Start kickin' some a**e Nige!

Those who decided to tune in to Liverpool v. Inter instead made the right decision as an already poor game fizzled out after the visitors established a two goal half time lead. By then Southampton had already lost sicknote Powell with his usual injury, and that led to the luckless Wright moving to right back from a more suitable midfield role. Sure enough Southampton's right flank was exposed for Halmosi to open the scoring, but Surman's misplaced pass was mostly to blame.

Davis then stood and watched as Paterson's soft shot proved to be well placed just inside the post, rather than beyond it as the keeper expected.

The complicated but ineffective 4-3-2-1 formation that allows us to play both Wright-Phillips and Saganowski was abandoned at half time, although why Wright-Phillips was sacrificed and Saganowski retained is anyone's guess. And that's just about it - Davis made a couple of saves, but there was very little of note in a dreary second half.

So much for the traditional new manager 'bounce,' but the trouble is, Mr. Pearson has the same old players to work with. And they are old: regular starters Davis, Powell, Wright, Euell, Idiakez, Safri and John are all over 30. And unfit: fit players don't suffer as many injuries as this lot. And petulant: the captain (Safri) has been sent off twice, and for sly kicks rather than full blooded tackles. And slow: have you ever seen a side at this level with so little pace?