Saint137

The other thing is when he arrived we gave him (or did he ask for?) the number 7 shirt. Such a statement of intent, very brave of him to take it on but indicative of his new approach to football. You really do get the impression that we were a match made in heaven - he needed the discipline and training to go to the next level and we made each other's dreams come true. Serendipity is the word I think. I mean, we got that song going pretty quickly more in hope than belief and I'm sure a lot of us never expected the first verse to change a couple of seasons later. We're living in a world of massive and rapid change at the moment but to go from Rochdale on a miserable Tuesday night (we lost) to England in the time he did and at the age he was is just an utter fairytale.

A complete player. Utterly lethal in front of goal but don't overlook his link up play and assists. For a striker he was pretty generous, but then when you know the man and see his statement it's exactly what you'd expect. The highlight reel shows he scored all sorts of goals and of the pens I think there's only one wear a goalie gets a piece of it. So much power. Easily my favourite time going to games - up there with the mid 80s teams and he was a huge part of it. Favourite goals? Against the skates in the FA Cup watching with the old man in the Northam front row, the years rolled away (from my Dad) and it was likely he was 20 again standing with the docker's choir at The Dell. Thing is he scored so many they all blur into one. First game back in the Prem was great but it was the getting there where he was truly vital. Those two late goals against Millwall were pivotal (bit like Forte against MK) and marked when I truly believed we'd get promoted. I've got a dent in my ceiling from when he scored against Scotland, that was probably the proudest I've ever been as a Saints fan. Ran on, first touch, boom, and against the Auld Enemy. Roy of the Rovers wouldn't run a storyline like that. Legend for all time, this generation's Le Tiss, Channon, Paine, Davies...

Glad to see that the appeal is doing well. Greg's missus is one of my brother's best mates and he's just a genuinely nice bloke - definitely not a rock star (and the days of them making a decent living out of it are long gone). The world needs more Gregs, not less of 'em...

Recently become a Dad and biggest change for me is that I'm more focused at work - suddenly a much bigger incentive to do well. Never been particularly ambitious, that has changed now. On the flipside I also worry a hell of a lot more (2016 hasn't helped). Nipper arrived on the Friday after the Brexit vote and that along with Trump has me worried for his future. If it was just me and the missus I think we'd have been far more "meh, whatever" about what 2016 has been like but now we're acutely worried about how we can keep him safe and ensure he grows up a tolerant, liberal, grounded citizen of the world.

Given that Crewe had that amazing reputation under Dario Gradi for bringing on young players and we now have the same its only logical the press would look at us. Even though these are historical abuse allegations. Thing is, if you were a kid in the 80s you knew all this sort of stuff went on and either experienced it yourself or knew someone who did. Remember that some of these allegations relate to physical abuse and that was absolutely rife (corporal punishment wasn't abolished until '85 I think?). I won't mention the (Southampton) school but at the one I went to I remember boys being hit with hockey sticks (and hooked between the legs with them) and also "watched" going through the showers by PE teachers. Also caned with metal rulers (I had that done to me by a metalwork teacher - to be fair I had just lobbed a chisel at someone...). Whilst utterly wrong and no doubt damaging it was par for the course. As others have said safeguarding didn't really exist back then.

If you want to stand, then blocks 42-44 from row AA and back will mean you don't get hassled by stewards. 42 is block closest to away fans (or block 2 in the Itchen). If you want to sit all game then anywhere else will be fine. Itchen Centre has the most expensive tickets but you can potentially get seats close to the team benches (depends on how many you need together).

As with others I only get redirects on my iPad, no issues on Android phone or laptop (all Chrome bar the iPad) Occasionally on the laptop (Mac) something starts eating up resources (fan starts whirring, CPU goes through the roof, page becomes unresponsive. Only happens here

Seem to recall Mrs Juanmi was quite a looker

As a 70s kid in relatively white Southampton I really didn't see that he was black, and had no idea about his history of protest and religious beliefs. He was simply the coolest man alive. Slightly too young to remember the Rumble in the Jungle but I do remember watching him beat Spinks in 78.

