Miltonaggro

The 88 represents the average age of their fans...

Pray this comes off. BBD immediately improves this side and our chances of staying up.

Personally, as I've been saying for many years, Saints need to budget, scout and sign a goalkeeper who is an immediate starter with some character, not an youngster or a unpolished obscure league prospect. A significant part of the current transfer budget should be allocated for this, and funds spent on the central spine of a team tend towards the most 'value' in terms of points return. The position is the most scrutinised on a football field, so it really shouldn't be overly taxing for Melton and the gang. Ramsdale is the obvious choice if it's about foundation and ambition, but will likely represent our record signing. Then again, had we signed him or his quality instead of Sulemana and Onuachu in the infamous Ankersen window we may well have stayed up. The situation with Bazunu is quite similar to that with Flowers back in the day, and if the club believes in him they will send him out on loan once he is fit to build his confidence, strength and positional awareness - time and space to learn his craft. I don't see the potential myself as the flaws seem quite fundamental, but it's not my £12m plus grating the conscience.

That will be the Ramsdale special!

Yes, I saw that. Not sure what had been holding this up, but didn't account for Howe's ability to act like a cock.

For the first time, in case I am missing something. It is nothing to do with the prospective accountancy, but rather two positions that have needed key strengthening at the club for getting on for eight fucking seasons.

Or spunked £12m of our apparently limited budget on him to be honest - for a chance of staying up this season we need to go all out to sign the historically needed goalkeeper and centre forward as absolute priority.

Yes, better long term solution and opens doors.

Completely different prospect under Martin. He was the best player on the park in a lot of those games last season, and watching him every home match from my seat level with the box he's got great instincts, technique and power, a terrier, as per the £100m goal at Wembley. Put him with a proper centre forward who can finish and we will be glad to have him at SMS this season.

Either that or the total goes down £10k a week every five days, a bit like The Drop, only with more crying...

Shilton undeserved big name - Christ on a bike! He was still the country's top keeper aged 41 at Italia 90, four years after leaving Saints. Throughout his entire career he was also a good deal better than Ray Clemence (75 caps), who was picked mainly because he was at Liverpool, whilst PS always played for 'unfashionable' clubs. Arguably Shilton deserved to achieve 180 England caps between 1970 and 1990. He was also the defensive pivot of the best Saints side of all time. Niemi was a very good athletic keeper, but there isn't really a viable comparison if you saw both play.

Think that for a while Che and his agent have believed he has a much higher ceiling than he actually has. Possibly pride coming before a fall.

1000 at Eastleigh

Our away support now officially better and more effective than Leeds. Onwards and upwards...

Is this Liam McCarron as going to be out of contract at Stoke? If so, another Jock and another left back

Three weeks earlier was the Begovic lob. I was at that Arsenal game. The holy goalie was such a unit that the defenders were scared to have a go at him, in the post match interview he said I'll make sure I get those points back, and he was tip top in the next spell of games.

I hope that you found something civilised and red to wash that down, can be rather rich otherwise.

I doubt it, most Saints fans can tell the difference between the odd error and not being up to the job. Boruc was barking but generally well liked, Neimi and Shilton idolised but not averse to having bad games.

My money is on Ed Miliband, looking to send you over the edge so he can buy 100 acre field in Wickham for £30k and put 500 windmills on it.

BBD and Shankland for a combined £12-14m. There's a basket case of defender headaches right there for a snip.

FFS: It's Paul Mitchell II, history repeating (though nobody knew the treacherous Simon was at the club)

the really good ones all seem to have a degree of cockiness and a screw loose when they cross the line, which is a joy to behold. Boruc was the last one to have it though the screws were a tad too loose. Ramsdale has that about him, and I like that Martin values character to foster team spirit, he'd fit in well I feel.

No, and very quiet since the final. Luxury player but there is genuine class there.

Would genuinely give the club a boost, one of only two positions that can genuinely do that - elite goalkeeper and goalscoring forward. Think Flowers and Neimi were the last keepers we had to fit that profile.

I heard just before Wembley weekend that the club 'had informally spoken' to both Brooks and Ramsdale (assumed a pre-golf Staplewood visit) and thought the latter suggestion was crackers prior to seeing him in disguise at the final. These kind of passing discussions happen all the time of course, but who knows. Maybe the Brooks / Ramsdale bromance at SFC is on the cards, sincerely hope so.