yorkie

The jury is well and truly out - how can you rate Gazza****** as bad? He hasn't been given a chance yet! A bit like old Bartman will sit in the shadows until asked to perform heroics. Not sure about Ramirez either - certainly not lived up to all the hype but hoping he comes good! I think you have to be a bit less dramatic (you old drama queen) - most of these players were bought with getting out of The Championship in mind. The others you rate as good are all Premiership players. I look back further than the Chaplows of this world what about Rudi Skacel - has he signed yet? Never forget that sitter he missed at Colchester - I blame Guly...incidentally where does he fit into this magical analysis? :-)

Well here we go another season ahead. Pre-season friendlies are not the best guide to form or intent are they going on previous seasons? What am I looking for tonight? 1. A clean sheet 2. Lambo, Guly, J-Rod and Lallana all to score 3. No injuries 4. Debuts for Wanyama and Lovren 5. Ever Banega to appear at HT for team photo!!

What about adding Tom Ince to the squad now he has not gone to Cardiff? Would he get a game every week??

The story of the beheaded ref in Brazil makes this (and soul cellar) thread seem very tame. Fancy a trip to Brazil? In summary: Red card Player wouldn't leave pitch Ref stabs player - kills him Incensed fans stab, behead and quarter ref Head left on spike in centre circle All new meaning to abusinggthe ref!!

Look we all know there will be a signing on Friday - at this rate a double signing of Luke and Victor...can we make it a treble?

But what if it comes with the Samba girls too? Happy days ;-)

I see Rickie Lambert playing in the "Sherringham" role over the next couple of years.

To add my five penny worth - I remember a song of the terraces that ended up with the lines: "Compared to the boys in red and white stripes" "And black shorts" "And the white socks with the two red rings" NB May have made up those last two lines but I think it shows where I'm coming from!!

Whilst I usually like to wear my colours and pin them to the mast - I guess I will be wearing mostly old stripey shirts. Not concerned about having a new kit every season, and least of all wearing Adidas shirts or trainers or shorts! Even the last stripey shirt looked like Sunderlands! We may look like this seasons Bristol City, and Arsenal of yesteryear - our tradition is stripes, but the club seem against sticking with tradition. The next step will be to move to blue and pretend that we are not trying to look like that successful club down the M27 towards the East!

Was it his nose?

Like many of my age I remember it well. It was an era where being 'ard was more impaortant than being nice! The Dell wasn't a particularly dangerous ground once the sorted out the terracing in The Archers, but I can remember a number of battles in The Archers in the early to mid-70's when large contingents of away fans arrived! I smile now because in those days at HT people used to go to the bar and get bottles of beer. Most of it was bravado with the police getting stuck in - never ceased to amaze me how a crowd packed in like sardines could sudddenly develop a big hole with people waving fists and jesturing "come on then!". Often it was worse outside the ground - I used to have to walk up Hill Lane after every game to go home - but the away coaches always parked up by The Common. Police used to try and stop Saints fans walking up that way. As a previous report states often saw people get a smack for no apparent reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think Turkish's recollection are a little tinged - I remember Chelsea and Man U "taking" The Milton! Strange really it was quite tribal to say the least. I have to agree with the majority - it became a sport in itself watching the fighting! Sometimes it was far more entertaining than the match! It's very different now and although there are often teams who come to SMS looking for trouble it rarely rises to the level of those days unless the police take a back seat and let it. Away from home I can always remember people wanting to go to Ipswich - because it ws the only end we could take! Sure I was in The Trent End in the Cup (was it 1977?) and laughed at the mini pitch invasion at WBA in 1976 but all in all it was just a bit of fun. A mention for The Warrens where it always seemed to kick off on Saturday before the game, and then again "The Painted Wagon" afterwards. It's a by-gone era, a time I grew up - so I have many fond memories of football, following Saints and all that entailed. By the 1980's I was married - but I used to take my now wife in the late 70's - and she never felt threatened or frightened - so it can't have been that bad!

