aintforever

I agree with the roles of unions in principle but in the current climate my company is stronger because it can sack people who are not 100%, employ polish workers for peanuts and tell people to go look elsewhere if they want a pay rise. That is how we have survived where many competitors (many of who's staff we now employ) have gone bust. Because of the current climate we could employ teachers much more cheaply than we do. Graduates don't have the same choices they had when I graduated.

Though it's not standard red and white stripes it is still white with two big fat red stripes down it - with black shorts and white/red socks it would look 'Southampton'. The actual kit looks more like Arsenal to me.

I like it but will refuse to buy it out of principle. The complete kit looks good, thats not the best pic.

I can't stand the tories but do think unions are soon to be a thing of the past. We all work in a global market now, if you don't like the conditions you can get another job. I'm not saying that's right, just how the situation is for most of us.

It's nothing to do with envy, unless you think making a system fair is about envy. I have alot of friends who work in the public sector and it seems to be more of a cushty 'job for life' attitude compared to those in the private sector. If they don't get their inflation linked rise every year they cry like babies and have some union going on strike for them whereas in the private sector if your company doesn't make money you are out on your arse. My company has just had to sack someone for not performing 100%, no redundancy pay, just the sack. No-one has had a pay rise for years because of the economic climate. IMO there is a huge gulf between the attitudes of public sector and private. Because of the global economic situation I think there is going to have to be changes made.

That's great if they are self-funded, maybe all private sector workers should be eligible to join the same schemes then?

You still trying to work out how we can compete with Swansea in the transfer market? LOL

That makes you an even bigger ***t then. Were you trying to groom me or something?

Surprised at how many old codgers post on here! 39, live in Netley. First match was against West Ham at the Dell in the early 80s but I don't remember a thing from the game probably because I could hardly see what was going on from down the front at the Milton. Earliest memory is watching Chicken George get pushed into the crowd, he was my favourite player because he was tall and black and looked funny. First game away from Southampton was the 1986 FA cup Semi vs Liverpool at WHL. Was right down the front near where Wright broke his leg. Main memory apart from that is how Danny Wallace was constantly fouled and the ref doing nothing. First proper away game was vs West Ham and all I remember from that game was there were loads of beach balls.

Probably not because some of those private schools cost a fortune.

Would be great if they could but to earn an equivalent of some doctors pensions someone in the private sector would have to accumulate a pension pot of more than £3.5 million. The whole system is completely f*cked.

I think some forget how lucky we were with injuries last season. Quality cover for centre mid is definitely needed along with a few other positions.

I don't get the international aid thing either, we are borrowing billions each year just to send some abroad. Doesn't make any sense. I'm not against the cuts in principle as long as there is some stimulation for growth and the rich are hit hardest. Totally agree with stopping the automatic pay rises, it's time public sector workers to accept what everyone else has. Their pensions should also be brought in line with the private sector as well.

Are any fanzines still around? I guess this internet thing has killed them off. "hope you die soon" was a classic. The mongs on here would wet themselves if a similar thing was produced today.

It's more about the fan than the club. all clubs from Man Utd to maidstone have real fans that "get it". I think it's safe to say that the real Man Utd fans have had a richer experience of what football can give than us. As Saints fans we have had a pretty good deal though. All those years of top flight football plus the ups and downs of recent seasons. supporting some lower league clubs must be pretty bland in comparison.

It proves that players will play anywhere for the right money. Of course there is an element of selling the dream but by far the biggest factor is how much money they will get. Obviously another factor could be the fact that a top player is more likely to get first team action at saints rather than a top club.

"This club is going places and they can match my ambitions." Peter Crouch when he signed for Portsmouth in 2008

why do we assume southampton are different to any other medium size clubs with wealthy owners? Cortese is obviously good at selling the ambition of the club but it takes serious cash to get top players at a club like Saints. When football players say ambition they mean money because invariably in todays game they are the same thing.

Players will play anywhere if you pay them enough.

Er yeah, that's a huge concern. Next time I hack into NASA I will make sure I'm more careful. Seriously, who gives a flying f*ck if google share their info with the US government? I couldn't think of anything more trivial or boring than knowing what you or I search the internet for. As for reading my emails, the same, even I get bored reading my emails. Good luck to the fella at the FBI who has to trawl through the pages of the garbage I get sent.

I still don't have any issues with it. If the argument is against a government trying to be too controlling what the US does is irrelevant because they have no authority over us. Anyway whatever the laws are you can guarantee the secret services will do whatever they want anyway. If you type "how to make a bomb" into google you can bet your life someone somewhere will be sat there looking through your computer and will know pretty much everything about you in minutes.

It's naive to think it's just the US doing this, I expect our secret services do exactly the same. Im neither surprised or bothered by it to be honest. Digital communications is such a powerful tool, our government would be foolish not to utilise it fully to combat terrorism.

It's like TCWTB has made him stand outside with the teddies because he doesn't have an instrument.

I reckon 7th is probably the best we could possibly achieve, unless Liverpool go tits up.

If he was better than Jos, Fonte or Yoshida of course he would have used him. Managers pick their best players. The fact that the Norwegian season ended last November and he had a nice holiday afterwards is no reason why he wouldn't play in March or April. If anything he should be fresher and raring to go.