Jack

I don't think this place is representative at all. Of our group of 8, who are STHs and attend a decent number of away games every season, I think I'm the only one who uses this site. I've met a lot of good people who use this site, but then it has seemed to be the same with groups of fans I've met - a fairly small % of that group post on here. For me it's just a bit of addiction, I love reading up on Saints (and football in general), and if you look hard enough you can get into some very sensible and well informed debates. And then there's the transfer window threads, but I find it entertaining anyway.

Fook that. Miserable away game. No decent pubs nearby, heavy handed stewards and OB, and we'd get absolutely slaughtered

Newcastle away please. Been meaning to get up there for a weekend to visit some mates for ages. A cup draw would make us do it

******* hell. Clean sheet for Cov today I reckon. Completely alien set-up for us

Hooters is also just over the road from Meadow Lane IIRC

1. Connolly vs Boro - Amazing team goal 2. Lallana vs Leeds - Great turn and finish 3. Chappers vs Utd - Quality strike from a difficult angle

I would hope that Rickie would want to play at the top level with SFC

You think we'd really be able to replace Lambert? 70+ goals from what, 115(ish) games? I can't think of a player in the country has that kind of record (who would join Southampton in the Championship in within the wage structure we have) Lambert isn't worth £10m, but he's worth at least that to us in terms of our long-term goal.

Pretty sure if we did get 7 points in Jan (I don't think we will, but for arguement's sake) then we'd still be top. West Ham haven't been all that, Boro got spanked at the weekend. Cardiff are going well but are a few behind.

It's saints, we'll probably get d*cked by forest then win the home games.

Npower Championship Crystal Palace v Leicester, 13:00 Blackpool v Middlesbrough, 15:00 Brighton v Southampton, 15:00 Cardiff v Reading, 15:00 Doncaster v Barnsley, 15:00 Hull v Derby, 15:00 Ipswich v Nott'm Forest, 15:00 Leeds v Burnley, 15:00 Peterborough v Birmingham, 15:00 Portsmouth v Watford, 15:00 West Ham v Coventry, 15:00 Expecting WHU to win. Tough games for Boro and Cardiff

Brighton beaten comfortably by Coventry, 2-0. Time to really stick it to Gus on Monday. No goals or points in 4 games for them

Over at Forest. Balls

Over at Boro, c'mon Forest!

Those 3 sides will be battling it out for 17th position IMO

We just got promoted to the NPC. We're top of the NPC. We had an off day today, despite having most of the chances and putting about 30 crosses into the box. We'll beat Brighton 3-1 and get back to winning ways in 2012.

Best rant by a Saints fan 2011: Dear Bucket Rattlers Stop it, just stop it. Enough is enough. Your infatuation with us has surpassed even the mildest mannered of Saints supporters now. Those whom, like me, went along to support and contribute to one of the money spinning friendlies between the two clubs when you were in dire financial straights – only to be abused remorselessly for the duration of the game. “Scummers! Scummers!” you shouted at us as we stood there, completely bemused as to where this hatred had come from. Many, like me, had always looked out for Bournemouth results and had cheered whenever the tannoy announcer at The Dell or St.Mary’s announced that the Cherries had won. You have left us feeling rather confused and if truth be told, a little angry. I know I am. You accuse us of arrogance. That’s an incredible statement coming from a side that has dwelled beneath us for decades. Sure, some Saints fans have in the past alluded to the fact that we are probably too big a club for this league. That’s the truth. If you’d take the time to look at the facts then you might agree, too. We average more than many Premier League clubs and likewise, Championship clubs. However, don’t be fooled; we KNOW implicitly that football is not decided on attendances alone. We know we must earn the right to get out of this division like everyone else. Don’t confuse “arrogance” with what is clearly an educated and correct assessment of the size of our club. We are a medium sized Premier League club and no amount of bleating and accusations of arrogance will change that. Yet you must also remember that despite this, most if not all Saints fans recognise that we have no god-given right to be a Premier League side. So, with that in mind, please dispel any misconceptions you have about us being arrogant. Bournemouth, on the other hand, can be dutifully proud of their own snobbish and arrogant behaviour. One season at level pegging with us divisionally and you’ve gone into meltdown. You have the temerity to accuse us of arrogance while chomping on your sticks of rock. Then, at another level, you are very quick to forget that we did help you in the times you needed financial help. Neil Moss, remember him? Advance payment. Loan players like Surman and Lallana in recent years… remember them? Friendlies, fundraisers and pitch maintenance equipment too – you even received help from our ground staff! Is it me, or have you forgotten to thank us? Christ, it’s like dealing with a spoilt child. And before you begin whining that I’ve mentioned that we’ve helped you and you accuse my comments of atypical arrogance that you’ve received from us, please remember one thing; Did you, or did you not receive that help? Yes. Yes you did. If anyone is arrogant, it is you for completely bypassing those parts of your history. But we’re not done yet. Oh no, I’ve still more points to make. Let’s talk about your “plucky underdog” mentality. “Big bad Southampton” are coming to visit. “Nasty, horrible Southampton” whose fans kill babies and rape women (and men, probably too – I’ve seen the scaremongering rubbish in your local paper from Neil Meldrum). Led by their evil mastermind, Don Cortese! Give it a rest you morons. You like to remind us that we too, are a “nothing club”. In terms of the top six or so clubs in the Premier League and a few traditional founding football members spattered across the leagues or now defunct, yes, you’re right. We’ve achieved nothing. Yet, if our best achievements include treading water in the top division for 27 consecutive years amongst the real big, bad bullies of the Premier League and a couple of cup final appearances, then I'd take that over "plucky Bournemouth". Remind us, what have you achieved? Oh, that’s right. You’re a “plucky underdog”, I remember now. Still, teams of a similar size have achieved far more than you in recent times. Blackpool? Well, they’re in the Premier League. Hull? Swindon? Notts County? Oldham? They’ve all been in the top division over the past twenty years. Brighton? Colchester, S****horpe, Plymouth, Luton, Southend, Bury, Crewe, Walsall, Stockport, Doncaster? They’ve got further than you, too. That’s a lot of plucky underdogs not weighed down with a significant chip on their shoulders. Hell, even MK Dons have won more in their short existence than you lot. So that makes you a "plucky, underachieving underdog". Diddums. So if you’re going to remind us that our existence in the Premier League was pointless than I am almost duty-bound to remind you that you’ve been nothing in the lower leagues too. Forgive me. Oh no, wait - poke it. I'm not done yet. And by the way, I’d take our Matt Le Tissier memories to your Roger Boli moments every day of the week, ta. At first, you reminded me of Portsmouth’s annoying little brother with all the “Scummer” comments. It was almost as if you were pulling at your big brothers coat tails and saying “Look, look, we called them a scummer too!”. But over the past few days (possibly weeks), you’ve been frothing at the mouth, fantasising about playing us again and creating some sort of rivalry. From being Portsmouth’s annoying, perhaps retarded little brother you’ve transformed. Forgive me, but in my imagination now you’ve morphed into a crazed, wide-eyed stalker. You’re obsessed with us, yet you are convinced that despite our constant reaffirmation that we don’t care about you, it’s us who is stalking you. Truth is you’ve been tailing us ever since the final whistle at Burton Albion. “Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, we’re going to St.Mary’s, que sera sera” Remember that? How cringeworthy. Yet you say its our Cup final and not yours? Are you sure about that, or are you just being arrogant? Hang on, I thought you said you were the “plucky underdogs”? Which is it, Cherries? So, from a benign if slightly annoying neighbour to a crazy, rabidly obsessed one. The type whom is always peering through his binoculars and into our garden. Enjoy your Cup Final.

