Wurzel

Sweepstake entry. They have taken the **** so often can I be really precise and go for 14:59 on 18th August 2012 - the "crowd" are in place, Bompey and the officials are waiting patiently to kick off, only then to realise that there is no opposition, and a plain white van is heading rapidly up the M275 with the takings from the turnstiles.

Disagree. A phoenix club should retain the old club's history. If it is the only club in the city and was only started as a direct result of the old one's liquidation then in my eyes that is still "Portsmouth FC". It wouldn't be a FCUM scenario, set up whilst MUFC still exist. And on a more important note, it needs to retain the history so that history shows what happens to a club when they get caught cheating.

No problem. He made it clear that it was in collusion with other teams skippers/players. The Premier League will soon make sure the story is "buried". Also good opportunity for the club to put a positive spin on it, emphasising the difference between the "old" club and the current "Southampton way"

Not exactly home end but was in the middle of Arsenal fans at Cardiff for Cup Final. Daughters were 2 of the player mascots, and we didn't get tickets till we were there . No point trying to hide it, dressed in yellows, with flag etc. Had one or two (or more, plenty more before the game) so joined in our songs, even standing up alone, arms outstretched for a rendition of "Stand up if you love the Saints" at one stage. Think I was tolerated, most around us seemed a bit plastic anyway, may have been different if we won. Thought I was in trouble at the end when I got a tap on the shoulder, turned , and saw the stereotypical looking thug, 40ish , beer belly, Arsenal tattoos, grade 1, calling me from the aisle about 8 seats away. He pointed at me (oh ****), then pointed at the rest of you massed behind the goal, and started clapping (phew) . Don't think it's something I'd ever choose to do again, certainly not in a non-neutral venue

Well if that's not a definition of being confused by which team is which I don't know what is. Not relevant to a third kit but I often wonder if a Saints player (for example) plays all home games and around 50% of away games in an (old stylee) red and white striped shirt, is he likely - in the heat of the game as you describe - to mistakenly pass to a Stoke or Sunderland player, irrespective of what colour strip Saints are in on the day. ?

Agreed. Clubs wear change kits just for the sake of it some times. All white shirt (ok with pinstripes invisible from anywhere further than 10 yards) red shorts red socks against mainly red shirts with white stripes white shorts and white socks. Anyone confused by which team is which needs a serious eye test.

That's that then. Any chance MLT still had of an England recall is definitely gone now

I have no problem with a change in style as long as the traditional red/white colour scheme is kept to in some way. Apart from the sash shirt which was my favourite football shirt of all time I haven't liked a home shirt since 1985. There's only so much you can do with stripes and they just never look "class" whatever you do with them. I quite simply just don't like the shirt, for no other reason than I simply don't like it. As for people who say they will buy it anyway (to wear, not talking collectors) even though they don't like it , FFS get a life and a mind of your own.

^^^^ This. 100 times this ^^^^

Well you have to be positive and assume things will work out ok when organising these things. I mean, League One has gone ahead with a 24 team fixture list.....

Would tie in with something I heard a few weeks ago, along the lines of forget the press rumours, the club is only looking to sign U21 Internationals . First JayRod, .............

With 3 British clubs how will they segregate this.? Just a one off ticket price makes me think there's no choice where you sit. Reduced capacity allocated something like Rangers/Northam Arsenal/Chapel Saints/Itchen&Kingsland with 4 empty corners .. Might have filled it at £15, can't see more than 5K at that price

Where, anywhere did I mention supporting Saints? My post specifically mentioned casual fans who want to watch Premier League football. I know it's hard for some to believe but there are a huge number of people around who simply just want to watch and/or experience live PL football. Some will always be casual, others will be converted to become one club fans. The important thing is attracting them and having room for them. Get them once, hopefully they'll enjoy it and come again as neutral or supporter. Surprisingly when the Pemier League carried out a National Fans Survey only 53% of fans gave the reason for attending their first game was because it was their local team. Casual floaters also probably bring more money into the club on a person by match basis. Don't attend regularly so more likely to be willing to splash out on a higher price ticket. Probably don't know the area around the ground so well so more likely to fork out for food and drink in the stadium instead of pubs etc. Not to mention corporate guests. Much as I, probably along with most of us, hate to admit it, the casual "prawn sarnie" brigade is where the money is. There's no need for the club to do anything to attract the "hardcore" fans, they'll turn up regardless.

