100%Red&White

Was thinking the problems in Spain could be the catalyst for a break away Super League with Barcelona leading the way. Can't see them, or the Jocks, ever joining the PL but Barca alone are probably powerful enough to entice Europe's biggest to a new set up that would suit the greedy b'stards.

Great player throughout a great era for SFC.

It was a shame that Koeman wanted to just run his contract down here which the club were never going to allow. Hurt a bit at the time but as enjoyable as many games were, there were some right shockers too. His Barcelona dream must look a very, very long way away right now. Oh well, and it is a nice distraction from our lot to be witnessing the present Merseyslide that's going on.

I know a couple of older Saints fans who have both the old crest (that never appeared on a Saints shirt) and the 70s one as tattoos, and also one that had the old 'rose' crest and later added a scarf, ball and halo to it, very unique! There's football fans all over the country with out of date tatts but probably doesn't worry them as it's just of an era. I'm with the 'not keen on the badge' gang.

If he decides to sit it out till January then he'd have been out of the game for the best part of a year. He still wouldn't have proved he was the same player as before his injury and will be a fair way from match sharpness. And if some take a dim view to his behaviour over that period then he may find even Liverpool might raise question marks with his character. Afterall, 2 years down the line with the scousers and he may be playing the same game to get his dream move to Barca.

Maybe he was on the bench for this morning's friendly but couldn't get on

Heard there was a behind-closed-doors friendly this morning, wondered if VvD was being edged back in slowly. Nice to see the net was tested for a change.

Cup games were different, the first time they made a game all-ticket was v Spurs in the FA Cup (I think sometime in the 50s) as there was several thousand locked out of the Dell in the round before, think it was against Forest. To avoid the same shenaningans you had to apply for tickets for the match which (if memory serves from one of the SFC books) something like 70,000 tried. Our record attendance would look a little different today if we could have fitted 'em in!

We should just keep repeating all this f**kwittery we're constantly hearing/reading word-for-word but with a Barcelona/Coutinho slant. ...Exhibit #327 M'Lud, "The Liverpool situation is strange. I don't know what we have done to upset Liverpool to the fact they are being so stubborn about it" and #328 "Liverpool digging their heels in like a toddler on the first day of nursery" and...

Or Les may have passed on the message, only fair to keep him informed. Good news that Carroll's out and added bonus that Snodgrass wont feature as he's on his way out. Those 2 usually f*** us over.

Romeu. Easiest decision to be made this season.

The club may very well have been aware that our new captain had had a sudden change of heart at the turn of the year, 6 months or so after signing a contract extension with a chunky new pay rise (thank you very much), but that doesn't mean the club had any intention of giving it any more attention than a "tough sh*t fella, should have thought about that a few short months ago". Nah, club are doing all the right things over VVD right now - as long as they don't end up flogging him off to the scallies anyway.

You're probably right, but Pochettino had us up-and-running effectively with it in just a couple of games, Man U away was an exceptional performance. And considering one or two of our present performers, it will take a bit longer or a couple of additions to enforce it.

It's a nice idea but can't see any club turning their back on (give or take) £60-70m and then splashing out another £5-6m on wages for someone to sit at home. The club should now start 'tapping up' the likes of Chelsea/City and offering a player at favourable terms and they may then just turn someone's head with a nice fat salary offer. AOBL.

All you need to do is walk up to the Ticket Office and shake it vigorously. If you've got a mate who looks like Kirk then all the better.

"...and Les Reed gradually swings back to 'hero' from 'villain' on the meltdownometer as it appears it may all just be a crafty mischievous leak to get everyone wobbling again" Summers are fun.

Read a long time ago but Gazza - My Story was a good read for me, entertaining and tragic. If you like your boxing I've recently read Barry McGuigan's Cyclone and also Dark Trade by Donald McRae who followed a number of fighters around and got in close and personal. Starts off with his early life in a tough area of South Africa growing up with Ali as a hero before moving to London. Great insight into the worlds of the likes of Tyson, Tomey in the US and good sections on Watson, Benn, Eubank and others. Both good reads.

Looks like just Terminal 4, fire alarm set off.

It's a bit bizarre really, I'd take a guess that the vast majority who keep slagging the bloke have never met or really know anything about him other than what they've heard regards Villa. Someone I know who is acquainted with Black says he's a decent fella with an excellent knowledge of the game. And I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon from things I've heard.

If he goes that's a nice bundle to go in the warchest for replacements of all the deserters this summer but we'd probably have to pay Celtic around £10m of that.

Hope not...how do you think anyone would misbehave any more stood in a purpose built *safe* standing area than stood in the seats as at present? Fans would be allocated one space with a rail bar in front of them to stop any forward motion. How anyone can't see that is far better and safer than the current situation I'll never understand. You'll probably say they shouldn't be standing in seated areas but they never been able to stop it yet if that's what those fans want to do. Surely it's just obvious to have to have a very safe option?

Mauricio ‘El longanizas’ Pellegrino (The Long Pork Sausage) - now there's a nickname for ya. Any guesses? He is 6'4".

I'm fairly sure they meekly stood aside when some bigger clubs came in for Gerrard, Suarez and Sterling and held the door open for them when they left. Oh, that's right I remember now, the self-pity-city boys threw their toys and had to terrorise Gerrard and his family to stay put. If they were ever serious and could come up with the bucks, I'd sell him to Koeman's scallies now...

I don't know if you're directly quoting the gobby fat scally there but if van Dijk is really that intent on leaving he has to get the ball rolling by putting in a transfer request. I'm sure it's not just about the money so if there's nothing actually coming from VVD surely we have to assume he isn't being kept here against his will? Nothing stopping him making a statement one way or the other to clear the dirty accusations being thrown around.

As much as I probably enjoyed the 'matchday experience' more in the lower leagues (as I did in the 70s) the crowds were hardly "half the attendance we get now", we averaged in the 20,000s in League One with a few 30,000s. But anyway, I liked Crouchy, but will hold my hands up and say I wasn't best chuffed when he arrived, with his calamitous performance for Villa at St Mary's still fresh in the mind from 2 seasons previous! Done well for us and probably one of the best signings the scousers ever got from SFC. Look where that lead!