The derby is a generally a bit of a leveller where quality is concerned. Our players were vastly superior last time we met them in the league, but both games ended up as draws. In theory player for player, ours are better this season too. But they are a settled side, and playing better as a team then we are so far.
Didn't realize it was on ITV. Happy days, won't have to go messing around for a stream... Not being from the area I can't really share the same hatred of Portsmouth as you guys do. Funny though. I had bad experiences of meeting Portsmouth fans, even before they knew I was a fan. I wore a saints jersey to a festival in Spain one day about 12 years ago. Got serious abuse from skate fans and not in light hearted way I would with my home club and Derry City fans. Probably the fact I wasn't from Southampton stopped it getting nastier. Went to the last League Derby and it was some experience! Gonna be a long week and a bit wait, say it will be excruciating for ye!!
Yeah, unless there is a huge gulf such as the previous two cup meetings when one side was league 1 and the other PL, quality of player and form really don't mean as much in these games. In this case we are the better side but they are far more settled and probably more confident too, so it will be pretty even regardless. If I had to predict the correct result I'd go for a very nervy 1-1.
Don't normally mind international breaks too much but having extra build up to this game isn't fun at all.
I'm going on holiday to take my mind off it all... though the fact I moved it by a couple of days to be back before the weekend didn't escape the notice of the wife.
Fascinating game this. I think because in the past its been a case of one on the up and the other in freefal whereas dare I say both teams look pretty evenly matched. Poppy look fairly solid defensively whereas we have a bit more options across the squad but I don't think there's much between the two teams right now.
Starting to get an equal mix of excitement and nervousness for this one.. just the 9 days to go! Hopefully this is the result and performance that kick starts our season.
Still over a week away but it's one of my first thoughts when I wake up and one of my last before going to bed This next week is going to feel ridiculously long.
Completely agree with this. I only saw the highlights of the game, having read comments on here, believing Baz had had a mare of a game. Certainly the second was unstoppable, and the first was a great early strike, that a world class keeper may have done better. What really annoys about the first goal is nobody seems to be criticising Manning, who having fallen over when tracking back, then flopped around on the ground in the hope of getting a foul instead of getting up and rushing back. If you have missed that, l suggest you look again. If there is a need to find fault for the first goal, l am not suggesting there is a need, then Manning was at fault for losing his marker. I'm sick and tired of the abuse that Baz gets on here, l do start to wonder why that is because it seems excessive.
Is there abuse of Bazunu? I don't see that. I see people wishing we had more competition, but has there been much criticism of Bazunu this season?
