beancounter saint

Yes, it was this that was the big price hike as far as I could see - no concessions in the "premium" areas. Fortunately we're one block away in Block 5 but I think would have been moving otherwise.

Try counting the ave no of pages of the post match threads after a loss compared with a win. Everyone seems to have a lot more to say when things are going badly - or perhaps it's just a small number of people who generate a large amount of drivel!!

Unless I am misunderstanding surely that implies a prediction equivalent to tossing a coin for each future result. I don't see how that represents an accurate probability prediction!

You could have a "definitive" probability on a coin toss etc but these probabilities are still based on someone's opinion somewhere along the line. Even if it's supposed to be based on past performance that's still a judgement from whoever is compiling the stats - how far back do you look, what has changed since the teams played previously, do you take this into account? I'm no statistician but it's pretty obvious if you think about it that the margin for error is going to be quite high. The result may not be too far out at the end of the day but it does give a figure that's more odds-on than most of the bookies are offering.

Thanks for giving me a laugh! Best post I've seen for a while.

I guess he must be either very smart or very thick!!

Another late comer to Saints. Age 37, grew up in SE London and starting "supporting" Saints from afar when I came down here to Uni in 1992. Never actually went to a game until I moved back down here in 2000. First game was 1-0 against Charlton, first win at St Mary's. First ST was half season ticket second half of 2002/03 (which was good timing) and have had one ever since. First "away" game I think was FA Cup Final. Until recently I could say it's been downhill ever since but not after the last couple of years!

Think a draw between Blackpool and West Ham would definitely be best result. 2 promotion rivals and they only get 2 points between them rather than 3.

I assumed that they didn't do that just because it was an evening game and too many of the kids would be tucked up in bed. Hopefully it may be back for the next daytime KO

This is the point. With the money they have spent on transfer fees and wages, Leicester should be right at the top of this league - looking at their squad it's like a bunch of Galacticos in the Championship. Saints have overperformed and Leicester have underperformed so far. Having said that it was obviously a pretty limp performance, even allowing for injuries, but had some of the finishing been more up to the expected standard - yes, I'm especially talking about you, Connolly! - things may still have been different.

I think the main point of the parachute payments is to allow the relegated clubs to cover the inflated wages etc commitments they take on in the premiership rather than going bust so they won't normally equate to higher profits post relegation than a club which had never been promoted.

Often see lads who look like Academy types heading up towards the back of Block 5

After 5 pages of debate this sums it up nicely. No sound financial basis at all for expansion at the moment. Any "investment" in this would just take money away from other areas where it could be better used.

Beattie sightings update - in white Lambo "BEA7S" Hocombe Rd Chandlers Ford this morning heading towards M3 - the way one would probably head to go to Pompey

Didn't work for Leon Best!!

Sounds like their contracts were up in which case surely they can talk to who they like?

The other thing I've noticed about Jaidi is that he is surprisingly pacy once he gets going (though his size and age mean he doesn't always seem to have the best stamina). I'd hazard a guess that he is quicker in a sprint than Fonte.

I agree he's been fantastic, especially in the last couple of games. You can see an improvement in confidence in him recently along with most of the team. Whereas he was misplacing a high % of his passes earlier in the season that is now much better.

And Plymouth well up there, but don't think anyone's ever been sent off for being offside!!

I was on a course at the De Vere in about 2002 when Arsenal were in town to play the Saints. My wife dropped me off and on the way back out narrowly avoided (unfortunately some might say!) running over Wenger as he set off on his morning jog.

To be fair I hardly think this scenario is unique to Saints/Lowe - Winston Bogarde anyone?

If the £10m packages quoted are correct then maybe this would have been a plan but the reality of the offers was probably a lot lower.

I thought that - is it perhaps the no of goals scored by the "strikers"?

Yes, probably only for a few weeks though, or until he gets a contract, if past form is anything to go by!

Do I take it you are suggesting that Puncheon may have been his source - or perhaps "leftback " is Puncheon?!!