St Landrew

Don't suppose California has anything more than 2 seasons, does it..?

Been saying this pretty since the dawning of the premiership itself. One sensed that once the old first division broke away, the mountains of money would make things very difficult for the rest. And, of course, those clubs that were at the top would have the very best chance of staying there. Plus, there was all the promotional glamour to be had to make them even bigger. Those Premiership clubs without a special romance with the SKY public would just have to make do with what was left. The best step in the right direction for the cure of the premiership is to take the special element away, and that is to make it the First Division again, with second, third and fourth. Let's face it, all of us older fans think of the leagues that way, in any case. Then we think about wage capping, and the excess money can go on lowering ticket prices and bringing clubs back into profitabililty.

Just in case overseas fans think they have seen more or less than the Beeb output, it's exactly the same footage except there is a different announcer to the action, and there are no SKY captions or templates, just full screen action. Shame we can't see all the penalties, as SKY must have shown all the transmission when it was LIVE.

Go back to it and leave a note, visible on the dashboard, before you can't find it.

Really painful. Yet Watford directors have the ability to solve their problems quite quickly. This guy could write a cheque and stop the suffering, without breaking a sweat. I'm actually quite surprised he can just stand by and do nothing.

I think Ponty was expecting more, with a thread title like that, mate. As was I, tbf.

1 to quote the poster who suggested the thread was crap, and thus trot out the following phrase... Then why post on it..? Oh, and to add a Smiley, just in case the quoted poster gets the wrong idea.

Now decided on some Nat King Cole.

For the 2000th post on What are you listening to..? Silence. Even my tinnitus is quiet. Lovely.

I quite like that idea. Keeps it all in the family.

I'll tell you what. The description of why Saints left the Premiership is actually pretty much on the money. Here's how: SOUTHAMPTON (2004-05) Pedigree: Playing top-flight football for a 27th consecutive season, they had reached the FA Cup final and finished eighth in 2003. Never seemed to go down, no matter how many people expected them to. Players: Three England international strikers, of past and future, in James Beattie, Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch, an outstanding goalkeeper in Antti Niemi and the nucleus of the FA Cup final side. In trouble because: Gordon Strachan left early in 2004 and Rupert Lowe's attempts to replace him were farcical; Paul Sturrock and Steve Wigley were out of their depth, Harry Redknapp was at the wrong club and the long-term plan to bring in Clive Woodward was ludicrous. Opted for quantity rather than quality in their signings, with only Crouch actually benefiting an oversized squad. Went down because: Took long to even realise they were in a relegation battle, squandering winnable home games, especially in the first half of the season. Their established goalscorer (Beattie) left in January, their finest defender (Michael Svensson) missed the entire campaign with injury and the midfield mainstay of previous campaigns (Matt Oakley) barely featured. Key players such as Niemi and Claus Lundekvam lost form while Crouch, when he appeared a potential saviour, got a red card in the penultimate game at Crystal Palace. They left out the sale of Bridgey perhaps [but Le Saux was OK] which made CMFG unhappy, but I can't really argue with any of that. But let's not dwell on the past. This club has a future.

The whole article is a good read. It prepares the way very nicely.

Hasn't Trautmann been quoted as saying, to one of our lads, that he had a load of rubbish in front of him [meaning his players]..? And yet he was at fault for 3 of the goals. Can't remember who tells that story - think it was Bob Charles.

I think we'll end it there.

I'm beginning to think this thread has run it's course. The Kid who ran on to the pitch did wrong. But it all ended cheerfully and happily, and Papa Waigo turns out to be a rather nice bloke, as a bonus. But the Kid should be advised that he shouldn't do it again, or he or his parents/guardians/the club could get into trouble. End of story, I think.

Quite a demonstration of the weight and density of water, admittedly with a lot of potential energy released from height. But for anyone who wonders how ships manage to stick so far out of the water, when so little is beneath the surface, this gives you a bit of a clue.

Nice Vid. Is that the best you can do..? Little critical, don't you think..? EDIT: That's better.

A pretty damn good upload for £186, don't you think..? The maker has now been handed a Hollywood contract, appropriately for £18.6M. BBC News

Don't worry, I had the same reaction. I had to read that phrase something like 3 or 4 times before I could carry on to the next line. They're and Their took a little while to substitute.

Your drinking problem being that you can't find your mouth..?

Here's your answer: Saints 3-4 Leeds ** **Do not click on this link if you are of a nervous disposition.

Now that's a big stadium..!

If Saints had to have a sponsor famous for their lager, which I doubt Markus would allow anyway, I shouldn't think he'd pick some swill from the U.S.A. It would almost certainly originate from Switzerland or Germany.

I think I've wondered almost every time I see their trucks as to why they don't offer sponsorship. I would have thought it was a match made in heaven. Some of the money they paid for their diesel truck fleet probably ended up in Markus Leibherr's pocket. Possibly, they aren't big enough..?

Can't comment with any authority, because I wasn't there, but is it possible that Saints made heavy weather of Norwich because a few of the players are on 4 yellows, and therefore not going into challenges 100%..? Just an observation.