wessex saint

Have searched the official site and can find no news for tickets for this one. Am I being a dumb ass? Also -can anyone tell me how likely I would be to get one - been to about 5 homes but no aways this season (and yes, have old membership no etc). Ta in advance...

What this thread needs is a quick dose of positivity from Alps or Dalek... sure we'll all feel better after that

yet another Davis fumble

I know he probably doesn't deserve an infraction just for posting utter b****ks but the mods need to think about some sort of action - every thread that gets started gets infected by Alpine and then degenerates (I am also guilty of occassionally venting after he posts) The quality of this forum is seriously starting to waver.

Not really. You weren't there so to use words like dire are amazing. Were you there for the Palace game? Because at that game we showed we were way classier than the oppo.. the result was never in doubt for those who were there although I'm sure it sounded very different on the radio. I am gutted to lose against a team like City but I won't comment on the performance as I wasn't there. It's terrible being a Saints fan isn't it? Top of the league.... Top scorer and joint 3rd in the division. Things look bleak eh??

Ha! Funniest I've seen for a while :)

Cheers guys - will try one of these options. TA

Going to a gig at o2 islington that night after checking into hotel in farringdon so gotta be there or thereabouts unfortunately

Don't know if any London Saints can help. I am in London (Kings Cross area) on Saturday early evening and need to find a pub that's showing the game. ESPN are showing the Liverpool game at the same time so could be a bit of a mission! I'm not getting into London til 4ish so will be a bit of a mad dash to find somewhere. Any help much appreciated.

Sublime!!!. BUT.. Lambert..I love him but starting to have doubts about his effectiveness at this level - had to go and 'mark' their full back to try and get some joy in the air. Lallana - I just hope we're top come Jan or he may just have his head turned by a Premiership team. And Fox was fantastic today.. beat his man a dozen times and was a real threat all game. Lastly Chaplow... dogs b's for sure!! Think I would start him instead of Dean

ffs. . .what a joke!! Jeez.. just enjoy the fact we are top of the league!!! 'we only drink whisky.. we only drink rum' Don't sing it boys.. factually incorrect cos I had a cheeky cider tonight...

