Neil

Bar Med, those were the days, remember seeing Jimmy Case in there one Saturday evening. Linked to Southampton nightlife, anyone heard of Reflex having closed on Saturday and being replaced by "Pop World" in 2 weeks? And something called "Voodoo Lounge" opening tomorrow evening, on the site of Chicagos/Ocean & Collins/Bliss etc?

Saints Twitter says that the U21 match v Spurs on Monday has now been switched from SMS to Staplewood, because there's a game at SMS the following evening (v Sheff W). Anyone know if you can go along to watch the U21 game at Staplewood, and if there's a charge to get in? Was thinking of going along to see how Staplewood is progressing...

If you park on the Common it can take forever to get parked before the race, but provided you run the race relatively quickly you can jump in the car and drive straight out of Pompey without any delays.

Agreed and can we create a similar atmosphere to that first league win at SMS (1-0 v Charlton?), the tension that day was unbearable (esp. when they hit the post) but the roof nearly lifted off when Pahars (I think) scored a header!

Saw Reading yesterday and they are truly horrific. Whilst their midfield & defence haven't really worked out what they're doing yet and look devoid of pace (like ours), they don't have a Lambert or Ramirez to call upon.

I must admit I'm worried now, and when the effect of alcohol has gone I'll be even more worried. As previously mentioned on this thread, we will be ****ting it against Villa, probably dominating the game but snatching at chances and generally panicking. We have huge problems at goal keeper and centre back, I'm just hoping that Yoshida is part of the solution. Just hoping that Ramirez can deliver against Villa, I think he can.

Will be having a couple of snifters on the train, then boozing at Lord's until about 2, then bolting to Emirates. Probably Camden for the evening.

Game over for our promotion chances. Never mind, another season in Div 2 isn't the end of the world...

Yes. As I slated them for the pre-season friendly prices, I will now have to give some credit at I think £15 is reasonable for a R3 match against decent Championship opposition. Although what's the total cost with the booking fee, is it £16.50?

Now that would be perfect! Following on from other posts, I remember people leaving Lord's in 91 to head to Loftus Road. Seem to recall that run chase finishing well after 7 as Surrey's bowlers were wasting time and fiddling around. If this 5.15 finish time is anywhere near accurate, there's not a chance in hell I'm going to be able to see any more cricket after the football. Damn the loss of the 60-over competition, now that was a proper day at the home of cricket!

Another amazing performance after we looked in trouble early on in their innings! Couldn't believe how easy we ended up winning. Anyone going to Emirates and Lord's in the same day?

Is anyone intending to sell their ticket if Hampshire get to Lord's? Or go to both?

Parkrun at 9.00 on Saturday mornings on the Common. A fast 5k. Sports Centre for a bit of hill work.

I read today that the recommended venues to host the 2015 RWC are being put forward to a board meeting next week. Assume that St Mary's is still one of the venues?

Could really do with a win, a clean sheet and perhaps a goal for J-Rod. I hope we're taking this reasonably seriously and will try to win and perhaps gain some small momentum for Sunday.

Dann's mistake yesterday won't have impressed many potential bidders!

Isn't Seaborne a little bit quicker than Fonte and Hooiveld? In which case, he may have to play soon as things. We've already squandered two games where we could have taken something (even if unexpected), and can't afford too squander many more.

Looks like there is a social club right behind the away end, so that would seem like a pretty good place.

The last tickets will be snapped up on the morning of Tuesday 28 August, it will be a massive scramble. The only way it can sell out before 28th is if the ticket office screw up - not impossible! - and sell more than one per person to the fans who went to Man C (plus the other two home games). I'm guessing the phones have been scrapped because past experience shows that the phone systems won't be able to cope. Although whether the online system can cope is another issue.

That's pretty impressive if true.

From Stevenage OS: "Away Fans: Please note that away fans will also need to register to purchase tickets" Suggests Saints fans can try buying tickets from Stevenage after we've sold out.

Skore are playing a fund raising gig for Sophia's Footsteps (Sophia Banger) tonight at the Monk's Brook, Chandlers Ford. http://theskore.com/gig-guide Seen them before in the Yacht Tavern, Woolston. Very good.

Betting Zone's Ben Coley recommends: Saints to be bottom at Christmas - 5/1 Reading to finish above us - 11/10 http://www.bettingzone.co.uk/football/betting/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=betting/12/08/16/manual_100255.html&BID=3711

"with considerable financial backing from Nicola Cortese and Markus Liebherr's estate." I don't think much of the "considerable financial backing" has come from Cortese! I believe he just spends it!

Exactly. The piece in the Observer / Guardian website had very little in the way of meaningful analysis. Just giving each team a number between 1 and 20, something which you could do from the bookies' odds anyway, and something which any bloke in the local pub could do. They gave us number 20. Fair enough, entitled to their view. We'll prove them wrong. Only concern will be if Lawro predicts that we stay up...