There when Franny scored

On the BBC match report I'm looking at it says Final day permutations "If Southampton draw on the final day and West Ham win but score four more goals than the Saints, their records would be identical. Their head-to-head record would then be taken into account, which Southampton would win after a 1-0 win and 1-1 draw" Is that right? If they score 4 more than us they are up irrespective, aren't they?

The owner of "The Office" bar in Bangkok has confirmed they will be showing Middlesbro​ugh v Southampto​n on Saturday (11:15pm). Sukhumvit Soi 33. Hope to see a few Saints fans in there. WIFM

I agree, the prematch comments were totally uncalled for. It seems as though the media have two agendas and can't cope with anything else. 1. A 'doom and gloom' manager who would say that it's incredibly anxious in the camp after the Reading game and it's been difficult to pick them up and that we're desperate to avoid the playoffs and need this many points to avoid them etc etc. 2. Or the managers who prostitute themselves to the press like Holloway or Redknapp who are so greatly admired because they are 'down to earth' and use hilarious averyday comparisons such as: 'my wife would have scored that' and this isn't real pressure compared to a soldier on the front line. These men are then held up as visionaries and revolutionaries and touted for the England job. Personally, I find Adkins positivity very refreshing and uplifting and would suggest the same of the players given tha we always recover from a defeat. Being a typically pessimistic Saints fan, it gives me confidence that he is so adept at not dwelling on defeat. Temple is symptomatic of the sort of commentator that vilified Eriksson and Capello because the didn't make manic gestures on the touchline or 'show enough passion' despite having excellent results. It's one of the main faults with football in this country in my opinion (even at amateur level). That said, I do think Solent provide a pretty good service and I think that Temple is one of the better local radio commentators out there.

Where in Africa do you live Hutch and what do you do there?

This is exactly what will happen when all 90% of the people that use this forum would probably like to know is a few more details from the chap that had the audacity to attend the evening and have a good time. Instead we'll have to trawl through the avalanche of ill-founded vitriol and speculation in order to locate the minutiae of posts that are actually of some interest. I will probably then continue my day in a sense of bewilderment and dismay that the majority of fans on this forum seem unable to just accept certain things as unknown, and debate points of interest in a rational manner. In fact, I know that it's not the majority of fans, but because certain posters comment so much you are left with that impression.

http://www.j-league.or.jp/eng/column/sean/20110725.html Interesting article here.

It seems fairly likely that Dan Seaborne will start for us tomorrow in the absence of an expected new centre-back ahead of the Leeds game. Personally, I'm really pleased about this. Let me explain why. As many have frequently noted, Seaborne is not the finished article and certainly cannot match the composure and athleticism of Jose Fonte. That said, I feel he has real potential. One of the most gratifying parts of the current footballing revolution at St Marys is the genuine commitment to the coaching and development of players; the desire to identify talent and potential, provide a supportive and impeccably professional environment and then watch it flourish. Football has changed. The turnover of players is so frequent, that we rarely have the chance to built an affinity and rapport with any individual players. To a certain extent, Adkins bucks this trend. I love the way he is so positive about the contribution made by the whole squad and the way that he reiterates that there is genuine quality amongst our players. This in turn makes me really want them to succeed at our club. Of course it must be a balance. There are those who simply won't have what it takes to 'make the step up' but I know that Adkins will at least give them the opportunity to try. I applaud him for this. Think back to the dark days of Redknapp. God I hate that man. From the moment he was 'in the building' he went to great lengths to tell all his media crony mates how bad our squad was. He had no intention of coaching or trying to improve the players he had and, without a cheque-book, showed just how limited a manager he really is. Fly-by-night mercenaries seemed to be coming and going on a daily basis, making it impossible for fans to get to know them and get behind them. Anyway, I digress. Seaborne may not be good enough in the end, though I think he will be. Let's back him tomorrow and whenever he wears the red and white. He does have pace, is decent in the air and contrary to what most people think has a good range of distribution. The balance of a left and right-footed centre-half pairing also has its merits. I think Seaborne also has the appetite for a fight. I remember away at Sheffield Wednesday last season. Dying moments, Saints 1-0 up and under a barrage of pressure. He was superb and did a great job on Clinton Morrison. Let me be clear. I'm not saying that Adkins shouldn't buy a centre-back and improve the squad in anyway he can. However, in the meantime, if Danny boy gets the shirt, then it's his to keep and any new player will have to wrestle it from him. For me, that's how football should be.

