Colinjb

I see the point you are making, but where do you draw the line, how do you be certain that allowing alcohol in one game is ok, but not for another.... And I mean 100% certain....

Are you seriously comparing the fan tensions of the Premier League to the Wessex Premier League? In that example, yes, a little daft. But in the context of Southampton Football Club, irrelevant. And Munich... the part of Germany I love, the bars around Marienplatz, even around the area I stayed in near Machtlfingerstrasse. Been there many times, and a far more respectful part of the world then any part of England I have ever seen.

Which part of Germany out of interest?

I hope your idealism isn't falsely placed. I do not trust the British public, having been to Germany, the mentality of the two countries is different. Germany is a country where they trust you to buy train tickets and they don't check. It is also a country without fences around industrial estates, because people respect the property. There is, from my own experience a mutual respect in German culture that doesn't exist here.

Human beings are unpredictable creatures. I have seen otherwise rational individuals become idiots thanks to drink. And football is a polarising element that exasperates this behaviour. There are people who will both have a drinking problem... and be partisan that will abuse the prospect of being able to drink on the terraces. I don't want that possibility. I hope I am being too cynical, really, but I cannot see how it cannot end in something bad.

And why are you? I thought this was a debate, a place for opinion to be heard. My own opinion is just that.... Why react so strongly to it Kraken?

The football match itself. It's more tribal then rugby and attracts the worst side of many otherwise rational human beings.

I'm sorry, why would it be necessary? You can drink in the pubs and at half time. Why extend it, why make the risk of anything happening bigger? It would be a needless measure that would only cater to those that would seek to abuse it. Those that actually come to watch football wouldn't care less and those that make a session of it would simply see it as a chance to get more of that. Those that live to emulate darker times would abuse it to the hilt. No need, just no need.

Crowd trouble and the legacy it could bring is enough. A family club can become a rabble in seconds. At least if this idea comes in it would be all clubs in one go rather then just one. What a relief!

No, I considered it, and saw many down points. The risks are huge, the damage could be rather large. while management in certain games brings sense, the very idea itself brings massive, massive risk. I will not agree to it, will not wish to see it happen.

How do you know for sure that allowing alcohol on the terraces wouldn't facilitate idiotic behaviour? You are making quite a big assumption. What is to stop them going down for another, and another, and another? And within 120 minutes they have consumed an utter tanker load. There are people that will do that!

There wouldn't be "carnage" on a grand scale as you imply. You are using dramatic language for effect. But if Alcohol would be allowed on the terraces it would exasperate the elements of the fanbase that would be inclined to rowdy behaviour. 1% of fans, just 1%..... of 30,000. 300 idiots beered up and being essentially out of control in the stadium. 0.5% is 150. 0.25% is 75. The fractions make the difference and fanbases have their idiot fringe. No need to reintroduce it. As many say, if you can't go 45 minutes without a beer...... And for those that can't, don't encourage them.

Soft drinks do not have the same appeal to the elements of the crowd that would engage in rowdier behaviour. The comparison is irrelevant.

Who are you?

The question should surely be, 'who might try to blag one?' No chance now. No grey area. No space for abuse.

Bang on. End of debate.

Considering my reaction after a bunch of animals soaked me at half time in the Wigan concourse, I wouldn't want to be around me if you did.

Jack Stephens joined us from Plymouth. Not sure about Gallagher. Edit: Yes, you are right. http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Sam-Gallagher-snapped-Saints/story-15702920-detail/story.html

Go on....

I didn't say that. I do not believe he does. As I said before I believe it's a personality clash/ego dispute that could happen between anyone. People from vastly different backgrounds, fundamentally good people can disagree for perfectly valid and understandable reasons when everything is taken into account. The Le Tissier/Benali/Cortese situation is I believe an example of this. Disputes happen in all walks of life and as all three of these individuals concerned have done a power of good for the club, i'm willing to give all of them the benefit of the doubt while wishing their dispute would get resolved.

Benali and Le Tissier have obviously crossed swords with the chairman from what seems to be a mixture of personality clash and and a property dispute. Those two examples seem to be the most severe though. The examples mentioned in the title show that players from the past can find a place if they operate within the way the club is now run.

Interestingly though, those players all have one thing in common.... They are not technically academy products. Blackstock joined at 17 years old from Oxford United. Griffit at 19 years old from Amiens Folly at 18 from St Etienne And Fitz Hall was 23 when he joined from Oldham. The kids coming through now are genuine academy boys. Not poached, even Theo Walcott was grabbed from Swindon.

Careful now, I remember glorious notions of a Saints team pushing for Europe with a spine of Fitz Hall, Yohan Folly and Dexter Blackstock with Leandre Griffit providing a bit of flair from the wings.

It's all PR. The club was naive in simply stopping the previous perks in one swoop but at least it made matters transparent. No possibility of 'why can't I have that, he does...!' or words to that effect. Those that keep contributing to the coaching and infrastructure of the club do seem to be well catered for.

No F.C.U.K, no......