alehouseboys

I still think some are underestimating this side, I'd imagine the Danes will be a totally different proposition at home. I know they got the draw and vital away goal at SMS but I can't see the Danish league champions being too phased at facing us on home soil, particularly after what they saw over here. They did what they had to do at St Mary's, and a pretty efficient job it was too. Tough game ahead.

Because it would be the biggerest everest cup final for the "besterest most passionest in world football" and we'd play a weak side/kids who wouldn't see playing 4th division minnows as a big deal. And we wouldn't risk injuries to key players in such a volatile situation - we've got bigger fish to fry.

I think this will be tougher than some of our lot are thinking, any team that wins their League aren't too shabby. And don't build your expectations up too high about the atmosphere, it's mostly sh*t in England these days...you wait 'til you witness the Chapel End in full flow

If it's as low as that than I can see this being the last time they'll cut ticket prices for these games...and I wouldn't blame them. Would still expect it to be 25,000+ come Thursday.

Flag will be laid out on the pitch during tribute. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150815-markus-liebherr-tribute-southampton-everton-2620686.aspx

And it looks like the scousers will be flying their own flag at today's match http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-fan-groups-fly-banner-6254387 Bit old-hat now but I suppose to better effect at an away game the other end of the country

There's no way that's going up in the stands, more likely it'll be walked around the pitch with the ballboys. Nice to see it get an airing and hopefully a united rendition of the Liebherr song.

And not forgetting the ever present empty blue seats and taking off visiting supporters, there were never 20,000 skates interested in Premier League football a few years back.

I like this one...another that'll never catch on http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?54704-Watch-quot-Saint-Nacho-quot-on-YouTube#.Vcrd9hpwZJ8

Yeah, cheers Whitey. I was just thinking that if the stadium is regularly only half full they may offer a larger visitor allocation but I guess this will be a fairly attractive fixture for the home fans? And as the capacity is cut to around 9,500 for European games it looks like we'll just get a few hundred tickets. If anyone wants to see their fans reaction http://www.black-wolves.com/ulvegraven/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=96949&sid=966e7ce677d3f51f088e7688d88cb26d&start=75 (you may have to translate the page). Before the draw they were hoping to avoid us and Dortmund (good company!) and after suggesting their best hope is if we get complacent and underestimate them. In recent years they've turned over Man City and also put the Saints out 3 or 4 years back (the Welsh ones).

Cheers Gulle. How will you go about getting tickets, won't you have to be affiliated to Midtjylland to get one? What sort of attendances do they normally attract and are they likely to offer us more than the usual 5%, do you know?

Probably a good time to bump this and hope the shandy drinkers don't get too carried away with the war songs.

Looks like they authorities in Arnhem are expecting around 2,000 Saints fans to travel out. They're not expecting issues but have things in place should it get angsty. Leave the plastic chairs alone! http://www.vitesse.org/nieuws/vitesse_in_de_media/uit_de_media/arnhem-krijgt-voor-een-dag-een-southampton-plein.html Arnhem gets a Southampton Square, for the duration of a day. At the request of the municipality to focus the catering entrepreneurs of the Jansplaats their square Thursday in British style, with flags and banners, two large biercarroussels and a barbecue. Matter of good hosting Arnhem expected that day about 2,000 supporters of the English football club Southampton, which Thursday the return match against Vitesse will play in the Europa League. "Good hospitality" According to Arndt Stroink, safety manager of the municipality wants Arnhem facilitate the supporters of Southampton 'good '. "We offer them a nice place in the city where they day and night to keep their own party. Matter of good hospitality. However, in view of security it is useful if we know where the English are." Korenmarkt Stroink say they can not prevent the British also visit the nearby Corn Market, where will haunt Vitesse supporters. "It allows our guests are free to come and go as they please. There are no fences around the Jansplaats or something. But they certainly have their own views. We have about had a meeting with the board of the fan club." 'No problems' The adviser of the Mayor does not expect any problems with the visitors. "I'm going to assume that it remains cozy, given the experience gained in Southampton with Vitesse supporters." If anything should happen disturbances, then the mayor has sufficient police capacity on hand, says Stroink.

Saints in Europe We're 'avin a party, Bring yer Raybans Bring yer Charlie. Building to be a top day out. Hot sun and all-day drinking, what could go wrong?

Ah, that kind of explains it, I had it down as Saturday. Good opportunity for our fringe players against tired opposition then!

It's a strange one, fingers crossed for no opposition injuries then.

So, after having the misfortune to catch meridian tonight, they did a report on the Vitesse support/our match last night and after mentioned that Reading play a friendly against Espanyol tomorrow and no mention of us having the same fixture. I guess the Spaniards are splitting their squad, anyone know who faces their first/strongest team?

I'm guessing you meant Branfoot there...Dave Merrington was a fantastic man for this club, everything was against him for the short spell as manager but his contribution to bringing through talent was legendary.

I wonder why?

Gotta love that headline "Southampton face Europa League chaos" and them go on to explain Vitesse's visa problems

http://www.vitesse.org/nieuws/vitesse_in_de_media/uit_de_media/veel-vitesse-supporters-naar-southampton.html Strange, this official site was saying 1,800 Vitesse fans travelling a few days back, now saying 1,500. http://www.vitesse.org/nieuws/vitesse_in_de_media/uit_de_media/vitesse-donderdag-in-southampton-gesteund-door-1500-supporters.html

I wonder if our Dutch visitors to this site appreciate English humour? Those hoping to get tickets over there may be encouraged by Big **** Last's post http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?54575-Pre-Season-Tour/page25#.VbUDQShwZJ8 "I collected the tickets I had ordered and bought 5 more. The woman in the ticket office was happy to sell me as many as I wanted. You can even buy them from the Primera shops that are throughout Holland without any restrictions"

Latest reports suggesting the scousers have a bit of competition for the player http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/593786/Southampton-Virgil-van-Dijk-Arsenal-Man-United-Transfer-News-Gossip http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/hibernian/1325340-transfer-talk-scott-allan-unhappy-over-verbal-deal-van-dijk-to-saints/

Nicely put oldsarum...if only the faint-of-heart on here could take it onboard.

I'd imagine the few remaining will go over the coming week and according to the Official Vitesse Supporters site they're bringing around 1,800 http://www.vitesse.org/nieuws/vitesse_in_de_media/uit_de_media/veel-vitesse-supporters-naar-southampton.html They'll make a racket so hopefully everyone's up for it...