I'm not ITK on poster's habits, what they said and when etc. But that huge rant at Bournemouth (was it at the start of this year or end of last?) deserves the 'Post of the year'. Best post SWF has ever seen IMO.

Brilliant thread. The pivitol moment though, for me, was a year ago yesterday. 28/12/10, Huddersfield at home. We weren't in great form at all going into the game, and 1-0 down after a few minutes IIRC. Attacking throw-in on the left, Lambo turns his man, hits it on the volley, boom 1-1. We went on to win 4-1, and then the first 4 games of 2011, scoring 15 goals. We drew the next game 0-0 with Notts County, and then won the lot at home after that. Between the Huddersfield game and the end of the season, we picked up 61 points out of 78. Set up a brilliant rollercoaster 2011. The ones that stick with me: Man utd (h) - showed what we could do, was very proud of the lads Walsall (a) - showed that sometimes you can be SO dominant, but it's just not going to be your day. Shocking ground & support Bompey (a) - couldn't make it, but nearly crashed the car celebrating the Deano's goal going in. Brilliant. Franchise (h) - What a turnaround Brighton (a) - Huge win Plymouth (a) - Couldn't go. Gutted to miss it. Brilliant seeing the highlights and celebrations Walsall (h) - Win was never in doubt, brilliant day. Could never have guessed we'd do this well this season. - Smashing Leeds, Birmingham, West Ham & Middlesbrough at home, some brilliant performances. - Lambert being top boy. - Schteve's late goal at Reading - the worst injury I've had at football. - Skates being sh*t scared of us d*cking them now. - Brighton (and mainly Gus) hating the fact that we're far too good for them. One for the new year - hopefully improve on my away record of seeing us pick up 2 points from 5 game this season.

Morgan for me. Cork, Jos and SDR worthy of a mention.

We're having a wobble, but I fully expect us to get back to (or very close to) the level we were at in the first 15 games or so. I think this is a blip, rather than 'we were punching above our weight'. I reckon we'll stay be in the top 2 when it matters.

Doncaster Rovers, on loan.

I would love this to happen. Makes sense as well, to have a small(ish) area for safe standing. Everyone in the Northam from about row H backwards tend to stand for most of the game anyway. A proper standing area would be safer than that.

Which exactly why it's so infuriating that he didn't really try to win a header yesterday. He will sort of jump in the direction of a high ball, but not make a proper challenge for it like he should. We know he can use his head, but he bottled it several times. This is what annoys me, he can be a brilliant player at times, but with more effort, concentration, and a bit of bottle he could be consistently brilliant.

What I meant to say is everyone stepped up after half time. Was talking in the pub afterwards and thinking about how everyone played after the break. Davis - nothing much to do, went bravely at feet a couple of times but wasn't really tested FR - energetic, gave them problems bombing forward Jose - Solid Jos - Won almost everything, many people's MOTM Fox - Great deliveries, solid at the back. Harding - maybe should have put that out for a throw rather than a corner. Lallana - Needed to move the ball a bit quicker and get shots off/crosses in a bit sooner. However, a class above on the ball and always kept possession Deano - Ran midfield, was everywhere. Cork - See above. MOTM contender. Morgan - Looked very decent today Guly - Only disappointing 2nd half performer for me. Lambert - An absolute beast, gave their defence a torrid time. Well taken goal, love his passion. If only that volley flew in the top corner. My MOTM. If we'd played like that from the start we'd have battered them eventually. Just didn't do enough with the ball in the final third. Hangover is hideous, thanks for asking! Wisely booked the day off work.