John Boy Saint

You can't beat the clarity of vision of Children watching this great game, their views are so untainted. Driving to the game yesterday the Academy final v Aston Villa on a Friday night came up, my now 15year old daughter piped up from the back of the car to recount what a great game it was, I just recall from that night watching her and a few other kids around us sliding forwards on their seats in expectation whenever we went on the attack. What an adventure sprouts who are coming to games now are possibly about to set out on with Saints. I had it when I was 11 with Saints FA Cup, Promotion, metaphorically spreading the big teams noses across their faces on a Saturday afternoon.................... Great stuff!!

I have to add when he was gee'ing up the Chapel in the first half of yesterdays game, I thought hey this guy has got us and likes us: a bit rare for a loanee these days.

Electrification of the railway is just up the line under the Northam Road footbridge, but as the line is used to service the docks with the occaisional load which is moved traditionally by Diesel locomotives (or the odd romantic Steam Engine pulling Pullman carriages to the liners) it has no commercial advantage to be electrified for use every 2 weeks or so. We might just see it happen in our lifetime, it would have been ideal for the P*mpey game.

I like him, his elastic legs get the opposition players in a bit of a kerfuffle he has pace and ball control and contributes well. All of this nonsense about him being offside too often in league 1 showed yesterday when having sprung the trap he looked at the lino to find that having a prem linesman who could keep up with play and keep his flag down. A luxury in League 1 we can afford, and we should enjoy the excitement he gives most of the crowd when running towards the oppo's penalty box.

I have to say the best ever Derby game atmosphere at SMS was the League Cup night game, we had not played them for years so all of that pent up rivalry came out from 3 and a quarter sides of the ground all enhanced by the game being under the floodlights; it certainly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The last quarter of the Norwich game when the faint chance of staying up was at stake will also remain stored in the memory. As will the night game with Newcastle towards the end of the 2003/4 season I think the result was 3-3, Alan Blayney in for Niemi made a stunning double save from Shearer, the ground was jumping that night.

When St Marys was built this was muted, it was reported that it would cost £5m alone to electrify the line back then.

My Grandfather was technically too old to have been drafted as a civilian but because he was in the Territorial Army he was still available to serve, and being able to ride horses he was a despatch rider. He went to France on the second wave of D-Day and fought drove and survived all the way to Germany, he happily told his tales of daring do............. Probably in the vain hope of not being outdone by his wife my Granny who lived through the bombing of Southampton with a baby. My other Grandad did his bit in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corp so was too old for WWII

I have to say that I have never left a Saints game following a defeat without such a glow of positivity. I have not seen so much passion and heart from a Saints team for quite a few years, even a chap we have on loan from Fiorentina was whipping up the Chapel first half, when you think back to last season and the dark days of the closed season today was an immense ray of sunshine regardless of the score. My man of the match was Adam Lallana. Some of the highlights for me were; the atmosphere and passion of the crowd the unity of us all, Marcus joining in the mosaic holding his card up. Howard Webb also went up in my estimation, he read the meaning of the game and chose to calm players down by talking to them rather than flashing the card willy nilly. Comment of the day: While driving past the Kingsland Market space en route to the game everyone in the car exclaimed as one "Ooooooooo!! Horses!" followed by the giggles for the next few minutes. Well done lads, looking at the majority of the posts on the previous 6 pages, we are all proud of you and the passion you showed in our Red & White Stripes.

I think that we might sneak this one, we have players who will understand the significance of this game to us fans, I also think Pardew will talk some sense to the players whipping them up and keeping their feet on the ground at the same time............................. Hey if we lose my beer won't have a salty tear tainted taste.

Enjoy! ........................we have nothing to lose, we are a clear division below them, should they beat us, on paper it is expected, we are the metaphorical banana skin for once lets hope they step on it. Merry Christmas

you mean 5............. FA Cup Semi and Community Shield to go with the Paint Pot Trophy, FA Cup, & Play Off Final....................... Keep up ;-)

Eh!!!

I work with a mate who has Club Wembley membership he is very confident that he can get me the 4 tickets that I require in the Club Wembley section at the right end of the ground which will save some hassle as I was working in Brum when the 2nd leg was played. I am under instructions to get a bit giddy in the bar as he does not want his reputation tarnished by me staying sober............................. sounds fair enough.

Well I have phone redial thumb been trying all day whilst out on the road even had the pleasure of Skype to click dial repeatedly when in the office for half an hour. Goodness knows what I have run up on the mobile bill when dialling the ill fated 0800 number earlier. C'est la vie will persevere tomorrow.

Then have Hat Hair for the rest of Saturday!!!

Leave them where they are I do not want to spend a whole half especially at this time of year squinting into the sun for 45 minutes + as it sets behind the Kingsland

First half I was waiting for Frank Sinatra to pop up on the sideline and bang out Strangers in the Night, Pardew must have handed out name badges in the changing room at half time to make it easier for them all to get to know each other, seemed to work in the second half, especially when Papa came on and shook it all up a bit........................... And can someone tell me why Kelvin fannys around when he has caught the ball and we have players in dangerous positions up field standing in acres of space, as he repeatedly seems to squeeze the ball pat it about and waits for everyone on both sides to be ready Holmes was really getting the arse with it 1st half: as was a bloke who sits down in front of me who looks like he will explode as it winds him up so much.

I wish it was put back to the following week as previously planned as then I could go, as I have to work away most of that week, plus not too keen on my daughter being up and out till gone 11pm in an exam week.................................... There you go one unhappy fan to offset against the happy ones :-)

What a load of clap trap, the money that has been thrown at this team in this transfer window I can't see that they would cast Pardew aside quite so quickly when they have seen what he has done in such a short time with limited resources initially. Also this Director of Football chat seems to have evaporated so the current set up with Nicola and Pardew must obviously working quite well.

Blokes always been a scrote, just because the media blow sunshine up his backside he thinks he is above reproach.

I don't know them Chelsea boys are very lacking in morals, Cashley Cole playing away behind Cheryl's back, John Terry diddling Bridgeys bird and getting Dad of the year, via his kids by another bint at the same time, and Frank Lampard apparently strolling out of an evening with that Christine off the One Show. I bet there is a lads 19-30 holiday score board on the back of the home changing room door up the bridge

Shame it did not happen with managers, maybe Glenda would not have been out of the Saints management blocks quite so fast if the cup tied rule spread to managers. Still in the world of Glenda he payed the price of an indisgression in a previous life by getting knocked out by Arsenal in the semi final with Sperms..................... Maybe if he had pulled his head out of his backside he would have put Matty on second half at Tranmere and made it to the cup final with us. note to self don't post under the influence............ you ramble too much

I can't see the FA or Premier league allowing the possible demise of p*rtsmouth buggering up their competitions if they go pop that would result in a massive loss of face for 2 of their "prestige" products they will keep them going until the end of the season, when they will then cut them adrift just as the World Cup starts to lose the news in, that's if someone has not rocket up to buy them.

Well done for flashing that up, now every other team will be adding another column to their player value spreadsheet with the heading Southampton price.

That is funny if true.