Jeremy

As a Saints supporter, no matter how geographically distant, you're more than welcome to use "our" and "we're" rather than "your" and "you're"... Yeah nah. I feel a bit uncomfortable doing that among such ardent fans when I haven't even been to one of Saints' games. I was going to stop posting on here and just read the forum occasionally but your friendly post has changed my mind. Now I'm going to see if i can buy a Saints jersey from the Le Tissier days when I first got interested. I know there is at least one other Saints fan in NZ: a guy called Brian Waddle who was a former radio test cricket commentator until he recently "retired" (in fact he was replaced after the contract was given to somebody else) once said he was a fan.

First time I've read the word "superb" on here about one of your players (that I can recall). You're bloody passionate about your team and I hope the players, management and owners really appreciate that. Nice win. Keep it up.

Don't professional football players playing in the EPL know how to do that without being told?

Last thing I want to do is patronise but I've already said several times I have followed SFC from New Zealand for at least 30 years, Never been to a game and only started listening to some games live online towards the end of last season (time differences, working, family etc). I've always liked this club because you are honest battlers (team and supporters). Most people over here follow the big 6 because they get all the publicity and it's easy and safe. It's also really cliched and boring. Following Saints is like supporting the NZ test cricket team (I love test cricket). Some eras have been absolute shite, when hammerings by Australia and the West Indies within 3 or 4 days was quite common, often accompanied by opposition batsmen getting their best test cricket scores and record partnerships. But, just occasionally, the team would unexpectedly pull off a spectucular win against all the odds or go thriough a relative purple patch when they were actually quite decent. When it happened, it was fucking euphoric. That's also how I feel about your club. It's the inconsistency associated with this Club over the years that personally fascinates me; looking really good for a while and promisng big things, followed by a relative slump (like boom and bust in the economy). Incidentally, I have never really understood why the Club sold it's really good players just when it was getting a bit of momentum, but what would I know?. Sure, you got done last game but so fucking what? That ref was a white-collar criminal, you had a massive player injury problem, VAR was a farce and an unfortunate young debutante let the occasion get the better of his judgement. Not sure the Manager could have done much to change any of that. He's also been the Manager of a team who has beaten last year's winner of the PL and FA Cup in the same season while facing some very difficult squad issues. Also, Man U are a very decent side anyway. I heard Nigel ? (former manager) say you put a blue line under that last result and you move on. I couldn't agree more. .

Time for a reset: 1. Show plenty of guts and determination and pride in wearing the jersey; 2. Score at least one skilled team goal from open play.

Yeah, I bet he hops in the shower with them after the game and likes picking up the soap.

Personally, I don't recall betting against SFC. I personally wouldn't bet on its demise also. You may be right, but that's possibly not the point.

That team's far better than that particular result because they played consistently well towards the end of last season and there was some excellent football up until recently. This has to be a temporary speed bump. They'll come back. A bit of a pity the score-line wasn't one less or Saints scored to stop the future ad nauseum bleating about it.

SFC to play a blinder and crush those entitled tossers 1-0 ....... ........ ... possibly.

They do when they have the first team on the pitch and are playing confidently: first half of the last Leicester game.

With respect, what you say may be true but I think the issue is that the result could have been different if it had been adjudicated properly; that officiating was unjust. Also my apologies for possibly speaking out of turn: you being a loyal fan for decades and me not even having been to a game (but been a distance follower for decades). Last thing I want is to be perceived on here as a disrespectful know-all. Those comments about you were probably frustrated venting - not personal.

I agree with all of you who have criticised the officiating. Sport is about the skill and fitness of the players, not some fat officious fools with masssive egos who think the game revolves around them. Classic case of power in the wrong hands. Those blokes should be stood down at least for the handball call. Robbed of at least a draw.

As usual, I know mostly nothing about individuals but I'm picking a SFC win becuase, basically, it's time for one. I think (hope) this team now has enough self-belief to win against another side who does not appear to be demonstrably better than it.

I assume there are posters and followers here who have been affected by COVID either personally or have family members or friends who caught it so my best wishes from a total stranger in NZ. I haven't read much of this thread but a death, for example, by whatever means (COVID or otherwise) is devastating.

Pitches have changed a lot (worldwide - they're also different here compared to the old mudheaps). Moran the equal or better than Ings?

People on here are very respectful in remembering past members and fans of the club who have passed away.

Thanks. Are the players insured for injuries?

Obviously I don't have access to any intel unless I read this forum (which is one of the reasons I'm here -got sick of losing money by betting on hoping SFC would or could win just about every week.) I'm going $5 the draw this week after reading these posts about injuries and Arsenal not being at full strength last time, so thanks to all you pundits.

I appreciate footballers get some really bad injuries, like the one noted earlier in this thread, but sometimes I have to wonder if they generally are a bit soft. Admittedly I can only speak from my own experience in rugby, but often we got some bad knocks during a game and tried run them off. A broken nose was nothing. Then there were some crazy extremes like this if anybody's interested: https://www.theversed.com/10170/his-scrotum-burst-open-and-he-still-refused-to-leave-the-field/#.P2wbdUk9Tw Having said that, I played a couple of seasons of football after I finished rugby and remember the aching legs I had sometimes after a match that never happened before.

English supporters on a road trip: I heard Vinnie Jones was originally from Southhampton and is Turkish's cousin. 😁 (in case some dick thinks I'm being serious).

Yippee, TAB paid $30 the win. Off to get my 30 bucks now on the way to the cafe. My $10 bet for a top six at the start of the sseason and top four finish more recently aren't looking good though. At least now every time I wake up and check the results I'm not looking at goal differences ... I know Badger likes cycling (maybe one two others). Our annual UCI sanctioned Gravel and Tar bike race was held yesterday. Managed to get George Bennett to come (NZ pro cyclist and featured a bit on the climbs in last year's Tour). Got speaking to a bloke who's his father in law. Great guy. Had a welome dinner on Friday night and got talking to an unassuming guy on our table who I know as "Tom" who turned out to have been a semi-pro cyclist in Europe for 5 years and rode for NZ in the Barcelona Olympics. Really interesting guy. Been a good weekend.

I deleted my post because it was abusive but the idea of co-captains happnes in rugby. I've cut and posted an example. I don't mind a lame attempt to mock me, but I would prefer if you got your facts right first before you try. January 29, 2019 CANE AND RETALLICK ANNOUNCED AS CO-CAPTAINS FOR 2019 Gallagher Chiefs Head Coach Colin Cooper announced today lock Brodie Retallick will join loose forward Sam Cane as co-captain of the Gallagher Chiefs for the upcoming Investec Super Rugby season.

Absolute ripper. Can't stand them just like Man U, PSG and the New York Yankees and the LA Lakers. Too much money, often not enough humility.

Danny Ings seems like a good rooster and worth trying to keep if you can. Personally, I would rather be playing footy than watching CL football in another side where I wasn't one of the key players in the team's tactics etc. Make him co-captain, give him some sort of leadership role on the field for the forwards (like directing positional play), offer him a loyalty bonus after an agreed time if he stays and is injury-free and does his best even if he slows down or something, help with his studies or whatever else pushes his buttons off the field and just make him feel secure and valued at the Club for the rest of his career if he stays (provided he behaves off the field). Lastly, if necessary, remind him that Saint Matt stayed the journey and had a fantastic career.