yorkie

Steve lives close to me up North - he has cycled/cycling to all Prem clubs and old clubs to raise money for a great cause. He isn't trying to get anything for himself just his chosen cause. Fair play Mr Cortese, keep pedalling Steve. At least the weather is better than the ride into Swansea!

He's big He's Dutch He'll kick you in the crutch Jos Hooivelt Jos Hooivelt

What a fantastic day so far...all we need is Brighton to do the business tomorrow, and we put Reading to the sword on Friday! I don't just want promotion now - I want the tin pot at the end of it.

Isn't the fair on The Common this weekend? I seem to remember Pompey paying a visit one Bank Holiday - perhaps they were visiting relatives? As already stated why come to the match at SMS if you can't be bothered to go to Fratton Park? Some of you forget - it's not about football for these lads they are knuckle draggers of the highest order. The problem we have is many of the knuckle draggers still live in the 1980's - and glory in the mayhem. Stories like these are flashbacks to the "Green Street" & "Football Factory" era when every team had a firm, and bragging rights were not about time spent on the pitch. Just a couple of points: 1. So what if blokes from Portsmouth get a train to Southampton? Hundreds do it every day! 2. Kicking off in pubs around the City...it happens every weekend somewhere! 3. Pitch invasion...like yeah that's going to happen! The problem for many is that IF anything like this does happen - it will be innocent people that are targeted. Fans in colours would be targeted...they should try the drinking houses around Southampton where fans don't wear colours...The Bricklayers Arms? I'm sure plod is well aware of any potential trouble makers movements - the problem is they think they are football fans, and treat real fans like animals. The infamous 657 where just a bunch of thugs that attached itself to Portsmouth FC - pretty sure if we dig deep enough our club has a similar group. Let's out them and set up a Battle Royal in Flemming Park before the game. That has a big fence around it so no one else will get injured or hurt

I'm only a poor little Scummer Who sits at the top of the League Pompey look sick Their fans are so thick And soon won't exist any more

This must not bw blown out of proportion - it's just another game. Yes it's a derby. Yes it's another big crowd. We must not allow the occassion to be bigger than the end result a win! We must be vocal. We must be paient. We cannot allow them a foothold in the game. The rivalry is an added distraction for the players. Early kick off is out of the norm - so we may be slow out of the blocks, unlike the fans who will be well oiled! 5.30am start for me with a drive back afterwards. One game at a time - one win at a time. Let's just stay 6-points ahead of WHU and worry about Reading when they visit SMS. Saying all that we only need to win 1-0 in the 95th minute so stay calm.

Control the controllables - we have no control over other games all we need to do is concentrate on our own! Blackpool on Saturday first knowing what WHU & Reading have done at 3pm could be a help or a hinderance. A WHU win could start the collywobbles(!) but I think after last year we know how to handle pressure. Twisty turny stuff to come...keep the faith and we will go up as Champions! Best not forget Pompey's resurgance either...oh I just did!

I won't be doing London games. Wigan sounds a good bet and I expect Sunderland to be a Tuesday night! Done all the other grounds and will be watching the £s next year.

I wonder if Arsenal will be part of the tournament? Someone mentioned on here a pre-season friendly as part of the Oxo deal? Now that could be interesting and bring the crowds in?

