edprice1984

Palace now winning at Stoke...

While having the dubious pleasure of driving around the Portsmouth area today, funnily enough didn't see any Pompey car stickers, badges or any sign of any of the '200,000' who turned up on Southsea common when they won the cup....funny that! ‪WTFILN!!!!!!!

Already owns 20% of Atletico... Again, why would you buy a Championship side? Spend a fortune on a squad, No guarantee of promotion, you then have to build again in the Premier League - which isn't easy (see QPR/Cardiff etc). If he buys now, he can get a good deal before the megabucks TV deal kicks in. People who are worth £14billion don't tend to spend £Millions without thinking of the return...Everton; Newcastle and Villa would be obvious choices however someone like Swansea or Saints would be a more sensible shout. Anyway it isn't going to happen but fun to speculate!

From a FFP point of view, it should be between Villa and Newcastle based on gate receipts etc, however you have to counter balance this against the money it would take to improve the squad (or in Villa's case the very real possibility need to get them out of the Championship). No billionaire is going to invest in a Championship club above a Premier League team. As I said, I am very happy with the ownership we have, but I do think we are an attractive proposition. Increasingly established in the top half of the league, with a profitable academy and excellent facilities. Plus an established ethos which runs through the club. A buyer could come in and improve the squad and look to increase capacity at the stadium in a sustainable manner, rather than spending gazillions on a new squad... ...will be interesting what happens.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31838296 Wasn't there talk last year of this chap being interested in Saints...Happy with Katharina and Family, but this guy could take us to the next level! However if he is looking at Italy as well, I would have thought someone like Inter would be a better bet.

Hope he snuffs it on the operating table! Actually that is a little harsh, I'd rather he was run over by his Landrover while being driven by his Dog.

Born in Southampton, but merely due to the fact that it was the nearest hospital to where we were living at the time. Dad a Bolton fan, Grandad and all other family members Liverpool supporters but for some reason was always drawn to the Saints as a kid - maybe because it was different to everyone else. Turning point came when I got to see a televised game in the early 1990's (against Liverpool). I think it must have been 1990/91 season around Easter. Just been bought the full Grey Candy Liverpool kit but I was still cheering on Saints. My Grandad gave me the ultimatum - you can only support one team! In my naivety, I said I would support whoever wins this game...and the rest is history! Only managed to get to the Dell once, in 1993 against Chelsea (we won 1-0 - Nicky Banger), and then a couple of times away in amongst the home fans. Since 2004/5 I have been at least twice a year, in the League One seasons I went loads, but mainly to the away games as they were more convenient. Yet to go to a Premier League away since we have been back, probably going to try Everton as I would imagine we will have a decent allocation. Best thing growing up as a Saints fan was the look on the Utd/Arsenal/Liverpool Plastic supporters faces on the Monday morning after we had turned them over the previous weekend. Priceless!

Cheeky request, if anyone has a spare ticket will be very happy to take it off their hands for the required amount. email me direct sonofpricey@gmail.com

Comments made above stating that the No campaign have had a bounce since the poll at the beginning of the week doesn't suprise me. Often it will take a little bit of panic and chaos to bring out the waivering voters. Just seeing Salmond's smug face would probably do it for most 'undecided' voters, but it is one of the truths of politics and elections that people are generally far more conservative when actually voting compared to how they answer a pollster on the phone. The biggest issue facing the No campaign is getting the vote out on the day. If people expect a No vote to win, then a sizeable percentage may think it is wrapped up and not bother to head down to cast their ballot. The Yes team will be out in force, I also wouldn't be suprised to see some electoral fraud in places...this is only to be expected due to the high running emotions - it won't have any bearing on the outcome but it will still occur. For me the whole thing has been badly handled. If I had been in charge I wouldn't have allowed an Independence referendum in the first place. The SNP mandate isn't big enough, nor wide enough across the population of Scotland to have justified this. I still believe the No vote will succeed but it will be closer than many thought and it will have serious ramifications on the country afterwards. If the people of Scotland do vote Yes and become independent, I fully expect the SNP to be voted out and destroyed as a political party within 10 years. Careful for what you wish for, unstable currency union, no entry into the EU, no entry into NATO, huge loss of jobs in the two key sectors in Scotland - the financial sector and the oil industry within 20 years with little or no industrial sectors to take their place without wider UK investment. I wonder what the 21st Century Darien will be that leads them back in to Union?

