Fitzhugh Fella

Thanks, an honour but one I feel should go to Rally Boy who has consistently made us all laugh.

The News's sycophantic relationship with the Trust is not only unhealthy in terms of journalistic ethics but actually dangerous to the long-term health of PFC. A local newspaper by all means should praise, when praise is due, but it must also feel free to criticise and probe when things aren't quite what they seem and this the News are blatantly not doing. They have been quite liberal in recently damning local clubs such as Gosport etc but are reluctant or even too scared to question McInnes and his band of chums or even put them under the critical spotlight. This means the club is allowed to flounder on while pulling the wool over the eyes of the myopic fanbase as they both hurtle to the trapdoor that says permanent oblivion. As this thread now enters the home straight to a 100,000 posts I predict plenty more entertainment emanating from our fishy outpost along the M27 made even more enjoyable by Neil Allen and Co's tugging of the forelock.

Give him a chance, I have seen enough to gauge there is potential there. He had a tough year with his father's passing and now this injury, the lad needs support and patience. We might end up being rewarded.

Yea there is a definitive list which the club tweeted this weekend. I think the nos is around 18 but I will check

Six Saints players who participated in the "mind over matter" fire walking exercise during the 2013 pre-season have now gone on to win their first England cap and all within a period of just 15 months. All six were involved on our first home game that season v Sunderland and while Lambert had just won his first cap by then, who could have predicted five of his colleagues that afternoon would soon join him in an England shirt. The only other Englishman involved in that game for us was Ward-Prowse. Will he make it 7 out of 7?

Incredibly out of the squad of Saints players who assembled for 2013-14 pre-season, six have now made their international debut for England.

And what is the extent of Gallagher's injury? There are some things the club are reticent to comment on.

76-77.00 -please

Don't tell Viking Warrior - he has no time for Mr Crook who he reckons has an anti-Saints agenda

It's the "legs" bit that concerns me - our squad is too thin to stay in the top 4. I see on Saturday Koeman was referring to the fact the players are feeling tired and that is before the really busy/ardous six weeks starts in earnest. What we have done up to now is truly admirable and way beyond expectations. It has made us all proud but without back up for some important areas (Pelle's for instance) I can't see us being in serious CL contention come the spring.

Karma indeed WTFILN

Pleasurable reading - karma

Thanks a good read from a fan's perspective

Just back from my first away game of the season and some observations Firstly that is a bloody long way to go for a there and back away game, 9 hours in the car! But it was worth it because I saw a “man against boys” performance. Hull puffed and put pressure on but the defence was magnificent and Forster did not have to make a save of note. Some have said it was a “dirty” victory but that is not quite accurate as we played plenty of good football and quite frankly should have won by more than one goal (the one criticism I have at the moment is we are too wasteful in front of goal). But considering we had a tough away game in midweek and they did not today's win really was truly praiseworthy. Wanyama was awesome this afternoon, his low centre of gravity coupled with his physique makes him the perfect defensive rock/pivot and Schneiderlin just uses him like a wall to play one/twos off. Davis is now integral to our midfield, he was so industrious today but tellingly his industry never went to waste. If only he could finish. Pelle must be getting knackered and I am concerned we have no back up (like for like) for him at present especially as he is only one booking away from suspension. Gallagher is injured but for reasons unknown the club don’t want to tell us how seriously. Hodgson was there today but gawd knows who he was watching, after his shocking decision to promote Chambers from the U21s over Clyne for the recent 2 England games I have lost all faith and respect for him. He has done us no favours in recent months and we can do without his patronage. A final word on the Hull fans, what a nice bunch of people they were, so complimentary about us and the game was played in a pleasant atmosphere with our away support yet again mightily impressive. On the way home tonight on the car radio I heard Jose Mourinhio praising the “fantastic remarkable Southampton” which was music to my ears. If our squad was deeper I would be starting to believe in our chances of a top four place (mad I know) but I fear the winter, heavier pitches and a few injuries to key players such as Pelle. But 10 wins out of 11 games is frankly unbelievable and Koeman - calmness personified - deserves a massive pat on the back, I far prefer him to MP as he seems so much more grounded. Oh and a final word, surely to God Jack Cork’s contract situation should be sorted sooner rather than later? I would hate to lose him next close season.

It's good he seems to be so level headed but it is sad now that in English football some teams will be always regarded as "bigger" than others and Graziano has already grasped the concept in the interview. In days gone by Wolves, Sunderland, Forest, Villa etc were regarded as massive clubs but now it is all about wealth of the owners and the amount of plastic armchair fans you can accumulate from all over the world, especially the Far East. We are it seems looked at as a good solid stepping stone to the elite.

That sure is a very original reason to support the Saints

Thanks for that - I was outside the library this morning and noticed the poster advertising it.

Bit arrogant this. When we reached the top flight for the first time Stoke were already there as an established decent side who stayed a while before their decline in the 80s. They do have a reputation as a "manhandling, physical" side but their fans are among the most passionate and noisy in the premiership and as far as I know they don't have access to sugar daddy funding so for that reason alone they deserve respect.

You are welcome anytime

Hope you enjoyed it Colin and you enjoyed your pint afterwards! Thought it went well and Jim Steele's comic interventions broke the ice!

Amen

Thanks that was a good read, have fwded the link to David Bull

It really won't be late Colin 9:30 at the latest I would think, there are going to be a few Saints players there ie Hugh Fisher, Jim Steele, and Paul Bennett.

Enjoyed the Lambert interview, a good read!

Yes Billy I went to visit Arthur in his house once, he lived in Highfield near the Crown pub and he was a charming man, full of good stories from both the football and cricketing world. He also gave me a few photos which I have used in the various books over the years.