dronskisaint

According to a Jordan Sibley tweet after the Everton match Clattenburg allegedly said that he saw the handball but didn't deem it intentional. If that is so he should be demoted down the leagues until he learns the basics - he's not up to PL standard regardless of what he did or didn't say to Adam. On the basis of many more games than just the one mentioned he should not be allowed to ref us for a number of seasons...incompetent - certainly - agenda against us - let's not take the chance eh?!

+1

Four hour drive in the rain for me too and time to reflect..fortunately there was Manure and darts on R5 so I didn't have to suffer the idiot Savage on 606! My view is pretty much the same as the ones I've skim-read here. We were beaten by a team that had quality running through it and made everything theirs in the 50-50 balls. You can't argue with the touch and finesse of the scorers although Torres was given a New Year present for his. I thought Chambers was outstanding for much of the game, I commented that it would be difficult to bring Clyne in if he plays like this, Fonte and Superkel held it together on a day when Lovren's game, particularly early on, was littered with uncharacteristic errors. He also appeared to hobble straight off without acknowledginfg the crowd as he normally does..anyone else notice this? Cork worked tirelessly and I guess his substitution was more about his yellow. For everyone else it appeared to be one of those games where nothing quite worked, the ball didn't run for us and though Gaston showed some creative linking particularly with Lallana but again, Chelsea were the first to the bounces and deflections. We didn't suddenly become a bad side, you can see the potential there but on the day a very expensive and well-drilled side deservedly beat us. Roll on the games against teams that are less so!

It's unlikely to be a true story any way but even if it was 8 million I'd still tell them to take a hike. Ricky offers far more than being just a 'forward' - if his link play and understanding built up with Lallana, Morgan, Jay and the others over the seasons were to be taken away the potential number of places that we could drop would make that figure appear ludicrous in the opposite direction! As I said I think it's cr*p, SRL doesn't want to go, he's valued and loved here and Wetspam's a sh*thole...my money is on him staying for multiple reasons....I'd also love to see them drop a league! :-)

Happy Birthday Guly...an important and charismatic part of our rise! NB Don't farking drink and drive tonight!!

Good post! I'm old/lucky enough to have seen a few decades worth of Saints players and even allowing for my entirely declares bias I don't think I've seen any player who has more natural skill than Matt. Others have made more of theirs through work rate but for sheer, once in a lifetime natural skill Matt is pretty much untouchable. Ricky will be up there as will Micky Channon, Ron Davies, Terry Paine..I'd put Alan Ball Stevie Williams in there too but they had succesful careers elsewhere as well. I think Adam Lallana is well on the way to joining that select band..and who knows who else? I just count myself very lucky to have been around to make the comparison..and there are dozens more that could be considered as well!

Was about to post exactly this about his distribution today....a number of very accurate first time passes over short and long distance. Certainly he inspires more confidence in our defence to use him in their posession build-up and as an outlet when chasing down through balls, good to see him back.

Can I just pay tribute to Lord Trousers on the quality as well as the quantity of the postings on this thread? I, with my limited abilities in this field, am grateful that someone has the internet-savvy to dig out the gems as they are released from the multiple sources and post them for the delectation of us, the audience, of this long-running comedy. And with no hidden agendas ...just the ammunition for us to mock the diseased and inbred end of the M27 - I thank you sir!

Agree totally, he put his hand in his own pocket to ensure there was something to buy - and he did it because he was a fan.

The least likely outcome given your record!

We're a nice club -really pleased for your nipper.

Yeah because in right wing papers the 'y' is not next to the 't' on the computer keyboard....

That's as ludicrous as the OP No to the original question, valuable and committed member of the elite squad...one who can come in to the team with no gap in experience or drop in quality.

