spyinthesky

Back to pen and ink methinks. More people employed, more money spent on coffee and croissants in city centres, less electricity consumed, the end of Microsoft and Apple, biro sales increase, people taking to one another. What's not to like!!

Christophe, Just a bit of clarification about your fixtures. What is the situation regarding the uncertainty as to whether you will be playing Bordeaux or Troyes? I guess Bordeaux would be the biggest name in your League with the stadium size and population of the city. As a youngster I remember the Saints playing a midweek/mid season friendly against the Girondins at our old ground, The Dell. This seemed quite exotic for many of us young lads at the time as very few of us had ever ventured abroad at the time. Also does Valenciennes have to compete for support with a local rugby club?

He's mentioned!!

So assume this is the situation so far: Keepers....McCarthy (& Stone!!)/Lumley/Baz RB.............Sugawara/Bree LB.............Taylor/Manning DM............Downes (?)/Charles AM............Smallbone/Aribo/Lallana CD............THB/Stephens/Wood CD............Bednerak (if he stays)/ Edwards RW...........Armstrong CF.............Stewart/Mara LW.............Edioze So based on the above, a squad of 21 plus three youngsters ie SAA,/Meghoma/Dibling if not sent out on loan along with Bragg.. plus Larios. Uncertainties include KWP/ABK/Tall Paul/Sulemana/Alcaraz. In that squad we would only have one naturally left footed player (at left back) so suggest this need to be addressed. Assuming all the five uncertainties go, apart from ABK their positions need to be replaced. Possibly the French lad in as a midfield option and possibly Fraser to add width (although I would only see the Wee Man as a squad player) The desperate need is for a decent central striker, as we all know. Btw whatever happened to the Brentford midfield man?

Not good in the air. It's a 'No' from me then!!!!!!!!

Undoubtedly those on the right will come up with all sorts of theories and blame for the shooting with very little thought about their support for the NRA and availability of guns/'right to bear arms' etc.

Fancy having to share a cell with the obese twat.

And Blackburn are desperate for money.

I wasnt born in Southampton but our family moved into rented accommodation in Milton Road and my Dad had a season ticket in the East Stand in the early 1950's. He first took me along as a pre school nipper but had to take me home when I cried after the Albion Band stopped playing prior to Kick Off. My Dad took me back again when I started at Primary School and although being swayed by relatives in my home town, I stuck with Saints and remember watching the likes of Tommy Mulgrew, Len Wilkins, Don Roper, John Page, Derek Reeves and the like, mainly from the Chocolate Boxes. So many memories!!! Fortunately the good ones stick in the mind far more than the many disappointing days.

What's an App?

Me neither. Cant we go back to the days when the system was simple? ie as a schoolboy I did a weekday and Sunday paper round to get enough cash to pay for my bus fare 1/6d return, a Plested Pie 10d, a programme 3d and entrance to the boys turnstile 1/- No faffing around. Oh and when we were in the queue to get into the ground we used to talk to one another and not spend endless time there or on the bus, walking to/from the ground and during the game staring endlessly at a screen!!! Even getting sodden wet watching the game in the Chocolate Box was part of the experience as was using the 19th century toilets. Made us hardy fellows!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried to access the App just now. Appreciate I have been brought up using a quill and ink but have failed miserably and have been advised that there is up to a 5 day wait to receive a reply to my email. Are there other options available to us old uns such as a physical ticket?

I have a vague recollection of a big banner being produced as part of the media project ahead of the move to St Marys. This was arranged by Lee Peck Agencies who were the Saints PR Company at the time. It was supposed to be the biggest banner produced at the time. I wonder if it was the Markus banner mentioned in the posts above?

Christophe, Decent kit. Out of interest do you ever see anyone wearing a Saints shirt in Valenciennes?

Also what about Saman Ghoddos from Brentford?

I came across a press cutting from the Telegraph today re the reverse take over of SFC by that nice Mr Lowe (soon to be installed as an MP in the House of Commons??) and his mate Andrew Cowens, by Secure Retirement. It mentioned the 45 acres of possible development land at Jacksons Farm. Any update on the thread from those in the know?

Also Jimmy Case???

You reckon Bazunu is worse than Dave Maclaren, Tony Godfrey, Ivan Katalinic, Colin Boulton and others I have dismissed form my memory???

I spoke to a travel guide in Bilbao once about the teams colours and he confirmed the Southampton connection but also mentioned that there were stories about Sunderland also being linked as quite a few of the shipyard workers in Bilbao at the time were from Wearside. It is quite interesting to see the British historical connection with Bilbao particularly amongst some of the big houses along one of the waterfront areas which were owned, at the time, by British industrialists.

Chuck in a striker with the aerial ability of Ron Davies to come off the bench and a young Mike Channon coming through the youth set up and that would be worth considering

There was also a Park & Ride introduced at the tail end of our last Prem season using the Multi Storey at Nursling. It wasnt advertised too well and therefore take up was low.

I'm sure someone can tell me when Saints last won their first Premier League game of the season (home and away) Thanks

Unlikely I know but we could go to Goodison and win and relegate Everton.

Great read, as ever

And JWP