VectisSaint

Glad some people have finally woken up to my Bridge Too Far references from an hour or so ago. By the way the bridge in the picture is not in Arnhem, the movie was shot in Deventer, about 35km away. The bridges are very similar though (the John Frost bridge in Arnhem)

Mayo

Delicious opponent just too early! Alas! Very nice club to play at and fun to go, but I estimate the probability that we continue very small This is a very tough one. (Dit is een hele zware dobber.). I like this one

95 quid on the train, but 18 hours, 0r 135 quid on plane/train, about 14 hours :-(

Looks like its now been confirmed as home leg first, seemed likely. Saints have ticket details on the OS and confirm the 1st leg is at St Marys.

Vitesse are quicker at putting a bit on their web site than our lot http://www.vitesse.nl/nl/nieuws/detail/5114/vitesse-in-europa-league-gekoppeld-aan-southampton

Yes, it is still possible that it could be switched, can't see any reason why except possibly because West Ham are at home first (if they get through). Don't think I would book anything just yet.

Arnhem

Vitesse, then, A Bridge too far

Just about to do our draw

Has this thread morphed into "Players Who Never Should Have Joined Southampton"?

There are some potentially tough games in that group, for a qualifying round, if we are looking to progress rather than just go on a beano. I hope we avoid Vitesse, I think that could be a bridge too far this early in the season.

Two words: Danny Fox

Nothing on Points West either, disgraceful.

Maybe the Armenians will pull back a 3 goal deficit next week, then booking flights to Kazak would be a bit of a waste.

Ramirez as well

Jordy Jordy from Haarlem (Angel of Harlem) I can't fit "friets mit mayo" into the tune though

No we won't. Roughly same size squad as last season and season before, both years proved that the size of the squad was on the small side, and we struggled to cope when we had injury and suspension crises in mid-season.

Matt Oakley - effectively discarded by Gormless George having just got back to his form after injury. Never wanted to leave and would have been another one club Matt if only GB had had some sense and offered more than a one year contract. Went on to give good service at Derby and Leicester, when we really could have done with him at Saints. Even Burley eventually realised what a mistake he had made when he tried to sign him for Palace. Mick Channon - at least he realised relatively quickly it was a mistake to go to Man City and came back for a few more great years.

In other words a perfect replacement for Toby. You do realise as well that he was born on St Markus day (8th July) so would be perfect for Saints (my birthday as well, though a few years earlier)

Roster is perfectly good English, but is hardly ever used in English (British English) in the sense that you are using it. We would normally use the word rota rather than roster, but again not for sport related descriptions. The word Squad is the normal term, and it is the term that is used by UEFA in their regulations (at least the English version assuming there are versions in other languages). In fact the word roster has its origins in the Dutch language (rooster), so as we are becoming more and more Dutch these days, perhaps it is appropriate. As you rightly point out next summer Stephens, Ward-Prowse, Turnbull, and Gape all have to be added to the full squad, but the good news is that they will of course be "Club trained" and so will enable more players to be added. Of course this is all rather subjective as we may not qualify for Europa League next season (possibly because we will have won the Europa League and qualified for the CL instead). One possibly interesting point is that if Vergil van Dijk plays for Celtic in the 2nd leg of their CL qualifier he would be ineligible for us (if he joins as is rumoured) until the I think Group stages, assuming of course that we leave a slot for him by omitting Mayuka.

You have missed Martina.

Novel writing from Dorchester?

And the same to you sir. Oh, I see what you mean. So where is he when we need him?

Isn't anyone hiding in the bushes to give us an update I don't recall which Forum member used to do the spying for us.