I know after being at the game yesterday - the atmosphere generated by the crowd was fantastic! There was a unique feel about SMS I have not experienced for long time - if ever. The noise was immense within The Northam/Kingsland corner. I only heard a couple of groans when the odd pass went astray - but top backing from the crowd. I was particularly pleased to see the Itchen Corner open again (Blocks 1,2 & 3) bathed in sunshine. Why did "Pompey fan..." get an airing - it is the most inane stupid song ever sung only by MONGS! The whole ground seems to have united to become the real 12th man again! I guess the fact no one could have a good moan at Guly during the game helped - but some fans just need to get a grip. Guly adds a different dimension to our game...in fact I think him up front with Lambert playing off him works really well when deployed. So the next home game is Pompey...hatred and vitriol, spitting venom at our biggest rivals is sure to have the stadium buzzzing. We will be up against a bigger away presence who will get right behind their team. Saints fans will need to be at the top of their game regardless of their pending plight and relegation. They will be well up for it as the saying goes...we must ensure they do not generate a real vocal threat. The same approach as against Donnie today...constant noise from the off and intimidate them. A bit ahead of myself we have the small issue of Blackpool next Saturday on BBC 2 for those (like me) who are making trips to Peterborough and Middlesbrough. The facts are simple...stop all the worrying about what West Ham and Reading do...all we have to do is keep winning, something we can do against Blackpool next weekend. We are thoroughly professional if not as sparkling and fluent as earlier in the season. You just know we will give them chances to score, you know they will probably score one (well Kevin Philips!) but we have the resolve to go on and score more than one. Not only do I believe, the whole squad have an air about them. Not arrogance or cockiness but determination and drive towards the promise land. If I had a choice I would want West Ham to take 6-points between now and next Saturdays game, such a result would keep us in check and not take things for granted. Whatever the results Nigel will have them all completely focussed after a clear week of training with no mid week game. It is a really exciting time, I noticed a real buzz around the City. People spending money, lots of smiling faces and so many red and white shirts. I still don't get the Chelsea and Spurs shirts seen around town - I guess they are all really glory hunters. After 40+ years of following Saints, this feels so much better than even 1978. The away games at Luton and Orient were fantastic - I just feel Peterborough and Middlesborough will be right up there in the greatest days. On warm spring days like this you wonder where this could have ended up without NC persuading ML to buy our club. We have been truly blessed. OK so the beer and pies aren't up to much, and I can't comment on the catering in corporate - all I know is where it matters (on the pitch) we have been fantastic this season. Yesterday just brings it all home...the sun, a full noisey stadium, and the right result. I'm going to well up in a minute... WE are Southampton WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE! Whatever happens between now and the end of the season - we have had a great season, let's go on and make it a memorable season!

Who was panicing - YES I was but Rickie Lambert Southampton gaol machine!

I don't know why so many are surprised at the age of the people in this thread. I guess that's the ignorance of the youth that no one over 50 knows how to get on the internet! To address the whole thing about "still" supporting the Saints...it's a way of life - the youth of today didn't invent being a football fans despite the "you old farts sit on your hands and don't sing" brigade! Football is a dedication - it'a all about an interest, a hobby...but Southampton FC is a way of life for many young and old!

Really strange we actually looked more threatening after Lambert Lee & Lallana went off! What must teams think when Connolly, Sharp and Cork come on? Blimey is must be pretty disheartening for any team? Come on you Saints!

53 - Pocklington (ex Shirley) First game Villa at The Dell in 67 - 6-2 to Saints. First away game...Oxford United one Boxing Day. Do my bit home and away and variuos forums - and really enjoyed the last few seasons in the lower leagues. Hartlepool on a cold, wet, Tuesday night is to doie for!

It is really strange how the club has re-kindled the "Spirit". It's no coincidence our demise and rise from the ashes of despair brought a unity. As fans some of us (no names) became complaicent, we could never go down and all that. The Management and owners concentrated on having the best catering, and players we could afford...now what a turn around. We have a Manager who love or hate his mannerisms and sayings gives us a belief. How many Managers in the past talked about the team rather than the squad? He rarely talks about "I" it's always "We" - and he includes the fans in the "We". We have a squad of hungry players desperate to play at the highest level, rather than players who seemed to settle for second best. It's unfair to point the finger at the teams that got relegated, but there was a massive difference to the experience and age of the players that saw us relegated from The Championship last time. I have 40+ years of following Saints, and all I have ever wanted in the last 10-years is players who want it, give their all, with honesty and heart. There is part of my footballing brain that goes out to Pompey fans - they lived the dream, spent the cash, and through no fault of the fans find themselves deep in the brown stuff. I can't see anyway back for them, which makes our good fortune all the more remarkable. I was one of Lowe's biggest critics - but let's be fair, he did put everything in place to make us an attractive investment. What would attract anyone to the shambles down the M27? Some might say we have bought this success. People said last year we were a Championship team in League 1. We could afford decent players like Lambert, Fonte & Hammond who are all clearly very capable at this level. The difference is we have the one thing to make this all work - a hunger. Not sure about Adkins hunger - he obviously thrives on the consistency, one together, and a squad ethos. We don't have prima donnas, we don't carry players week in and week out. We take one game at a time. Unlike the Billy Davies's of this world he seems to be a very controlled and humble man - I get the feeling he's everybodies best friend. How lucky are we? 12-games to go - Ipswich on Tuesday. One game at a time. Not too high when we win and not too low when we drop points. We are in this together. We can do this if we stick together. Going to the first person - I feel part of it - I want to make a difference. There can be no greater driver - "Win it for Markus" Coming second is a way to an end - but let's put another trophy in the cabinet.

