The9

I suspect that picture was Michael Fish in the seventies, they were already on the computers by the late 80s (see the "there's not going to be a hurricane" videos from 1987 for proof).

I'm sure someone will be along with some "I've heard it looks like this..." ITK long before the summer - who knows, the club might get around to launching a shirt before thje Euros this time around...

There's a new England kit being launched this month as well, which might have a few new features too. The Canada shirts have the 2011/2 England "grandad collar" with a new piping contrast colour, whilst the Ireland one has a version of the same neckline but with a traditional collar as seen on the Saints sash shirt. Seeing as I've bagsied top post I can add new Umbro styles as they're released.

To be fair to them it's their traditional colours, based on an early washing incident. I'd say ecru was a little more yellowy/beige though.

Well, why not ? Saints' Umbro deal has one more year to run, the current kits will both be replaced, and other teams in Umbro kits are already showing what they'll be wearing in 2012/13... so here goes. Canada Home and Away 2012/13 Rep of Ireland Away 2012/13 Universitario de Deportes 2012/13 Added 8 Feb : Atletico Paranaense 2012/13 Added 19 Feb : Sporting Cristal 2012/13 Basically an old template - the current Man City 3rd kit, which was last year's away kit. Fairly unique collar previously though. Sweden kit: England kit (and GK kit) The England home kit is pretty dull, with a single button under the collar - the GK kit is very nice despite the cross pattern retained in the weave - shorts and socks for this are basically plain red, there's a small triangle at the side of the shorts and two darker narrow red hoops on the sock turnover. Couple of design features of note, the U kit has this season's Man City collar but the "new" feature is the shoulder band on the back - I wonder if we'll end up with something like that..? Interesting to see the Paranaense home kit has the same features as the Canada one (and in stripes no less), whilst the away kit looks a bit like the Ireland away. Alsosurprised to see the keeper's shirt this early, as if previous years are anything to go by the goalkeeper shirt will be the same style as Saints' keeper wears... Just discovered I can only link 10 pics in one post, so after the first ten I'll link the others in the body of the thread itself. Quite like the Sweden kit. Peru away now added to the thread.

Not that likely that Schneiderlin's going to play the support striker/attacking midfield role he's had in some away games this season again though...

Seeing as we've strengthened everywhere other than centre midfield since signing Cork, I'd be inclined to say neither of them, and it's a key position where we'd need to add quality if we get up. Having added players pretty much in line with where I hoped in January, in the event of Premier League football next season, I'd want us to add: New starting GK ahead of Davis Competition for Richardson at RB (this could possibly be Jack Stephens) as Butterfield is struggling At least one more CB with Prem experience to replace Jaidi who is likely to retire / out of contract and maybe a second to replace Seaborne maybe another LB depending on Harding's ability to step up / someone to replace Dickson who is likely to be sold. At least one more CM to challenge / replace Schneiderlin/Hammond/Cork A striker with Premier League experience to replace Barnard. Not asking much, I think we'd settle for a GK, CB, CM and CF as I originally thought, but there are a lot of unknown factors, like how many of the current squad get shipped out or automatic contract renewals on promotion... again.

I have numerous recollections of Wales internationals of the early 90s featuring endless fights between Cardiff and Swansea fans in and around the Arms Park, it took the team getting half decent and nearly qualifying for a World Cup and the £10 tickets to the Millennium Stadium to drown the inter-club rivalry in amongst an equally abhorrent cascade of 50,000 10 year old kids blowing plastic horns. Also, there's no easier way to start an argument in Newport than watching England v Wales in football. In rugby everyone's pretending to be welsh, but everyone's a plastic for football.

I can see a bit of logic in 2) as well if they think it winds up up Cardiff fans, though everywhere else in Wales *****es about Cardiff's preferential treatment, I can't imagine there's much thought in it beyond that though. Also, the only way the Union flag includes Wales is as a constituent part of England since 1542. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_in_Wales_Acts_1535%E2%80%931542 - all acts of Union after 1542 include Wales as part of England by default. I don't see a dragon or any green in there...

