This Barclays Premier League, notmean, is a wonderful place to be, situ-ay-shun

I brought Jason Howson on today to keep things tight. I thought he'd link up well with Bradley Etuhu. No-one who saw that game today can deny that we have a wealth of midfielders - but these are quality. These can hurtcha.

We didn't overcreate in that final third, but you can't fault our work rate and commitment, and we beat Stoke as near as damn it. But an individual error's cost us. The Big Man can play in a number of positions, and I thought he'd link up well with Ricky van Thorne. But at this moment in time, it wasn't to be.

We'll have to wait and see on Alex Makelele's injury. It's a a nasty one, and Jonfun Walters has given the ref no option. I thought Stoke were at their most direct, and we knew we'd be in a battle - but at the end of the day, we'll take the positives, and we've got a tough, tough game coming up. Southampton is always a hard place to go, notmean.

I thought the fans were magnificent: a credit to themselves. I felt sorry for them last week, and they're more than entitled to their point of view, but I don't care what they think. I'm the manager of this football club at this moment in time, and with the best will in the world, speculation is part and parcel of the game.

We've had an average week, we've got a twelve pointer coming up, and it's a difficult situ-ay-shun. But at the end of the day, in this Barclays Premier League, we'll be there or thereabouts, and my assistant Colin Livermore will be there or thereabouts with me. Notmean.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Mar 8, 18:33:32