Fitzhugh Fella

agree, unnecessary

God could he do a job for us now. I think Ball's testimonial says it all - lets face it Alan Ball shared a stage with some of the world's greatest and yet pound for pound the Woolston born Nick is right up there. Probably the best local discovery of all time who stayed with the club. That rules out Ted Drake who I met once and told me he was always proud of his Southampton heritage.

Nick Holmes - quite an accolade from Bally - if I were Nick (we were the same school year) I would be chuffed to hell. And it has to be said a really nice guy to boot.

Only 543 games out

As it is a bit quiet on here how about a quick quiz question “He was one of the best pound for pound pros I ever played with in my entire career. I loved playing alongside him and he was always terrific – he would get you goals, he could defend, I never thought he had a bad game" Alan Ball Oct 2003

Yes someone has just texted me to tell me he has a box named after Ted Bates box and is enjoying his football again. Good to hear I guess.

I have oft wondered if he still goes to SMS. If he does that would prove he is and was a true fan. Don't suppose anyone on here would know? I did hear leon Crouch was intending to start attending again but not sure that has been the case.

a bit of shooting practice called for at Staplewood this week methinks - especially for Morgan!

Get back to your bikini babes!

Get back to your bikini babes!

Hey no offence A, not from you anyway. This is still a bit of fun --no? Cheered me up no end - I am sorry but I won't cry if they fold.

Hey no offence A, not from you anyway. This is still a bit of fun --no? Cheered me up no end - I am sorry but I won't cry if they fold.

Pompey gone by the time this gets to 35,000 posts - any takers?

And watch Saints 100% sober? I tried it at MK Dons this season - it was quite traumatic

L Mac may have his many admirers and many detractors but when that is put to one side he still flys the flag for Southampton, he delivered some of our finest moments and he does a hell of a lot for charity. Yes he has an ego (as do many in football), yes he likes to rewrite history (so do a lot of people in football) and yes he knows the value of good publicity (vital it seems in today's world) but cut him in half and he does bleed red and white. I don't think he would approve of any of the new breed of owners in football these days - he grew up in an age where the Chairman smoked a pipe, kept out of the dressing rooms and let the manager chose who to sign. Those days - for good and for bad - are forever gone. I suppose men of his age who spent a lifetime in football find that hard to swallow. In this age of clubs being owned by wealthy benefactors there will always be discord. Perhaps the German system is still the purest way ie the majority of the clubs being controlled by partial or total fan ownership. The Bundesliga has the biggest crowds and the cheapest tickets so it can't all be bad. The British system has massive flaws and will one day end in tears - you only have to look at the Skates, Liverpool and United.

Peter Storrie? The man's name must send a shiver down the spine of all skate fans!

Yesterday was a big step in the right direction and heartening that we are improving under NA but next week is an even bigger step. We will know more come Saturday night.

Got to really praise Saints today - they played well even taking into consideration the poorness of the opposition. And Do Prado was simply superb. It may have been a fluke but his flicks and lay offs were world class. He looked a very talented player and his influence rubbed off on all the rest. NA seems to be taking us in the right direction.

Dare I say this but one person who handles the media really well, calls a spade a spade and usually has something entertaining to say is our old mate Harry. He certainly looks more relaxed than any other current manager. Strachan could be funny but he could be arrogant too. Burley was soberly dull , Pardew spoke well and made an effort to know about our past. Sturrock I can't really remember while Wigley was just Rupert's mouthpiece. Souness was always straight to the point while Hoddle you never felt meant what he said. David Jones was a straight talker but the best was of course Lawrie Mac who usually managed to hit the nail on the head. Like some wise bird said though, NA can waffle as much as he likes as long he gets us out of this League. 3 point stomorrow is a neccesity.

I am a fan of NA but I do agree with the OP. His after game analysis are long but are rarely insightful. I always look for a managerial quote to go with the stats of the game but so far struggle to get anything meaningful from him.

And thereby lies the rub. I suppose we could argue we are no longer in debt?

There were some reasons for the low attendance. Two days before we had been beaten 8-0 by Spurs, the game took place on a weekday so in the afternoon when many were at work and it rained heavily throughout the match. The 30s were a depressing time for Saints fans - just one win in the FA Cup throughout the whole decade.

Back in the early 1900s Saints players were regularly arrested for drunkedness in the town. The Board minutes are full of fines and suspensions

March 30th 1936 v Port Vale at the Dell att 1875 Source - Saints A Complete Record, Chalk and Holley, Published by Breedon Books 1987 HTH I wasn't there!

Ottery would make a great mod - FACT. Thanks to all the departing Mods - didn't always agree but it is a hard job.