spyinthesky

I am pretty sure the FA do not limit attendances at Wembley, they want to fill their pockets. There was 80,000 there for the Chelsea v Leeds game.

I have been much less of a critic of Bazunu than most on here but have to admit that Perez has been a major uplift for the team and a significant reason for the improvement in the club's fortunes.

Agree, only two songs were sung with fans full backing but volume was very impressive. In comparison Man City fans could hardly be heard apart from one fairly tame rendition of 'Blue Moon' when they scored. I suppose it was to be as expected as their fans have had more than their fair share of success and, as a consequence, are followed by a lot of 'tourists'.

Arsenal fans were the same when we lost in the Final in Cardiff. The only excuse I would give for City fans is the probable concern about getting back to Euston to catch trains home. Good job it didnt go to extra time as I think most of our players were knackered and this extra 30 minutes would really have impacted on fitness for Tuesday night.

Yes, one team financed by owners who do very nasty things to journalists they dont like and the other originally underwritten by a Russian who exploited many of his countrymen by acquiring State owned industrial assets at heavily discounted prices.

Bit like me when Bobby Stokes scored near the end of the 1976 final. The remaining part of the game seemed to go on for decades!!

Unfortunately most clubs, ours included, have a group of young lads who believe themselves to be tough when in a group and probably fortified by drink or some sort of pill/powder. The sort of attitude displayed by those implicated on the City fans forum is probably linked to Saints being the underdogs for the match. The behaviour shown by a minority of our supporters at Wembley has been noticeable in the past when we have played lower ranked teams at St Marys.. Its a shame as it denigrates the majority of our fans who are decent, family oriented supporters.

plus White Hart Lane 1963 (v Nottm Forest 6th Rd 2nd Replay!!)

My thoughts (for what they are worth) on the players performance yesterday. Perez 8.5 Did everything expected of him. What a signing. Shame we will probably lose him next season. Bree 7.0 A decent enough performance defensively allied to a couple of dangerous crosses into the City box. Wellington 8.0 An excellent display after a fairly long time on the sidelines with injury. Bragg 7.5 Really turning into a decent midfielder. 'One of our own'. H- Bellis 8.0 A very strong defensive display. Performances have improved since Tonda returned to a flat back four. Wood 8.5 His performances sometime a bit erratic, especially with the ball, but played very well. Fellows 6.5 Thing his display showed he is probably not good enough for a starting place if we do go up. Aziz 7.5 One of his less than impressive displays but he gets an extra mark for a wonderfully taken goal. Lander 8.5 Possibly deserved a 9 as he was arguably man of the match against top class opponents. Stewart 6.5 A difficult game for him as a lone striker but it is good to see him back in a Saints shirt. Scienza 7.5 Relatively quiet game but got half a mark extra for his contribution to the goal and his dispatch of his offside effort. Saints fans 10/10 Brilliant performance. Loud, Proud & Colourful!!

That's all I have to say on the matter!!!!!!

Presumably Villa Park 1963?

Me too. Not many lads wear suits or even jackets and trousers these days. When they do, the clothing is often ill fitting and undermined even further by the poor quality, mainly plasticky, shoes which are more or less impossible to repair. As a lad, I was introduced to the 'Mod' look and saved up all my paper round money to buy my first hand made three piece suit for 14 guineas. From Christmas or Birthday money, I would buy a pair of decent shoes from French's in Bedford Place or go up to Shaftesbury Avenue in London to visit the first Ravel Shoe Shop in the country for a pair of Italian made shoes. I also bought a leather coat in Camden Market. Gran Moda in Hanover Buildings, or its sister shop in Bournemouth, were the best places to buy modern, well made (but pricey) clobber down this neck of the woods. As advancing age kicks in it is important not to slavishly follow fashion trends. No one over 40 should wear jeans, in my opinion, and those sporting tattoes are definitely going to be pigeon holed by their displays, especially when skin becomes wrinkly. Much similar to those of the male persuasion who are fortunate not to be hirsutely challenged and still cling onto their mullets.

I was fortunate to buy a few pairs of Church shoes in sales for around £50 quite a few years back.. To buy them now would cost 4 or 5 times more. I also like to buy proper leather belts and also have about 8 hand made suits, which I very rarely wear nowadays, which is a shame as they are very decent quality although the trousers need a little relaxation around the waist. In winter I have a Pierre Cardin overcoat and I very much favour cashmere jumpers. All of these have survived the test of time and all my favoured clobber would cost an arm and a leg to replace nowadays so I try to look after them. As a whole though, we are a nation of scruffs!!

To balance things a bit about three/four years back my next door neighbour, who I sat alongside me at SMS, was a few months to live. His daughter contacted the club and both of us were offered a meal in the Mick Channon suite and seats near the Directors Box. It was a nice treat for him and was, in fact, the last game he was able to watch. Sad to say we lost to a last minute goal.

I get regular emails from TKMaxx which include supposedly top range gear from well known brands. Included amongst these are things like Tee Shirts with designer names on them 'reduced' from £600 to £200 and other clobber, which may look good in a Gay Club in London, with price tags over £1,000 'reduced' to £400. I suppose this sort of gear attracts the punters who go into Flannels store in West Quay or frequent the likes of Selfridges boutique in Oxford Street.