Latheal

SSN said the FL just wanted it in writing that we wouldn't appeal. Why not just write the letter, take over the club, then change our mind and appeal? There would be absolutely nothing the FL could do about it. They cannot remove statutory rights. What they are asking for is illegal and no court in the land would uphold it.

Agree totally. I had the privalidge of playing at the Dell in a Southampton Senior Cup final and getting man of the match. In the same week I played at Anfield and Home Park. Nothing meant more to me in my brief footballing career than playing at the Dell and walking down those steps that Le Tiss had done on the Saturday. I never did it again and whilst I was part of a squad that made it to the Senior Cup Final a few year back at St Mary's I was never selected and after joining them late, didn't deserve to. But those that did, took the day off work, made a complete day of it, booked hotels and enjoyed every single moment. I don't begrudge them at all. Its the magic of playing those games at those venues. These things should be earnt, not bought. I'll treasure my memories for ever. We worked damn hard to get to everyone of those grounds, travelling hundreds of miles, playing in all kinds of weather and taking all kinds of abuse. I love the club but please, charge Hampshire FA the money rather than the fans - god knows they have it.

I haven't been since Birmingham in the league due to weddings/work and courses. I'm not making excuses because I love going and have said all season that the kids are playing stuff worthy of watching. It actually really grates me at the moment when I can't go, but I should be there for the rest of this month's home games on Saturdays. Not everybody can make every week and I accept that being one of them. Less than 15K does makes us look like a bunch of mugs tho! Whatever, the result on Sat, I'll be there for the Watford and Coventry return games this month. COYR.

2-1 - I reckon its going to be a very tight game. Pekhart to score on his debut.

Agree totally with the above. Whatever we say about Lowe, we can't change the past - we're in the here and now. Watched a couple of pre-season (against West Ham we were awesome) games and started feeling good. Talked to a couple of mates who saw the Cardiff game who said we were unlucky but were still playing the kind of football that I had witnessed in pre-season. Saw the Birmingham league game myself and witnessed for 45 minutes, some excellent entertainment - 3-1 at half time would not have been an injustice. At Derby, by all reports it was more of the same but for longer. On Tuesday, it was the same as Derby. I've had belief in this side since I saw them pre-season. I'm not saying we'll get promoted, we'll hit the play offs or whatever. But its great entertainmnent - its football the way its meant to be played and its being played by kids who for the most part, have come through SFC. They want to play for Saints - sure, they will want to better their career and be picked up by bigger teams and who would begrudge them that? We're not in a posistion to offer them the massive wages they will undoubtedly command in years to come or even half a season. We are able to offer them a chance to play, to express themselves, and to play with (in a manner of speaking) their mates that they have grown up with. They're living thier dream. They want to play. And it looks as if they want to play with us. I can't be there Saturday as I'm at one of my best mates wedding. Doubt I'll be able to watch anymore than the first 45 minutes. And I am truly gutted. Whatever happends to this team, they've made me proud again. I can walk into work with a smile. Its almost as if, they're a secret and nobody really knows about them. By December, I truly believe most people will. JP on The OS pretty much sums it up "Honestly though I think if the next game was today, the boys would be happy. They want to go out and play again - they don't want to rest...Lloyd James for example on Saturday at Derby was injured. On Sunday he knocked on my door and said he was fit and wanted to play." People don't have to go and watch the club to call themselves fans - but believe it when the people who do go and watch them are saying you are missing out. We don't know how long we've got of this. Don't begrudge us enjoying it while it lasts and calling for all the other stay-aways to come and join in. Its our club, and god knows we've had some crap over the last few years. But something is stirring. The air has changed at SMS. There's optimism. Let us have that. For god sake, just enjoy it!

True, but I would have thought an international player (ok, not a great one) on high wages would have appearance fees in there. Goal bonuses are almost a given as well. Can anybody verify? Absolutely no chance of getting him to reduce wages and to be fair to him, why would he? Its not like he's been here a great length of time - like I said I actually like the player but not for the sake of the club. If we can't afford him, we have to do something - loaning him out to somebody else in this division and paying some of his wages may be the only option.

Can we actually afford Skacel's appearance fee? People seem to forget that part of the reason we are so skint and not playing the high earning players is not only the wages, but the appearance fees we have to pay them (and in the cases of Saga, Rasiak, probable goal bonuses). Skacel is actually one of my favourite players and I thought he and Surman had a good understanding down the left when they were together. I'm still not totally convinced about Lee Holmes either but not 100% sure we can afford Skacel. I've no doubt he could play somewhere in this formation, either LB, LW or behind the striker but I'd be surprised if we see him unless their is an injury.

