Sinned

Pretty sure that Brooks is cup-tied for rest of the season. He won’t be playing at Anfield.

Cup-tied. Played for Bournemouth in the third round

I first started supporting Saints because of a cup game against Blackpool. But I am a bit old now, ‘cos this game was in early 1953 - the year that Blackpool won the Cup. Older folk will well remember the ‘53 final, the Matthews final (even though Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick, it is STILL known as the Matthews final). Saints near the bottom of Division 2 we’re drawn away at Blackpool, riding high in Division 1. We came away with a draw and took the game to a replay at the Dell. The game was played on the following Wednesday at 3 pm. It was reckoned that about 10,000 grannies must have died in the week before, as the number of people needing time off work to go to the funeral that Wednesday afternoon. Anyway, Saints lost 2 - 1 but played a heroic game. I, as an 8 year old, read every report going (the local newsagent didn’t mind if I went in and read the back pages). As a result I became a supporter, and from the start of the following season 53-54, with Saints now established in Division 3 South. I went to every home game at 3pm on a Saturday — first team one week, the Reserves the following week. I became ST holder at the start of 64-65 season, and poor health made me give it up at the start of 21-22 season. But as Blackpool were in the run up to ‘76, perhaps that is a portent to something special in May of this year. Well, hopefully.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Redmond was voted Fans and Players Player of the Season just three years ago. At that time, most fans were more than happy with him.

If, and it’s a very big if, Bale does come home, will there be a fight every time we get a free kick just outside the penalty area.

Broke off from all my usual reading material to give Frannie’s book a look in. Just finished it. Very good read. He is rather different to what we understand many professional footballers are like. Strictly tee-total, non smoking and very much a family man, who idolises his wife and kids.

Do you know —- that’s exactly what a lot of fans were saying in ‘76

Load of ruddy juniors the lot of you ! 27th December 1949. Played against Luton. As you used to in those days we had played them away the day before, so many of these games became ‘retribution’. That’s why the practice was stopped. Don’t remember much about the game as I was 5 years old, and watched it sat on my uncle’s shoulders.

BBC on their live site covering Newcastle v Chelsea are saying that he has to self isolate.

‘ Evening all. Since the demise of Pompey’s Fans Online board (a horrible site that specialised in bad tempered insults), the old Fratton Faithful Board has come alive. I know that a number of you used to enjoy the banter there. Look in and put some of the old users in their place.

I don’t get this argument. There are camera crews and commentators at every PL game, and they have had picture sharing arrangements for several seasons. So what extra costs need to be covered ?

My fourpenneth. I admit that I couldn’t understand us going for Theo. BUT if Ralph has sanctioned this, and I am sure that he has, then I trust that Ralph sees that he has something to offer. And that’s enough for me.

Genuine question: As we have triggered his release clause to buy him, can Real Valladolid still insert a sell on clause in the deal, or will all profit, assuming there is profit, be for Saints ???

I can see a scenario here where Levy told Mourinho that Saints were not playing ball, and it didn’t look like PEH would be signing. Mourinho says I expect to be backed, and I want him, so get it done. From that point, Levy is up a creek without a paddle, as he has to back a high profile manager that he has personally just appointed.

I agree with most of what you say. But I think Mourinho has a slightly different style and plan for him. His job will be to break up play and win possession, something he is very good at. But instead of trying to get it forward with a fancy pass, he will be told to look for Lo Celso / Bergwyn who will be expected to be 5 yards away waiting for the simple pass. Their job will be to look for the fancy passes.

But in that original negotiation the offer was going to be £45M to £50M. Saints reported the Liverpool to the FA and all hell broke loose. Liverpool withdrew from the negotiation and came back in the next window with the £75M, which they had been told we would accept. But, the original point was that Liverpool had completed a deal with VVD’s agent before they ever spoke to Saints. And yes, I agree that £75M was a very good price.

Sorry, but that’s exactly what happened in the original ‘negotiation’ for VVD to go to Liverpool. They had agreed a full package with him without ever talking to Saints. Then someone very senior at Liverpool sent the details by email to other senior people there, and accidentally included a Saints Board Member, which was why the ‘negotiation’ became public news.

I also got the call from Saints. Spent 10 minutes chatting to the gent, who asked a number of questions about our current situation (he asked about my wife and included her in the questions) and seemed genuinely interested in the answers. Ended up by leaving the phone number and telling me to get in touch if we had some major problem and needed help. I assume that they phoned because their system told them that I was well into my 70’s. Anyway, a very nice touch and their call was very much appreciated.

I’m probably a bit older than most of you, but in my view the bast captain by a country mile was Cliff Huxford.

This argument about his ability, or lack of it, reminds me of the furore on here when we signed Ryan Bertrand. According to many on here it was a death knell for the team ‘cos we signed such a talentless useless player who couldn’t get games at any of his previous clubs.

Brian was one of my favourite players back in the day. His heading ability was fantastic. But unlike most of the good headers he like to take a run at it. Every time we won a corner Brian would stand about 10 yards outside of the penalty area, and start to run as the kick was being taken. He aimed to meet the ball between the edge of the area and the penalty spot. By running in gave him two advantages, firstly he could jump higher than the defenders who were stood in one spot and secondly he could generate a lot of power on the ball. Of all the hundreds of Saints players I have watched, only Ron Davies (and maybe George Kirby ) were better at heading the ball. Rest in peace Brian.

Back in the days when Jimmy played, I was an avid supporter who went up the Dell every Saturday for the game, 1st team one week and the reserves the next week. There is one incident involving Jimmy that I clearly remember (and have recounted to younger fans many times). Jimmy really put his foot through the ball when he shot. None of this 'passing into the net' with him. In one game he literally broke the net. He shot, and scored but the ball wasn't in the net when the keeper went to pick it up. The ref came and had a look and found a hole in the bottom of the net. Needless to say, he insisted that it had to be repaired before play could continue. I think Len Stansbridge was Groundsman at the time, and he had to find a ball of twine to tie the net up. Dear old Len could move at two different speeds, slow and even slower. It took fully 10 minutes to complete the repair and satisfy the ref. I have never found a reference to this incident in any of the Saints books (and I have them all FF and Dave), so I think this must have been a reserve gamer. Anyway, rest in peace Jimmy, it was great watching you play.

If you are going back that far, there are a number of contenders. I saw all of them play and if you mention Kerry Dixon, you have to include David Speedie, who didn’t want to come here (a make weight in selling Shearer to Blackburn) and caused trouble with players, management and fans. I would also throw the name of Lew Chatterley in. A mate of Lawrie, he became one of his first signings. But even LM realised that Chatterley was out of his depth and sold him on quickly. Came back as a coach a few seasons later and did a good job.

This strikes me as being a 'Shop Window' For Sale team. Of this lot, Fraser/McCarthy, Stephens, Mo, Long and on the bench Austin and Targett will go for any reasonable bid.

Remember Cliff very well. Team captain for a long time, and a very good one. Real leader type, and everyone in the ground could hear, if a Saints player cocked up and was in line for a b0llocking