CB Fry

You've done this routine already. 0.5/10.

Once they build a branch of JJB Sports, a Chiquitos and a Starbucks on the site of the old Gasworks the new fans will be flooding in.

Seriously, does it really matter? I don't think those gas towers have ever detracted from my match experience or stopped any single fan from going to the match, ever. We're less than ten minutes walking distance from town FFS. Stadium MK is out in ring road retail park nowheresville. You making out it is some kind of fan-attracting fun-palace is laughable. I'd rather the city was developed around the docks than around the St Mary's area anyway. That's what this city is supposed to be about. The sea. I notice you didn't answer the question - what has MK got that you want next to us that adds 5,700 fans to the gate and isn't already minutes away in the city centre? If you genuinely think that putting a Harvester and a Cinema next to a football stadium adds 6,000 to the gate then condescension is what you deserve.

So developing the surrounding area, in and of itself, is going to add 5,700 to the gate? This is what you're saying? I haven't been to MK since we knocked them out of the JPT so you'll have to advise me of what fantastic "development" there is round there that we could copy that is going to add nearly 6,000 regular fans. What have they got? Is it both a Frankie's and a Benny's? Is is a Megabowl? Is it a drive-thru Costa coffee? I remember the big Asda. I really wish we had that near St Mary's. That would be, like, so brilliant. And interesting in your mathematics that you have discounted any cost to this development and just added the cost of putting the seats in - being that this development is the supposed driver of these thousands of new fans why is that not included in your calculations. Lastly: football forum fan drooling about building fast food restaurants around the stadium to bring in new fans. Fu ck me, this is what it's come to?

When Sunderland inevitably go down, next season they will likely pull in average gates of about 28 to 31k going on their most recent forays at that level. If we go down the season after (perish the thought) we will likely pull in average gates of 22-26k, again based on comparable data. This is despite having us a stadium that could hold much more than 22-26k of course. We will have already "built it" but they won't "come". Funny that.

I think you brought up Milton Keynes in the first place. I seriously doubt there are many clubs who have followed the "if you build it, they will come" model. Maybe a handful of loons like Doncaster. Most follow the "let's evaluate the demand, construct a cost/benefit analysis/apply financials to some likely scenarios/work out whether we need it, can afford it and it will pay back" model.

There's no evidence of the fans losing interest. I imagine we will finish the season by selling more tickets this season that we ever have before in our history. We had excellent gates and plenty of full stadiums when we were battling relegation from the Prem and bimbling about in 12th-16th. Those facts suggest we would fill the stadium pretty easily from 12th place as we have a clear track record of doing so, so no evidence for that assertion either. It's a lovely little narrative you have made up in your head but it's not actually based in facts, is it?

Getting absolutely rave reviews from WHU fans on twitter. Personal favourite:

When we were at the Dell we could easily demonstrate we had demand which was not being met - it was murder for the casual fan to get tickets once we'd gone all-seater. Spurs have a huge season ticket waiting list demonstrating with unarguable, empirical facts that they have a huge unmet demand for tickets that justifies gigantic investment in a new stadium. Despite arguably the most sustained period of success in our entire history, we don't have that at all.

Pretty sure the answer is no - the Europa League winning side gets the spot on the CL but vacate their spot in the EL, and that slot gets allocated to a different club in a different league. The total clubs in Europe for the Premier League remains 7, but it is 5 + 2 not 4 + 3. Basically we ain't qualifying for Europe this time.

How is life in 1986?

Surprised it has taken quite this long. When piracy like this becomes so widespread- people I know with no computer knowledge etc are streaming every single game with ease - the bubble was always going to burst. It probably won't iradicate it completely but I imagine they can have a good go at killing off the easy targets like Sportsmania etc.

Whereas if the story was "Les delighted with VVD progress" and about how he will be fully fit in no time, you'd "read between the lines" that we were delighted that he is back in the shop window because we were clearly trying to maximise the transfer fee we get.

Open top bus at the ready. Just think how happy they will be. They're beating Crawley Town. Such a massive massive club.

Hats off, that is superb stuff. 9/10.

Not sure what you are remembering but the Evans being discussed here is Micky, who was definitely signed from Plymouth by Souness and he helped us stay up in 1997. No connection to Mark Wright.

The last squad had world beaters like Jesse Lingard, Michail Antonio and Rashford. Plus players like Andros Townsend have been around the squad. If he continues his current form, Nathan Redmond has all the ability to be as disappointingly poor for England as much as any of those players.

I don't think you need to be a wrist slitter to think that VVD will go this summer. I fully expect someone to come in with a bid that the player can't turn down and the club will accept.

So, in a funny kind of way, the replacement for Fonte was Gabbiadini. Screw stopping them going in, let's just score more.

A mini masterpiece.

Beyond parody.

If there's one thing Alpine doesn't like it's people slagging off Southampton Football Club. That's his job.

The license fee is justified by Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 alone, all of which are excellent in their fields and far beyond the mindless pap the commercial stations slop out.

Most of the time, a yank is the only option.

Sky is much better because I can watch old episodes of Only Fools and Horses or Doctor Who or Simon Sharma History of Britain pretty much whenever I want.