Raven on the wing

Noticeable that the mighty Man U were given a proper game by Derby during the week. That could/should have been us !!

“First I must play a big compliment to the boys. They kicked the ball often. Sometimes sideways, sometimes backwards and sometimes even closer to the other goal. Not too close - this would make Sir Ferguson very angry ! The mighty Man U are a big team with many big players. We are the little Southampton with not much money and only very little players - but we must try to keep the fans happy - this is important. The referee is paid by Mr Ferguson , and is not liking the small people at Southampton. He makes a red card on my player and gives them 2 goals by mistake. This is not good for the little people of Southampton who still try to kick the ball many times , and the fans are cheering us to do good things. I am happy that we play the ball in the right way , by kicking it along the ground so that it rolls end over end. This is the Dutch way and it is how I played often. Rupert is happy we had many people watching and he is paying only small wages. This is good for the small people at this small club that is Southampton , I am thinking”

The sad fact is, after Sundays walkover, you feel it would be better to lock the gates at St Marys for good if that is the best we can offer. We were an embarassment to the ccc and would struggle in Div 1, the kids are simply not good enough - end of !

When we talk about Lawrie getting relegated in his first season - dont forget we had 36points from 42 games in the 2pts for a win days. I think it stood as the most for a relegated team ! 42pts gauranteed safety then. We also stuffed Everton 3-0 @ Goodison on the last day - so the signs were there already that he wasnot that bad a manager. Admittedly he took over at Christmas when we had made a good start.

He was as smug as a man who knows nothing about football is when watching a managerial light weight he has appointed, guide a team of nonentities, to perform like a bunch of kids in the local park and get away with a 3-0 drubbing, and yet receive no direct criticism because of an inept referee.

to get away unscathed from yesterdays pathetic embarassment of a "football match". To all of those who say "stick behind the boys during the game" ,you can now see how inspired our boys were by a capacity crowd , who backed them 100%. Van de Saar could have taken his deck chair out their with him - not even a corner for fecks sake !! Our much feted academy was shown up to be exactly what it is - a cheap option made up of players who donot deserve the chance at this level and will disappear without trace in a couple of seasons. The ref did Rupert a big favour by becoming public enemy number one - but this shower of sh*te will be adrift at the bottom in a few weeks unless personnel changes are made pronto !! JP has amply illustrated why he has never managed a decent sized club before, and thus confirmed Rupert knows less than nothing about our beloved game !

Having started with our worst home record ever, I wonder if we have ever before gone 90 mins at home (like yesterday ) without even winning a corner ? I always wondered what they meant by "total football" clearly it is exciting stuff.

Lancashire was awful. For example ball flies across our goalmouth in the second half he comes in instead of clearing heads it back across the danger area. United rang rings around us. Lloyd James was turned so many times he didnot know which way was up. Perry got in a few good blocks, Skacel was average.

Quite simply the worst 11 players I have seen wearing a Saints shirt in 40 odd years. Add to that an inept manager , an egotistical chairman, and a fiercely loyal (today) but misguided fan base, and we are in deep trouble. Rupert will be delighted he got away unscathed from this debacle which was masked by some bad refereeing.

I think Joe Coal is there as well !!

The problem is not with JP as he is just a puppet. Any change would suggest Rupert made a mistake and that is not going to happen is it ?

1/ Adam Llalllllllllllallllna ( is that enough l's ?) signing for P*mpey. 2/ P*mpey not being relegated. 3/ Leicester City winning Div 1 by a mile. 4/ Skacel and Davis being loaned out @ 11.59 on 31st of January. 5/ Rupert being given the freedom of Southampton.

Lowe holds control by others proxying their shares added to his 6%. This should be removed to allow the club to re unite and move on. It doesnot mean we would need to spend recklessly as a result. There is an alternative to our "Double Dutch" methods - just plain common sense.

