Matthew Le God

I can understand that some might. However as I stated I don't think that should take preference or influence over the pre season of the current season. I'm sure Ted wouldn't want a game to remember him having a negative influence on Southampton's preparations for the upcoming season. Thus it should be at the managers discretion who the team play. Ted has a fitting tribute to him already in the form of the statue in a prominent position outside the main stand of the stadium.

I would actually like them to have a high profile friendly at St Mary's every year. But... I also think it should be at the discretion of the manager of the club at the time and how he feels he wants to organise his preseason so the team is ready for the season ahead. You don't "need" a trophy match to remember the great work Ted Bates did. Remembering Ted can be done in many different ways(he has a stature outside the Itchen Stand for a start) and certainly shouldn't influence the managers plans for preseason or dictate to them.

I don't disagree with you for the sake of it. I disagree with you because I genuinely think the opposite to you on a number of issues. Do you think the club should play a high profile team in a memorial match at home in pre season even if the manager thinks it may disrupt his preparation for the upcoming season?

Saints had alot more season ticket holders when they were in the Prem than they do in League One. The Prem season tickets were also more expensive.

It is 10 days of pre season training/team bonding/gelling and 2 matches. If they don't go they'd be left to train with the youth team and play local non league sides. It would be ideal if they did sign to fly out together with the squad on the 8th. However they could sign on the 9th or later and fly out separately, so the 8th is by no means a barrier.

Why does it matter? Why do you need an annual match to remember him? It can be done in other ways. Pardew said last summer that games like Ajax game aren't good to have in preseason. btw "I am afraid there is no news about a Ted Bates Trophy Match" doesn't mean there won't be any news in the future.

Could be the reason they might find it hard to find a full time doctor as hinted at in the opening post.

Saints already have... First Team Fitness Coach Nick Harvey First Team Physio & Head of the Medical Dept Mo Gimpel Remedial Therapist Chris Lovegrove Sports Massage Therapist Mark Forbes Professional Players Physio Emma Gimpel Podiatrist Robert Branton Performance Analyst Ben Stevens Academy Fitness Coach James Bunce This summer they have been advertising jobs for medical and strength/conditioning posts in the academy, development squad and first team. There is a large restructuring going on at the moment and the club is putting itself in line with the staff structures of a Premiership side. Jobs available at the moment - there were many others earlier in the summer - http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/Recruitment/0,,10280,00.html Advertising for a senior physio as it seems someone has been promoted. Also for academy physio 9-16 year olds.

It isn't uncommon in football. Chelsea for example have 2 full time doctors, 1 part-time doctor, three physiotherapists and four masseurs!

Were any of those 2,000 people worth hundreds of thousands of pounds or millions to the company?

It is hardly "sacking for fun" or telling people to "get lost". If true...He wants a full time member of staff in that position as the company moves forward. That member of staff is unable to be full time due to other commitments and the club has decided to look elsewhere. Quite common throughout the business world.

They can't really complain about lack of players from now on if they are loaning out Marlon Pack. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Pack-to-join-Cheltenham-on.6398733.jp

Which part of the clubs history are you suggesting Cortese has wiped out?

Saints were probably ahead to start with. All the first XI needs is a right back and the team is settled. Compare the squad today with the squad on the opening day in August 2009 against Millwall. Yes, cover is required for a few other positions but you really are fussing over nothing atm. No major player recruitment is really needed, that has already largely been done. I can't understand why you would think the club is currently doing nothing as regard to transfers. Yes, it isn't being made public but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. I predict some players will sign before next Thursday (when the club flies out for the training camp).

I don't see why attendances will go down. If anything they should be higher this season. Yes, the club will lose some people because of the season tickets not being available in installments. However more people should be be attracted back to St Mary's if the side looks like it will get promotion. With attendances last season many saw the club with little chance of success. Saints have a hard core of fans, the rest turn up if the club is successful or has prospects of success. Just like with every other club. I predict those attracted back to watch a potentially league winning season will more than make up for those lost for other reasons.

Saints have no game on the weekend of 24th July. The Ted Bates trophy may be played then. They could be waiting for the Reading games to sell more tickets before announcing it, as if it is against a big side to celebrate the 125th anniversary people won't go to the Reading game.

No-one has been given a number yet. Last season they were announced on 23rd July.

Unlike last summer, we already know a strong starting 11 which is more than strong enough to compete at the top of League One except for the right back slot. Look back at the Saints matchday XI and 7 subs on the opening day against Millwall August 2009 and compare with the current squad. As long as a right back is signed relatively soon the starting 11 is fine and will need little gelling. On top of that the squad needs some more cover in certain positions, but again this won't impact significantly on the starting 11. To question the transfer policy on 1st July is therefore bizarre. Even the big name free transfers like Joe Cole don't have new clubs yet, there are plenty of players out of contract and I'm sure plenty of other targets Saints are tracking. For all we know many could be quite advanced and signing soon, it makes complete sense for the club not to comment on transfers until they are concluded. If a few players aren't signed by the 8th July when the squad leave for the training camp I'd start to worry a little. But even then it is no big deal as players can be flown out later.

The only thing that has changed is some players have a new photo (Ryan Dickson was already added when he signed). Squad numbers will be updated in late July. They won't stay as they were last season.

Interlaken has hosted Liverpool, the Swiss national team and now Saints. Here are two interesting links... 1) Liverpool at Interlaken 2) Training camps in Switzerland - Interlaken the 2nd camp featured http://www.travelclub.ch/files/2009_training_camps_ch.pdf

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/TicketNews/0,,10280~2080054,00.html

I was hoping someone would get the Theme Hospital reference...

The football administrator is cheating. A cheat is running the football club! http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Pompey-face-keeper-crisis.6383994.jp?CommentPage=1&CommentPageLength=10#comments AA wants dispensation to sign James (he can't sign a deal under the embargo) and neither could Ashdown (who was released). However... academy keeper Tommy Smith was released. Smith is under 24 and so would have been able to sign a contract. Yet they choose to release Smith. AA doesn't have a leg to stand on.

It was on SSN. Presenter read it out.

Over 20k were at St Mary's for opening game last season, which was also a lunch time kick off Live on Sky. This season Saints are promotion favourites which should help boost crowds.