Got thinking about the guy and he was a gentleman on and off the pitch except for one occassion at The Dell against Chelsea. Ron "Chopper" Harris has kicked him all over the park, and from memory late in the 2nd half when Saints kicked towards the Milton Road end - the ball went wide out to the right (looking from the Archers) and Davies picked it up/controlled it. Then in comes Chopper Harris scything him down. Well Ron got up and without looking took Choppers legs from under him right under the refs nose! I seem to remember the whole crowd laughing - and I don't think Ron even got booked as the ref saw the funny side too. Need less to say Chopper didn't go near Ron again! My first game ever the Villa game 6-2 and we stayed up and Villa got relegated - well it was enough for me to keep going back for more...over the years not seen too many like that game though!

The Premiership is obviously the place to be - but I don't like the cost to fans! I've relegated myself to streaming on line every game and watching from the comfort of an armchair! It's OK but you don't get to see your mates and have a beer etc. In the previous few seasons attended loads of games home and away from York - but the extra £10 on a ticket was the final straw that broke the camels back. Yes I can still afford it - but I'm not prepared to pay more. I've heard all the arguements - players wages, extra policing, more catering staff - but the club get MEGA bucks off the PL and the fans get sweet FA. Why can't the club charge £20 a game regardless of what league they are in? It's not as if the gate money pays the salaries these days! Saying all that I'm making the pilgrimage to SMS against WBA as I got a seat in Block 1. Too many years of following one club to be that tight and not go at all - I did go to Wigan and Leeds earlier this season. A great season of football - biggest disappointment Gaston Ramirez. Biggest difference to our season was Jack Cork returning from injury - him and Morgan have been immense. Sorry to see Adkins go - but we survived. It was obvious after the first few weeks after he left the team stepped up a gear showing his methods couldn't take us to the next level (whatever that is deemed to be) but he will always be a great in my eyes. The fact that we could be in Europe via the fair play is just mind boggling - whether it is right for the club I'm not sure. I would jump on the chance to go overses and watch them in some far flung place - but hey that would be me being a JCL and jumping on the bandwagon!

No brainer for me - last season staying in the top 2 for the whole season was a real achievement. To go up and not blow it was fantastic. This season has been a real eye opener - players really stepping up to the mark! JPT was a great day out. Promotion from League 1 was good but not unexpected. Promotion last season was a real shock. This season has been a fantstic ride - even with the start we had we played some great football without fear and it has worked. I really can't imagine about next season dare I dream about Europe - or on current progression The Champions League?

I saw all that in the photos - the lads ceertainly seem to enjoy it! MP only needs to get a bit over enthusiastic and that's a player out for a few weeks - I wonder if he tackled Guly? Steve de Ridder seems to be enjoying himself...I wonder if he will still shine he is still only young! I think it is in every mans genes see a ball and want to kick it...I guess it adds to the whole experience. Really positive - to see the whole squad enjoying themselves - just hope it's not winding down because they think they are safe!

Reckon that 0-0 against Spurs to get us both promoted at the expense of Brighton in 78/79 (or was it 77/78?) was definitely one result where both teams came to an agreement. From memory we could have won the league if we had won - and Brighton would have gone up and not Spurs!

In the blue corner we have Nigel Adddddddddddddddd-kins In the red corner we have Morichio Pocheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet-tino Right lads I want a good clean fight - no biting or gouging The game will last 90-mins - with a 15 to 20-minute break after 45-mins No extra time - the score after 90+ minutes will stand Go to your technical areas and do your best For me it's Pochetino by a technical knock out!

I can imagine it will be a very emotional day for most of the players at Southampton and Nigel himself. For those with tickets the "Love In" can continue before the game - afterwards too - but not in between! Reading fans are so up themselves - but the team are capable of playing and beating the best - not sure about us though. No doubt they will raise their game and try for 3-points - we mustn't let them. No doubt MP will have a game plan - the same as every week! We do somehow look more threatening against some teams - but I fear Reading will not one of them. Tough game ahead whatever the result this Saturday and I can see them sneaking it...