Puncheon has something to prove to Warnock - fancy he will be a real handful today! Might even score a goal or two!

Good luck today to the travelling fans - just act and behave like normal human beings! Think Palace will do the business back on top at 5pm!

Well of course the incident at Charlton a couple of years ago in the "supporters" club that used to welcome away fans went down a storm - didn't it? Oh forgotten about that one then? No one ever gets hurt? Seem to remember another unsavoury incident at Charlton at an overground station - must have been a revenge attack! It's all a bit of banter - cobblers...loutish behaviour if you ask me! It's an image thing - a group of twenty somethings shouting and generally being non-conformist in their behaviour can be scarey to women and children. OK so they (the women and children) shouldn't be anywhere near a football ground or railway station in case of some "football fans" being in the vacinity! Get real! It's all very well saying some of us should get a grip - this is what football fans are all about, but I would argue 95% of any crowd following Saints know where to draw the line. If someone oversteps the mark they get rebuffed in our cosy group - and sometimes people do have one too many or go too far. To be honest it's the sort of cowardly behaviour I expect - picking on the old thermosflask and tartan blanket brigade...and the non-singers. I love the quotes "We are hardly Millwall" - I believe in the police's eyes we are as bad a s Millwall and Leeds and get "top" rating when it comes to policing at any away game - something to be proud of? I think we are listed as Category C "risk" which is the worst you can get! Oh we now have a reputation that must be upheld - top going boys!

I find the whole awayday thing a great experience - even though we do have oiks in our midst, it can be rather amusing watching them make absolute ***ts of themselves and thinking they look/are cool! Honestly there is a bigger issue here and it isn't about football fans going to away games it's about standards of behaviour generally. The moral decline in the behaviour of all ages (and I'm ashamed to say even people of my age too!) is disgraceful - but I'm not going to get on my high horse and preach to those who couldn't give a ****! Anyway chaps (and chapesses) this has been fun. If I see anyone who fits the description afore mentioned I will be obliged to take photos and post them on here to embarass the culprits; then Crimewatch will get a copy followed by a quick e-mail to Nicola Cotertese (who apparently "doesn't hate Pompey")! Oh and by the way the happy clappy bingo bus (with the tartan blanket, thermosflask, sit down & don't sing fans on) will be open for business next season when we play with the big boys in The Premiership.......

This is a no brainer - we will need to win to guarantee any sight of the automatic places by then...and so what if Pompey stay up? Whilst we will all be wishing them well in April at SMS (if we allow them any tickets) I'm sure the last thing on their minds will be relegation! The bubble will burst in Britannia Road for sure after we hit them for six!

