edprice1984

My Dad told me a story about Bolton in the early 1960's. Young lad playing for Preston (I think) nutmegged one of the Bolton fullbacks, Roy Hartle. Hartle wasn't too happy about this and the next time the young winger got the ball he ended up in the Burnden Park ditch... ...AL would have had his head kicked off!!!

The question that needs to be asked of the rest of the league...Can you keep up?

As a season ticket holder at Gloucester Rugby I would say that rugby refs very rarely make mistakes, but they do miss a lot. This isn't reallh suprising considering the amount that is going on, also there is a certain element of individual interpretation that simply doesn't apply in football. If the respect campaign was enforced on the top players, coaches and supporters in the way that it is enforced on the grass roots levels it would be a success. If a ref sent off Rooney, Ferdinand, Cole, Terry or Lampard for swearing at them and this was done consistently the game would change very quickly. As it is, children still see the stars acting like children and getting away with it so nothing changes.

After running for the 21:54 train back to Gloucester I wasn't really in a fit state to put down my thoughts last night... I felt that we always had control of the game, although there were a few nervous moments towards the end - mainly due to Saints giving the ball away. Lallana looked awesome for much of the game but did tire and was suprised that NA didn't take him off. Jack Cork is absolute class, my first opportunity to watch him and I was impressed with his poise on the ball and his ability to disrupt and stop attacks. Forte did ok, not really his best position - seemed happier playing of the shoulder of the last defender rather than holding up the ball. Spiderman linked the play well and was unlucky not to score, only a last ditch block preventing it. Bart was good, not alot to do - the freekick was in as soon as it left the blokes boot. Distribution was patchy but when Lambert came on that improved dramatically. Holmes was outstanding, always worried their left back and contributed to two of the goals. Glad to see him have a good game after such a bad time with injuries etc...NA obviously rates him. Martin and Seabourne looked good to me, complemented each other (if one ballsed up, the other was there to help out...some very good blocks etc). Frazer played well - would like to see him overlap more. Harding tried hard and did look good at times, but too often gave the ball away cheapley. Guly was brilliant at times, then awful the next minute. He suffered from not having Connolly or Lambert up top as Forte's running and movement was as good. Support for a Carling Cup game on a Tuesday night was good, always makes me laugh when people on here have a go saying "All people wanted to do is watch the match" etc - Well yeah, I do actually. There was lots of noise throughout, some good songs "We're taking the p***, We are Southampton we're taking the p***" was very loud. Finally special mention to the middle aged bloke (A swindon fan) who helped out a young saints lad (16/17) who was cornered by about 5 swindon chavs at the train station. Missed it by a couple of minutes - but they were intent on causing some harm to him before a local Swindon supporter stepped in.

I've been thinking of chants for Mr Di Canio....best I could come up with was "You're just a s*** Mussolini, S*** MUSSOLINI!" Just a thought...

It is due after tonights game

End of the game in Playoff year the Leeds fans got a little upset and started throwing bottles and seats at the Northam. It all started after a tannoy announcement giving the Hull v Cardiff score which coupled with our win meant we moved into the playoffs, but also effectively relegating Leeds. Huge cheer and the northern monkeys though we were taking the p..cue seats and bottles.

Living and working in Gloucester. I am in an office with 4 Saints fans (including myself)...out of a staff of 80! In GLOUCESTER! Strangest place I have ever met a Saints fan was at the NY Mets v Houston Astro's baseball at Shea back in 2007. Talking to the wife and the Hispanic fella in front turns round and asks if we were English. Brief conversation about what we were doing here, ends up talking about football. I ask him who he follows and to my suprise and my wife's horror - Saints! He picked them years and years ago (back in early 80's, Keegan and Ball era) and followed them ever since. His kids were all Saints fans and he even went to a game in about 1996 (We drew 0-0), he absolutely loved it. The Yanks all around us were highly amused and we both ended up converting a few to the cause!

Golden post of the summer

Ricky Lambert, Southampton's goal machine! De Ridder to Lambert - Definately got a ring about that...

Eddy Merckx, Rene Magritte, Audrey Hepburn

So was I, my Liverpool supporting best mate was not amused when I spilt my drink/hugged him like a crazed maniac. That was my favourite goal from that season, if only because it caused my Ex-GF, her Dad, her sister and her sister's lesbian lover to leave the ground early - and got the full 'We can see you sneaking out" treatment with everyone pointing and waving. American's call it closure I think - thanks Morgs!

Sheffield Utd....Hmmm! Interesting that the Thai bloke was putting his daughter in the front. Where have we seen that before?

I have just been winding a few of them up on the facebook page - I almost feel sorry for them...then again!

Madejski not dancing around anymore.... Loving this, went to Swansea Uni - I was there at the Hull City game back in 2003, incredible achievement! They are my 'second team' after Saints so it will be weird seeing them in the Premiership and us in the Championship

Nice to see Arsenal losing again! Blackpool and Wigan to go, unless something really stupid happens at Spurs...

I agree. HMRC tried to an emotional argument which was the worst way to go about it. If they had argued on a purely financial basis, HMRC would have won. I reckon Chinny will try the 'we need the takeover to happen or the club will fold' trick again... I don't think it will work again though!

Liam Feeney = Leon Best

Thank the lord Saints aren't involved in this. I have never experienced a greater shift in emotion as I did during and after THAT game at Pride Park...Rasiak goal was my greatest moment as a Saints fan...all the passion I have for this club unleashed in a single moment - Then to lose on penalties (which we haven't done again since by the way!) was absolutely horrible. So much worse than England, sat in a pub in Swansea close to tears and having Swansea City fans coming up to me and trying to console me...got a lot of free drinks that night! I have changed my mind about who I want to win this...Bournemouth (just) and hope that Huddersfield go up as Champions next year...

