Tony F

Its not just a red triangle you need in France. I recall you need a first aid kit (proper modern one with rubber gloves and mouth-to-mough adapter thingy - not something your mum gave you in 1989) spare headlight bulbs (bit of a joke as often impossible to change them yourself anyway), headlamp beam adjusters should be fitted to the car; plus you must carry a hi vis vest (which you must put on BEFORE you get out of the car on the hard shoulder,so it must be stored near your seat). If the coppers stop you for any reason this is only the start of a list of 1001 things they'll be checking. Check AA website.

Lets look for just a tad of perspective and consider where we are compared to the identical games last season. WBA (A) - lost last season - won this season Sunderland (H) - lost last season - drawn this season. So match for match we are already 4 points better compared to last season's record......... I think I will go on the record and say, for Premier league, I'm happy with that so far. When Osvaldo starts really firing on all cylinders for us I am hoping for a whole new level of comparative satisfaction......

from the same article.... "new signing Daniel Osvaldo, having spent much of his time fixing his ponytail........" Gotta chuckle - not least cos its a fair comment (ducks down ready for the flak)

I enjoyed this post John Boy. Summed it up very well. Nice LOL

As I understand it, there are a few reasons to offer a contract to a player. One of these is because you want him to stay. Another is because you want his value to I increase. Much better than not renewing and he goes on a free. Looks like the latter option in this case,

Does this mean Fergie will come out of retirement to take us the final step of the journey? Maybe he only handed over to Moyes to clear the way for his move down South (after a suitable pause to throw people off the scent )

I think Chambers actually had a better Prem debut than Shaw had. In the first half he was concentrating on the simple things and barely if ever crossed the half way line - fair enough for a young 'un. But as his confidence grew he started overlapping JWP and then it was even more difficult for the opposition. He and JWP looked very comfortable together - and effective too, I reckoned. Give him another 20 games and hopefully he'll be forging into the box and create penalty situations in the 89th minute?

Ironically, "you score 3, we'll score 4" was ably and literally demonstrated by the U21s at Liverpool yesterday

Forced to reply? No-one is forced to reply. Thats pretty much the point (though often missed).

I think the line between sarcasm and trolling can be a fine one - not always obvious at the time - sometimes not even obvious afterwards. In this case Turks was clearly being sarcastic - but it took about another 5 or so posts of heated exchanges before that became clear. 'Tis the difference between a forum (hiding behind keyboards as some say) and a face-to-face discussion (over a pint maybe). Sarcasm and banter more easily go astray when we can't see faces or hear attenuation in the voice... I think that's the real difference - and what (sort of) went wrong - yet again ...... ho hum!

I think The Don is looking for youth. If a player is goning to be a punt it'll be a young punt ......

Year of birth 1982 so approx 31 years old and roughly the same age as Rickie. I think maybe that answers the question in terms of "The Southampton Way" we sign players?

OK - I admit it - I started this thread as a vanity project to try and get it up to 1800 pages of contributions and thereby "bump" the takeover saga thread that has broken all records. I felt that maybe - just maybe - we should now put that thread to bed until the next takeover saga iteration. I felt it was something I could contribute to mankind. But it looks like I was wrong. I need to find the Saintsweb Webley and go and do the honourable thing. Any idea who's got it?

Oh dear. What a terrible day at the Fat Pipes.... Prospects? Wot prospects...........?

There's a pretty impressive stat on BBC website about this match. Oxford apparently conceded ZERO fouls. Wonder how often sides do this; rarely I reckon

Exactly my view. Slow build from firm base, keeping team well bonded (as in team bonding) whilst bringing through some Aacademy talent. No guarantees it will be the pathway to success but sure can't be as much a gamble as the QPR (last season) and Sunderland (this season) model.

Any similarity between Norwich (this season) and QPR (last season)?

