SaintDonkey

I always think Saints' fans get needlessly wound up (and obsessive) on the beer issue. Saint Mary's is a sporting venue used once a fortnight - you're hardly going to be able to get decent cask ales in there which pretty much restricts you to lager and pressurized keg bitter - and frankly I'd rather drink lager than that muck, one brand is pretty much like another. A better lager than Carlsberg would be nice but frankly it all tastes like **** to me. Guinness would be a nice and practical addition.

It really hurts that they chose to play 'Oh when the Spurs' [edit] and even more when they name 'Play up ****ing arseholes' as a iconic chant [second edit] still a lesson in how to get a good chant going well worth a listen

Looking forwards to it. I know there's not really any local rivallry from the Saints side, but the local interest should be enough to draw in a decent crowd and atmosphere. Can you imagine how dead SMS would have been if we'd drawn Northampton again?

****

he's a lying bastard that's what he is! "I don’t mind when people come up and say: “All right, Smithy!” I like that they like the show. My reply is usually: “Ello, fella!”, said in an accent a little more ****ney than any of my family would recognise. I then find myself engaging in ridiculous banter, saying things I’d never normally say. I’ll point at a man sat at the bar and say something like: “Phew, I don’t fancy yours much!” He cracks up, I laugh a little too hard and all the time I feel a bit lost inside. Why can I not just be myself? I think this as I push away the pint the man has just purchased for me and take a sip of my vodka cranberry. " ******** - he drinks (or at least used to) in my mate's local in Crouch End. And while he might have a certain number of strangers sidling up to him he's normally sat at the bar playing Johnny big ******** and making sure that everyone knows he's famous. The guy is a grade A tosser.

At last a new player - now we just need a second new signing to model the away kit and the new shirt can finally be launched

He's right you know. So relax people - nothing can happen for another three weeks so just relax and enjoy the world cup.

We know from the last two windows that this administration likes to play things very close to their chests - the first thing any of us know about signings is pretty much when they're unveiled. It really wouldn't surprise me at all if we hadn't already lined up a couple of players but we're waiting until they come back from their hols before announcing. Of course if pre-season traiing kicks off and we're still shy of right backs then we can start to worry. Before that.... meh

Stu you've aadmitted that fans would have to pay interest or admin fees if Zebra were handling this. You've also argued that the 0% interest credit card isn't an option for everyone. So what you're saying in a nutshell is that fans would pay a premium plan whether they have to sort out their own credit or go through Zebra. The only difference being that those who can't actually afford it and thus can't get any form of credit would be able to get a ticket through Zebra but not through arranging their own credit. So fans who in the opinion of credit agencies would likely default on payments can't get season tickets. Unless the season ticket is changing to an electronic system there's no recall on them so all that's happening is people who previously might have been able to cop out of payments after a couple of months but still get in all season won't be able to get tickets. Forgive me for not really thinking that's an issue I give a flying **** about. In fact good on the club for eliminating freeloaders.

The title is misleading since someone has to pay Zebra finance - and if not the club then the fan. Let's face it if the club had announced that there would be an installment plan but it would cost a premium then the same bunch of moaners would be whinging on about that instead. Can we please get over it?

I was in two minds about whether to renew this year. I can't often make midweek matches so with the odd weekend match missed it would work out cheaper to buy on the day, but after reading the moaning minnies in the other thread it had to be done. Season ticket renewed.

That would be me - where would you like to be kicked and how hard

Fantastic game - shame the only thing of note I did in my 45 minutes was set up the away team's first goal. Spades man of the match for sure. Wish I was in the pub with the rest of NickH's Red Army rather than on a train. P.S. Realised from looking at the programme that I was the old man of the home team ( can't compete with StusDad though!)

I think Reading are about the perfect pre-season foes. An upper midtable championship side is about the level we need to be at to be assured of promotion next season. Should be an important game in judging how well placed we are - far more useful that say a match against Barcelona would be. The QPR match last year was an important and accurate gauge of where we were at the start of th season (up **** creek - thankfully we had a paddle but it took a while). 12 quid = 4 pints (give or take) = 1 post work trip to the pub (a short trip at that). Is it really that much to ask?

It's strange to sit here in SMS watching the players warm up in the knowledge that next time I'm here I'll be one of those players. Hope it a bit warmer though it's ****ing freezing in the Kingsland!

Did you mean to post something informative along the lines of "there isn't any positional prize money at this level of the football pyramid" in which case thank you I was unaware of this or have you genuinely only just noticed we're not in the Premiership?

Is the home side actually cursed - or has Phil had his agents out nobbling the opposition? And if he has should I be insulted that he hasn't gottten around to crippling me yet

I wonder what the difference is in prize money between 7th and 8th is? Probably not enough to matter, but I'd still like a win please. I'm in two minds as to whether Pardew should play our strongest side or give some youngsters a run out, give a chance for those towards the end of their contracts a chance to impress and a farewell performance for a couple of the oldies. So that would be either: -----------Bart Semi---Perry---Jaidi---Mills James--AOC---Wotton-Holmes (if by some miracle fit, Preen otherwise) -----Papa----Connolly or ----------------Kelvin Semi------Fonte-----Seabourne----Harding Antonio--Puncheon----Hammond----Lallana ----------Lambert---Barnard

Are we just looking for the maximum wind up effect when we play Charlton in the play offs His record is a bit patchy when in an up front role but it looks like he's good at the more behind the scenes posts. If AP is happy I'm happy. AP is happy isn't he? No quotes from him on the OS.

Another Saints link to Brazil - the only non-Brazilian born player ever to play for Brazil was born in Southampton. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/23/the-knowledge-football-questions-answered http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Pullen

Any one got Lee Holmes's number? He could do with getting 90 minutes in a game, any game!

More pics on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165058&id=505121460&l=b218145d5d

Segregration will mean they'll be 30,000 empty seats

I arranged to work from home this morning so that I could see if the tickets arrived before calling the ticket office and hally ******* loo yah! they just dropped on to my doormat! I hope the ticket office have learnt from this - start sending tickets out sooner! Right I'm off to the smug bastards thread

He missed an FA Cup game that Preston didn't want him to play in anyway. He was eligible to play in the FA Cup by the rules of the competition ergo it was a valid match for him to sit out the suspension.