Channons Windmill

What, you mean it isn’t? The first time I saw the Saints was the game v Blackpool in the 4th round, and my first midweek’er was the WBA replay - as a seven year old sat on the crash barrier under the West Stand with my Dad clinging on desperately to me. I can still remember the awe of being amongst all those smoking and swearing men, just about able to see the action. Mick Channon will always be my hero after that evening, but the trip to Wembley was something else. My Dad got us season tickets when the Family Centre opened (78/79?) and we were lucky enough over the coming years to enjoy one of the best eras of football in Southampton ever which the cup run without doubt kicked off..

Even the BBC are using the word cancelled. It’s a POSTPONEMENT FFS…..

If they cancel the game won’t that be unfair that we only play 45 games when the others play 46? Surely postponing is more equitable?

Saw him play on many occasions though have two slightly unusual lasting memories of him, one being an own goal at Man City in the League Cup (78-79?) in an absolute monsoon, we were stood in the Family Centre and absolutely drenched. The other was meeting the players before a midweek game at Lawrie’s invitation - all the players were having steaks and CN stood out for having poached eggs on toast. Funny what you remember… great player and manager RIP

Well that was a fascinating game to watch - four things I really couldn’t understand. 1) why at times bring the game to an almost complete stand if you then haven’t got a plan for the next progression? Had we come for a nil-nil? 2) it’s many years since I’ve seen a player as one footed as Manning. Almost every time he got the ball on the inside he had to turn into the centre of the pitch. City’s right side defence couldn’t believe their luck. 3) Sulemama - came on looking manic. What was his purpose? 4) it was pretty obvious from the close of the first half how City were going to expose our weak spots, yet we didn’t change (apart from a brief period when the full backs swapped sides). As my partner pointed out, it was brains v brawn.. and brawn won

Everyone here knows there are three… City, Rovers and Manor Farm. Bristol football suffers from the tribalism in the city. The Somerset/Gloucs, City/Rovers, Taunton or Thatchers/Bulmers divides everything - it’s very much two cities divided by the river, or more a series of villages that have all joined together.

Rather looking forward to this one particularly - after watching the Saints since 1976, this is the first time I will have walked (around two miles) to see them…

I’m in Clifton, can see Portishead in the distance on my evening walks if that counts?

I can’t be the only one who covers his eyes watching us play pretty triangles to and fro across our own penalty area can I? The sort of thing that was coached out of most players by the time they’re ten…. Also, I watched the highlights of an old game at The Dell recently (Liverpool, the one where Channon finished off a great team move) and it struck me how Joe Aribo runs in exactly the same way as that great striker of ours, Keith Cassells….

We’re going to see plenty more games like that this season, especially if voluntarily go down to ten men in the first half. The tactic against us is clearly to sit a bank of four in front of a back five to make us play continuous pretty triangles. Wait for us to lose possession and hit us on the break - thinking of Bazunu’s excellent one on one stop when he suddenly appeared twenty feet wide and Downes incredible track back near the end after Manning’s woeful pass. If we can’t get through a tightly compressed back nine then we’re really going to struggle to score….and always be under pressure from quick counters.

Can we sign out of contract players in between transfer windows? If so, the line-up I’d go with would Shilton-Golac-Dennis-Wright-Nicholl-Williams-Holmes….

Don’t forget that Everton have their FFP hearing from 25th October - apparently if they lose we that then Saints (plus Leeds, Leicester and Burnley) will be taking legal action against them. I can’t see, under those circumstances, that there would any situation where we would cut Everton a deal especially as there is the very real possibility they could go into administration…

Or Rees-Mogg in his top hat, give us some height..?

I surprised myself by how much I’ve enjoyed the last couple of England games but do wonder if we could find a goalkeeper taller than 5’8”? She was clearly beaten for height for the goals conceded against Colombia and Australia….

I always thought Shilton was a little overrated but, blimey, he was good at shouting and keeping his defence in position. And blaming them for every goal conceded…

I’ll miss his proper black boots.

Exactly - which was my point. He clearly did exactly as he was told to do and it was effective.

The 9 minutes was particularly interesting to watch as he highlighted just how much positive influence RM has already had on the the team. Their instructions were obviously crystal clear and understood - witness Aribo’s contribution; he was clearly told to stay in a specific area to spread the play and then to hold the ball, making only short passes to a team mate. If nothing else, we will be hard to score against this year solely because the opposition won’t get the ball.

I’ve always wondered whether there was a degree of Man City involvement in his move to Girona, after all they’re both part of CFG. Perhaps linked to our acquisitions last summer (and this)?

Dale Vince is a shrewd guy - look at his village team punching way above their weight. He also saw how the energy industry was going many years ago and now we’ll probably see more women in men’s football - he just knows how to use these things to the advantage of FGR.

When I last worked in football (albeit a number of years ago now) the season ended 30th June and the new one started the following day - which is why the transfer window opened that day. Contracts were always tied in around that which is why a lot of transfers were recorded on 1st July, especially with free agents.

Terry Gennoe always struck me as a great keeper who briefly shone very brightly and then promptly disappeared - think he went to Blackburn for ages after us. I don’t remember being particularly responsible against Forest, more that we were completely overwhelmed after half time...

A few ‘characters’ as well - I was so lucky to have been a STH (family centre) through that period from 1975-76 - feel it was an age when smaller clubs could still reach for the top..

I’d be surprised if Monk worked at managerial level again in football though I shouldn’t really be surprised by anything anymore….

Why does Allardyce appear on any list? He’s mostly retired now and his wife wouldn’t let him work further than an hour from home anyway….