Top job. From personal experience the weight loss slowed down in the second year despite mileage and speed going up. Your legs will end up well toned but if you've got fat above the waist cycling doesn't seem to shift it.

Interesting reading the history as I had family on battleships in the mid-20s. Prince of Wales & Hood I believe. Fortunately not on them for WW2! As with so much military history its shocking how basic cock-ups led to huge loss of life - magazine doors open, cordite stored in corridors. One of the Jutland VCs is for a Marine who ordered the magazine flooded shortly before a huge flash fire which would have meant the same fate as befell QE & Indefatigable - 1000+ lives saved with his dying breath.

Changed position on the bike, amazing what a difference small changes can make. Saddle up at correct height based on the various guides and nudged forward slightly. Faster to work this morning than at any point in the last year and I know I'm putting more work in because my hamstrings ache. Also sorted out a slightly tweaky knee. This was a DIY fit based on online guides, although like the idea of getting a proper fit.

Interesting for Man U: Forced to play between now & Cup Final: They'll field a weakened side as nothing to play for, as a FA Cup win guarantees Europe... ...unless that results in them being deducted points. If they have to play it after the Cup Final and they've won the Cup Final there is no advantage in finishing 5th and they'll already be on the beach. Can't see Bournemouth agreeing to it being played after Cup Final.

Plenty of options for getting there: M3 or A33/M4 or even via Alton and across that way. Pretty much guaranteed to be in a big jam once a week on M3 though. Not something I would consider doing now but did Southampton > Reading daily for 5 years. You get used to the rat runs and knowing when to leave (even a few minutes can make a difference). I think you have to just accept you will be in traffic and relax otherwise the stress will kill you. Get a comfy car that's enjoyable to drive and as others have said use the rural roads north of Basingstoke/Hook. Hopefully the smart motorway upgrade will help.

Thoroughly enjoyable watch that. Full-blooded derby the like of which we haven't seen for 20 years.

If you read one more thing about Hillsborough, read this - from a now journo who was a 19yo at the time and survived the crush http://gu.com/p/4tmgz/stw It covers one aspect of the disaster not covered much elsewhere - the ongoing trauma for survivors. And he's bang on the money that lives depended on those verdicts.

The point is though that the pens were over-capacity before the fatal injuries took place. It is obvious from the footage from way before (about 2:30pm)when the exit gate was opened that the pens were too full, and I would suggest that over the course of two hours people could still have died from exhaustion/collapse (hot day for time of year). The tunnel to the central pens should have been closed and if it had there might just have been a couple of fatalities or just some serious injuries.

Me too. I think because my first strong memories of a season are the First Div promotion season and that last game at The Dell where we seemed to roll over and do them a favour, and throughout the 80s we never seemed to win against them, often on Boxing Day/New Years Day. And then there's Ronnie ****ing Rosenthal and them nicking Bale. And the shame of siding with Lowe over his North London Yobbos comment. So yeah, victory against Chelsea tonight please so we have a chance at derailing their dream.

Not a huge fan of co2 canisters. You'll only get 80psi out of one and they're fiddly to use. I'd rather have a decent mini-pump that will easily stick around 60psi in a tyre to get me home. Thing with a CO2 canister is unless you're good at using them there's a big risk that you'll dump your load (missus) without inflating your tyre and then you're stuck. I do carry them but also have a mini pump as backup. What connector does your mini-pump use? Screw on or snap on? Screw-on usually better. I've got one of these: https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-hi-pressure-mini-pump-EV211875?esvt=1188-GOUKE1065248&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-520444-1&esvcrea=79033472576&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvo=EV211875-NA-BLK&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKEAjw0pa5BRCLmoKIx_HTh1wSJABk5F_4GwioFcFSoTws_OWNv6vyw2qR_WPeafowRfku6WM8lRoCiWXw_wcB (review here: http://road.cc/content/review/141301-hoy-hi-pressure-mini-pump ) I ride year-round on Conti GP 4 Seasons, mostly Cadnam to town, and have had two (rear) punctures in 2000 miles. Both pinch-flats from not keeping an eye on my pressures so entirely self-inflicted. The CO2 inflator I've got is the bog-standard BTwin one from Decathlon. Does the job but if you're going to rely on them recommend you buy a few cartridges and practice before having to use them in anger.

