Fitzhugh Fella

Coming late to the debate but Nick I and Turkish are correct in their recall. I was with about 15 mates, sitting around 2 tables just around the corner from the main square where all the joviality was. I noticed a group of about 50 Dutch fans tightly packed come around the corner from that square and head towards us. Instinct kicked in as I thought there was a chance they might have a go at us (we're all old men average age about 55) but they passed us by. They looked very intent and seemed to know exactly where they were going (they turned left shortly afterwards and headed for the other square where the trouble took place about a minute later). None had colours on and they were chanting Arnhem songs. Had they attacked us, then there would have only been one thing to have done and that was fight back to defend ourselves. I am sure that is what all of us would have done and there was (as far as I know) not one convicted football hooligan amongst us. Had I later received a banning order for defending myself then I would be mighty peeved. I don't believe there were any Saints fans there looking for trouble, but that doesn't mean to say a lot of people there weren't prepared to stick up for themselves if they had to. The echo reporting is shameful - it is no more than a rag these days, I feel sorry for the few decent people that still work there.

No the whole squad have been there but none of the coaching staff went. Guess there has been a bit of team bonding going on.

I went to watch Portsmouth in the 1966-67 season a couple of times and even went in the Fratton End but there was no real hatred then, but football hooliganism was in its infancy. The real nastiness started when we met them in the early 70s after we got relegated and boy did it get nasty. I remember a mob of about 100 attacking the Fitzhugh pub when there was about 20 of us barricaded inside and boots coming through windows such was their desperation to get at us. From then on it went downhill but their hatred for us has always outstripped our hatred for them; mainly because of our greater success ever since.

Hmm the who first team squad are in Dubai and they are there unsupervised I hear

Only time I could accept a Saints loss was if there was nothing riding on it for us and it sent Pompey down.

Well over the last five years I have been told by many people "in the know" that the club is up for sale etc etc but nothing has ever materialised. This is not a good time to get rid either, there's big money out there and financially the club can only get richer (assuming the players do their bit). I think we should be worrying more on Jay Rod's knee and Ronald Koeman's contract.

Winter might be a leading journalist but not sure he "knows" a lot about the Saints inner workings. There has been whisperings about Ms Liebherr selling ever since her father passed away, but I can't really see why she would. She doesn't appear to need the money, when I met her she seemed genuinely interested in the progress made by the club so far and she has a son who has become a fan. I think and hope she will be around a lot longer, you only have to see the basket-case ownership at other clubs such as Villa, Leeds, Coventry, Newcastle, QPR, West Ham etc etc to see we could do a lot worse.

Rather our strength was on the pitch come 3 not on the bench

Inclined to agree, we haven't played well this season with him leading the line, our resurgence coincided with his injury.

Made me smile. I often leave early but never when we are losing or drawing. I just can't bear watching Saints defend a lead. My nerves got shot about a decade ago.

You are talking far too much sense. So many fans under 40 forget or never knew watching football standing on a terrace when you paid on the gate. Not saying everyone wants that in 2016 but it would be nice if the younger brigade had the option.

Great post There are far too many in this world who are too afraid to protest even peacefully. They live by a "don't rock the boat mantra" and they get fleeced.

Just back from a bloody chilly SMS. I thought we were poor in the first half. We looked disorganised, there was no communication going on (all you could hear was Spurs players shouting) and everyone looked below par. The youngster that came on (Vokins) looked out of his depth for 15 mins and we were lucky Spurs did not score. But things improved in the 2nd half, with our midfield players starting to recognise each other and we kept possession much better. A good run by Martina ended up with the ball falling nicely to Hesketh's feet and he finished nicely with a curler that gave the keeper no choice. Harry Reed put himself about as usual, got booked for a reckless challenge but got stuck in and worked hard. Why he takes our dead ball kicks I don't know as his delivery is not good. Juanmi worked hard too but looked no better than anyone else. The 15-year old, Vokins, grew into the game and looked dangerous going forward. Lots of skill, not sure if he is a full-back but he can be pleased with his performance. Sam Gallagher struggled to get into the game. He is lacking confidence at the moment and that showed just before half-time when he was well-placed but chose to pass to Juanmi who fluffed the chance. Sam looks better playing through the middle and a goal would do him a world of good. Debayo went off after 5 mins, with what looked like a broken arm. Alfie Jones in the central defender position acquitted himself well, his distribution was poor on occasions but he was up against a useful Tottenham front line and for a young lad looked composed. It helped having Martina next to him because he was very positive and powerful and gave Jones plenty of support. A lot of last year's team have not shown much improvement this season and I wonder if that has anything to do with the coaching. As I said there were times when we looked like 11 players who had never met before especially in the first 45 mins. It was a good point in the end.

What a narrow minded viewpoint. Who gives a flying f@@@ what Pompey fans thought of our anti Branfoot protests. The point was we got rid and stayed up to enjoy many more years of south coast superiority. There comes a time when protests have to be made against greed and fair play to the scousers for having the courage to make a stand. What's the point having a successful team if half the fan base can't afford to watch?

He is not a bad player, he has assets but I don't think he fits our style of play and we look more potent with Long leading the line because central defenders can't put him in their pocket. Pelle is a good squad player and offers us something no one else can but for me he should not be in our starting XI.

Agree 100%, cracking little player and it would be great t9o have him back.

Bit of an argument in the pub last night trying to remember the names of the Southampton boutiques we used to use around 1970-74. We all remembered Squires near the Bargate of course but were trying to remember the two boutiques down Hanover buildings on the left next to each other. Names we came up with were Revolution, Garrisons (someone thought that was the one where the Bouzy Rouge later stood) and Gemini but none of us could be sure. Abraxas was another name thrown into the ring. Then there was Phillips in East St but no one could remember the name of a boutique next door to Phillips and also opposite. We all remembered Who Dat which was a dual hippy boutique and record store and MacQueens which came slightly later. Ravels was the trendy shoe shop near the Classic cinema. In St Marys there was Shirt King and Sydneys. It was the Hannover Rd ones that we couldn't settle on so any help much appreciated?

Heard a rumour he and Pelle are starting. Shame if so as I am old fashioned enough to believe you should not change a successful team. We look a much more coherent attacking force with Mane and Long leading the line imo.

Yea but having someone who can convert difficult or even easy chances is often the difference between one and three points for us this season.

Austin's hamstring is my main concern as it seems it was that which has sidelined him this week. His cutting edge is vital already

Hear Austin has tweaked the same hamstring which is a bit of a worry

Was at the Silverlake on Saturday and this was the talk on the terraces (just wanted to use that phrase again).

Would be nice to nip in and sign him just to **** off Levy

Hi Norm Just had a pint with Sam McLaughlin (Bobby's son) tonight and told him the news. Bobby's wife is still alive and Sam was going to pass on the news. I will pass on your post to Sam.

For the more (ahem) senior members on this forum they may be interested (and saddened) to learn that Saints forward between 1954 and 1962, Tommy Mulgrew passed away on the 12th of January - the funeral was this morning. I just missed his career which encompassed 330 games and exactly 100 goals, so he is right up there in the all-time scorers list, indeed only 12 men have scored more goals in our history. There was talk about debut goals after Charlie Austin's winner at OT last Saturday but I doubt if anyone will beat Tommy's debut goal for Saints which came within 15 seconds of the start of the match (and season) v Brentford 21 August 1954. He also got another in a 6-4 win. It remains the fastest ever goal scored at The Dell. As I said I never saw him play but I remember talking to Terry Paine about him once and Terry confessed that Tommy was the one player he looked up to and respected the most as a young pro starting out. A fitting epitaph. David Bull is putting something together for the official site.