Chap in the Chapel

Off to a good start then! I'm quite intrigued, though, as to how someone whom, to the best of my knowledge, I have never met, can describe me as a chav! Further to what Baj has said though, I am not part of the Saintsweb editorial decision-making process. They give me a platform to write and, unless methodical debate and superior deductive reasoning from another party convinces me otherwise, I stand behind everything that appears in the CITC column. I call it as I see it, no more, no less. I welcome refutation and argument, as that is how mature conclusions are reached, even if situations are constantly developing. Finally, I try and be scrupulously fair, giving credit where credit is due. I have no personal axes to grind and look forward very much to reading a broad range of fans' opinions on a wide variety of subjects relating to our club.

Probably the best (short) summary of things I've seen. I can't wait to get shot of the bloody lot of them. While L, W & C bickered, the former execs milked the club for all they could, knowing that they could quit when someone else eventually decided to try and fix things. For all the stick that L, W & C get, Hone et al snuck away without getting anything like the flack they deserve.

Much in the same way that Orville the duck does the talking for Keith Harris...

I don't dispute that Shilton was a truly great goalkeeper over the course of his career. But Shilton was at his peak at Nottingham Forest (he's said so himself) and I genuinely don't think that he could possibly have played as well for Saints as Niemi did.

The triple save is often mentioned as his greatest single moment, but in terms of overall match performances, I'll never forget his first away game for Saints at Bolton - it's probably more commonly remembered for Wayne Bridge's goal and 'windmill' celebration. Niemi was unbelievably good that day and was only beaten by the last kick of the match, an unmissable tap-in by Djorkaeff. Prior to that, some of the reaction saves, including one from Dean Holdsworth who'd hammered the ball at the goal from no more than six yards, beggered belief. Watching from the top tier of the stand were a few hundred awe-struck Saints fans, and I came away from the game wondering if Niemi had peaked! Thankfully, he hadn't. Another game during that season where he was incredible was the away win at West Ham, Beattie sticking a stoppage-time nail in Glenn Roeder's coffin. I was watching it on TV and Niemi stopped it from being a consolation goal in a heavy defeat. He is the greatest goalkeeper I've ever seen play for Saints and I reckon he's probably our best ever - I never saw Shilton play for us, but I find it hard to believe that he could possibly have been any better than Niemi. Some lucky club is about to land itself a magnificent goalkeeping coach.

Especially not trolling Portsmouth fans trying to antagonise things...

I hope Mick and his son both make a full recovery. All the best to them.

Rupert Lowe will only be vindicated once Southampton FC is back in the Premier League and has survived there for more than one season. That was the position that we were in prior to his arrival and for most of his first period in charge and, until we're restored to our former status, he remains mainly culpable for the club's recent failings, and his own failure to rectify them. After three games and with the team in 17th place, it's a bit soon to make such grandiose pronouncements. Incidentally Sundance Beast, I'm starting to think that our resident Portsmouth-supporting troll Scooby is deliberately echoing the tone and language of your posts.