Sundays game is the perfect opportunity to vent your feelings against Rupert without damaging Saints in the deadly relegation dog fight into which he has plunged us. The Manure game is largely irrelevant to our season other than providing a little cash , and giving Rupes the chance to "big it up" on the centre stage. If you are happy to watch us slide inexorably into oblivion with Rupert at the helm, then so be it. The worst home record since we entered the league, 1 point from the last 5 games , 7 from the last 11 games. Do not be deceived by a couple of games against Reading who are not a typical ccc team - we are teetering on the brink. Give Rupert and Judas Wilde the opportunity to see how much they are loathed by people who have sfc in their blood. Renditions of "Nigel Pearsons red and white army" interspersed with " We hate Rupert Lowe , we hate Rupert Lowe " would hit the spot. Rupert Lowe on a string ... Stand up if you hate Rupert ... How about :- Jan Port - a - loo You havent a clue Feck off to Holland And take Rupert with you Or sung as per Abba ( a bit too taxing I think for most !!) PORTALOO aint got a CLUE hes taking us down to division two Feck off back to Holland you know we want you to oh oh oh Portaloo Any other suggestions ?? On the other hand a victory against Manure may inspire us to go on and win the cup , and do a Sunderland and win the ccc .. yawn yawn sorry I lapsed into Rupert speak for a moment there !

The sad fact is that everything that has happened to us this season was obvious to anyone with a remote clue about ccc football. Our "visionary chairman" regretably not only does not understand the game, but labours under the mis apprehension that he is the "chosen one" - God help us !! Unfortunately the 2 results against Reading ( who try to play passing football ), are not representative of the league, and we are stuffed by the lump it merchants on a regular basis.

Thank god our away form is so good as we have only 8 pts from 36 at home. Oh s**t we have now lost 3 away in a row !! Lord Lowe apologists about anywhere ??

Remember Bmuff get 25% of any Llallana fees so the figure has to be bigger for it to be worthwhile to us. Why do Stoke want mid fielders as they dont pass the ball to them any way ?

In two sub appearances of ten minutes and just a few minutes did he actually touch the ball ? I know you introduce a player gradually but can we afford that sort of luxury ?

To sum up Mc Goldrick - runs about quite a lot scores very few goals : Raziak and Stern John - dont run about much but score plenty. Answer is ; get the kids to do your running for you and take up the right positions to score like James Beattie and Bret Ormerod.

A sea of Yellow must create a good feeling for our lads when they come out on the pitch. It has good memories for supporters of games @ Derby (support wise ! ) the millenium staduim , Villa Park (Cup semi v Watford ) etc. Teams like Charlton who wear red , we are indistinguishable from their lot !

Reflections on a good day out at Charlton on Saturday. Aldershot fans in the Hole in the wall (pub@ Waterloo station ) I ask you ? " Antigallican (pub @ Charlton) packed out with Saints fans. Great display from Kelvin first half - glaring miss by BWP in a second half which we dominated . Inspired substitution by JP bringing on Pearce at half time. AP won everything in the air and resticted Charlton to virtually no chances in second half. Good performance overall - with the kids standing up to be counted playing their football -especially second half. Much prefer the yellow away strip though than the fashionable ( ? ) grey colours. "Yellow - yellow yellow" always sounds good, and gives us a much clearer identity away. Come on you Greys has no place in football folklore !

Me and my son will be there from mid day - the Antigallican is favourite I think. COYR to take us seven points clear of bottom three !!

Happy birthday Micky - one of the very few players who created a huge buzz of anticipation in the ground whenever he got the ball. He was a forward ahead of his time. Fast , skillful dribbler , wicked shot and a good header of the ball. I rate him our best forward player ahead of Ron and Terry.

One of the difficulties in this poll will be reflecting on how well the player played for us , or how good he was at his pomp. Wayne Bridge will undoubtedly have improved since he left, whilst many players joined us in the twilight of their career. I voted for David Peach because of his overall impact on the team.

Did you see Ronaldo having the ball dinked up to the back stick by Scholes ( I think) in a Champions league game last year ( ? ). He rose like a salmon to head powerfully downwards in to the goal. It was only a one off I suspect , but Ron did it almost every week.