trousers

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2013/08/12/4181326/will-the-real-roma-please-stand-up?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I once met Gareth Williams (Cropedy Festival Director) at the Tonder Music Festival in Denmark. True story.

The 'problem' starts when teams realise they need to bypass our 'outstanding' defensive midfielders by resorting to the longer ball delivery...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2388815/Southampton-4-Real-Sociedad-3-Goals-galore-St-Marys-new-England-striker-Lambert-involved-scuffle.html

A good day out. A few top of head thoughts... Wanyama and Morgan worked well together. Will surely be one of the best defensive midfield combos in the premier league this season. Shaw looked much more threatening going forward than last season. Will be a massive loss if out for an extended period. JRod would be an excellent striker if someone could persuade him to lift the ball over the keep when one-on-one rather than blast it straight at him all the time... Lambert does so much more than act as a target man. Hopefully the rest of the country will see that on Wednesday. Lallana had a good game although there were still a couple of occasions where he wanted one touch too many IMO. Chambers looked assured in the right back role. Just needs to watch his positioning a few times. Lovren is our best CB by quite a way, although the other 3 acquitted themselves well. Boruc is a quality keeper; Davis doesn't inspire the same confidence. Guly had a great game. Much more suited to the way Pochettino wants the midfield to play than Ramirez. Ramirez frustrated as much as he inspired as usual. But I still feel we need to accommodate him as every team needs someone who can inject a touch of class every now and then. I'm still convinced he'll come good this season but understand why others don't think so. Puncheon added much needed energy into the attack when he came on. A good option to have on the bench. Isgrove and JWP were effective if not spectacular. Good to see players of this age blending into the team nicely. Feel a bit sorry for Cork - a right back cameo is not utilising his talents but with Wanyama and Morgan working so well together its difficult to see Cork getting much opportunity until one of those guys gets injured or suspended. Still, means we have a higher quality bench compared to last season. Fox did an adequate job when he came on but he's the only player on the field that gives me the willies with his relatively poor positional play. I'm not a fox basher but would feel uncomfortable him being our first choice on the absence of Shaw. Mayuka and Davis didn't really register on my attention radar so I guess neither shone nor had a mare. Did I miss anyone out?! In summary, we're definitely heading for a top half finish IMO and we're a quality striker signing away from pushing for top third. P.s. the Real Sociadad number 11 was an utter buffoon

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFC substitutes: K. Davis, Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Fonte, S. Davis, Ram?rez, Fox, Ward-Prowse, Cork, Mayuka, Isgrove, Puncheon.

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFC team vs #RealSociedad: Boruc, Chambers, Lovren, Hooiveld, Shaw, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Lallana ©, Guly, Rodriguez, Lambert.

Surely Mr Hall will be revealing all in his next blog...? Or has he stopped delving into Pompey owners backgrounds these days...?

Was watching the game in the club shop when they scored. Excellent.

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/08/roma-striker-returns-to-italy-for-argentina-friendly/

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/08/09/new-portsmouth-fc-digital-strategy-will-allow-fans-order-food-and-drink-directly

Portsmouth FC News ‏@PompeyNewsOnly1h Beattie: Bring on the flak - James Beattie insisted he’ll be pleased to take stick from Pompey fans tomorrow... http://ow.ly/2z0PB9

@SouthamptonFC: Introducing our new Official Matchday Magazine - issue one on sale tomorrow: http://t.co/ZOMHkhiWlU #saintsfc http://t.co/cpCFAI49EK

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-08-09/british-exports-hit-record-hight-of-78-billion/

Textbook non-Saints fan retort....

@SouthamptonFC: A free download of a special #FIFA14 cover featuring three #SaintsFC stars will be available on 27th September when it launches in the UK. @SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFC fans will also have the chance to take each other on at #FIFA14 when the EA SPORTS Dugout visits St Mary's this season.

[video=youtube_share;_YPwhhyMAvY]

Rickie: "I know Southampton fans will be as happy as I am which is why I love them so much" #wellinguphere #soppydatetrousers