Winnersaint

Might get beaten, and by a few at that, but not sure anyone will suffer that awful indignity.

My sentiments exactly. It's Saints FFS. Support them or **** off and support Manuchelsareslivercitytott. Nothing we can do about it. Not good I'll agree but we still have a club to support, which was more than it looked like in June 2009. Don't understand why people can't be grateful for that. My opinion FWIW is that we are paying price for Pochettino's failure in not getting that squad into the EL, which would have at least signposted progression even if CL was ultimately unrealistic. Gonna be an interesting season!!

I know I shouldn't bite but if you are that pessimistic why don't you just fecking end it all, and at the same time get that Grossglockner T W A T to do the same'.

Agree the PDBF looks a toughie especially on the back of the other categorised climbs. Should be France bound early next July if early retirement plans come to fruition. As the resident geographer I've been tasked with looking at potential routes. At present it's looking like Huez may be the likely base. Got some potential routes in mind already. A backward Marmotte. Up the Lauteret, Galibier then descending into Maurienne valley via the Telgraphe and then going up and over the Glandon and then the Alpe to finish off. Les Deux Alps as an out and back from Bourg D,Oisans (basically a 25 mile mountain TT) A loop from Bourg d'Oisans over the Ornon and Col de Morte. A couple of acclimatisers The Sarenne ascent and a loop that goes out as if on La Marmotte , but turns off shortly after the first turn on the Allemont road and goes back to Huez via Villard Reculas. How many of these I will actually be able to do is a bit of a concern at the moment. Others planning to go are younger/faster and have been to the Alps at least twice before with three Marmotte veterans included.

Great stuff by TM. Felt for him in last year's Vuelta. This year's is going to be something else with both Bertie and Froome out of TdF.

Now following Boom and Niki Terpstra. The speeds over the cobbles in those conditions are pretty eye watering.

Froome out. Conditions atrocious, carnage.

Daughter watched it in Otley with boyfriend's family. Said she had fanatastic time. Got a brilliant shot of 'Froome Dawg' riding through. Can't wait to sort out retirement. Move to Lincolnshire (cheap compared to Wokingham) and be within striking distance of all that riding.

Definately leaning in to Gerrans. Doesn't look good though. Looks like a collarbone. Hit the deck a couple of years ago like that. (clipped parked car I'm afraid) Fractured ball joint in humerus. Ouch!

Brilliant entertainment from The Jensie. Stunning crowds on route. Buttertubs was something else. Would love to see Cav nail this one but it has got a kick up on the run in which might be more suited to Greipel, Degenkolb, Demare or even Sagan.

First two predictions were genuine. It would some up Britain's dismal sporting summer so far if the third one happened. Personally I am looking forward to Stages 2 and 5. Cliche I know but there is scope for the tour, if not to be won, then to be to be lost on these two days. I started the TdF 2014 thread a few weeks ago in anticipation. Seems like a got a bit of a false start so mods feel free to lock it. This is what I thought then. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?50509-Tour-de-France-Thread-2014#.U7RuFbFtQd4

Rui Costa - Yellow Sagan - Green No stage wins for Cav

Video shows him to be a finisher of some accomplishment. If the rebuild starts with him then i'm OK with it.

The more I think about it the more I can see leaving. Nothing would surprise me. I have had a feeling for a while that a mass exodus may be on the cards. We will have, like it or not is a huge turnover of players this summer making the club a tidy sum to re-invest over transfer windows. I've said it before on another thread but football is cyclical and the biggest end of cycle occurs every four years after the World Cup. In 2010 as we looked forward to what we hoped would be our promotion season from League 1 we were pretty much immune from this cyclical change due to our lowly league position. We are in a much more high profile position these days so are in somewhat uncharted territory. I suppose it's something we need to get used to. Anyway Worse case scenario. Shaw - Man U Lallana - Liverpool Lambert - Liverpool Lovren - Barca/Spurs Schneiderlin - Arsenal/PSG/Bayern Munich Chambers - Spurs Osvaldo - Italy Ramirez - Italy Wanyama - Spurs Clyne - Spurs Fonte - Other Prem Cork - Other Prem

You players have helped get us this far and there is a time in life/a career to move on and this may or may not be it only time will tell. We thank you all, especially those who have been part of the rise from League 1 to 8th in the PL. It is time for the club to evolve and change. The club is sad you don't want be part of the next chapter in the Saints history. Now fook off!

Got no evidence or argument for, nothing more than just a feeling. Obviously Lambert has gone and Shaw is effectively consigned to club history , but I cannot see Lallana, Schneiderlin or Lovren pulling a Saints shirt on again in anger, add to those Ramirez and Osvaldo and that leaves a big hole. A good transfer war chest plus transfer fees and good players will replace those who depart but I suspect things might be a little different next season. Whoever comes in I won't be expecting miracles overnight. We have been used to things being on the up, but football like a lot of things is cyclical and we may have to experience a dip before things improve once more. New manager, new players but underpinned by the 'Southampton Way' and we will be OK in the end. Need strikers a left back two centre backs, a back up keeper and at least one, possibly two forward minded midfielders.

Fed up with the uncertainty at SMS so looking for positives. Enjoying the Giro and looking forward to seeing them go up Zoncolan tomorrow. Le Tour starts in just over a month in UK. Anyone going to see it over here. Predictions also. Personally I'm not going, frankly it is so much better on TV. Saw it go through in a blur in Winchester in 1994 and pretty much expect it to be the same this time around. Would be good to see Cav win in Harrogate as it is his mum's hometown and also on The Mall, but that second stage looks a right beast. Very similar to LBL/Amstel Gold. Has particular similarities to the former with a stupid ascent in Sheffield reasonably close to the finish a bit like the Cote de Saint Nicolas in Liege ( ) prosaically referred to as the Cote de Jenkin Road. Be interesting to see the sprinters get up there. Probably suits Sagan, but Degenkolb and possibly Ben Swift on home soil could be outside bets. As for the tour as a whole it looks like a straight fight between Froome and Bertie and I can't see it being as easy for the former as it was last year.

Couldn't agree more. One of the most amusing evenings I've had perusing the mongboard ever.

Pompey could never be the Lannisters as 'the Lannisters always pay their debts'

Durham is a 'media troll' because of what he does, whether he writes or broadcasts positive or negative stuff about Saints is irrelevant. He does the same for other clubs. Puts out contentious opinions about a variety of usually football related stuff with the sole intention of getting the listeners to bite. Seems to have quite a few similarities with the notion of trolling, whether on the internet or through other media.

Radio's answer to a number on here. Man is paid to be a 'media troll' and is actually quite good at it. Thing is, he has an ignore button too. Everyone has the capacity to switch him off like the trolls on here.

Couldn't agree more on all three counts. particularly your first point.

Disappointed with the result. Utterly predictable reaction by the trolls and mongs on the mongboard. Maybe after supporting Saints for half a century I am just used to stuff like this, and maybe it doesn't matter quite so much as it did when I was younger Anyway I'm off to watch the closing kms of Milan San-Remo.

Christ I was a damn sight more down when we were relegated with minus 10 in League 1

Enjoy! Be safe.