No, because large sections of society including the media and police didn't accept the findings of the Taylor Report. The final report was also watered down compared to the interim report in terms of its criticism of the police and the inquests were patently wrong due to the 3:15 cutoff. Too many reports of victims being alive after that time who potentially could have been saved had the SYP/SYAS had implemented a disaster response plan. Just look at the footage of all the police "maintaining order" rather helping the injured.

Police were needed because of the design of the ground and the bottleneck running down to the ancient turnstiles. Think back to the Dell - would you have ever got out of the Upper East Stand if there had been a fire? With that narrow alley and only one way out? Or Nottarf with the alley behind the away end? In contrast think of even the old Wembley and the amount of space around and the number of turnstiles. The fences at Hillsborough and any other ground were completely safe as long as the police controlled the crowd, and the only reason the police needed to control the crowd were the fences. There was enough space at Leppings Lane to accommodate all those fans, even the scallies trying to bunk in without tickets (the same as fans of all clubs did back then). Opening the exit gate would also have been fine had they closed the tunnel to pens 3 & 4. This is why fan behaviour and hooliganism have nothing to do with it - its a monumental cock up by an inexperienced police officer who had no idea about how to manage a crowd.

In disaster management and response there is a concept known as "Second Assault" - also applies to victims of crime. Relatives of those who died are much more likely to be able to get on with their lives after the grief has passed if a second assault can be avoided. Examples are an airline refusing to acknowledge they were responsible for the deaths in an air crash, protracted legal battles for compensation, or trying to cover stuff up for legal reasons. A good example of avoiding a second assault is the Alton Towers crash last year - within hours they came out and said they would offer all the support victims needed and would co-operate fully with investigations. They also closed the parks whilst safety checks were carried out. Often when a loved one is lost families are motivated by a desire that their death is not in vain and that it will never happen to anyone else - because they wouldn't wish the pain they feel on anyone else. There's a case in the cruise industry where 15 years on a father is still battling to find the truth about his daughter's disappearance and all because the cruise line didn't engage with him, blamed his daughter, tried to wash their hands of it, and battled every step of the way to avoid paying compensation. Another one would be Thomas Cook and those carbon monoxide deaths in Greece a few years back. So its nothing to do with being a Scouser, or hating the police, or being anti-establishment. If the police had held their hands up at the time (unlikely I know) this would have been settled and people could have "moved on". As it was they lied and lied and lied and lied and blamed the dead. As a result there have been suicides and ruined lives - not through choice but through being compelled to defend the name of their loved ones and to try to ensure that it never happens again. The second assault has meant that they are quite rightly seeking vengeance and punishment rather than "closure".

The only way you would get a crowd that size queuing in an orderly fashion in what was effectively a narrowing funnel is through police cordoning and better organisation. Nothing to do with them being football fans, its basic crowd dynamics. Would happen the same way with a crowd of grannies going to a Barry Manilow concert. If you stand 10,000 people absolutely still and then ask them all to take a step forward a crush will develop at the front if there is no way for pressure to be relieved sideways. Its why modern stadiums have so much space around them. Those fans were like fish in a net, carried along by the people behind them. Once you're in a crowd that big there's bugger all you can do, its like swimming against the tide. No "please take a step back sir" will ever work, the crowd has a life of its own.

Right then, time to do an Adrian Heath on Leicester's title hopes - surely if we lose tomorrow they'll be over the line.

Spurs fans in meltdown, good job they're away on Sunday. Got to laugh...