started playing. For large parts of the 1st half, he was anonymous.

 

As for Boufal, we could do worst than building the team around him.

[woodsaint]

6 points off 7th place after 14 games. Best start in many a year

[Saint Pete]

JWP is a dog sh!t player. Open your frigging eyes and watch him play if you disagree. He is one of the reasons why we are so bad...It's not a hate thing going on. Anybody with a bit of football nouse will tell that.

 

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At the end of the day, JWP won us the 3 points today with that free kick. And for all those who who still say it's a myth that he is a dead ball specialist, please tell me all the prem players who have scored more free kicks than JWP in the last season or so. There must be loads as so many on here think JWP is ****e at taking them...

 

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[Plumstead_Saint]

Not sexist at all, an accurate description of who I was talking about.

And I don't care what the rule says, that rule is bull**** and should be reversed.

 

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ROTFLMAO @ a man who quotes a dictionary but doesn't understand what "derogatory" means.

Muppet.

[DT]

At the end of the day, JWP won us the 3 points today with that free kick. And for all those who who still say it's a myth that he is a dead ball specialist, please tell me all the prem players who have scored more free kicks than JWP in the last season or so. There must be loads as so many on here think JWP is ****e at taking them...

 

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For a dead ball specialist he is pretty poor at dead ball kicking. Witness his poor corners not getting past the first man. But credit where it is due. That free kick was exceptional. I thought he had no chance. It was too wide an angle. But he put it in the only place, and with pace, that would score. After a pretty mediocre performance, that won the game. So he deserves credit tonight.

 

 

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[Greenridge]

JWP did not make tackle after tackle. He was absolutely woeful today (goal excepted). No idea what you were watching.

 

He ‘only’ contributed one positive thing which was the goal. He was utter turd for the other 95 minutes. Dreadful.

[Saint Pete]

For a dead ball specialist he is pretty poor at dead ball kicking. Witness his poor corners not getting past the first man. But credit where it is due. That free kick was exceptional. I thought he had no chance. It was too wide an angle. But he put it in the only place, and with pace, that would score. After a pretty mediocre performance, that won the game. So he deserves credit tonight.

 

 

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Indeed he does. Shame so many Saints fans seem reluctant to give him that credit. As for the corners, don't think they were great today on his part, but as a rule I think our problem from corners is we don't have players who attack the high balls well. That goes for corners at both ends of the pitch.

 

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[macca155]

People seem to have watched a better and different JWP than I did. The one trick pony’s one trick came off and he scored which I guess is why he gets picked. The number of sideways and backwards passes, the way he slows play down, I thought he was bloody dreadful, as was PEH and Stephens....oh and Cedric

All game JWP was tackle, retrieve, give move to be available from 1st minute to 96th minute. When he passes back or sideways to retain procession as there is absolute no bugger available to pass to. He is a good player not world class but pretty much the best we have in that position at the moment.

 

I share your frustration but Romeu is far worse for slowing the game down and PEH cannot hold the ball long enough to make an impact.

 

Stephens is a difficult one. Yes he makes mistakes but I can live with that to have a courageous player prepared to put himself on the line one of the few leaders we have.

 

All of the issues are rooted in having 4 attackers on the field. With no midfield the errors you allude to were constantly emphasised.

 

Well that's what I think

 

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[John Boy Saint]

JWP could score 20 goals for Saints in a season, but because he grew up in a house of Portsmouth season ticket holders he will forever be considered a steaming pile by a section of people posting on here.

It’s a good job he is on the pitch as Ings has 7 goals this season, second on the list JWP with 4. There are other players on the pitch that wear Red and White who deserve the maligning finger pointed at them...........but hang on none of them were brought up as a Pompey fan.

[macca155]

JWP did not make tackle after tackle. He was absolutely woeful today (goal excepted). No idea what you were watching.

How on earth do you come to that conclusion. JWP in the context of a poor performance he was one of our better players. He tackles passes and immediately makes himself available. He does that all game.... never stops.

 

He has to often pass back as he has no one in front to pass to.

 

I just don't get the hate he gives his all. What more do you want.

 

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[macca155]

JWP is a dog sh!t player. Open your frigging eyes and watch him play if you disagree. He is one of the reasons why we are so bad...It's not a hate thing going on. Anybody with a bit of football nouse will tell that.

 

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Strange that those who really do know about football keep picking him. We won just enjoy it

 

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[Hamilton Saint]

JWP, is so ****...I can't believe he is even in the team. No pace, can not tackle, losses the man around him, doesn't find space, corners hardly ever beat the first man the list goes on and on. Would prefer berty taking free kicks and corners. We need an upgrade on JWP badly...pinning my hopes on Armstrong as we do not have the depth in the squad at the moment.

 

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Ward-Prowse takes excellent corners. And he does so consistently. You say his corners "hardly ever beat the first man". That is complete nonsense. You're confusing him with Paul Telfer.

[OldNick]

ive watched the whole game on TV and don't think we were as poor as a lot have stated on here. You have to understand what nerve/being tense does to your game and there was so much pressure on the team. It was bound to affect the way we performed.

JWP did get stuck in and did ok. Sky gave him mom and said it wasn't just down to his goal.

Good to hear how much Kevin Phillips and Jamie Redknapp said how good the fans and atmosphere at the stadium could be.

Funny how we have got revenge for the handball goal at Watford a few seasons back.

Ings gave his all and it was good to see how much it meant to the players

Hopefully now we have a monkey off our backs we can perhaps play a bit better at home

[The Kraken]

Ward-Prowse takes excellent corners. And he does so consistently. You say his corners "hardly ever beat the first man". That is complete nonsense. You're confusing him with Paul Telfer.

Agree that his set pieces are very good, he’s got a superb ping on him. But I agree somewhat from other posts that, apart from the goal which was very good, he was a bit weak in there. Still, a win is a win and that free kick was the game winner. Cédric, I thought, was dreadful and would much prefer Valery in there. Which is worrying. Jack Stephens is clearly still not a reliable centre half.

[kermitsaint]

Need to build a team around boufal, djeneppo and ings. Put redmond in the obafeymi position.

On the bench you mean? Redmond is one of the reasons we struggle in attack. No surprise we improved once he went off.

 

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[kermitsaint]

To all those who booed JWP and started the Romeu chant when he passed it out of play.....dont yous look f***in stupid. Yes he was poor but he offers that set piece quality. Was hard to watch at times but the first win at home is all that counts. Get in lads

Prowse did one single thing right. How many times a season does he manage it?

Playing him in the squad is like playing with 10 men.

 

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[Pat from Poole]

Up the Itchen North!!!