Our Claus

Funny you should say this, because I actually did see Kasey Keller in town just the other day... ...the town was Seattle, but still, can't be a coincidence can it?!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-10914863

Leave now. Walk quickly. HTH.

People who think that their way of watching football is the only way.

As best as I can tell, the problem is that there isn't a separate online sales registration, rather the online sales links directly in with SFC's main ticket database - ie the one the ticket office themselves use. This is the first time I've booked online, but I got in (using the retrieve password thing - I think I must have included my e-mail address along with my season ticket apps so its in their database), and all the tickets I've bought using my season ticket over the last 8 years or so were in the purchase history - despite all of them being bought in person at the ticket office. So i'm guessing that unless you put your e-mail in the contact details of your account when you bought your season ticket or whatever, then the only way you can get into the online system is by talking to the ticket office. That's my theory, anyway...

I'm flying down from Edinburgh

Yet having a sash kit, worn for 6 years (tops), is properly commemorative of 125? The idea that you can't get more traditional than wearing a re-creation of our first ever kit is, frankly, bizarre. The traditional Southampton kit is red and white stripes. A tradition is something you build up over a long history. Its what you usually do. It is not what your first attempt at something was. For 100+ out of our 125 years, Saints have worn red and white STRIPES. That is our tradition. To say anything else is just wrong. Look, while i'd prefer if we stuck with a stripy commemorative kit, it doesn't particularly bother me if we have a one-year sash kit, I mean fine, whatever. But at least everyone get your arguments straight! Now I'm not saying you can't break with tradition - just for a change, or for a special occasion or something. But Saints are a red and white stripey team, and I for one hope we stay that way. Oh, and on the logo - firstly our current logo is great. Its distinctive, instantly identifiable, and it has actual meaning associating itself to the club's history and the local area. Ideal combination. And while it may only have been around since the '70s, it is by far the logo that Saints are most associated with because it has been in use for the vast majority of the time that logos (in general) have been a major team identifier - ie since they started being on the shirts. I'm not saying there shouldn't be a commemorative one, but I say go with the centenary one, or with the FA Cup circle version. Not some random mish-mash. But, in general, hypo does have a point.

While I wouldn't be horrified if we had a one-off kit with the red sash, the way I look at is that we're going to be celebrating 125 years of our history, and not just the first year. For 100+ of those years we've worn some form of red & white stripes. Whatever way you look at it, red & white stripes are Southampton Football Club, and I'd like "our" kit to celebrate our long history of success (and failure), rather than just those first four years or so of informal competition on Southampton common... Just my two penn'orth.

Interesting logic, but as page 1 was very clearly the first page, I'm afraid that page 200 is equally clearly the 200th page...

What an incoherent message board that is. How many replicated posts are there on there?

Who are they? Sorry, i'll get my coat.

S'on the BBC Sport ticker

If I had to choose someone to take an absolutely vital penalty it'd be Matt, no question. BUT, I honestly think that Beattie is the best penalty taker I've seen. His technique is awesome, and whereas Matt not only had the one miss, he also had many penalties which the keeper got a hand to, I don't think I've ever seen Beatts come close to missing one.

Coaches are leaving St Marys at 2.30 I think.

It has driven me mad today reading that Brown is "proposing the Alternative Vote system, a form of proportional representation." Alternative Vote is NOT a for of PR. It is a majoritarian system, same as First Past the Post. On an individual level, when electing one MP - or a mayor, etc - it is better than FPTP, because it does ensure that the winner has an absolute majority. But on a national level it is no better than FPTP whatsoever, and indeed in some circumstances can lead to even more disproportionate representation than FPTP does. (J Bizzle - AV would not help the BNP's case. It would make it even more impossible to win a seat at Westminster.) And while I sincerely hope that the BNP never does get an MP, I do not think that that should be the aim of a voting system. I think it should be choosing a Parliament that accurately reflects the views of the people across the country. And it is proportional systems that do that. And you know what, if enough people believe the crap that the BNP spout, then they should get a seat. And then its up to the rest of us to convince their supporters otherwise, and to show the party up for the racists that they are. I also don't hold much sway with arguments about strong governments. Sure, strong governments can be beneficial. But why should a party that the majority of people voted against, be able to impose their will on the country? Surely it is better that a coalition, accurately reclecting the country's views and for which a majority of the country voted for, governs based on mutually acceptable compromise? Will not that lead to decision-making that is more in agreement with the general will of the nation? I also dispute the argument that PR would lead to the loss of a constituency link for MPs. Yes, if you went to a direct party list PR then it would be gone. But if you went to STV, then you would have slightly larger multi-member constituencies - a larger area to be sure, but potentially greater representation. And if you went to AMS or AV+, then you would retain the constituencies more or less as they are now (maybe slightly enlarged), and still be able to have a Parliament that more accurately reflects the political views of the country. Anyway. Sorry for the rant, wrote my dissertation on electoral reform, and it helps if I get things off my chest sometimes...

From Mark McGhee maybe? He's fairly good friends with Strachan isn't he?

Not trying to be funny, but I frequent the sigames boards too, and so I know that this isn't your attempt, but rather a design done for you by one of the skilled graphics guys over on that board. I realise it might seem trivial, but as someone who does a little bit of (amateur) graphic design myself, I am very aware that it is not cool to pass off someone else's work as your own. Just sayin'.

His left-foot, 35-yard screamer against Derby at the Dell is still by far and away the best Saints goal I have seen scored by someone not named Matt Le Tissier.

Its in the National Football Museum in Preston. True fact.

Disregarding opinions on the design (not a huge fan myself, but then I like our current badge as is), I feel I ought to point out that this is not "your" design, but rather the design of some guy called tweej on the FML forum. Not saying you meant to do it, but implying that someone else's work is your own is distinctly uncool.