Damn. Damn. Damn.

What can I say? You scored a goal and we didn't. Simple game football, isn't it?

Congratulations. The spirit of FTM lives on and will be back.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Answers

Ohh! me poor head.

The difference all boils down Shay. Three world class saves. I was quite surprised by the Mackems they were better than I thought. Stupidly I conned myself into thinking they would be hopeless.

Personally I'd pay £12mil for Soopa.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

I thought Sunderland were woeful... but created 3 good chances. They should play with 5 at the back and 5 up front as they just hoof the ball past their midfield. With better service to Philips they would win a lot of games as he can hit the target.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

I honestly didn't think the Mackems wre up to much and I'm still at a loss to know how/why they got so many chances. However, from a territorial point of view, we were far better. Our passing was far better, while theirs was one dimensional (vertical). They improved a bit in the second half when Mboma came on but he blotted his copybook with the takle on Hughes and his subsequent 40 winks in te penalty area.

The Munchkin had a very quiet game although he did get a couple of chances. On another day, one or both might have hit the net. However, football's a game for 11 players and the keeper certainly has a very strong role to play. Overall, I'd say we more than Shayded it.

Respect to Herts (and Soops) for coming on here. I don't mind your FTM spirit. At least you have the sense not to use "we always win 2-1", due in no small part to Shay who F***ed The Mackems. "He turned you down, he turned you down, Given turned you down". Ne'ertheless, you got a decent one in his place ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Yer a gent, Herts.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

It is heartening to see Makems who can lose without resorting to bile and vitriol. I have seen enough on TOTT and RTG this weekend from both camps to put me off football for life! (Well almost)

IMHO it was a close game. I just thought we had better players in most positions. Sorenson and Phillips are good players but the rest of the team is either ageing (Quinn and schwarz) or middling, average journey men. The defence played well as a unit but never supported the midfield much. McAteer is an unpleasant character and not very good and I can see why the Makems don't rate Kilbane.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Respect, Herts.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

SAFC's big problem has been looming for some time. The diagonal ball to Quinn has worked brilliantly for them for several seasons, hence the eternal search for Disco II. Well, I really don't think they're going to find him - Quinny's a one-off.

Without Quinn to hit from distance they have no one who can play the ball through m/f, and their wide men are simply not good enough to provide variety. They have to find a new pattern of play without Quinn, and need to acquire some craft in midfield to compliment the ball-winners.

For the record, I thought they defended well yesterday; Craddock in particular was excellent.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

What happened to Arca? he was a handful last year. Dabizas was a man on a mission 3 attempts at goal in succession, after the game he said "you have to live here to know what it means" to the Sky reporter - Nicos is a geordie, Nicos is a geordie, tra - la - la - ooh!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

I've been waiting for this result for three years now (since getting on the net) so I could see how the Mackems would take defeat. Have to say I'm a bit surprised at how well most of the likes of Herts, Soops etc have taken it. Fair play to them for that.

However if any of them think they were unlucky yesterday then they are kidding themselves. I thought we outplayed them for most of the match and were unlucky not to get more goals. Apart from the obvious derby nerves I never felt troubled by anything they did. The chances they had were mostly outside of they area and were individual opportunities. I cant think of a decent move they put together.

I think it's going to be a long hard three months for SAFC because I believe the monkey has lost the plot at the moment...and possibly for good. His post match comments were dreadfull..you would think they had just lost away to Southampton in a nothing match, not the biggest match of his season at home to the fierce local rivals. I cant see them getting much, if anything, from their remaining away fixtures so they really need to win those home games against their fellow strugglers.

In the summer they will undoubtedly lose Phillips and God knows where they will go from there. IMO Reid will never make them a top four club and if they had real ambition they would break the bank to get Martin O'Neill down there. The truth is though that he is more likely to end up as our manager than theirs.

Overall I'm ecstatic. It was a victory for TRUE ambition over wanting everything on the cheap, and whilst the smellies should be applauded for taking it magnaminously I will still gloat for a good while about it.

However can it be a coincidence that I have had access to RTG forbidden this morning? I dont think so. Just goes to show that some of them cant play fair. Would'nt have something to do with Herts, ML3 and Soops would it? Nooooo.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Thanks Herts

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Andy, join the club. Someone telling tales to Miss I wonder?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

I was at work till 4 so if rtg has been down ,its news to me.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002