Colinjb

C'est la vie. It's almost impossible to get attached to players in this modern time anyway.

Yeah, this. The words, while pleasing, are currently meaningless.

A mixture of peer pressure, proximity and holding onto home when I went to University. I've loved football since a young age, always looked out for results and latched onto Saints when my family moved to Colden Common. As a teenager I'm not ashamed, i'm proud to state that Margate were my main focus, I was born in Kent and following their charge from the second tier of the southern league to the conference was exhilarating, never mind the modest standing, they were brilliant between 1996-2001. I always looked out for Saints though, my local top flight side. All the kids at school did after all. An early trip to the Dell to witness a 1-1 draw with Leeds on an August bank holiday in 1995 (I think) thanks to Dad ensured they were directly on my radar even while I became wrapped up in the exploits of the "mighty" 'Gate. It really took off at University, after moving away. I had finally been able to afford to go to Saints games in sixth form, going to occasional matches just after the move to St Mary's, spurred on by Dad getting us tickets for the last ever game at the Dell v Brighton. At Uni my accent (very Winchester) and wearing of replica shirts gave me a unique place alongside the inevitable droves of plastics. It helped intensify my support for the Saints as I could follow them easily online and in games televised in the S.U. It reminded me where I was from, and of the part of the country I love. It was part of me. From then on, through good and for a time what seemed to be endless bad I could only be a Saint. The 4-0 away defeat at Hillsborough (Kelvin for England....), The play-off defeat at Derby (So much f**king rain....), observing us departing the championship with barely a whimper away to Forest while my career ensured I was in an airport departure lounge..(curses, should have been there...).... all serving as incredible counterpoint to what is happening now. The crap makes the good times better, but whatever happens, we march on. I'm now back in Hampshire and love that I can follow my team without an insane round trip. There is a lot to be said for home...... Southampton, Hampshire, where the heart is. I feel for the plastics who do not have that connection to the clubs they "choose." They don't know what they are missing!

Quite frankly I wouldn't expect anyone but the bravest of pundits to favour us finishing in the top four until it is a mathematic certainty. Even then some will await a points deduction.

So easy in hindsight. My prefered CM pairing in the championship was Morgan and Chaplow, so, y'know...... Did like Chappers.

Fingers crossed for him, understand he's had a difficult time but is nearly there. Good luck to him, alongside the other academy lads he underpins just how well our infrastructure and ethos is functioning.

Quite, wow that was a world away! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8200493.stm Rasiak started that game too!!

He was treated appallingly, hope he bounces back from his sacking at Reading.

Yep, want that shirt. Much better then the Navy away kit., more 'Saints'y'

Rickie is almost too easy an answer, he was beyond anything we could ever have expected. I'm going with the bloke in my avatar. Jose Fonte, still with us after joining in League 1. If he could go from the JPT to the CL that would be astonishing.

Apparently Curtis Davis came on for us. Delighted with the win, Shane Long and Fonte were superb.

4th Place, on the basis that the extra profile and strength it brings to the club would make it more likely for us to win the cup in the future. A cup win would still mean far more personally, but the chance at 4th and what it could mean for Saints is too much to pass up on. A different take on my opinion last year.

Looks like it, and why not, he's good at it.

Excellent lads. Highlights how well we are working on getting lads into the first team in there being four (not including Cork) players there with first team league experience.

May be worth noting that this figure is from our first year up. Will be interesting to see how we now compare.

We will field a strong team, it's our philosophy. Whether that's wise is another conversation.

Fantastic news. Fully deserved.

All the best achievements begin as those.

Terrible, that's no age. Always a tragedy when someone so young goes.

Rafael Scheidt

Nothing if not consistent. They are laughably, pathetically and insanely consistent.

Can't see an agent encouraging that sort of behaviour somehow.

That is disgusting. There's no irony to be found here, it's just bad taste.

Well, out last trip to Portman Road went ok. Fingers crossed for a repeat of that.

Replay it is then.