angelman

Duncan, yes, it is a problem with the PL, and I will freely admit to being naive in my wish for SFC to remain mainly English (or at a push British). Last season was mainly because the team had been inherited. All the rumours (and yes, I know that they are rumours) of players that we are being linked with are that they are non-British, save for Gary Hooper. I sincerely hope that we can push the academy players through and that they do make up 50% of the team. I think as things stand, having 5 or 6 English players in the starting line up or squad is better than most other teams. I am hoping that we can have this many next season, from Clyne, Shaw, JWP, AL, RL JRod, Punch and Cork - afraid that Fox doesn't do it for me!!! I am a great fan of Punch but I am not sure MP feels the same way. And I presume sotonjoe, the bit about being xenophobic was tongue in cheek, as it has nothing to do with anti-foreigners. I just have to wonder whether I would feel differently about Saints if there weren't any Englishmen in it. I know that is ridiculous as, for example, RL is a Liverpudlian and has nothing to do with Southampton, but if I wanted to watch a team full of foreigners I would probably choose Real, Barca or Bayern

Yes I guess that that is a Catch-22. But I really don't want to go to SMS and watch 11 foreigners (NB nothing against foreign players personally) playing for Saints. I'm not sure that it will be that bad, but it might not be too far off.

With Pelligrini saying that City are entering a La Liga era, I look at Saints and who we are supposedly being linked with. A Frenchman, a Uruguayan, a Spaniard and an Italian. Coupled to that, our latest signings have been a Norwegian, Japanese and Uruguayan, I am wondering whether we are going to do the same thing as Man C, Arsenal, Chelsea etc and have no English players, or very few of them. Does it matter? To me it does, even if it does bring more success. I would prefer to do not so well and watch Shaw, Punch, Adam, JWP and JRod week in, week out. That's not to say that I don't want any foreign players, but I definitely want a good representation of English/British players. Am I alone in this? While EU law prohibits putting in a restriction on the number of foreign (EU) players, I think maybe we should limit non-EU players. I realise that the PL won't like it and therefore it won't happen. We all know that this is detrimental to the national side, but the managers of those sides that Woy picks from aren't English and don't care about our national side. What a mess we have. Money, money, money and an uncompetitive national side.

I was staying further along the coast a few years back, and must say that he is right. To me, and I know it is all subjective, Albufeira is one of the worst places I have ever been to and I do not plan to ever return. Possibly I didn't go to the old town, which others advise, so might have missed something.

What have football supporters got to do with cricket supporters other than them both being sport? Not sure of the relevance of bringing football into the conversation

Having a disabled son (surprisingly with Angelman Syndrome), I well know that it's not really about the "outrage" per se. It's more to do with the the flippancy and thoughtlessness, well it is with me. Anyway, glad it worked out and you're right to make a song and dance about it.

Don't like those matt finishes. Looks like you've parked it under a lime tree for a week

I'm married with 3 kids so think that I'm fairly safe.

I took your invitation in the same way Ludwig did.

Out of interest why did ITV have Roy Keane in the studio and Andy Townsend at the pitch. I know that only one is a proper Irishman, but both played for Ireland. Nothing against the Irish, but are there so few English people about, that we have to get Irish to do the commentating and punditry?

Think you've been a bit harsh on Punch.

Seems that I am in a minority, as I really couldn't give two hoots who provides the clothes for the players.

Does an agent knocking the story mean that is more or less likely that there might be something in it?

Remember playing WHU and one of their players ran into him, bounced off and landed in a heap

One rather small detail with all these. Red Bull may sponsor them all, but they also own them all as well. Do Red BUll sponsor teams that they don't own?

Not saying that it will happen, but I am surprised that Red Bull isn't already present in the money circus that is the EPL

Last terrace I stood on..............

Not watched the programme, more than a cursory glance. Is there any skill involved or is it all guessing? If the latter, what then really is the point of the whole thing?

That's probably because there are so many rumours that Jol is on the way out. If I was him and I wanted to keep my job, I would sign as many players as I could, as quickly as I could.

If it is true then one hopes that £15m gets added to the £30m war chest. I'm not really in for buying instant success (or hopefully so) but if other clubs are going to constantly shaft us and buy all our best players.......

Is the window open or is it July 1st? Wiki states

saw a couple of people in what I think were crocodile outfits.

To be honest, I don't really care. If I supported one or all (!!) of the top 5 or 6, then I might.

Recall that Liverpool seemed to fall over all the time as well. It rather ruins the game.

Overbearing, forceful, trenchant, aphoristic etc etc. I pointed out in my reply that there was no need to grind the axe and as a journo be more subjective