inoffthepost

He's in Southampton. Been picked up from the Airport.

The bit that interests me is that, as of yet, there's been no confirmation that Erwin and Jan are going with him. I think Jan, particularly, (and judging by his 'Tweets'), has really 'bought' into Saints. He may yet prove to be the honourable one out of the three of them. Or I maybe being too sentimental.

Whoops!.Good shout with the right backroom team.

Good shout. With right backroom team.

To my mind RK eventually found out his best starting 11 when Pelle was unavailable / omitted and Shane Long and Mane were allowed to run riot, VVD grew in confidence and Tadic was played on the left. Previously we were too predictable and the opposition knew that if they could mark Pelle out of the game they had a fair chance of beating us. I also believe that Pelle had a negative effect on the team with his constant moaning and whining and I remember, after one televised match, Shane Long specifically stating that the team pulled together and it was good that everyone got on with the job without complaint when mistakes were made. It is no coincidence that results have improved without him in the starting 11.

And here we all are true to the song. I loved that chant and the soppy old g i t that I am the passion with which it was sung brings a tear to the eye!

My first game ever at the Dell was, as a 10 year old, the Easter Monday game against Bristol City in the Boys Box. My most vivid recollection was the number of fans that were calling Mick Channon 'Diane' because he kept falling over his handbag! The following season I remember queuing at the Dell from before 12.00 for quite a few games to ensure getting in!

That makes two of us; getting better game by game.

How times have changed. As a young boy a mate and me would take our autograph books to Denis' two bed semi detached bungalow in Franklyn Avenue in Sholing on a Friday afternoon, We would then pick them up from him on a Monday afternoon with the opposition's signatures installed. Whilst I would like to believe today's players are as approachable I'm not too sure that we'd find them living amongst us mere mortals. Apparently George Best named Denis as his toughest opponent.

I don't suppose the improved performance was due to being back on the left? I think he's so much better there as he can go either way and a lot more difficult for a defender. Such a shame he didn't go for goal in the second half when he beat 3 or 4 Chelsea defenders because they assumed he was going to pass; I don't think he could believe the opportunity had arisen and thought he ought to make the pass that they were all expecting.

In my opinion ever since we've played Mane our balance is upset due to the fact that we play Tadic on the right when. clearly. he's better on the left. Long doesn't get a start and the overlapping fullbacks don't become involved either. As much as Long isn't a right side midfielder with him on the right Clyne gets more involvement and I feel we need to revert to this as Mane, clearly doesn't have a good first touch and, consequently, lunges at the ball when he's miscontrolled it and becomes a liability. I think he's been lucky, so far, to avoid a red card for his rash / naive challenges. I'd be more inclined to use him from the bench.

This. I thought he was instrumental in our closing down and breakaways as he is in most games. Seriously unnoticed most games but major input

Am I the only one to have noticed that Lallana isolated himself from the group on the lap of appreciation after the Man U game? I remember telling my mate 'that'll be the last we see of him in a Saints shirt' (despite the badge thumping).

From the OS 'Following months of discussions at the end of last year, the decision was made at the start of December 2013 that the Club would terminate its contract with its Official Technical Supplier, adidas. In February and March of this year, the Club worked hard to repair the relationship with adidas but, despite these healthy discussions, it has become clear that, due to the short lead times involved, adidas were unable to produce a Southampton kit in time for next season. As a result of this the Club has had to find an alternative solution, and we will be unveiling exciting news regarding our 2014/15 kit within the next couple of months. Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/14052014-statement-southampton-fc-adidas-1552140.aspx#XMaFYzA1tLsRHtAj.99'

I may be naive but, for what it's worth, my take on all the speculation is that the close knit bunch of players we have will lead other clubs on a merry dance in order that such clubs lose focus on strengthening with viable alternatives then come the start of the season we'll be in a position of strength when all of the players MP wants to retain are still with us, plus some.

I follow the site but don't post much however it seems to me that, maybe, the club has felt the need to make a statement in order that season ticket sales are unaffected by the rumour mill.

I was there too. My first ever game at The Dell as a 9 year old nipper with my old man, (a Pompey fan), watching from the 'boys box". So that's where it all began for me. I can remember MC getting a lot of stick for falling over a lot and getting called Diane for tripping over her handbag. He proved them wrong eh. Although I've never met him he's always seemed such a down to earth bloke and I'll always remember in a TV interview prior to the Cup Final in '76 when the interviewer was bigging us up for getting to the final MC retorted 'it's no good getting to the final we want to win the bloody thing'! I think that showed me that he was a winner and that's followed in his racing career too. True legend.

I was thinking this too although more on the lines of what Pardew did for us; if I recall correctly it was he who brought SRL and he who persuaded Adam Lallana to stay and win stuff along the way at a time when it was clear that Lallana was playing at a level well below his ability. I'm sure Pardew, in a funny sort of way, must have a fuzzy sort of felling in the knowledge that he was in at the start of our journey.

I was an 8 year old I was made up when he presented me, as captain of our Cub pack football team, with a sportsmanship trophy. We'd played 12 games, lost all of them, scored 1 but conceded 144. My Mum's still got the photo from the Echo.

Absolute legend. Sing:- His name was Ronnie Davies he's the leader of the team The greatest centre forward that the world has ever seen You always can rely on him to score the vital goal And as for ???? you can stick 'im up yer 'ole la la la laaa la la la laa la la la la la la laa etc. Fond memories of Ron when the Dell rocked. R.I.P. Ron

No. I've just bought a couple of tickets although was told that availability is getting difficult if you want more than one ticket.

I can't afford the fiver to start a new thread so bear with me on this one. A song for Adam Lallana to the tune of na na na na hey hey hey goodbye, (watch the link) So: La La Lana, La La Lana Hey Hey Hey gets a goal (repeat)

I'm another who won't be renewing my membership and it's to do with perceived value not the increased membership fee. 2seasons ago the beer was cheaper in the Dell Cafe than the concourse but now it's the same, there was a sports quiz, now there's not and a free raffle with a signed ball as the prize. To compound all this last season they reduced the number of tables and chairs meaning that unless you turn up at opening time you have no chance of a table or seat.

Gotta be Strachan then eh?

As the pitch was dug up during pre season I don't think you'd notice previous markings because it's new grass. I gues the pitch could have moved left to right though.