Really disagree with this. I like Harding, particularly his mental approach to games, and am happy to have him in the side. However, given a choice of the two, I really feel Dickson has more to offer, particularly in the long term. He is quicker, better going forward and has more potential than Harding. Agree with the other poster about Seaborne. I really do feel he is underrated on here. Of course, nothing like the finished article, but coming on nicely and has lots of potential.

Me too, I am a decent centre-back and would love nothing more than to grace the hallowed turf. Unfortunately, £200 is more than my paltry teacher's salary can afford.

Lallana Schneiderlin Cork Chamberlain Would be the best midfield in the Championship in my opinion.

Great to hear from those at the game and nice to hear Lancashire is improving and getting regular football after a fairly torrid introduction to his professional career!

How did Lancashire play?

Any chance we could have a poll on this mods? 1. Keep Kelvin in goal 2. Pick Bart 3. Sign a new keeper 4. Forecast

Surely it's now time for Bart. Davis seems to be making a key mistake almost every time he plays. Just spilled another one which Exeter almost scored from

Walking back along Northam Road there seemed to be some 'running battles' going on. Saw quite a few scuffles outside of the flats on Northam Estate - close to the Esso garage. There was a bloke in a white t-shirt (Saints fan I think) who seemed to be heavily involved. Hope there were no serious injuries. Anyone else hear anything?

Davis has been an excellent and very loyal servant to the club during very turbulent years but it is becoming increasingly apparent that Bialkowski is now the better keeper. There is a total absence of communication between goalkeeper and defence and the centre backs are constantly put under a huge amount of pressure given that they are sometimes forced to head clear from their own six-yard box where Davies should be dominating. He is still a superb shot-stopper; I was at Hillsborough earlier this season and he made two outstanding saves at the end to give us the three points. This is not an anti-Davis rant, merely and observation, though I'm aware that it seems to be forbidden to dare criticise him among Saints fans. Bart must now be first choice if we really are to move on to 'the next level'.

Completely thoughtless to have him out on loan at the moment. Firstly, I think AOC is off form at the moment. Given his age, he is better used sporadically and playing him for 90 minutes during a busy fixture period will do him no good. We have just lost Holmes for the season. Puncheon is contracted to play for us and is desperately needed at present. I would never want to play for supporters who booed me but If Adkins can talk him round then bring him back

Done

Those are the words of Adkins tonight on Saintsplayer. When asked about Cortese, he said he's been 'so supportive it's not true'. He went on to say that nobody will be brought in for the sake of it and that anyone he buys needs to be a permanent fixture this season and 'next season in the championship'. His body language suggested we can certainly expect some business before Thursday too. This interview is almost more encouraging for me than today's performance. Great day at St Marys, I'd like to mention Ryan Dickson. No disrespect to Harding, but I think Dickson is the better player and certainly the better athlete. If you're thinking about players capable of doing it at a higher level, he's got to be one of them. Richardson too

It is interesting to note that we have had the second most shots in league, just one behind top side Peterborough (http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/ClubShooting/0,,10794~201025,00.htm). As the saying goes "8 out of 10 people don't believe in statistics," however, it is vaguely suggestive of the fact that perhaps we haven't been getting what we deserve out of several games. I appreciate this is probably more applicable to the matches before Swindon (away) and MK Dons.

The rumour I most feared this summer has started today in The Sun. This is from the BBC Gossip section. Hopefully nothing in it. Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 19, is a £1m target for French team St Etienne. (The Sun)

Hello Greg I currently live in Bangkok and I have listed as being on True Sport 3, 19:30? http://www.truevisionstv.com/world.aspx?key=&date=13/02/10&w=4&chid=0&pk=2&mode=3

Probably not the best idea for me to reveal it but given the links that have been discovered on another thread it doesn't take Colombo to work it out!

I have it on very good authority that Neil Danns is definitely signing today though it may not be announced until Monday. Be interesting to hear what Pardew says on Solent this afternoon I guess. Exciting times!

I know it's a long shot but if anyone can help out I'd be really grateful. All 3 of us big Saints fans and two of us are season ticket holders. I thought I'd be working but it turns out I'm not. My two friends are annoyed that I haven't sorted out the tickets. Yours in hope, TWFS