rshephard3

It's frightening how much I disagree with you!

Agree with this. He's been ok at best for us in the lower leagues and it's a shame not to be getting rid of the likes of him and getting quality replacements in. Davis transfer in should have seen Chappers gone IMO.

A while ago I managed to login, view season ticket loyalty points, view upcoming tickets etc and it was decent. Go on today to actually try to buy City tickets and the same login details wont work. People don't always have time to go to the TO. I'm offering to pay £51 to watch Saints when it's on tv and the club STILL, in 2012, can't get a login system that's any better than when the damn internet began. The fans truly are the only ones who wear the shirt. It's frustrating and does not encourage me that all this talk of European football and new stadiums is not a load of dog poo. All IMHO of course. Rant over, off to work.

The sad fact of football is that you don't even need an asset for your millions, just another ticket for the theatre of the next season. I take your point though. Their millions guarantee goals in the prem provided he stays fit though.. Ours on Rodriguez dont.

Plenty on here will scoff at this but I'd say 2mill for helping them stay in the prem and secure another 60/70mill for the club is a shrewd move. He clearly has plenty to offer and plenty to prove. Players like him have plenty of joy in the prem, he's just had a tough time with an inflated price tag at Pool.

Do we need a 50,000 seat stadium to start attracting such players? Noone has discussed the possibility of this.. ?

Hands up if you've trolled on this thread.. Come on.. Where are you. Walcott back to Saints. We are also looking at Chamberlain and Bale I presume. Champions league here we come. Who's going to the Nou Camp next season?

numpty.com

People have lives outside of football matches. Not many people over the age of about 20 base their July Saturdays around friendly kick around matches. HTH.

Surely it could be argued that they are just strengthening quickly in order to finish midtable and avoid a relegation scrap like last season. I think they're doing remarkably well and expect them to be fine right from the off.

I'm not going to lie, I fully expect a minus 4,5 or even 6 goal difference after the opener at City. Realism will quickly get scoffed at on here though. People get branded doom mongers rather than realists at an almost embarrassing frequency.

Exactly this. It is not unreasonable to say this. If we'd spent the summer signing players like Hoilett, Lens etc you could positively see the ambition oozing out of the club. But we haven't. Which is fine. But noone should be under any illusions about this team-they will do damn well to stay in the division.

More than ok in their first season yes. If you are trying to plan for the future you need to aviod struggles in the historically hard second season. Norwich and or Swansea will go down this season because relative lack of squad quality coupled with teams knowing how to play them. FWIW I think we really needed a central midfield general to box to box boss things and in Davis I'm worried we haven't found him. That said I trust management to find an excellent centre half and I expect us to compete around the mid/lower table with our squad, given that we will add a few names in the next week.

Got my thread to the top of the page temporarily. Thank you.

Does anyone know of any streams for the game tonight? Quiet night in for me.. Cheers in advance

You beat me!

Because Fonte struggled towards the back end of last season and it would be great to improve on what we have for the prem and shuffle him to the bench. The relegation thing is unfair on Dann IMO. Some superb players have been relegated over the years. Lallana was relegated with us and noone describes him as a 'relegation' player. Dann had an awful situation around him last season at B'burn in almost every respect.

Yeah Fonte looked really solid at the top end of the championship and wasn't getting outmuscled and outpaced on a regular basis ?

He's nearly as good as his younger brother Justthe Ticket

How about the last 3 years or so of Bridges career? Put yourself in his position, a short career that has already set you and your family up for this and the next generation, providing you wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Would you have the self respect to take a slight pay cut to something like £50,000 a week but actually partake in the activity that has given you so much comfort over the years with a different employer? Surely you would. Bridge won't be remembered for being a fantastic left back which he has been in the past. That's a shame. Look at Scott Parker for contrast. Worked hard, continued to improve his game despite a failed big move. He has a different outlook to Wayne Bridge, you must be able to see that. He will be remembered as an excellent central midfielder despite his slightly rough time at Chelsea.

I would recomment trying to become mates with a few ppl from the local area who are members at excellent private members clubs.. Stoneham, Alresford, Royal Winchester, Hockley etc. Instead of paying £50/£60 a round you'll be at more reasonable £20-£25 price points for very good courses if with a member. I've been playing since I was a kid and have played near on everywhere round Hampshire either in comps or social so let me know of any other questions. you could also look at membership of a Crown golf course somewhere near your home. Gives you effective membership of a network of courses like Cams Hall, Paultons but also great courses like St Mellion for little golf breaks.. (I sound a bit like an old man.. I'm only 25!)

Don't know anything about him but sounds like an excellent player. With all due respect to our other signings this is the sort of player I'd expect us to be looking at if we are to compete somewhere above 15th place. Someone on the fringes of a top full international side who is not getting enough of a look in at a top European side.

I'd hazard a guess none of the mentioned players are contracted with SFC by the time SMS has 50,000 seats and is ready for matches. The draw for all of them is first team football in the top flight, not a vision 5 or 6 years down the line. Players and managers hardly look 5 or 6 months into the future. For good reason too, wait and see how Cortese feels about Adkins at Christmas when a team with such little premiership experience is struggling.. (I hope this post comes back to bite me!!)

I'd expect ticket details for this in the next few days now that all fixtures are confirmed with regards tv etc. As mentioned I'd think it'll make general sale too as it's on tv and a bit of a distance. Ticket prices likely to be £50 upper tier, that's high by anyones standards. Still... I'm in! Who else is making the trip?