yorkie

With my brother last night - would rather have the comfort of a car trip?

I'm obsessed with the whole thing. I can't stop analysing what could and couldn't happen! The facts are this - we have a history of scoring last minute goals in these ties because our class, bottle and luck have all been on our side. In 1984 - the roles were reversed. Biley had a chance just before we scored and he bottled it and sent one over the bar. In step Steve Moran at the back post on a swift counter attack. In 2004 - we got a lucky break and a penalty, and Crouchy did the rest. In 2010 - anything can happen. I believe the crowd will be a big player. The game on Tuesday night was a warm up for us - theirs was a nightmare with a 96th minute equaliser against 9-men! They will be fast, but will they have the bottle? Too many mercenaries that will have never experienced anything like the hostility or passion of a full SMS. I know we will give it our best. I know we are likely to get stuffed. I know Ricky Lambert will score. I even think Kelvin might have to save a penalty. We live for days like Saturday in front of the footballing world - they are all willing the underdog to win - which for once is us! No predictions. There will be menace a plenty around our City - even more than usual. All I want is for the team and Manager to do themselves justice. If we are losing with 10-15 mins to go be bold and change things around to give us better options of saving the game. Don't resort to hoof ball - we have skill players who can pass so utilise them. Dean Hammond is critical to our game plan - great to see him run out Tuesday night to get some match fitness. One thing is for sure - if we go 2-0 up we can't switch off like we did on Tuesday or they will murder us.

Boo-hooo I'm bricking it...them horrible pikey types coming to SMS! Get a life - trouble will be pre-arranged well away from the ground, any trouble around the ground will be dealt with there and then. Mass brawls I doubt but the odd 5-on-5 will occur all over the City. OB can't be everywhere! Remember they are all cowards - so individuals will get picked on. Groups of people in jovial mood often receive attention but rarely does it come down to anything unless you respond. WE all have phones with cameras - you ain't all going to get thumped at the same time - take you own videos...justice is sweet.

Is Hammond close to fitness?

For any of the squad who visit these pages - please be aware that you wear the colours of our proud football club and City - even if you were not born there you have a duty. We have had too many players in the last few years who weren't up for it - but to date you have shown real mettle when it has been called for. The chance to play at Wembley could be used as an excuse for the off par performance yesterday but come Tuesday night the crowd will expect. A professional job on the Dons please - full concentration for 96 minutes. Take your chances and play as if you very lives depended upon a win. Now Saturday - did you seee the deflated bodies trudging off the pitch yesterday? Did you see defeat in their eyes? They are superior footballers, so they say! We have home advantage, we have 11-hungry players, we have 26,000 fans willing the ball into their net plus keeping it out of ours. There is only one result we want - and that is a 6th round tie. History says we have never lost a Cup tie to them at SMS a proud record - please make sure it is still intact after the game. Look at it as a springboard for the final push - one game at a time... Southampton is my spiritual home although I now reside in Yorkshire - believe me the drive home on Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon will be all the better with wins.

If he wants a lift I'll take him for free - he lives somewhere around Pocklington in one of the out lying villages. So Stevey me lad - if you want a lift you only have to find me in Pocklington Tundori - Sheiks on Thursday night. If you miss me they know where I am!

I think they could be the next "franchise fc"... Now where can we send them?? How about South Bermondsey as a rival for Millwall?

I suppose we should now have a picture of a crane in place of the oak tree - a Liebherr crane! Let's get rid of the wave reflecting our port heritage as a safe harbour. That Hampshire rose should go too! I like the football and the halo but scarves are so 1970's. My suggestion - a football with a halo and a Liebherr crane in the middle of the football - it could just work! I seem to recall the original badge had three hampshire roses on a shield - two small ones at the top and a big one at the bottom!

Just going to clear my throat........urrghhhhhhhhhhhum! WE'RE THE ITCHEN WE'RE THE ITCHEN WE'RE THE ITCHEN OVER HERE ITCHEN ARE BACK ITCHEN ARE BACK HELLO HELLO! Argh that feels better...let's give Pompey some Coprorate Hostility...oops I mean hospitality (is that were they get to go to the General?)

Slightly off track - but I thought I saw on SSN this morning we had a Arsenal younster on loan for the month - forward - Sanchez something...but nothing on here, official site or Echo. Anyone got any information?

I think the matchday is spoilt by having home & away fans at one end. Half the fun was singing from the Milton at the away fans in the Archers. I actually think this would encourage more vocal support from all round the ground. Obviously there would still be the Itchen North contingent who would follow to close by the away fans - but the Northam would spread and fill that end behind the goal. Create a section directly behind the goal in the Chapel for away fans. Personally I'd still sit in Blocks 1,2 because I like the view and the sun on matchdays - plus with the Northam extending across would still be part of the home crowd. Sorry for the corporates - but that's the way I feel.

Just read on The Echo site that Meridan News tonight is taken up by a story of Pompey going bankrupt alledgedly!

What about fans that went to earlier games such as Charlton? Surely that must be worth a punt!!