Forgot the link http://www.soccerstats.com/attendance.asp?league=england

I find it hard to fathom why some of your answers can be so sensible (even when it's clear they are just trolling) and others so ridiculously childish. Why include Wales, Warwickshire, Kent and Cornwall in a feeble attempt to make a point?. The rest, yes maybe, all within driving distance, and where else can they go if they want to watch Premier League football? Last years average attendance based on % of capacity Arsenal 99.5% Chelsea 99.1% Fulham 98.4% QPR 94.2% I would guess Reading and WestHam likely to be around those sort of figures again in the top flight. So where can the casual fan from Hampshire, Dorset, W.Sussex, Somerset, Wiltshire, Eastern Devon, Surrey, happy to drive say 1 to 11/2 hours go to watch PL football ? They can forget those clubs, they'll struggle to get tickets. Hence we have a huge catchment area. No surprise that Spurs, Fulham and Chelsea are all looking to extend and/or move to bigger grounds - they know those people are out there and want to see PL football

Not read the whole thread thanks to the usual childish squabbling but from what I have , that is the most relevant comment. The argument that we averaged around 30K last time in the PL so it's big enough seems to be based on the assumption that it was the same 30K turning up every week. It wasn't. A 30K average probably consists of 20K hardcore turning up regardless and, I'd hazard a guess here, but anything up to another 40K , for whatever reason, attend only 3 or 4 games a season. They're not, and never would be ALL at the same match on the same day, but certainly there will be games that will be attractive to them than others. A bigger stadium wouldn't necessarily be aimed at trying to increase that 20K hardcore, but a combination of increasing that 40k of casuals to say 60/70K (just look at our catchment area for top flight football) and/or increase their attendance from 3 to 4 games to maybe 7 or 8 through a better facilities, more attractive product and tickets being easier to obtain. If some of those end up adding to the hardcore even better. I think those "casual" numbers are the ones the club are far more interested in. Their database will tell them how many attended 1 game, 2 games, 3 games etc and they are the ones future plans will be aimed at.

Love the press conference given by Pierluigi Collina in the video at the bottom of this page.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18520916 He says it was a goal, that's good enough for me. Who the hell is going to argue with him ?

That relates to ownership, not the person using it. Joe Bloggs can not decide he no longer wants his season ticket and transfer it to John Smith, and then when renewal comes round have John Smith renewing it.. It's a standard clause in any season issue, the clubs contract would be with Joe Bloggs so they wouldn't be able to enforce any Ts & Cs on John Smith if it wasn't them that sold it to him. Also it stops queue jumping when there's a waiting list. Nothing to stop Joe Bloggs letting John Smith use it for the odd game though - plenty of companies buy STs and let clients/employees use them. Bear in mind though the owner is responsible for whoever uses it and can have the ticket taken away for some elses bad behaviour.

Now we are back the Northam are going to have to up their game a bit. This is the standard expected next season (and not one banged backboard to be heard ) [video=youtube_share;Gyt-71DkVM4]

So the lesson learned is if you're going to be accused of such behaviour anyway, may as well make the suffering worthwhile and do what you're accused of.

Stick the 2 Manchesters on top, swap round Villa & Spurs and Fulham & Newcastle, and that wouldn't look too unrealistic as the end of season table

It is a difficult one. Initial reaction is that it has to be decided on what's happened during the game. Idealy first on number of corners , then maybe attempts on goal, and so on. BUT would a team 1-0 up and 5 corners ahead defend for the last 20 mins knowing they have to let in 2 goals (or 1 plus 5 more corners) ? My favourite would be play on till someone scores but with NO keepers on the pitch. Should make for some exciting scrambles and long range shots.

I have highlighted the operative word for you. OFFER . Not necessarily the same as PAY in that neck of the woods

Ours was Dusty Springfields Look of Love. No particular meaning just the first one we actually agreed on after loads of suggestions. Has grown to become a favourite because of that (I know, it's meant to be the other way round) Went to a friends wedding in 2004 who actually had first dance to , I kid you not ....... [video=youtube_share;NbJCBi9MVIw]

3 votes from my various Facebook accounts Edit: Just remembered a 4th one I can use