The Sholing Shadow

Great story. I saw you outside as well. I'm glad you had a great day, I certainly did as well. Come back soon - but don't expect it to always be 8-0!!

Leicester game was 83/84. Had we won it, and we were the form team at the time, we would have gone top. When it was played we lost 2-1, arguably the game being abandoned cost us the championship. The Forest game was in 76/77. We lead from the start with a Holmes goal but its abandoned just after half-time. That changed the whole course of football history. Forest won the replay 2-1. Without that win they wouldn't have got promoted, wouldn't have been champions in 78 and wouldn't have won the European Cup in 79 and 80. Yes - sorry didnt see this. Also I think that season we lost at home to Notts County towards the end of the season - another priceless 3 points! But the scenes at the end of the 3-1 away win at Notts County were allmost as good as if we'd fiished top!

I was at the Leicester game as well, the rain was so heavy and the ground so wet that the ball would'nt go anywhere and player kept theatrically ( but not deliberately!) falling down. The crowd sarted laughing and the laughter continued until the ref ended it. I met David Armstong later and he said it was one of the featured games on MoTD that night & he'd seen it & thought it was really funny. But then Lawrie Mac had gone for a quick tuesday night replay of the game to get the fixture out the way. Everyone else at Saints was against this because of fixture pile up (or something) anyway we did the hasty replay and lost - 2 to 1 I think. Again, just recall, but I think a young defender - tall lad - made his debut that night but don't recall him ever playing again.

Just got home. fantastic day. Without Lambert, Fonte and Chappers in the spine it was pretty even first half but by the end of the game the Forest players were looking at each other in an abject, dispairing way. They were run ragged & a third, maybe a half of the forest supporters had already left. we could have scored 2 or 3 times in the last 15. the red card was a complete no brainer - how anyone could say it was harsh is beyond me. still I havnt seen it on tv so maybe i'm wrong but to me it looked bad and deliberate. in fact at first I thought Forest were going to try and intimidate us, but in fairness it was a clean game bar the assault on Connolly. Hooper please!

This may be off the point - is this a joke thread?- if so sorry. But if Barney has done bad things - and he takes punishment; thats ok - we'll welcome him back, as long as he is sorry and its not too bad what he did. I dont know what he's possibly done though. What I dislike is clubs like Coventry giving contracts to people like King. Lee Hughes is a less emotive case but I'd still not be happy to give him some sort of spurious respect by employing him. The thing about Markus is he was a good man with good values. Thats why I was so happy with him. Lee is ok by me if he just got into a scrap, but the Saints should try and keep to our values.

My condolences to Dean's family. RIP.

sorry - just seen the thread about seats!

Yes, the ref was clearly on the Fergie Approved List. Has it been mentioned? sorry if yes; but why were there so many patches of empty seats? it should have been a sell out, you couldnt get tickets.

Alan Ball was probably our best value for money signing of all times, but Kevin Keegan, Dave Watson and of course Shilton must be up there. Le Tiss wasnt a signing - if he was he would be the best obviously.

Dont normally post but Cortese is ok by me. Emotive stuff about unpleasant historical figures is plain daft. To succeed in a competitive league we need clear leadership. We've got clear direction now I think & I think that it must be obvious that, for example, Alan Pardew wasn't replaced on a whim but because the team manager role is absolutely crucial. Why do we have to be told everything? Are we entitled to know every little personal detail? I echo (sorry, bad choice of words) "Get a grip". This is a brilliant football club, get behind it and enjoy it.

Best wishes Darren. You were obviously a great comfort to your mum. As others have said many things are more important than our beloved football team.

+2.

Saint Lard - thanks for posting. I dont know how I missed this last month - I live quite far away now, but that evening would have been fantastic. The added fact being my son is autistic - but his twin, like myself, is saints mad. Matt is an ambassador for the Hampshire Autistic Society? How brilliant is that? It was only yesterday that I was thinking; well, Micky Channon, Painer or Le Tiss, anyone of them would be appropriate for No 1 Saint (in the Times all time 50 top saints). Today what you're telling me really strikes a person chord - well done to you & Matt & everyone involved. While posting on this subject, just a shout out for Jon Sleightholme (the former Northampton saints & England rugby winger), who does a huge amount for fund raising for Autism in Northamptonshire.

I'm very sorry to hear this sad news. My best wishes to you Ron.

"he will never be looked upon in the same light again" says countysaint. Speak for yourself. Just thought I'd express my "staggering lack of understanding of the crucial importance of sporting integrity". I do agree though that Matty was certainly indefensible - when he was on his game he was anyway. If Matt was led by considerations of money he'd not have played for the Saints for his whole career. Seriously, all this is a bit OTT. The players who lumped the ball out from the kick off in the mid 80's are guilty of having a sense of humour more than anything. Try and get one.