I think we forget who was missing today...however 3-points is enough. Still 13 off the palyoffs with a game in hand and many games against the teams above us home and away. Take 3-points in those and 10-points will soon dwindle away. Noticed Danns scored 2 today - I wonder if the announcement saying "No more signings" is a way of getting Danns or Stock this window? fter all Palace and Donnie may be playing hard ball knowing our financial strength. This is a clear signal nothing more to offer - may be mack in close season. If they need money now there's still Sunday and Monday morning until noon to do medicals and finalise terms! Quite honestly with Hammond back, Holmes providing on the left, Waigo on the right and a combination of Rickie, Barnard and Connolly up front - we should do alright. Can assume we will hit the play offs but you know what they say about teams that win when they ply badly. We will be playing much better teams in the weeks to come and not teams intent on sitting 5/6 across the middle to stifle our open passing football. Can't remember who is next...but first win under our belt. Only three more on the trot and they can give Markus & Nicola the freedom of the City as far as I am concerned. No pressure lads - play off chasing win, JPT second leg Wembley, and then the auld enemy and the glories of the 6th round. Pinch me someone I think I'm dreaming... I would have taken this in July if someone had offered it...let's just be thankful and less critical.

As we were considering our options - I would say it's Danns, for no other reason than he was rumoured alledgedly to be having a medical on Thursday. I guess it was tying up loose ends with Palace on the deal they have delayed the announcement. Past caring now about who is and who isn't - all I want is win, win, win, win in the next four games and the rest of the season can unfold as it wants. Thought of a great banner for the Pompey game: Last minute goals: Southampton 3 Moran 1984 Crouch 2001 (?) Lambert 2010 Portsmouth 0 I really think Lambo will do it for us i the last minute. 6 - the number of letters in Crouch 5 - the number of letters in Moran 7 - the number of letters in Lambert You see it is written - it is our destiny! They take from the Skates They take from the Skates Her Majesty's Taxman They take from the Skates

I think you will find that Health & Safety, as well as Fire Regulations would ban such a thing in SMS. I know smoking is forbidden so the risk of fire is minimal! The banner material can be made incombustible/inflammable too! Seen them at other stadia and have to say they look impressive. The problem is can you imagine the weight of the thing? Far too big for one person to carry! I bet you wouldn't get it within a 100m of the seating areas - even through the turnstiles! Now back to songs...I've been thinking along the lines of many already posted on here, but what about... You're grounds too big for you? (not very original I know) What's it like to see a crowd? You've got a shed That's smaller than this You've got a shed that's smaller than this It's got a door and a big bolt You've got a shed that's bigger than this. We've got more points than you! EIEIEIO Where did all the money go And when you get demoted The taxman's gonna sing Pay up Pompey Pay up Pompey Give us all your bling! They take from the Skates They take from the Skates Her Majesty's Taxman They take from the Skates We'll see you all next year We'll see you all next year We'll see you all next year Now f*ck off! That's why your going down There going broke and that's a joke Pompey, Pompey There dropping out the Premier League Pompey, Pompey They pay their bills It makes no odds They're never going to beat the drop Poor old Pompey Hampshire's poorest team Plenty of time to think up some more lyrics...

What's the latest on Danns & Stock? Surely it can't have all gone wrong - after all Palace are in Administration and would need the dosh? According to Donnie site O'Driscoll & Stock had MEGA fall out over the proposed move to Saints... What next?

One word of warning to those going to block 1. It built up a bit of a reputation as it had a hard core of older fans fan yesteryear - once the ST holders were broken up - the odd time it re-opened it has never been the same. Full of Green Street wannabes who only want to look at the visiting fans - and not interested in singing. Strange one to call - but the Itchen North will never be the same again. If the away fans get moved next season - the Chapel or Kingsland corner will become the new Itchen North. It's not about the wall of sound - it's about being close to the away fans! Will The Chapel become the new Northam? The Itchen North has the sun in your eyes the whole of the second half! Best move I don't want any more sunburn! The whole Pompey thing has revived the Itchen North. Personally I think all the old ST holders and people who regularly purchased tickets for this section should be contacted and offered their old seats back just for this game! Wall of sound Couldron of hate "What's it like to see a crowd?" We're The Itchen...you know the rest!!!

I would imagine most of the pubs around Southampton will be asked to close on matchday - before and after until early evening. I can't see the likes of The Eagle being allowed to open or The Alex...potential flashpoints? It's a shame in this day and age that we can't all be adult about this - in this day and age anyone should be able to go to football, have a beer, walk to the ground without the fear of being attacked.

Booooooooooooooooooooo! We should steamroller teams like Brentford. I can see the after match quote - "The playoffs aren't dead...we still need 15 wins". I remember some Dutch idiot saying something similar about our plight to avoid relegation - eventually you run out of games! A point won? I believe from the stats more like a lucky point! More pressure heaped on the team by not delivering...don't we play Norwich soon up there? They won again last night and Leeds lost...Swindon get another 2pt cushion - don't we play them soon too? Play offs a possibility...I doubt it now but you never know!

Look we need to put them in their place I'd take them at SMS in the next round and break a few blue hearts. Let's face it - a patched up team doomed as all the stars have to be sold or not paid! Couldn't be better time to play them - what do they know of a derby atmosphere in the fortress SMS? Great win today - a bit nail biting waiting the result after it was announced we had five minutes to endure after they scored. Stil who cares onwards and upwards - still dreaming of Wembley thrice this year!

Are we bringing MLT out of retirement?

You certainly called than one right my fishy friend!

This is totally unrelated to the Barnard thread - but what is happening to the other bids suggested for Danns & Stock. Is this taking the heat of those moves are we in negotiation?

Good result. Shame about Morgan - how many games is a stright red 2 or 3? A clean sheet - blimey I thought Kelvin always had to let 1 in! Must fill SMS for the 2nd leg on the 9th - can I make a suggestion? Only let The Itchen North be filled by ex-season ticket holders and members (like me) who always sat there. We need the surround sound of both stands to create that couldron of noise... We're The Itchen...you know the rest!