suewhistle

With this thread's worldwide spread it'll be morning somewhere...

Walking away from the ground with some friends we were commenting how quiet it had been, but all agreed probably because it had been such a routine win, even if the football was great at times. I can't remember any really misplaced passes and Morgan was a sheer joy to watch, with Cork much improved on his recent performances from what I've gleaned from internet streams and Saints player. De Ridder's defensive contribution was much improved (I noticed NA congratulating him), and people should give Guly a break; he sometimes takes a breather but I suspect if you looked at the yardage he covers it would be pretty high, I'm sure the club know the stats.. Adam and Rickie seemed a bit below par, but they're always still a danger. With only three days off until the next game it was good to win at a canter and the best bit is, I got my ticket for Friday today and won't be driving afterwards.. I reckon the atmosphere will be a bit better.:-)

I'd risk hitching, everybody will be in a good mood and they know the score about Boxing Day transport, but give yourself a little extra time!

On the Guardian Championship blog the Pompey entry was late...: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/dec/21/championship-bloggers-half-term-report?commentpage=last#end-of-comments

One of the reasons I drove over from northern Italy is that public transport is so pants over the holiday period; especially with what I want to do. Hiring a car over this period adds to the cost, especially with insurance to cover all the bases, and annual hire insurance doesn't make sense for me. Better my old banger with the snow tyres and the parking dints: none of them my fault. (Italian drivers...). So if anybody wants a lift from Maidenhead and is willing to risk getting this stinker of a cold....

What an apposite user name: "Skate Logic". I'd sooner they had Huselklepp too!

I do like Claridge: the smarmy commentator said perhaps Saints didn't deserve to be top - flattering to deceive and all that - and Claridge put him in his place "I've seen them 5/6 times and they are there on merit." He does good articles on the Footie League too.

You'll be hacked off if we win 6-0 then?

Snow down to 600m last night where I live although the levels gone back up again this morning. The web cams covered in snow here are a _good_ sign!;-) , so for a cheaper experience come to the Italian side of Mt Blanc. Some great skiing and good food. More snow to come next week, bit of a pain really as I'm driving back to the UK for Christmas.. http://www.regione.vda.it/turismo/prima_di_partire/in_tempo_reale/webcam_i.asp

I'll translate it when I've a bit of time...

On the Italian Saints website: http://www.italiansaints.it/it/posts/47/saints-contro-pompey-storia-di-una-rivalit :-)

What about Hurlock, Dennis, Benali, Dave Webb..?

Heh, heh; my badly made point was that (there is a football pyramid in the women's game too and) even at the level _I _ play at such a performance would be looked at askance. But you're right, he is capable of better and I'd rather be an outfield player in the spotlight than a keeper. If he does play at Fratton I'm sure he'll get all the support possible.

Expecting more here on the western and northern edges of the valley, so finally La Thuile and Courmayeur have joined Cervinia in being open and a good bit more expected this week (maybe a very good bit :-) ). Just in time for my visit back to the UK for Christmas... Here's a summary of webcams across my area: very useful for giving an idea of conditions across the area: http://www.regione.vda.it/turismo/prima_di_partire/in_tempo_reale/webcam_i.asp

This season as I'm getting on a bit (!) I've been training with our goalkeeping coach to be the reserve keeper, and have to say that even in amateur women's football I'd have been embarassed with a performance like that. Apart from the one that hit the post where I might possibly have left it the other mistakes would be unacceptable in local women's amateur footie bothe here in Italy and in the UK. I was going to comment this morning but thought I'd wait until after today's game, just in case I had my own disaster... Whilst the OP may have a point why does he always start negative threads and jump with relish on the negative aspects of any subject whilst claiming he's some flaming Messiah in the wilderness. (He's not, he's a very....). You'd think the rest of us were all denying any need for strengthening: straw man arguments at their best. Obviously our targets may have slightly altered now!

According to this site it's on the following channels: none in Italy as far as I can see, b****r.. 10.12.2011 14:45 Southampton vs Blackpool Sky Sports 1 (uk) , Sport 1 (Hun) , SportKlub (Pol) , TV4 Sport , SuperSport 3 [Za] , C+ Sport 1 (Denmark) , Al Jazeera Sport +3 , Ring.bg , SportDigital.tv , Al Jazeera Sport +5 , Sport 2 (Cze/Svk) , SportKlub+ (SE Europe) , NTV+ Football 2 , Sport 2 (israel)

Thank christ Turkish hasn't found this thread yet....

Anyone know how old Turkish is? It's just like he sounds like every old pub curmudgeon I've ever heard: "Bloomin' Jap motorbikes, never be any good" "Computers, waste of time", "St Marys twice the size of The Dell, sheer stupidity", "people dressing up and enjoying football, bah humbug". Whether you can cope with the change or not you can be sure that the whole question of expansion wil be examined in close detail by those who are making the decision. The whole dynamic of change, on-field success, marketing, pricing points, yields, practicalities of transport, expanding the market etc etc will all have an impact. When the stadium was planned for Stoneham at only 25k I called it as too small. 32k last time was tight, and I can easily see an argument for at least some expansion to cater for a hopefully improved future within the premiership. Fortunately the decision will be called by professionals and not by some miserable old fart down the local saloon bar with the short term view of a goldfish.

Only been to see Saints there once: the Knight testimonial, and one very embarassed Pompey player coming over to apologise and thank us (bless 'im) as we were kept back after the game and had lumps of concrete chucked over the wall. The police tried to escort me back to the station but as I lived in the Chichester direction managed to persuade them to let them out the alley and had no problems: me looking so sweet and innocent... I also went to see Danny Wallace play for England u-21s v Egypt, a couple of women's internationals (Portugal - [i'm a better keeper!] and Denmark) and finally Paul Gilchrists debut for them after he left us. A university friend persuaded me to go and see how he got on: their best player even if the crowd didn't acknowledge it. The 1984 game I was away skiing but remember getting back and making a noise at the airport after I'd got hold of a newspaper with the result.

Sorted! Cheers Dave...

Thanks for the reminder: just got my mate in Soton on the case..

Still no snow at my local hill but La Thuile on the border with France (La Rosiere) has had some and expecting a bit more, as has Courmayeur. Generally pants though, and largely too warm for cannon. Colder weather expected and maybe a bit more snow, but certainly haven't had value from my season pass yet!

Fortunately I have income in both £ and €, although not very much in either! When I came to Italy I was getting nearly €1.50 per pound, now I get only €1.16, so the Euro is doing pretty well for a weak currency!

Yep, I remember John Denham and alan Whitehead from my uni years. Watched AW play against my friend's team in intra-mural football, and he was a competent but dirty player IIRC. Not sure why I remember that, or the fact that the team was the International Socialist one called Red Star. The stupid things that stick in your mind...

Yep, remember the name. Defender, if I recall correctly, although I think all my Saints books are in mum's garage... somebody will be along to give chapter and verse.