And I care as little as I would about a fictional character in a trash show that I don't watch! Merry Xmas to the moderators by the way

FF - Generally speaking I have a lot of time for your perspectives, certainly there is nobody better informed on club history and I respect the background knowledge behind your views...I agree with a lot of your second paragraph certainly. Where I think we differ is that you credit the posters who may be accused of having agendas (maybe both positive and negative?) with having a similar knowledge and integrity. I look at a number of the regularly critical posters and don't see a level of support commensurate with watching matches, having an understanding of the game to be called a supporter (I certainly do not watch as many matches as you or many Southampton dwellers due to my location but probably 20-30 a year) - the critical part of that statement is regarding the word 'supporter'. I'm not suggesting that you have to be a 'uber-fan' or qualify by having seen x matches per year, have every programme for decades etc but to actually accept the positives when they are there and often outweigh the negatives. I can name names but I think most on here know the ones whose agendas (in my opinion) disqualify them from my definition, my perspective of a 'supporter'. Surely a basic premise would actually be support occasionally..no, not occasionally ..it should be the default position! I, and many I read on here and speak to at matches, find their constant sniping at players, Cortese, budgets, Les Reed etc incredibly tiresome and not anything to do with the word 'supporter'. Some, again they are self-identifying, take this to the degree that I can't believe that they are Saints supporters, can even believe that they are skate WUMs because they post just as I would if I was an opposing supporter stirring the sh*t on another club's forum - but perhaps I credit too much intelligence to these posters - I can't call them supporters. Whether they should be banned is not my decision - I've never requested a ban for anyone because at the end of the day it's a football forum and people can (and apparently do) adopt as many personas as they have computer log-ins with the safety of anonymity but I think you bestow a credibility that's not earnt or deserved with your statement - one that allows the WUMs to laugh at what they're getting away with whilst purporting to 'support' my team - that is what I find difficult to stomach. I'll no doubt be labelled 'Cult of Cortese', happy clapper etc but if genuine support engenders that then so be it, I'm unlikely to be offended by such descriptions. I've never left a game early, I've never booed a Saints player, I have protested against Rupert Lowe (more in the 2nd coming), I have shouted for Ian Branfoot to be removed -after the game - I was uncomfortable with both Pardew and Adkins sackings and certainly I wish Cortese and Matt could love each other to the benefit of my/our team- if I'm unhappy I say what I think but the drip of constant negativity and puerile sniping on here does not come from Saints supporters...in my forum-expressed opinion. Your right to say the things you do has been earnt - please don't ally yourself with those whose patently hasn't. Here endeth my lesson, Merry Xmas and an optimistic New Year!!

New alias?

Run along skate..

Very satisfying..overcame the NA ructions fairly seamlessly and, for myself, saw that there was a real plan in place. Promotion was two steps but our ambitions are to be better than any of us could have dreamed, even the press have come round to noting that something special is being put in place here...not achieved yet but isn't it brilliant to be the subject of such positive scrutiny?! We're certainly a 'work in progress' but I've been blown away by some of the football we have played this year - I text messaged my mate who sits diagonally opposite in the Chapel at half time during the Fulham match with the words 'Was that us?' to get the reply 'If it wasn't it was Barcelona!' Fun, tongue in cheek stuff but that's the feel good factor that 2013 has brought for me!

Fantastic -Kerry Skatona - Portsea Island's everybodys' sister!!:lol:

Agree on Golac but an honourable mention for Peter Rodrigues....absolutely snuffed Docherty's wonder winger Gordon Hill in the '76 final. Mick Mills was classy too but both these were at the back end of their careers....I can't remember anyone as good this young - and then there's Chambers to look forward to!!

Way over the top, hysterical post on players who have, in general, served us well on our climb. They don't need 'support' like this! Not fit to buy a ticket perhaps?

It really isn't...

Turned the telly on this morning and heard this just as the picture kicked in - great punch the air awakening! One of the originals who todays' commentators take their style from, RIP

Not another tasteless Mandela joke I thought as the text arrived saying 'What's brown and stiff?' Turns out it was talking about Tom Daley's c*ck......

Like :-)