TheAlehouseBrawlers

Good Morning Christophe, There's actually a decent selection of restaurants available in the city centre and whether British, Indian, Asian, Italian, French, Greek, Turkish, steak houses, etc and whether you'll be looking for a top-end experience or more wallet-friendly, there's a reasonable choice. There's a good selection at Ocean Village which is a pleasant setting or a good varied choice at Westquay South next door to the shopping centre. There's plenty more scattered about elsewhere, I'll let others make recommendations. Most pubs and bars will be packed, particularly as there will be around twice as many away fans for this one as it's a cup game and will be in town early and probably take over a few. Again, your choice of drink, real ale, cheap beer, would determine a recommendation. If you eat at Ocean Village on match day you could always drink around there or nearby Oxford Street or a walk back towards West Quay would take you to the Wool House for a nice old building. I would imagine the Fanzone behind the Northam Stand may be suitable for yourself where they also have a live band on before the game. Half-and-half scarves will be on sale everywhere, unfortunately, most of us detest them. Southampton is more industrial rather than a tourist destination but the city centre is very green with massive parks through the centre, great when the sun is shining, There's Sea City museum (with the Titanic story), Solent Sky museum (a small aviation display - near Ocean Village), Tudor House, various city walks around the Walls and Vaults (Southampton was once ransacked by the French...take care!). Of course if you'd like to venture further afield then London is little more than an hour on the train (but expensive!) or closer by Winchester is a very nice cathedral city to visit, 15 minutes on the train from Central station. Hope that helps a bit, others may offer more details. https://www.visitsouthampton.co.uk/easter/

Only a handful of tickets left for this almost all in the usual Chapel block. Arsenal sold their allocation, clearly a big day out for them….an FA Cup day on the beer on the sunny south coast, what’s not to like?

…and It’s A Knockout down the Sports Centre in the run up….?

Nutshell.

If a 20 minute or so walk is OK for the young 'uns then the Marlands is a good place to park. Can always get a space and you just pay when you get back so no racing to get there. Alternatively, I think it's £4.50 for all day parking in the Toys-R-Us car park next door.

Around 500 left earlier so should be close to a sell-out by KO. Lovely warm sunny spring day, perfect for a day at the football, so gutted I'm missing this. They're quite excited about this trip, big away following for them and a new stadium to tick off, some getting a little more carried away than others like this fella talking about us... "Bit of a non-entity of a club. We should be beating this sort of team for breakfast" ...remind me, it is Oxford we're playing?

You can’t from the Kingsland but you can from the Itchen North. It leaves the corner open on the concourse for access to the fanzone.

FFS…that’s taking the piss

I remember a game around this time of year in the 1978 promotion season when we had Blackburn at home who were going strong and expecting a tricky game. We stuffed 'em 5-0, that felt a season defining moment.

Support has been disappointing at St Mary’s this season, hopefully a bit more edge now playoffs are in sight. Remember how their defender pumped up their crowd in the away game and they got on the ref’s back and got decisions go their way. Our turn now and if Edoze gets on the pitch he can use the injury he picked up there for a bit of payback. I’m going 2-0.

FFS how many did she shag?

That's very late putting those tickets up again, thought this had already sold out - if that turns out to be a sparsely populated block on the night then fans should just move into there from elsewhere, better view and, as you say, safe standing if you'd prefer that.

It will be interesting to see what the club do if we get a home tie. Being the FA Cup visiting sides are entitled to 15% so more than the 3,000 the segregated away section holds. Of course they would have thought of it but don't know how they'll control the concourses if they have to give up a block or two of usual home seats in the Chapel or KIngsland.

I listened to the latest TSP yesterday and while discussing this game it was mentioned that Tonda has expressed his acknowledgment of the importance and significance of the FA cup given it’s the 50th anniversary. But, as mentioned, that didn’t appear to be a factor when announcing an inferior side against a strong Leicester one in the last round. And I really can’t see the club prioritising this as we’re now in the thick of battling to reach the playoffs, that and promotion is where the riches lay so I’ll be pleasantly surprised if they risk a number of players for this. We play West Brom and Cov within 6 days after and, in reality, the quarter finals will potentially just be another distraction and headache for rearranging two crucial league fixtures in their eyes.

I had a scoot over their forum and they're saying that was probably the best atmosphere from the home fans in their North stand for some time, it was a bit of a galvanising and defiant show of support for their club in bad times. They also mentioned how they drowned out a big away support. Twice as many at Fulham next weekend, hopefully better from our lot but midday KO ain't gonna help. Added to the fact the club will certainly be prioritising the Play-Off push now and with another two away games in the few days after I think they will be putting out a scratch eleven for this. Could be an uncomfortable watch.