100%Red&White

Actually we had 6,000 up there last time, we'll only get around 2,500 for this one. I believe their home support has come on a bit since then, it's grown from one annoying drum to a full-blown 'Ultra' movement Best away support at SMS this season tbf.

Saw him outside the Kingsland before the Stoke game, first time I've seen him in years. Maybe wrong but didn't look in the best of health. I've been going away since the mid 70s and I can confirm our away support has been both fantastic and poor. In the 70s we could take loads away one week then a poor turnout the next. In that decade I can remember taking around 10k (more on a couple of occasions) to Nottm Forest, West Brom, Luton, Fulham and Orient. But it was more likely in the hundreds rather than thousands north of Brum other than big/cup games. Having said that we only saw decent away support at the Dell with the big London and NW clubs back in those days.

That was a shocker, should have been called off hours before but they left it as late as possible as it was on Sky. I remember hearing there was already around 800 Saints fans arriving in Newcastle as it was pulled. I'm sure I read something about possible disruption on the Metro over the weekend, maybe TUS can advise fans staying over in Newcastle? Weather looks better up there tomorrow so shouldn't be an issue. I've been in Sunderland with the raining going sideways all day long and standing on that old open terrace. With it being on TV again it would take some extreme conditions to see it off.

They're just about to talk FA Cup on Talksh*te and mentioned the trek facing Saints fans tomorrow. After Saturday, in the few weeks since the start of December Southampton fans will have travelled around 4,000 miles. This will have included 5 trips to the North East - Newcastle, Hull and 3 trips to Sunderland. They’ve had to suffer early winter morning starts for ridiculous lunchtime kick-offs at Everton and Sunderland twice. There were over a thousand Saints fans at Hull on Tuesday night just days before facing another 650 mile round-trip back up to the North East, most with a 4am start. Then there was the farcical situation of Sunderland away in the League Cup, two weeks after the draw the date was set for the match. Fans had booked trains, hotels, etc. there were tales of dads promising the nipper a trip as it was half term and last minute they announce the date has been changed. They’re taking the p*ss*. Rant over. *I wonder how much influence the ex-skate has at BT Sport?

I'm finding it hard to feel tooooo much sympathy with the players buzzing around in their luxury coaches and private jets, if the fans can make the effort, well. 90 mins hard graft as usual, then they can have the week off. In my opinion, anyone who has bought a ticket for Saturday should get first dibs on any further cup ties including the big one. If things go according to plan, of course.

Ahh. Bugger.

We don't seem to get much info these days but if we get anything like the numbers that travelled last night it would be an excellent turn-out. All things considered I very much doubt it. Last Monday Sunderland had only sold around 14k to home fans, they're hoping for around 20k. Understandably, they’re more concerned with Wembley the following week. It don’t usually work this way but – it does look a good time to play Sunderland. They’ve been on a good run since coming back against us up there but that was a big setback losing at home to ‘ull on Saturday. Relegation remains a possibility, City away tonight, hopefully a tonking if it’s not ‘hurricaned’ off, any slight knocks and none of their players are going to want to put themselves out of the final a week after our game. Get into an early lead this time and I can’t see them having the stomach for a fightback. Get a couple ahead and they’ll need 3 to avoid a replay they desperately don’t need. We need to get right into them from the off again.

Yep, near 1100 way oop north on a Tuesday night is a good show, a warm up for another even longer haul on Saturday! That was a great result, keeps the league battle alive with the mancs slipping up again and the Geordies starting to unravel a bit. Now onto the cup.

It's going to be dry but cold. The last time we won 4-0 Stern John score a hatrick, remember him?!

Weather looks fine this afternoon. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2645425 A draw would be more than acceptable, another 2-2 maybe?

We get them flying over the west side of Southampton all the time. I just assumed they were coming from Salisbury Plain.

Once he gets back in the side, they'll be about 3 months left to impress to get in his national side for the WC. I reckon we're about to see the best of Gaston Ramirez.

It would be nothing like the 'old days', safe standing is not a stand-where-you-like situation, as Baird says, it's an allocated space, exactly as it is with a seat (which would also include a seat for games where no standing (Europe) is allowed). Why can't it be segregated? It would be no different to now. That's fine but you'd just have a choice.

I'll add my condolences to these sentiments. Big shout out for the lad next time he walks out onto the pitch.

It's probably safe to say there'll be no free travel to this one now, it would have been announced if anything was going to happen. Mistake imo. 2 away trips to the north east in 4 days, can't see too many making it. Sheff Utd were another club to lay on free coaches for their fans to Fulham in the cup midweek and had 2000 down there. With a 4am-ish start for fans, live on TV and a third visit to SOL in recent weeks, if we get a thousand up to Sunderland I'll be amazed.

As the kit is changed just about every season now, there's not a lot you can do with 'The Sash' to make it significantly different to the previous one (other than reversing the colours but that's not then 'traditional') and get fans to buy it. Stripes can be altered in width - the Rank Xerox could be argued is actually a form of stripes - but see no reason why the Sash couldn't be dropped in occassionally. Rank Xerox style for me next season, ta.

Tesco will provide enough to replace the leaky roof. Plans already submitted.

Yes, for most of us, any more and you have to pay a fiver. Really. For that reason I'm sure many more Saints fans have read you appeal and signed the petition but wont waste a post here. Damn! I can't declare any soft spot for Cov, looking out for your results, etc. but I do empathise with your predicament as a fellow football fan and one of a club that has suffered the same kind of sh*te we have in recent years, I would do for any club (other than the one on the small island 17 miles east). Signed and good luck - but that chocolate brown away shirt from back in the 70s was a shocker!

Fingers crossed for a Fulham revival now, from a travelling Saints point of view it's better to see the London clubs stay up (I'd make an exception for West Ham) and see the northern clubs drop. Always a top day out and Craven Cottage is the only Premier League ground that you can take 5,000+ fans to.

Someone at BT Sports is having a right laugh at Saints fans. Hopefully Sunderland will now price it accordingly and if there's any 'Away Fans Fund' left after the lovely paint job for the visitors to SMS, maybe away travel could be subsidised.

So, who remembers an 18 year old making his debut against Arsenal in 1988 and scoring a hatrick?

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?47933-Fullham-away/page2 Last post on there (#63) suggests you can still pick up odd ones from the Fulham OS.

That away terrace must be all of 3 rows high.

So what day is Fred giving this 'story' prime billing on Meridian, anyone heard yet?

Looking like a good turnout, guess they'll say they got it right price-wise, hopefully if we get through and draw a more attractive tie they don't hike the prices too much. Good decision to close the corners and open as required, means there wont be swathes of empty seats behind the goals. Shame the visitors didn't request the full allocation earlier which would have added to the day.