Nope - that thread is called "Pompey Takeover Saga". Its about the takeover saga of Pompey. The latest iteration of the takeover saga is complete. Who knows, there may never be another takeover saga. As such, therefore, that thread could be conceived to be dormant - for now, at least. This thread is about Pompey's footballing prospects for this, their first season in the mighty League 2, having come under new ownership on conclusion of the takeover saga referred to above. It is of interest as they are our oldest (and boldest) local rivals and we bask in their recent travails. As the OP, I trust this clarifcation is of assistance and I thank the contributors so far.

Looks like some are prepared to discuss..... interesting comment on Whittingham. The BBC highlighted the Skates' season ticket sales. Question:are they a factor in gaining promotion because: a. The team will play better in front of a large crowd b. The opposition will be intimidated by a large pikey crowd c. Ticket sales bring in revenue denied to clubs with smaller following. None of the above?

Seem to be being "bigged up" by the BBC football website - extract below: League Two 2013-14 season: Club-by-club preview Portsmouth begin the League Two season as favourites for promotion, having been a Premier League side as recently as 2010. Pompey, who were relegated last season, start their campaign at home to Oxford United. Northampton Town will also be hoping to challenge for automatic promotion, looking to overcome the heartache of last season's play-off final defeat by Bradford City. Chesterfield, who just missed out on the top seven, Fleetwood (13th) and Bristol Rovers (14th) are also expected to compete for a place in League One. Last season Torquay, AFC Wimbledon, Plymouth and Dagenham and Redbridge all narrowly avoided relegation - but how will they fare this time? Portsmouth Manager: Guy Whittingham Last season: 24th (League One) Best summer signing: Joe Devera One to watch: Jed Wallace BBC Radio Solent's Andrew Moon: "After a traumatic season, which included the club's longest-ever winless streak and inevitable relegation, Portsmouth look ready for a new start. "The club, now owned by the Supporters Trust, have sold more than 10,000 season tickets already, the most since their Premier League days. "Boss Guy Whittingham has added a number of new faces with plenty of League Two experience - and has managed to keep hold of experienced strike pair David Connolly and Patrick Agyemang, who should provide goals if they can stay fit. Young midfielder Jed Wallace, who excelled at the end of last season, is a serious prospect. "Expectation around the city is high with many fans optimistic of a swift return to League One, although simply starting a season without any major off-field concerns feels like a success for Pompey." Is this realistic or just a case of "wow - used to be a Prem club so they GOTTA be promotion favourites"? Discuss......

Maybe - just maybe - our manager has spotted Fox's weaknesses and has been working on them in pre season. Maybe - just maybe - Fox will have benefited from MP's coaching - he was a defender himself after all. Maybe - just maybe - Fox may be a better player this season. Or is that too much optimism for one post?

I think its fair to say that the posters who attract the most "reaction" (lets call it - to keep it nice n friendly) are those that have a reputation for either dishing out the same or for whom a discussion appears to be a statement of their own (often tunnel vision) views followed by scorn to anyone who disagrees. There are also those who trade in handle turning (Ok - I mean WUMs) and for whom there is a no such thing as a civil response - just vitriol - to achieve that aim. And of course I am not stating that Alpine Saint belongs to either of these groups. Feel free to disagree with this observation - and I will be happy to develop the discussion in a civil manner. Or maybe I'll sign off and eat ma dinner ! p.s. - my low post count does not indicate that I am a newbie to the forum - just that I read lots and post little.

My "friendly scummer demeanour" got me a free beer at The Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park last weekend. I was wearing my old diagonal sash saints shirt when I queued up for a beer; the two guys in front of me ribbed me as a scummer, then announced they were Millwall fans and they were going to add a beer for me to the round they were buying and there was no way I was allowed to decline. Nice chaps, Millwall fans ......... Maybe if I'd gone "all anti" to the scummer ribbing, I'd have seen a different side of them.

Does anyone have a clue when we might expect WBA tickets to go on sale? Its 5 weeks today........maybe they will come out for ST holders in the coming week or is that too optimistic?

On the positive side I thought Steve Davis did a really good job when he came back to fill Cork's normal role.