I think QPR away is a tricky one to call - I think they are going to be one of those teams that don't set the league on fire but will just grind out results at home and live off this new found reputation they have got with their owners. Ipswich are a quality team and should be a good game of football and a good yardstick to see how far our kids have come (is anybody else calling them "our kids" yet?). Doncaster have been getting good reviews as well and don't think that would be easy. I think we're capable of 4 wins out of those 6 with Blackpool, Barnsley and Norwich (just don't rate them). I'll take another from the other 3 games, not really bothered which! I do think Donny are a lot better than people give them credit for.

After an encouraging start (personally I'm more than happy with 3 pts from the opening 3 games that we had) what do people think about the next 6? Obviously its early days and like I wasn't getting too downhearted when we lost our first 2 (was there against Birmingham and like many, believe we should have gone in 2 goals up in the first half - there's not a lot you can do when the Brum play all 4 of their 20 goal a season strikers) and not getting carried away with the win yesterday. However, looking at our next 6 games, I'm a little excited. Too be honest, they all seem winable and if the kids get on a roll, who knows? I reckon 12 out of the next 18 points would be an achievable return which may set us up right amongst it come the beginning of October. Little worried that Svensson probably won't play any midweek games and the fact that we need to take our chances when we are on top, but think, just think, we may be in for an interesting ride. Blackpool H QPR A Ipswich H Barnsley H Doncaster A Norwich H What do you guys think?

I remember the league game at St Mary's when we absolutely smashed then for the first 30 mins (Rasiak missing an open goal after about 5 mins, Sagga doing the same about 10 mins later ala Gazza in 96 versus the Germans). Remember thinking at the time that it was a make or break game for us - if we won we were right in it for auto promotion, but if we lost we were hoping for play offs at best. The amount of chances we created in that first half was ridiculous and you just got that feeling it was going to be one of those days. So much so I went to put a bet on at half time, (1-0 Derby) until my girlfriend caught me and reminded me that I never bet against my team. Was double gutted after that. League doesn't lie though, although we deserved to beat them in the Play-offs. Who knows what would have happened after that? Don't really hate them, but I must admit, always hope that they lose after that.

Just saw this myself, at just before 9ish. I normally just observe these threads (got burnt myself during the Allen rumours by believing somebody who I knew to be ITK only for it all to go to pot) but Sky don't normally comment on stuff that is purely rumour. What the hell is going on?

"CARDIFF City are hoping to launch their final season at Ninian Park with a sell-out attendance against Southampton on Saturday. The Bluebirds attracted a crowd of almost 12,000 for the pre-season clash with Ajax and, with 14,000 season ticket holders ,could hit the 20,000 mark for the visit of Saints. City are unbeaten in seven pre-season matches, having beaten Champions League qualifiers Celtic and Guimaraes before tackling Ajax, and are close to bringing in the two strikers they need to complete a 22-man squad. Wolves forward Jay Bothroyd was in the directors’ box for Cardiff's clash with Ajax, while an offer has also been made for another goalscorer. Ticket sales have been excellent for the visit of troubled Saints, who are facing major financial problems and have former Dutch international Jan Poortvliet in charge. He is a third manager in 2008 for Southampton, who parted company with George Burley in January and Nigel Pearson during May. Poortvliet, 52, fielded the team he expects to face Cardiff City for their pre-season game against West Ham at St Mary's and came out with a creditable 2-2 draw. The Saints had scored only once in three recognised first-team friendlies before that." from http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/08/04/bluebirds-are-hoping-to-pull-in-a-bumper-crowd-91466-21459078/ I don't think I've ever looked into pre-season so much as this season! COYR!

Cardiff - if we get any kind of result there, I'd be over the moon. Difficult 1st game of the season but we may surprise them. Reckon we won't tho. L0-1 Brum- lets no kid ourselves, they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Reckon we'll get a draw. 1-1 Derby - I actually fancy us for this one. 2-1 Saints. Hoping for 4 but would settle for 3 points early on and baring in mind the opponents.

I'll defo be there.

Agree totally.

Nice to see what the media thinks of our chances! Below Doncaster as well.

News of the World today say's we will finish 23rd and our most important player is Wotton. I'm not expecting us to gain promotion but I think last is a little bit harsh as well. I'd settle for mid table and watching some great football and exciting youngsters. What does everybody else think?

Excellent performance and it was like watching Arsenal play. Thomson played well second half, Lloyd James looked good at right back, the midfield duo dominated most of the match and the only downside was we didn't win (and we still look dodgy at corners). Getting more and more encouraged with what I see and only hope we can carry it into the season. The first goal, from a pure football point of view was superb and the football in general was excellent. Bart also had a good game in goal. All in all, great entertainment (and even better that it wasn't a West Ham reserve side).