"The Welsh" are no more "staunchly Royalist" than any other element of British culture... they do still like Prince Charles more than most though, admittedly.

Swansea fans would tell you they are significantly more "welsh" than Cardiffians, if you want to base it on percentage of welsh speakers, ethnic origin, etc. Cardiff is a lot more cosmopolitan. As far as the "British" thing goes, I'm about the only person I know born in what is now south Wales that doesn't regard themselves as "welsh" first. There is no way Swansea are trying to be "British" before welsh. There might, possibly be something in the (Union) "Jack" thing, with them embracing their nickname, which is derived from the name of a pub in Swansea near the old Vetch Field ground, which itself is named after a local water rescue dog.

If last night proved nothing else, it's that there's an equality in the Championship that there isn't in most other leagues. Ipswich are 19th, and we've aleady lost at home to Bristol City. We have a load of - on paper - tricky aways, but equally, a load of "easy" homes...

Should have been sent off within the first ten minutes for any 2 of his 3 statutory yellow card offences - kicked the ball away, then a couple of minutes later stood over the ball to prevent a free-kick being taken, then dissent with the referee. Another example of the crappy reffing from last night, he didn't get a yellow for any of them.

We've been bringing spare bottle tops and occasionally nicking them from behind the counters for a couple of seasons now... utterly pointless when people can still chuck coins, etc.

Fonte for me, we looked SO much more capable of keeping the ball and therefore building on possession with him there to hold it all together at the back. We went backwards, reorganised and still kept possession in both halves. If we'd managed to get something on the end of one of his crosses, I'd have gone for Richardson, his availability down the right is still key.

I can't see any problem starting a match fit striker, doesn't matter if he's not used to the system, etc as losing the ball in the attacking third is nothing like as problematic as it would be for a defender - you can afford to be creative and unexpected, and it takes away the predictable side of our game at just the right time.

I've actually seen Collins play a few times though, for Stoke and Wales - not to mention that I didn't judge Hooiveld before his arrival as I hadn't seen him. Doesn't play much for Wales though as... erm... Sam Ricketts plays ahead of him. Danny Higginbotham has kept him out of the Stoke side on occasion too, which is hardly a glowing reference. Still, he can't be worse than our last signing from Stoke.

Oh dear, he's been gash for Stoke and got dropped for Wilkinson about this time last year. Ipswich managed to concede 3 or more goals 4 times when he was playing...

Hm, OK, maybe I put it on the wrong week in my Outlook calendar... So it would be Derby Home we'd lose?

If we go up we need a Prem keeper, but Kelv is fine at this level at the moment and Joe Lewis has looked pretty dodgy even in League One at times.

It had just occurred to me that if Saints beat Millwall (or Watford beat Spurs tonight) then the Watford match will be off anyway... As it is scheduled for the date of the 5th Round. Just saying...

He's always running into the corner to create space for Richardson to cross, whether De Ridder is making those runs with the ball and then laying it back or just creating space. I'd say that shows great awareness. He also has a great touch and the ability to send players the wrong way - and, last match aside, his crossing is usually good. His tracking back is what's got him so many yellow cards.

There were a few minutes left, but I'll be sure to tell him not to bother next time. The point from that was that we changed our approach in the last 20 minutes by going more direct and feeding off Lambert's knock-downs behind their defence, and De Ridder's pace was what allowed us to do it.

I don't understand why firstly you'd want to target someone who isn't as good as those we have, and secondly why you'd want a player who doesn't address the problem which has developed, which is our current centre-backs (using Hooiveld and Martin) not being good enough or confident enough quick passers to start our attacks from the back. They also don't have the presence of mind to bring the ball out like Fonte does, which means opposing midfield and defences can just sit and wait for the whack and pick up the 2nd ball without having to consider breaking ranks to close anyone down, which Leicester did all night on Monday. A hoofer is only a decent signing if the alternative is no-one to play alongside Martin in the very short term.

A very strange interpretation of his performances so far. He's scored important goals at Cardiff (albeit we didn't capitalise on it) and Reading so far this season, both away though.