I think all we can do is worry about our games and not worry about what Wigan, Villa and the rest do! Three points at Norwich and Reading would be nice - don't forget Wigan's game in hand is at Man City. They still have pride to play for - but it's a localish derby and the City fans will demand a win...bragging rights up for grabs!

Still 10-games left 30-points to play for but we need a couple of wins for sure! This should have been 3 of those points, but we bottled it. Losing Lallana obviously mucked things up, but we never had a chance did we? Look at what we created in the whole game - very little. Too little too late - I think they believe all the hype - but we are good enough to go down!

I think we are keeping our powder dry. Based on his previous performances - hold off giving him a new contract until the season ends. If we do something before then his form may just drop off...certainly happened in the past!

To be honest having him back has really tightened things up at the back. This pressing game suits both Schneiderlin and Cork - and see how advanced they are giving more support to the strikers. They have both become box to box midfielders we wanted earlier in the season.

Dinner with Cortese will not solve the issues MLT has - it goes much deeper than that. MLT does not expect free tickets, I'm sure he can do without having to attend Corporate hospitality too! He meets the fans - he sits amongst them with his season tickets. The issue is nothing to do with the club - but it's the club that gets the brunt of the bad publicity. MLT will always be a legend and as far as I concerned one the most talented footballers of his generation - and his loyalty should never be questioned, but the publicity this spat is attracting isn't doing the club any favours. People can describe themselves as perfectionists but what does that mean? I don't know Cortese - not sure that I would want to! He has charmed many at his invitation to dinner with season ticket holders, he's a successful businessman who doesn't suffer fools lightly. Probably thinks he is better than most professional footballers - and treats ex-pros with contempt. I think herein lies the issue - ex-players have no value in the busines plan. Like all paying customers we are entitled to expresss our views - some of us get closer to the truth than others!

A week on how do I feel? I was thinking about the turmoil of the last 7-days and I came to this conclusion. Didn't like the manner Adkins was dismissed - it came as a total shock. I was for Adkins seeing the season out and go from there. I was enjoying the football and the commitment of most of the staff. The outcry of last week has subsided a bit now. Still not happy with the way it all came about but I have moved on. You probably all remember my feelings towards a certain Chairman who to my mind was taking us nowhere, selling all our young talent, replacing managers almost as often as somepeople change their underpants. I was adamant he had to go - and like many fans I feel the stance many took finally was the straw that broke the camels back. Closing the Itchen Blocks 1, 2 and 3 was a vindictive backwards way of getting to the supporters who put the club first. I don't have any of those feelings towards our current Chairman. He may not be a very nice man (according to the legend) but I don't hate him with the passion I had for the other person. Can't say I like him - I have never (or even likely to ever) meet the man. I suspect like all businessmen he's a real charmer to some - and those who stand in his way of achieving his goals, a right b*stard! I don't know where this will all end. It could go like it did for Risdale at Leeds (living the dream) and off the back of season ticket sales and years in Europe predicted take out loans. It could all end up with us living outside our means and tumbling down the leagues again. Then again why be so negative? We could go on and be one of the most successful British clubs in Europe. Whatever happens I will still be a follower, a fan, but not necessarily a financial supporter. So for all those out there still enraged by the decision to replace Adkins - loyalty is a luxury in business. If your not good enough for the task ahead you're gone. Not saying this was the case with Adkins as he was never given a season to prove himself. As for the new guy Pochettino - time will tell. I liked the first half against Everton. It made me excited watching again. As a fan that's all I want. I'm not a glory hunter - I'd hate to be dispised like Man U fans for having a successful team. Cortese has a vision - world domination, global branding, and being bigger than the other team in East Hampshire...he f'kin hates Pompey according to the song!”

Blimey Norm - back in the fold? Glad to see your grandson still has the bug - I bet he loved Nigel! I thought the atmosphere came over well on the TV last night, even with the sound a little muted/damped down. Certainly Gary Neville thought so! A bit off topic - but as much I despised him as a footballer, and all the reports I got about him from friends in Manchester - he is a very even handed pundit with no other agenda than to be positive about the team playing football. Even though his brother was playing for Everton - he really talked up Saints for all their flowing football. He's not such a knob after all!