After the trouble at the Millwall game I took my own advice and used the correct channels to complain. Below is the response to my complaint, and specifically about keeping away fans in and the issues around it. Whilst I don't necessarily agree with all of what has been written, it is detailed and gives an insight into the reasons why the police are generally not in favour of the tactic. I wouldn't say it completely restores my faith, but at least it shows a lot of thought goes into their 'policy' I apologise for the delay in writing to you. It is my first day back from leave and as the Match Commander I wanted to personally respond to your e mail. I am of course disappointed of your assessment of Hampshire Constabulary in respect of policing football but hope that this e mail may give you an explanation of the tactical rationale in respect of how the Southampton V Millwall game was policed. Of course I do apologise on behalf of the Constabulary if you still feel that other tactics should have been used. Specifically in relation to the option to “Hold-Back” Millwall fans as the solution to denying disorder can I explain how and when this can be applied; A “Hold-Back” is a containment, a restriction of the free movement of fans (usually the away fans) in a confined area in the ground (usually the away fans seating). This cannot and does not discriminate between peaceful fans (the vast majority) or those who wish to engage in disorder and as such is a blanket application. To apply this restriction, there has to be a legal base, a reasoned justification to apply that hold-back, based on the assessed likelihood of disorder between fans. This assessment cannot be based on the often historical reputation that surround certain clubs fan bases but on current intelligence, recent events (i.e. previous season(s)) or fixture specific threat indicators i.e. history between 2 sets of fans. Whilst Millwall fans have a reputation for disorder this does not provide the basis to apply a hold-back in itself and the lack of intelligence or incidents that indicated the potential for disorder denied such application. At the time of making the decision not to apply a hold-back or closure of the North car-park, this was based on the intelligence available that showed there was no pre-meditated interest in confrontation between the 2 risk sets of fans and the fact that both before and during the fixture there had been no significant disorder or indications that disorder would occur other than a brief bit of pushing and shoving between Millwall fans on the Northam segregation divide. The decision to apply any hold-back or closure of the North Car-park is taken between the Police and the Club and based on this intelligence and events. Whilst historically used routinely, Hold-Backs are now the exception and only used where absolutely necessary and based on the intelligence / event assessment as pre-described. I have attended a number of other Force area fixtures and have not seen Hold-Backs used any more frequently. Sometimes, the mixing and movement of fans can actually have a positive effect on the denying of disorder, as the small minority of fans intent on disorder are hugely outnumbered and there is not the crowd support for disorder to occur. Both Millwall and Southampton fans had mixed across the city and on the footprint of the ground in the pre-match phase without issue. The need for a hold-back must also be balanced against the tactical capability in applying it. Holding a large number of fans (2,000 in this case) in a seated and terraced area against their will is hugely resource intensive. The fans do not sit still and passively wait and as such the potential for disorder increases. If it does occur, the impact on crowd dynamics within that confined area is likely to lead to injury of either fans or stewards / police. The last time I applied a hold-back saw 2 of my officers pushed down the vomitary stairs by the pressure and actions of fans and whilst I will always impose a Hold-back where justified I must also take account of the risks in applying it. Whilst the North Car Park offers a flat, wider and therefore safer sterile area to hold away fans, this in turn can create a visible stand-off between the 2 sets of fans with Police in the middle (as per the last local derby). To achieve this Hold-back in the North car park demands the closure of the whole North car park for Home Fans, the relocation of the number of vehicles that park there, the re-routing of Southampton fans and a resource intensive creation of a sterile cordon. We do apply this when the need demands but as demonstrated by the Southampton V Portsmouth fixture this still did not deny those Southampton fans who were intent on generating disorder and confronting the Portsmouth fans across Britannia Road. Based on the intelligence, incidents before and during the match where fans mixed freely and without incident, this made a hold-back both inappropriate and without legal basis. The disorder that occurred in the North Car Park was apparently triggered by a confrontation between 2 small groups of Southampton and Millwall fans when a Southampton fan allegedly repeatedly spat at Millwall fans across a steward cordon. This quickly escalated and violence was directed towards Police as they tried to apply a widening sterile area between the 2 sets of fans and ultimately demanded the deployment of dogs and batons to push the Millwall fans out of the car park and up Britannia Road. Whilst Football violence is never pretty, I am content that the speed and robustness of policing tactics to push the fans out of the car park was both proportionate and necessary. I have 26 years experience in Policing and commanding football and have seen huge changes in the levels of resources, nature of the stadia and the tactics available to us. The days of routine hold-backs, total boxing of fans and putting them on a single train are gone and denied by both a shift in powers and indeed fans expectations and the level of policing resources available at Football. Policing football is not an exact science and hindsight isn’t available to the Commanders on the day. They must make tactical decisions based on a legal and informed basis and whilst intelligence and assessment of events is continually updated, the actual triggers for violence are usually immediate (as in this case) and demand the Police to respond as quickly and effectively as possible given the circumstances and resources available. Neither fans were blameless on this occasion, and though it was a significant number of Millwall fans who directed the higher level of violence at Police, the vast majority of both sets of fans did not involve themselves but were in effect subject to the responses to the actions of this small minority. Whilst the application of a Hold-Back on away fans might seem an easy solution, the reality of applying it and critically the legal threshold upon which this can be applied means that it will always be the exception, must be based on provenanced intelligence or key events and cannot be based solely on clubs reputations. It is neither fair nor legal to impose restrictions of movement on what is a majority of football supporters just based on reputation or history. Had it not been for the actions of a few fans on both sides this disorder would never have occurred. It may be that more directive and restrictive procedures are applied for the return of Millwall to St Mary's next season as a result of the disorder as this now gives some currency and provenance but again this cannot be a pre-determined tactic. I hope that maybe whilst not satisfying your personal view that I have explained the framework within which the Police and the Club have to operate. I am grateful for your E mail and happy to correspond further if felt necessary. RB Kind Regards

Police tactics blatantly do not help. If you're annoyed enough then tell the POLICE what you think... whining to each other on here will not help solve the problem. Try putting your thoughts here... http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/contact/yourvoicecounts.htm

I read this thread before watching the game back on sky + and decided to do a quick tally... so far 43 mins in... more positive songs (OWTS/ Lallana etc) than anti Pompey. Didn't count at the time cos I was just busy joining in with whatever songs came our way trying to drown out 'We all love Leeds'. BTW every3rd song at Old Trafford is either anti |City/Liverpool/ Leeds. And let's be honest.. they're the loudest and most original away fans we've ever heard at St Mary's...