Not 'just' back from the game, but as I was knackered last night I thought I would wait till this morning. I thought we did play well, but as soon as their keeper made the wonder save from Fonte in the 2nd half you had the feeling it was going to be 'one of those nights'. Losing Morgan in the first 10 minutes had a huge effect on the shape of the side. Harding/Lallana and RL all linked well on the left, but Butterfield didn't really have anyone to feed to on the right. N'Guessan (who reminds me of Antonio, in that I don't think even he is sure what he is doing when he gets the ball) worked hard but I am not sure he really grasped what position he was playing. The whole side seemed to be off balance, most of the play was down on the left which meant that Walsall just packed that side. When we switched it to the right we looked dangerous but we didn't do it enough. Macken took his goal well and their keeper (although a fatboy) was like Gordon Banks...One of those games that we battered them but wouldn't have scored if we had played for another 90 minutes. It's not the end of the world but it does put more pressure on the Bompey and Charlton games.

To be honest there is no need for an expansion for the RWC in 2015. Most likely St Mary's will get two or three games at best, probably hosting Scotland/Argentina or Fiji. The IRB and RFU will look to sell out the ground with an attractive fixture but won't give us any of the big five. The smallest ground will be Kingsholm in Gloucester which will hold 18-20K in 2015.

The Champagne is getting ready to pop at my house....here we go people!!!

Sacchi as manager or as DOF...seems pretty unlikely to me, but then again you never know. One little point to make about Foreign managers, or any manager for that matter - It doesn't make a blind bit of difference if they have 'League 1 experience'! What matters is that they have tactical awareness, more than just Plan A and can motivate the players. Obviously we would like teh team to play attractive football, but IMHO this season we can play like the old Wimbledon team as long as we go up! Seriously guys we should be able to beat Rochdale without any major problems, then we have another week before our next game. By then we could have our new manager in place. Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

I've been supporting the Saints since I can remember - nearly 22 years now. I have always felt we are no different to any other club, in terms of the chaos, disappointment, ecstacy and joy that goes with following a football club in the modern era. What has happened over the last few weeks (I include Markus' death in this) is upsetting and painful but nothing too out of the ordinary. I am still extremely confident we will get promoted. We are only 3 games into the season, are big names are starting to find their form (I am quite happy at the moment to count last night as a blip, if we continue in the same vain on Saturday I will obviously reassess) and we all know the few areas that need strengthening. I do find it incredible that some people on this forum and on others think that we are going to go out and sign loads of players, some of Premier League standard with no regard to any possible wage structure and financial stability. I am still optomistic, I will admit to being a little annoyed that we have got rid of a very capable manager in Alan Pardew. I think Mr Cortese may have made a mistake, and to be fair (in my opinion, he hasn't made many so far) - but we will have to see. The players we have should be good enough to secure promotion no matter who is in charge. I have been a little disappointed with the lack of transfer activity in general, but the 25 man squad rule has had alot to do with that. Watch out for 5pm tonight and a flurry of activity in the loan transfer market. We may see some more players coming in then...I have no ITK or actually factual evidence to back this up by the way! COYR - WIFM

After getting back to Gloucester very late (or should that be early) I decided to leave it to today before I gave my two-penneth about the game. First half: After a bright start, we didn't look great. Too much long ball, lazy passing and too many mistakes. Lallana wasn't given the ball enough and Barnard was isolated up front (Puncheon kept going out wide rather than play in the central role we needed him). Seabourne and Davis were too often just lumping the ball forward, Wotton was too deep and this led to Bournemouth having quite alot of possession. I didn't feel that Saints were ever in any real danger from open play, set-pieces always worry me and Pitman was unlucky with his freekick. Oxo and Puncheon looked the more likely to score for Saints - we seemed to be very dangerous when we took some time and played the ball on the floor. Patient build up and we created chances. The booing at the end of the half was pathetic and the people concerned aren't true supporters in my books. It is easy to clap and cheer when you are winning - it is when the team are struggling that supporters need to be heard and be supportive. Half-time: Just a little note for all those numpties saying that Cortese has banned Le Tiss etc from the ground, well the stewards aren't doing their job properly because when me and my friend stood up at half-time, he was sat 8 rows behind us in the Itchen! Dickson substitution: I like Dickson and I think he will add alot to the side. I agree that the communication with Lallana was poor, but that will improve with games and training. The other problem is that Wotton doesn't and didn't offer anything on the inside so Dickson was having to check and make sure that if the move did break down he could cover. However losing the ball in one on one situations is unforgivable, but that can happen to anyone in any game - no need to write him off just yet! Second Half: Straight away Harding made a difference, over-lapping runs and supporting Lallana, gave space to Barnard, Hammond and Puncheon in the centre. We kept the ball very well for a good 10-15 minutes and as the pressure increased the players and the support (Northam -You were brilliant second half!) gradually gained in confidence. When Lallana stepped on to his right foot It was a goal...Can't wait to see that on the League Cup highlights tonight. Felt that we lost a little control after Bournemouth changed their shape and went for it, but it did mean they left spaces at the back. With some more composure from Puncheon and Barnard we could have had a couple more, Lambert showed when he came on he is a class act (although as my friend noted, he did look like he has gained a pound or two). Overall satisfied with performance and looking forward to getting either Pompey or a Premier League team in the next round.