spyinthesky

Good ideas but perhaps people travelling a distance should get some sort of discount. There are 4 people who sit behind me who travel from Somerset, rain or shine, for every home game. They deserve better seat ticket prices than me who is normally home around 30 mins after a game.

But do you remember Len Wilkins last game before he retired and emigrated to Canada or watching the Busby Babes, including Duncan Edwards, beat Saints Youth (including Messrs Paine and Sydenham) in the First Leg of the FA Youth Cup? My first lapel badge showed a picture of Don Roper. I actually look about 40 years older than the date shown on my birth certificate as a consequence of all the disappointments, heartache and stress suffered as a long time Saints fan, and I wasnt even born here!! I need Sympathy or Psychotherapy.😒

Really disappointed in Downes performance so far this season. Two seasons ago he was a very decent midfield player for us. So far this season his performances have been very disappointing and includes the obligatory yellow card. Hopefully Lander will fit in nicely in midfield and perhaps Aribo will be given another shot. Not the greatest fan of Aribo but taking into account Downes poor form, I wouldnt be averse to see Aribo taking Downes place in a three man midfield along with Charles and Lander.

Tend to agree with what you say. On paper I think we have a squad that is equal to, or possibly better, than 2 years ago and a Manager who seems to be more flexible in his style of play than Russell Martin. All that said, we havent been that impressive to date, apart from the 3-0 at Norwich. I wonder if, like the Prem, the standard of teams in the Championship has improved.

Saints fans came over well on the TV

Our passing was dreadful, especially in the first half. Playing long balls up to Archer only for their two centre halves to win the ball easily in the air was a ploy that was bound to fail. Whilst very disappointed in the teams performance today, I do feel there will be better days ahead when the new players become jelled into the side. That said we do need to get a win at Hull next Saturday. Pompey have a given 3 points at home to Sheff Weds and could potentially be 5 points ahead of us if we dont perform next week. I cant see much enthusiasm with ticket take up for the Liverpool game after that poor performance

I was quite positive about him but his first half kick it long strategy was ridiculous. Their Manager had his team better sorted than us but then again he was ridiculed at Fratton Park when he first joined Pompey Their left winger and Bishop, the sort of aggressive CF, we have longed for were standouts for them. We should have the squad quality to improve but the team, as it stands, is nowhere near Prem standard.

Poor old JWP is getting pelters from the fans. Disappointed for him as he did well for us. Re Fernandes, I wonder if we would be interested in re signing him if we went up and the Hammers were relegated

There was a game at Highbury, against Leeds I think, during quite a cold spell, when only just over 3,000 turned up.

Must have been around the 32,000+ mark. In all my many years supporting Saints at The Dell, I have never witnessed such overcrowding. I was glad I managed to get a seat in the West Stand for the game.

Good old Cuddly John Westwood who celebrates the violence of the 657 squad with a nice friendly tattoo.

I heard a rumour, from a fairly reliable source, that Saints have bought the former Gas Holder site with the intention of turning it into a Exhibition/Concert centre. Just wonder if anyone with connections with the club could confirm/dispute this? If there is truth in this, it would be good to have such a facility in Southampton.

You are correct that occasionally The Dell would accommodate crowds of up to 30,000 prior to the Taylor report but only twice in Saints history was there ever an average attendance over just over 25,000, for the season, before the move to SMS.

I think the club and us supporters have done a good job in more or less doubling the average attendances in the switch from The Dell to SMS. Of course there was a 15,000 capacity limit at The Dell but I can remember being in a number of less than capacity games at our old ground. Building SMS for £32m seems incredible value now when you look at the cost to restructure and build stadia today and even compared to modern transfer 'values'. If Saints were able to become a competitive Premiership club and the 'gentrification' of the Itchen waterfront progresses in the next 5-10 years (I am relatively optimistic this will happen) then a financial case could be made for an increase in capacity at SMS, part of which are looking a bit tired atm. Licensing an increased capacity by Soton Council is likely to be a challenge but I think the Council (of whatever colour) could see some merit in this, if there was creative solutions to the expected additional traffic concerns.

I wonder if there is a deadline for the transfer of politicians between parties and their agents are busily sorting out terms.?