This one just wont go away will it...and I talk rubbish! Honestly you just have to look and learn at away games - I think there are basically 3-categories of fans: The first go to most games and know the routine - meet up for a couple of beers, get to the ground, find a place you like to sit (or stand at the back if that way inclined) and enjoy the game/singing/atmosphere etc. The second group are not too sure what to do...they probably not done many away games, and find the allocated seat on the ticket and try to sit and watch the game, and join in the singing (after all the words aren't that difficult...red army - even when we play in yellow!) Then there's the third group - the teeny-bopper laddish group who have three things on their mind. Firstly to get p*ssed, secondly wind up the stewards and police and then antagonise the home fans by taking a position as close as the away fans can get. Having achieved those three objectives they usually have to go for more beer before half time (or a slash!) and really take no interest in the game until "we" score and then it's out with the "Who are you?" chant. These people are not shy about their antics - infact I expect the police have them (and many other decent fans) on video, just waiting for the day they step out of line. The last away game I did was Forest and it was a decent enough day out away from this element as I was was in the lower stand. Still stood for all the game, sang a few songs and generally enjoyed the day. There was no beer involved - infact I think a latte was the order of the day from MacDonalds! Whatever one says - there are some right Charlie's that follow Saints away. They may or might not come from Southampton - hard to tell as they tend not to wear replica shirts identify themselves in any other way apart from the gormless expression on their faces after one sniff of the barmaids apron! I guess it's an age thing - and the "Oh they only young lads - let them get it out of their systems" is lost on me! Unfortunately I do not believe you could have a reasoned conversation with their kind, without someone piping up "Do you want some then Grandad?" What category to you fit into Charming Man? Norm is a very nice gentleman, and whilst his grandson is very energetic and enthusiastic about everything he does still have manners and a sense of what is socially accepted as "good behaviour" - and he is considerably younger than those being discussed in this thread!

Must be my age - dribbling is a speciality! Oh drivel must get these glasses checked!

There is something in it then after all? Anti-social behaviour is all around us - but just because "it's football" shouldn't make it acceptable - should it? I like a beer before the game, I swear during the game, and I join in with the singing of the songs when called for - but the "Pompey fan" song & "Cortese woah" are just two emabarassing examples that don't get uttered! Football fans are from a wide cross section of society including the prawn sandwich brigade - but just because they don't chose to sing or clap or stand up for the game doesn't make them any less a fan of the club. We all support the team in different ways - and it galls me to see a gobby spotty youth high on something start on the tartan blankets for sitting down and not singing. After all I will be joining them soon - the flask and blanket fans! If the behaviour goes too far the club will only sell awayday tickets to fans who travel with the travel club - a la bubble to Portsmouth. Is that what you want? There is no way I will travel to SMS to go to a game less tan 25-miles from me at Hull. I just wont go - or I will go and sit with the home fans. How is that getting behind your team? This is a gentle warning to all fans who want to go to watch Saints games away from SMS under their own steam...it could be a possibility and the way to make sure this element does not associate itself with Southampton FC.

To be very honest with you lot who travel away - we do have some right knobs in our midst at most away games. Yes I do go to some and usually find there are little groups of acned, pubescent teens/early twenty year olds who like giving it large. Sure it's great to pick on scarfers and mums and dads with kids - and then run away when the big boys turn up! Perhaps looking back 40-years perhaps I used to behave differently to at The Dell; as fewer people went to away games in those days and the risk of being "recognised" was minimal. I could never afford to get out of my head or even tipsy - so drinking excessively was not an option. Anyway in those days you neded your wits about you so you didn't get a good kicking. I think it's about time the decent fans of SFC tackled this problem head on at our away games. There are plenty of "senior" fans who could have a quiet word, and not leave it to the stewards at the home club (or the police). Sure they are usually the ones who spend most of the match concentrating their songs and jesturing on the locals closest to the away fans. It's called "banter" apparently but I go to watch football not the opposing fans! I suppose it comes with being successful? We didn't attract some many numpties when we were absolutely carp away from home! Sure the same old faces go week in and week out in those days, and most are still present these days. However it's all the newbies that seem to be letting the side/club down. We should all be in this together and enjoying the experience...I wait for the day they end up next to me somewhere!

Pleased with the result - all we need now is for WHU to draw both games in hand! Who is to say they won't lose one of them? Not convinced we are at our back to our best yet - never fear...Leeds looks like a tough one in a couple of weeks, but then again Watford could be a banana skin as they are a bit of a bogey team!