Fitzhugh Fella

Oh yes they have influence but perhaps their connection to the club is always going to be more short term in comparison with the lifelong fan and therefore less inclined to aspire. That's not intended to sound critical. When I was born we were regarded as a 2nd/3rd Division outfit with our glory days being at the turn of the century. We have steadily progressed and are on the verge of being regarded as a top club, but our best players continue to leave. Surely it's not heresy to ask is there anything we can do to stop that happening?

It is a shame that you intersperse your quite insightful posts with attempts to belittle with sarcasm as I am sure you would be taken on here with more seriousness. I don't really think the likes of Nicola, Ralph etc know the real answer. They are business men entrusted to make a profit and are no real judges of potential fan growth other from a marketing angle. Perhaps they have no real interest? Too much risk investment etc. Even Lowe, who was around a lot longer, initially resisted a 30,000 plus stadium believing we wouldn't fill it. I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with looking to boost St Marys by say a third and, I maintain at the moment, our relatively small stadium (compared with the premier league big boys) is the biggest hurdle, if indeed we think we can join the big boys. You yourself did not answer whether you think we can or not?

To you maybe but I can't recall your view. Can we be a big club? If your answer is no fair enough but if your answer is yes then how? Genuine question and one you haven't put entirely to bed because if so you wouldn't have ventured ok to this thread?

The million dollar question is whether we have the potential to become a so-called big club and if we do what steps do we need to be contemplating. It's debatable but one thing that surely needs addressing is the capacity of the ground.

I reckon nothing will happen until this thread reaches 100 pages

But in that case the police and solicitors should be brought into it?

If you are going to try and be cute then you should learn to spell. It's "too seriously". There's nothing like a smart arse

Laughable

You are just full of ****e. I have been club historian since 1997 since Brian Truscott offered me that position. It was never taken away despite the fact Lowe and I fell out. Unlike you toady that you are, I am not afraid to criticise when I disagree with the way the club is run. You seem to be a doff the hat pleb who thinks your cosy world will end if anyone dares to protest. You probably think the earth is flat and anyone who thinks otherwise should be shot. And your obsession with Lawrie Mac is positively unhealthy, but I know one thing, if you bumped into him in the street you'd probably curtsey. You are nothing more than keyboard warrior who knows the square root of eff all.

You really are a nasty little vindictive gutless troll. Snipe away behind your little screen you cowardly little toerag. Alternatively out yourself and contact me directly at duncan@duncanholley.co.uk Got any balls? Nah

Inspirational he aint

Targett?

For him not sure if both sides have the option .

Sam has an option to return in Jan if things don't work out

Sky are saying it's a season long loan, they are incorrect, the proposed loan is until Jan

Having watched Puel's after match interview and falling asleep half way through, I have to say he's not very inspirational. Koeman did at least have a bit of presence, this guy is like a university professor who has just swallowed a load of valium

Don't know where the goals are coming from with that line up?

Yea the original team were made up of several young teachers who had graduated from a teaching training college in London called I think St John's the college's main colour was red and so they continued using that colour when St Mary's formed. After the sash we went into halves and then quarters before settling into stripes around 1895. Worth pointing out that in those days our shorts were navy blue very much like Athletico. Perhaps we should re adopt that colour for our shorts?

One of Oriel Romeu's strengths, in my opinion, is his desire to find out about what makes Southampton tick in terms of the club's history and the city's culture. He often posts on Facebook little clips of him walking around the town pointing out interesting landmarks. Here is one he has just posted which as a historian I was well aware of but the fact he has dug out a little footage makes it even more interesting.

Shame the Echo piece included a photo of Ron Davies the full-back A Jocky Wilson moment

M.?

It's a shame Pied doesn't seem to speak English but on the positive side he has plenty of European experience.

Just reporting a fairly trustworthy source - of course Fonte could be lying but this forum surely is the place for this sort of 'semi informed' gossip. If Fonte had said yes he was going and I reported that then no doubt I would be getting slated. On this forum we all crave ITK information but we got to be careful we don't chase the bringers of not such good news out of town. Just saying.

A mate of my son who works at the club just spoke to Fonte who said he was going nowhere

I think the Board wanted rid of Koeman, deep down his methods were not liked but they were duty bound to try and get him to sign a new extension because of his record. When Koeman then tried to play Everton and Saints off against each other we pulled the plug without a backward glance. A very similar position we were in with Alan Ball, who was popular with the fans, had kept us up, but the Board (concerned at the company he was keeping) wanted rid. Man City's interest was perfect timing for them. You can say the same about George Burley too, Scotland did us all a huge favour.