SW11_Saint

I think blue shirts, white shorts and red socks would look cool.

I heard this rather ridiculous argument last year too. "We can't possibly wear red and white stripes, we'll get 'confused' with Sunderland and Stoke, we need to differentiate ourselves". WTF?!? We're Saints - we play in red & white stripes and black shorts. Be proud of it and wear them with pride. Why would anyone need to change from their traditional kit? (and doesn't all red just 'confuse' us with Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal?? We need to differentiate ourselves!!! Or maybe Cortese thinks being confused with that lot makes us a bigger, better, club).

Fine as a training top. ****ing horrible as a kit. If this is really it, and I hate to say I suspect it probaly is iI despair. I made a joke recently that Cortese had a hard on for 80's Liverpool last year, this year it will probably be Bayern Munich. Hadn't realised I was right. Regardless, he's clearly hell bent on erasing any link with out traditional livery. Horrible. Just f@@king horrible.

At least I haven't missed it! Will tune in next week...

It has. Quite funny reading their "North Stand Chat" forum. They really need to move on...

It struck me looking at the footballshirtculture site how many clubs seems to be changing their badge/ branding - many going for a simpler, more corporate style logo. Ours was designed by a fan in the early 70's as a competition I believe and is rather detailed. Can't be long before Cortese decides to give us a corporate makeover surely? Would you be in favour? And if so, what to go for? Perhaps back to our previous badge with the Hampshire rose, but modernised? A simpler version of what we have now? Something new, more corporate??

Presumably it will just be this, but with some fannying about with black trim on the collar or something (see what I did there...?). Am hoping for stripes on the back too - hate those plain backed shirts - but doubt we'll get it. Frankly after last season's monstrosity I'll be happy with anything that resembles our traditional livery. http://www.footballkitnews.com/8818/new-brentford-kit-13-14-adidas-brentford-home-shirt-2013-14/

Presumably it will just be this, but with some fanning about with black trim on the collar or something (see what I did there...?). Am hoping for stripes on the back too - hate those plain backed shirts - but doubt we'll get it. Frankly after last season's monstrosity I'll be happy with anything that resembles our traditional livery. http://www.footballkitnews.com/8818/new-brentford-kit-13-14-adidas-brentford-home-shirt-2013-14/

We are Southampton. There is only one answer. Liked the sash kit though and would like something like that for the away kit.

Case closed - literally, Jimmy did the trick (thanks Barry) - got hold of Steeley. Thanks for all the leads.

If you can Barry, that'd be useful. Hav asked Jimmy Case through Facebook too.

They'll get their cut...!

Cheers guys - am following up all leads. Have also emailed the Echo journalist who did the recent interview wih him.

Any other leads welcome though of course!

Cheers SiW, will check that out...

I heard a rumour that Jim Steele had settled back in the area (possibly running a pub?). I need to get hold of him urgently on a personal matter. Can anyone tell me what pub he runs (or even where he drinks!), or, even better, if you have contact details could you PM me please. Cheers.

Good luck to him, I wish him all the best and Reading have got themselves a great manager. Clearly not wanting them to survive as it'll likely mean us dropping but I hope they run away with the Championship next season. I look forward to giving him a warm reception when he does return to SMS. Great manager and great bloke.

He thinks about it too much. When he doesn't have time to think (eg West Ham away) he naturally finishes. Needs to work hard on that part of his game, if he cracks it he'll be some player. Still, had his best game of the season IMHO on Sat so I won't quibble.

But it don't sing & dance, and it don't walk. And neither does Rickie.

Amazed it's taken us so long to offload him. Hopelessly out of his depth in the Prem. Good luck to him though, hopefully it will lead to a permanent move.

Nice compliment, zero points. He wouldn't have been so magnanimous if we'd have taken something.

Don't start a debate on this - you'll just get a load of idiots telling you how wearing a Liverpool kit "takes us to the next level"...

Quite simply brilliant Chris. You sum up my feelings far more eloquently than I was able to do. I commend every forum reader to read this blog.

Okay, so I have given myself 24 hours to calm down and to see if, in the cold light of day, I can understand Cortese's decision to sack Nigel Adkins. I still can't. Following the other typical reactions to news like this; shock, disbelief, bemusement, depression, I am just plain angry about it now. Very angry. Like 95%+ of Saints fans I think this a despicable act. And if the rumours, from fairly trustworthy sources, are true - that Cortese didn't even inform NA face to face, but let him find out from the media - then it is even worse. How pathetic and cowardly would that be? But would we really be surprised? Nigel Adkins did an amazing job for us. He didn't get everything right - this season especially he has made rookie mistakes without doubt - but he, like most of the players, was on something of a learning curve. But after back-to-back promotions we were still on a seemingly upward trend. Nigel is a man with infectious enthusiasm, a really positive personality and a great philosophy on football (and life for that matter). *To be treated in the way he has been is just despicable. It's the word that keeps Popping into my head. A Chelsea supporting friend of mine recently confided that most Chelsea fans aren't actually that dissatisfied with Benitez; they are actually unhappy with what Abramovich is doing, but won't criticise him as they are terrified he'll pull out of the club. Thus Rafa gets the brunt. What an awful predicament to be in? Terrified to criticise the actions of a super-rich egomaniac who makes decisions, seemingly on a whim. *I never want to be in that position, and feel no fear in letting Cortese know exactly what I think of this decision. *Roll *on Monday night. Of course our own egomaniac hasn't put a penny of his own money into the club, yet finds himself with absolute control and the backing of a billionaire family. *I actually don't doubt his motivation. I truly do think he believes he can make us into some sort of footballing super-power (though like most Saints fans, I am sceptical on this, and frankly am not sure that vision attracts me anyway). *What really depresses me is the total lack of emotional intelligence in this whole sorry episode. Missing the point of what Nigel has achieved, the way he's shaped a true 'band of brothers' in the squad, *the special bond that he has formed with the fans, the way he, above anyone else, has unified this club: 'together as one'. Few before him have come close to this level of unity and purpose. And for the blood, sweat and tears he's shed over the last two and a bit years, the double promotion, the evolving stabilisation in the top league, he gets... the chop. And not only the chop - the chop in the most unceremonial of fashions, and almost as insultingly, warrants just a short phrase in the press statement to announce his successor. Vulgar, crass and insulting. Cortese may have the power, and be the front man for the money, but neither gain you respect or dignity when you trample those around you underfoot. A good, honest and talented man has been stabbed in the back. Let's hope the new guy gets off to a flying start. He will need to Me Cortese or things may get a little tricky over the next few months. As for Nigel - there will be a queue of clubs vying for his services. I wish him nothing but the best. I'm pretty sure he'll end up having the last laugh, and good luck to him.

Absolutely disgusting. I am ashamed of what my club, sorry Nicola Cortese, has done today. Quite rightly every football fan in the country is now hoping we go down, and I don't blame them. We have sacked an inspirational, honest, hardworking young manager who has led us to successive promotions and has now found his feet in the Prem. A very lucky club is going to get him. Nigel - you are and always will be a Saints legend. Cortese, you should hang your head in shame. Absolutely gutted and disgusted.