The9

True, but if Man U can still cope with Evra in their side who I remember got murdered by exactly that on his debut, we should be alright.

Got to say I was very worried after 20 minutes, we couldn't pass the ball out from the back and everyone looked isolated, not least Lambert. Then we started playing a bit and looked a lot more comfortable - but we still lost, and we lost because we didn't take our chances and made one terrible defensive mistake. They're the margins in the Prem and we may as well get used to them. But it's still a new system and these things happen at this stage - same went for the zonal corner defending. Hopefully we'll make a bit more progress, Ward-Prowse didn't look out of place and that's very promising, Clyne was lively, Lallana was Lallana. Swapping the entire midfield on 75 minutes is hopefully not going to be a tendency this season !!!

"Minor injury" was all we'd heard until now - surprised anyone managed to work out what he was saying tbh, bit of an accent.

For the Wigan match tickets go on sale online, via the Ticket Hotline on 02381 780780 (call charges apply) and at the Ticket Office from 9am on Thursday 9th of August. That's for everyone, including ST holders who want to buy extra tickets. ========== For Man U there's a priority sales window for anyone (ST holder or otherwise) who buys Wigan tickets between 9am Thursday 9th August and 5pm Wednesday 15th August. Season Ticket holders are welcome to purchase additional tickets for Wigan to qualify for the corresponding number of tickets for Manchester United during the priority-booking period. To qualify for Manchester United tickets when on general sale, you must have bought tickets to the Wigan game or already be registered on the SFC ticketing database. ========== Or you could just read this : http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2862691,00.html

At Pompey away he made an excellent tackle/interception to stop them going straight through the middle when the centre backs went walkabout, the fact they scored from the following corner was hardly his fault.

Yeah, and the subs were basically consecutive from 8-16 or something daft like that. I wouldn't read anything into the numbers today, only a few players had their "normal" numbers.

It's pretty simple when you look at the history of shirt numbers and tactical formations. Original W formation (prior to 1920s) WM formation (to address change in offside law in mid 1920s) 4-4-2 (noting number migrations into the new lines) The thing with that is that in Brazil, the number 4 moved into the back line not number 6 (easily explained when looking at their equal roles in WM), and their #4 is ALWAYS a centre back.

Number 4 has been a defensive midfielder in England for about 30 years now. It wasn't even "RM" in WM formation by the mid 1920s, so unless you're referring to W formation (5 strikers, 2 defenders) as "traditional"... The FA might not care, but the Premier League do, as numbers have to be consecutive unless the express consent of the PL has been given. Then again when Man City legitimately have players on tour wearing 70 as a consecutive squad number, what does it matter ?

Clearly just preparation for a South Coast takeover in the next few years.

We haven't, we won't be close to self-sustainability unless we do, and if we get relegated we'll only have the £40m of parachute payments to soften the blow...

Turns out it was Isaac Okoronkwo I was thinking about, ex-Wolves (in the sense that Kleber Chala and Imants Bleidelis are ex-Saints) and he did indeed play for Nigeria. But Kanu's solicitor Samuel Okoronkwo didn't. Though he does have a website : http://www.samuelokoronkwo.com

Noted the name of Kanu's solicitor is Samuel Okoronkwo. Now I'm no Nigerian surname specialist, but didn't there used to be an Okoronkwo who played for Nigeria? I'm going to have a little Google and find out if its the same bloke...

"The priority booking window for Manchester United is only available to supporters that have bought match day tickets for Wigan between 9am Thursday 9th August and 5pm Wednesday 15th August. Tickets must be booked on a like for like basis." ST holders don't get Man U priority (because they already have their STs), people buying Wigan tickets - which are open to everyone - get Man U priority. ST holders have to buy additional Wigan tickets (along with everyone else) to get Man U priority.

That being tv money, especially from 2013/14 when the bottom side will get £60m prize money, which is more than Man City got for winning it last season...

No idea about the Harding rumour, the Dickson one was pretty well established from Twitter. The Shaw fan club would have a field day - but we're clearly in the market for another left back with the Buttner interest, so I don't think it's that big a deal, worst case scenario we've got Fox who's played in the Prem recently and a highly rated full back, plus another month or so to sign someone else.

You are correct. As a sign of the times, he arrived the day Jason Euell left.

Dickson's already been told he's not going to be in the 25 and won't be sent out on loan either judging by his little outburst on twitter a couple of weeks ago. No-one playing at Sholing or Exeter is going to be involved in the 25 man squad (though a couple of the U-21s might get a look-in).

More likely the fact that people know we have Prem tv money coming has now reminded clubs that we're not skint any more, so that even the ones who've failed to notice Markus' £2.5bn personal worth whilst we've been buying our way through the Leagues have stumbled upon the knowledge that we're not brassic any more. The £800k was (apparently) more than the actual figure. Just as I'd be very surprised if £2.5m is the actual figure for Clyne, when we could have got him for a lot less at tribunal. I guess that's the trade off between waiting to see where he'd end up after contract expiry decision time, and making sure it was us that signed him. Leeds seem to be doing a similar thing with the 4 Skates they are rumoured to be signing - though I wouldn't put it past Bates to get his oar in first so he can claim rights to them in the event of liquidation.

You can always buy a cheaper ticket and sell it on anyway. Also, Villa is the same category as Spurs so unlikely to be linked.

I honestly thought we'd be paying £50, £45 and £40, so £38 (£40), £35 (£37), £30 (£32) looks like a bargain.

It's £49 a ticket to see Man City at the Etihad, and £38 (+ booking fee) to see them at St Mary's, I'm not sure what the problem is.

What are these "rules" of which you speak ? You're right though, the Laws are : Careless, reckless, using excessive force “Careless” means that the player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution. • No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be careless “Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent. • A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned “Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent. • A player who uses excessive force must be sent off" Apologies for the brain-blip, I forgot the excessive force category sat above reckless (too busy trying not to mention the defunct concepts of "intent" and "proportionate force" and have edited the original. It's just a shame the refs clearly can't judge excessive force, isn't it ? Ask Jack Rodwell and Craig Bellamy.

Don't forget there's a £2 booking fee for match tickets bought on the day (noticably absent from the ticket price article, but mentioned in the ST article!), so slap £38 on the match by match as well.

I think the Northam is pretty good value tbh.

Match Categories - Category A: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United (5) - Category B: Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle, QPR, Reading, Tottenham, and West Ham (7) - Category C: Fulham, Norwich, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea, West Brom and Wigan (7) So for the Northam 5 x £38 = £190 plus 7 x £35 = £245 plus 7 x £30 = £210 Total cost per match = £645 My renewal was £575, £600 for a new ticket. I think the booking fee bumps it up a bit, you basically get 2 Cat A matches free.