I am not panicking, get the feeling that Saints are sorting out the press announcements. Also now it appears that Ben Arfa is off to Hull

Oh FFS!

Anyone fancy Lennon or Townsend from Spurs...if it meant selling Morgan?

Guaranteed Bradford v Leeds and MK Dons v Man Utd on Television - depending on how we start can see them picking our game too

Millwall Away...that'll be fun!

Why are you so often just a bellend?

I wonder if we will do the Signing on the pitch thing before the game/at half time?

So would I, but I would also like to bang Miranda Kerr but that ain't going to happen either!

Well with Celtic getting battered tonight, we might be getting Forster sooner rather than later

You utter utter b*st*rd!!! I am going to be on F5 duty tomorrow then...and/or get sacked for the insane amount of internet use at work. Any teasers before you head into the night?

Starting XI looked comfortable and for much of the first half totally dominated. Final ball was a little lacking at times and I felt that Pelle would have been better off with someone along side him. FWIW Pelle looks a decent player, very much in the Lambert mould but has the mobility to get into the box after laying off/playing the ball out wide. Fonte and Jos looked far more at ease than Maya. Whether that was because Swindon were attacking more in the latter stages or his communication with the young lad in the middle just isn't there at the moment. If Lovren is off, then two CB are a necessity (but we all knew that!). Playing with a lot of width, lots of crosses but McQueen seemed a little hesitant at times. Isgrove played well on the left as did Targett. Obviously bigger tests to come but I have no worries about him stepping up this season. Reed looks like a quality little player though, his role tonight seemed to be just break things up and to move the ball along, keep it flowing etc...the more experienced players shone out as you would expect especially Cork who has to be offered a long term deal soon! Finally a quick word about Sharp who looked very lively when he came on. I would imagine that another striker is on the shopping list but it would be interesting to see if he gets a few opportunities this season. Great support too, must have been 1000 or so tonight which is great to see

Anyone going tonight?

Cracking read and I would urge you to keep going (enjoy your blog too by the way). I was born in Southampton, that is my only connection to the team. My Dad was working in Christchurch and Soton was the easier hospital to get to...otherwise I would have been born in Bournemouth and my football depression would be much much worse! Actually I really should have been a Liverpool supporter, my Grandad, Great Grandad and most of the the family were from the city - but like yourself it never felt right. In the early days it was a case of standing out from the crowd, being a bit different but as the years went on and we kept on grinding out the great escapes it felt good to be a Saints fan. The really turning point for me though was actually when we got relegated. I had always gone to games, although not as many as I would have liked, I had been an avid fan - but the connection was still tenious. But as it became easier to go and watch the team, even when it was just dreadful and painful, the more and more I fell in love with them. I know many will echo this, but the first three years of the ML era were probably my favourite. Taking 3,000 to teams like Bristol Rovers, Walsall and Leyton Orient. Having to watch the Exeter game from their home end because so many saints fans travelled without away tickets. The joy of watching your team win and when they were expected to. I always thought the best times were after we beat one of the big boys in the Premier League, this hasn't changed - I could gloat for at least half a season...but honestly (even though we lost on the night), the best and loudest I have ever been was when Chaplow banged in the opener against Utd. I was watching from a pub in Gloucester and you could have heard me in the Northam!! As I said I followed Saints from a young age, 6 or 7 when I got my first shirt - - but it was the combination of the pain of relegation and the joys of a cold Tuesday in Walsall that made a supporter!

He fouled David Platt! He fouled David Plaaaaattttttt! Big Ronnie Koeman!! He fouled David Platt!

Swap deal for Caulker?

Very similar to the Championship promotion shirt, save for the red sleeves rather than the white. Maybe there was a lot of old Umbro stock laying about...