Fitzhugh Fella

After last night's game v Villa many are saying it would have been a lot better if Cork had replaced Davis and obviously he is highly regarded by the majority of fans including me. But with Koeman admitting that they are already working on a new deal for Clyne it is evident that a new contract for Cork is just not on the table either now or the future. Big big mistake I reckon. He is a 10m player who will leave for nought.

Ashamed to say I only got 19 but it is early in the morning

Interesting stuff but I think you mean Bob Charles who died recently?

Forgot to include this link which mentions blacklegs from Portsmouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_Dock_Strike_of_1890

In recognition of going past the 100,000 posts milestone, I have done a little research into one of the enduring myths as to why Southampton people are known as scummers. According to our fishy friends it is all to do with a strike being held in Portsmouth which was broken by casual labourers from Southampton. I could find no references to this myth but did uncover a story which sort of puts the boot on the other foot. Ladies and Gentlemen (and Nutjobs) I give you the true story of the 1890 Southampton Dock Strike. Portsmouth’s involvement in the 1890 Southampton Dock Strike. In 1890, emboldened by the London Dock labourers’ success of the previous year when they won the “Dockers tanner” (sixpence an hour), and by news of similar increases gained at Portsmouth and Plymouth, the Southampton dockers formed a union and decided to strike for more pay, shorter hours and recognition of the union. They were duly offered five pence per hour for day work and sixpence for night work but were denied recognition for their union. The men subsequently downed tools at midnight of the 7th of September and assembled in a crowd outside the dock gates, completely blocking Canute Rd and access to and from the docks. On the 9th the strikers were joined by many seamen as well as “town roughs” according to contemporary sources and all work now came to a standstill. The police made repeated charges but were unable to clear the road whereupon the mayor – James Bishop – applied for troops and 280 men of the Yorkshire Light Infantry were sent over from PORTSMOUTH. The Riot Act was read by Bishop after which the troops attempted to push the crowd away with the butts of their rifles and later with fixed bayonets, but were met with volleys of stones, one of which struck the mayor. There were calls for the troops to open fire but the mayor stayed calm and instead ordered the fire brigade to use hoses and a small area was cleared enough for the troops to occupy a passageway. Some of the mob took revenge by rushing up to East St and demolished the mayor’s boot-and-shoe shop, while others went the next day to his house in Grosvenor Square where the troops stationed outside to protect it threatened to open fire. Meanwhile some strikers had now gained access to the Docks from Southampton Water and the shipping companies appealed to the Admiralty who then sent two gunboats and a torpedo boat from PORTSMOUTH. The stand off came to an end when the shipping companies revised their offer which the strikers accepted “for the time being”. Several of the rioters were given three months imprisonment, while others were fined or bound over. The mayor meanwhile was given a unanimous vote of thanks by his fellow magistrates but the strain of the dispute brought on congestion of the brain from which he did not recover for some months, after which he removed himself and his business to……yes, you’ve guessed it, PORTSMOUTH!

I was really looking forward to it but was disappointed. Others I went with enjoyed it though so probably me.

Don't think that is permitted any more.

Barnes turns 18 in December not 19

Sorry chaps was at the Harbour Lights tonight watching the Northern Soul Film but I did creep out to check the score and it made my night. Here's to the next 100,000 posts of glorious fun.

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