Great start but it is just ONE game!!!! Leeds conceded shed loads last yr but also had 2 class strikers who banged plenty... 2 strikers now gone meaning toothless up front! Think we will have many sterner tests than that this season. Having said that.. bloody great day!! Not sure what made me laugh more - Gradel's tantrum or the leeds fan who caught the ball and then ran to the front of the stand and also have a tantrum before chucking the ball at Davis Aaron Martin - he would be called 50p head if he played in my Sunday side cos he can't head it straight... he did improve as the game went on but it was essentially Leeds reserve strike force from last yr... he will face much tougher tests. Jack Cork and Lallana awesome.... Guly not quite involved enough for me .... Connolly looks like the Premiership clss striker he is when we give him the ball to feet... Richardson did ok against a tricky Gradel.

Don't be such a d i ck. The guy probably typed it up quick and made an error... at least he could spell it! Jeez.. no wonder hardly anyone posts these days... all afraid they'll be shot down in flames for the slightest mistake by all the uber fans on here. Bring back Deppo..at least some of this was humourous when he was about. Cripes... *face palm thing* etc etc ad infinitum........

Good luck with it! Having read some of your thoughts on here I'm sure it'll be a decent read. As already mentioned.. humour is the way forward! All sorts of theorising on tactics/players/ club set up etc etc all now happen on here and will be difficult to compete with tinteret. please just aim to make us laugh with the odd thought provoking article. Look forward to it

1980... last game of the season v Boro (I think). was my 8th birthday and Keegan had signed for us in Feb ready to play the following season. I thought he was gonna be playing that game so tbh was gutted before kick off. However a 4-1 win and end of season pitch invasion ensured I wasn't disappointed! Think it was the last game with choc boxes before Milton Rd was re-built - had a season ticket in the Family Centre for the next 8 yrs..

THIS. Don't under estimate our part in this whole thing. 2 nil down and rarely have I heard SMS so loud!

I must admit to a slight lack of control and going on the Brighton board to take the **** a little. I apologise for my lack of maturity and know I am in the wrong... as punishment I have purchased some tickets for friends and family for the game on Monday

This... awesome today - moments of sublime skill - always gets half a yard with a drop of the shoulder - chasing back in the final mins to win back possession was cracking. Wanted to kiss him!

Cool... 'm thinking about an HTC on my next upgrade...Allegedly much better than Iphone. Correct?

Ahh.. have just done the research.... 1. yes -rich owner but maybe if we both go up and we're vying for the same players you would think we're in a better position just because of recent history. 2. If BHA have a poor season it would be interesting to see how many season ticket holders renew... for me you're either a football fan or you're not. I went to the ****ty old dell for 'Rumbleow (sp) cup games v whoever on a wet and windy night in the family centre on top of Milton Rd. ****ed on for 2 hrs with a poor view. MOST people go because they love their team.....

Well in that case I just don't get it.. 5000 fans suddenly come out of the woodwork and want to watch BHA week in week out? Why aren't they trying to go to games now? When we played at the Dell, towards the end I was a member.. used to get on the phone every other Monday morning to try tp buy tickets.. some weeks I managed to get through and other times I used to drive 20 miles up the road so I could get Radio Solent Anyway I digress... fecking BHA Problem for them is GP will go elsewhere in the summer and they've got no cash to strengthen whereas Saints..

Bless 'em. They will go up and they deserve it. The thing I can't work out is this.... Dell made all seater... sell out every wk hence need for a new stadium. Now have an average of 21.5k per home game (Dell capacity was 15k) BHA (top of the league etc etc ).. play at the Withdean. Capacity 8850. Average 7199. i.e can't fill it, but someone's found the money to fund a bigger stadium. I may just be being thick but why??? Money down the drain surely