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Just back myself. Another impressive win. Took a little while to get out of the blocks, but very cool once we'd got going. There was a lot to admire about Jaidi. I know he's a big bloke but he's also got great positioning - he seemed to be under every ball, even managing a cheeky defensive diving header. Have to share the views of others regarding the officials. The ref lacked authority when it counted, and was fooled too many times by Byfield's frequent plunges to the floor. Overall, very impressive performance from the team. There was a five minute spell where the Walsall goal was being peppered with crosses and shots. That didn't lead to a goal, but was indicative of Saints dominance. Our fans were top too. Brilliant craic just behind the middle of the goal. Favourite song of the day? "I've got a shed that's bigger than this" Closely followed by "We've got more fans than you".

Liverpool Saints out in force. And yes, I am forcing the junior scousers to come. And no, I still haven't taken them to see their mum's preferred Reds (spit!).

Good show lads. Bring on Walsall. Going to be a good game. Two in-form teams.

Just back from the match. Most enjoyable. Oldham fans had a drum which they banged for about all of the time it took for the first goal to go in. Can't wait to see the second goal on Football League tonight. Virtually no-one at our end thought it was in. And yeah, apart from a scrappy bit where I thought we might snatch a draw from the jaws of victory, there was only one team in it. Third goal was very nice.

I'm buying on the day. What time does the Travel Club normally arrive?

I'm taking my youngest daughter to her first footy game! COYR!

Ah, if only that were true. The amount of pot-hunters wearing Man Utd or Liverpool shirts is disappointing. One of my favourite moments at a game Liverpool vs Saints, 1997/98 season. Took the missus ( scouser and a Red ) to the game with me. She stood with the Saints fans. When Liverpool scored their first goal, a Southampton-born Reds fans, also in the Saints end, starts jumping and cheering. This lasted all of two seconds. All the genuine Saints started turning on him and calling him a "Scouse c**t" ( even though he wasn't ). Stewards had to drag him out sharpish. My missus decided that cheering for any Liverpool goal was a bad idea after that. We ended up winning 3-2

I wasn't at the last game, but reading the Beeb's updates online seemed like a lot of attacking play from the Saints, and a lot of saves from Stockport's keeper. I'm hoping the team clicks very soon.

Dunno, but he has been training with the team for some time.

Just a suggestion for next year saint_stevo. Try starting rumours about somebody else's team. It's just with the relegation, near oblivion and being pinned to the bottom of the table on negative points - most Saints fans have been through enough.

I get into FM for about two days. Then realise there is no point.

You're not on Tiscali, are you Benjii or saint_stevo? 'Cos the person that started the Kluivert rumour is. Entry edited at about 13:32 today. Probs someone rolling in from a liquid lunch and having a laugh.

Wiki says Patrick Kluivert was sighted in Southampton today, with a view to signing as a Player/Coach. Mind you, anyone can edit Wiki. I once edited the entry on National Historic Landmarks, citing that "Some people like to fart in National Historic Landmarks", which I'm sure is true given a big enough sample frame and the natural instinct to enjoy one's own chuffs. Back to Kluivert. He's still only 33. Reckon he's even fit?

Aaargh, Jim-lad, Whar be me signins' That is all.

You are a very cheap night out. And no, that's not an offer.

Very pleased with this signing. A great statement of intent. Very interested in who the club will sign next.

Only about a year late, but have just finished Saints Row 2. I comment now because I enjoyed it so damned much, and it'll be cheap like the budgie now. The comments on graphics are about right. I was a little underwhelmed with them when I first booted it up. However, this game reminds me of what I enjoyed about GTA before it got super-serious - and for my money, is a lot more fun than GTA4. The "Fuzz mode" that Draino76 mentions is hilarious - but there are tons of other activities which are pretty cool. Mayhem - cause certain amounts of property damage with unlimited chopper ammo. The game also has two fight clubs, and a demolition derby. Customisation options are massive, and the unlocks you get are pretty cool. I sat back smiling the other night when I got the "Ninjas costume set" and cruised about seeing my whole crew hanging out in Ninja garb. Oh, and it has flyable planes, a la San Andreas Great game, and with little on the release schedule for a bit, now would be the time to pick it up.

I got this the weekend it came out. Played through it twice, and was pretty addicted to it both times through. It riffs on GTA ( although no driving ), Spiderman 2 and Tony Hawks. Platforming bits are pretty cool - but once I'd finished it - traded it in. Well worth your time if you have a PS3 though.

These things take time. As much as we love our club, Pardew has a hard sell with prospective players. Any players keen to take the "sub-zero challenge" will hopefully be worth the wait. And yes, Pinnacle were complete and utter wasters. Tony Lynam has about as much chance of being taken seriously in the future as Frank Spencer.

People make mistakes. The true test of character is whether they atone for them. Prutton has undoubtedly had a lot of time to reflect on his ten match ban, and has probably wondered what difference he could have made without the red mist moment. That has /got/ to be his worst (ahem) professional moment of his career. Unless he is the footballing equivalent of a goldfish, he will not have forgotten that day and he'll be reluctant to repeat those events. We need players who are passionate but won't get themselves sent off. I believe Prutton is now that man, and has a lot to teach our younger players.

That'll have been me First, it's a valid pre-supposition. You can easily take being English for granted, especially when you're there all the time. Truth is, you miss that kinship with your countrymen when you're away. Work sends me all over the place, and I'm always glad to be back in my own country. I fully accept that an element of the English national support could be considered just to the left of Hitler, and am sorry that you had to hear them booing the opposition's national anthem. Frankly, that doesn't segue with my view of what it means to be English, which is mostly wrapped up with being polite, being tolerant of other people's views while at the same time, and somewhat perversely, not giving a flying feck about what anyone else thinks of you. It's a wider debate, but I'm not happy that Englishness is either being hijacked by xenophobes or diluted by politicians. I love that I've been born here, even though my grandad is a Pakistani born in Karachi ( who disarmingly tells Pakistani jokes that I'd tear someone a new one for ). In football terms, I'm never more emotional than in the midst of a major international tournament. I love the fact that whatever club you support, whatever differences you have, you're united when you watch something like the 4-1 drubbing of the Netherlands in Euro '96. You all scream together, and you know that an entire nation is screaming with you. The day after, everyone is walking a little bit taller and the world seems a little bit sunnier. Of course, it's always heartbreaking when England eventually plop out on penalties. Like I said, I'm never more emotional.

England. 'Cos if a major tournament happens, it'll have been achieved with English players ( or at least English linked players like Hargreaves ), and would be something to be truly proud of. If Saints ever won the Prem, it'd just mean that we'd been managed very well and had managed to accumulate the right players. Doesn't say anything about the actual footballing quality of Sotonians.

Spout enough crap and eventually some of it will be true.

Really hope you're right, Kev. As you know, I was a Keegan man but if Strachan can use his clout to get the spending going, that would be ace too.

Welcome onboard, Marty. Very nice post.