hutch

... and once they're down, it will go from bad to worse. They won't go into admin for the first 2 seasons because of the "parachutes". But it will be a cut-throat fight during those seasons with lenders, banks, owners, former owners, fugitive relatives of former owners, agents, Alistair Darling et al fighting over the crumbs. There'll be nothing spare for investment, facilities, players, front room staff, back room staff, coaching staff etc. They will be cut to the bone to pay back debts. And when the parachutes are finished, they'll go into admin. And then, I might feel sorry for them.

Yes it is. AG is spot-on - they need a miracle, and they're not going to get one. Their chickens have come home.

Bet it's not.

Unless you're going direct non-stop, I would seriously have a look at the Gulf-based airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways). It's not far off the direct route, and the service is excellent. I've used them all recently. Great facilities and duty free too while you change, and you get to stretch your legs halfway through the flight, not right at the begining or end.

As probably the only member on here currently living in a 2010 host City, I must say that I'm not so sure that it's really worth all the effort that is required. Sure, there is loads of hype. But there is a huge financial cost. It only lasts for 6 weeks FFS. Of course I'm looking forward to seeing a couple of England games. But I doubt that I'd get a ticket to the final anyway, if we got there. So like most of you there, I'll end up watching most of it on the telly, in between being stuck in traffic jams and paying four times the normal price for everything. Do Saints really need a 40,000 seater? It's really just about egos at the end of the day. It's no big deal for South Coast fans to get on a train to London to watch the games. Plymouth - forget it. And Bristol - The Millenium Stadium's on their doorstep, but that's politics again.

To be really honest, I'd have been scared of Rotherham or Luton even when we were in the Prem. We've always been fair game for the giant-killers.

Welcome to the dawn of the last day that Saints will be in the L1 relegation zone! I don't have any view on the team selection or formation. I'm sure AP knows what's required. But I would be happy to see Wotton on the pitch, at least for the 1st half.

Just seen this gem on SSN webpage: "Grant has now confirmed he will be speaking to the club's hierarchy in the coming days to finalise how much he can spend in the New Year." A short discussion, methinks. I would probably have had that discussion before I took the job, but what do I know?

Wouldn't make any difference to the last 12.

I played on that plastic pitch many years ago. Only league pitch (well it was then) I ever graced.

Just keep winning as many games as we can. This has been the best season for me as a Saints fan for a very long time. It will remain so even if we don't win a cup or get promoted. We will not get relegated.

We are. We're just not quite as good as we used to be when we were. The natural order will be restored in due course.

Why would AP want to go and sign a new player in a big green truck? I don't follow!

Won't be much of an asset after May!

Not if it's built out of scaffolding!

The difference might be that Leeds flew out of the starting blocks and faded a bit before the finish. We stumbled out of the blocks and tripped up, but are now gaining all the time. We'll see what happens, but I'm enjoying it!

My gut tells me that our slow start, for the reasons we all know, cost us 5 points in the first 10 games. It makes me feel better to believe that we actually started at -15. And, TBF, I think that a current total of 31 points would be a pretty good indicator of how we're playing now. Not the best, but not far off it.

How dare you

It's all part of the cunning plan. They'll beat ManUre on Saturday with the "New Manager" syndrome. Then they'll go on to appoint a new manager every week until they're safe. The "New Owner" syndrome they practised earlier in the season was just a dry run!

Nonsense. Someone posted a picture of the local beach on the other thread. What more could they ask for?

Your post just reminds me why there is a problem with some of them. IMHO of course.

How about making the officials do their job properly, and taking them to task if they **** it up. The FL/FA/PL are far too protective towards them. If the linesmen and ref aren't up to the job, get rid. There's too much money at stake now in football. "Swings & roundabouts" isn't a good enough defence any more. If a professional footballer concentrates like hell to keep himself 6 inches onside, and a chartered accountant or petrol pump attendant (no disrespect to either, of course) robs him of a perfectly good goal, then with the technology available today, that's a bl00dy disgrace. I can remember the days when they were all the myopic offspring of single parents. Most of them probably still are.

Keep winning. Simple.

Great performance, and great result. But we expected that, didn't we? To me the crowd was more important. I think we got more last night, on a cold, wet and windy Wednesday night in November, in a "minor" cup competition, with the game live on TV, than we were getting at home on Saturday afternoons in the league last season. Says it all!

I couldn't get on the SWF at the hotel I'm staying in at the moment, so I had to follow the Charlton forum. A couple of quotes, about their own performance: "This is the footballing equivalent of an anal prolapse." and what they think of us: "i h8 southampton fans with a passion, they are unintelligent inbred retards!" Good losers!