st alex

Why? Its simply spreading the cost of a necessary facility. If you went to restaurant, the cost of fitting out the whole place is factored into the price you are paying for you meal. The cost of toilets, whether you use them or not, the cost of the an oven even if you've only ordered a garden salad etc. You're not literally paying for 20 mins of the chefs time and the ingredients of the meal, you pay for a fraction of the whole lot. Because of falling programme sales, some clubs (not Saints - as far as I know) are considering increasing ticket costs by £1 and including a match programme with it. Higher print runs would reduce unit costs and attract more advertisers.

Can you bring a hip-flask with some wiskey in for those cold matches in winter? or would that get you thrown out? Is that the same, or is that ok?

I watched it on telly but missed a lot of the first half, but for the penalty decisions though Chaplow's was a clear dive, as was their first on the corner of the 18 yard box, and then obviously oxo's handball was anythhing but, seemed to be a ref who was dead keen on giving penalties.

In Southampton the Alex is pretty good, but will probably be quite busy. Does anyone know of any other decent pubs that will have the game on in Town or Portswood or anywhere inbetween. (Not Varsity or Wazzo, preferably crappy chain pubs)?

If this completely undercuts Sky, then will it result in smaller TV rights deals for the PL in the future?

Is FATV a free service, or will it ask for payment when the match kicks off?

A little worrying then that his contract runs out in 6 months so could leave on a free anytime. Hopefully he'll be offered a new contract, but not really sure why he doesn't play as he'd just established himself alongside Fonte when Pardew got sacked.

Have to agree, I bought a sandwich once which failed to fulfil my hunger at the time (lunchtime), and also contacted my lawyers with a view to suing the newsagent from which I bought it.

Forcast? hadn't realised he was still here. I'm indifferent when it comes to Kelv & Bart, wouldn't complain with either one playing. I do like Bart at bit more after seeing and hearing him play at Barnet in pre season, shouting to the players and being very vocal, which for me put to bed any suggestions that he was shy and lacked confidence, he seemed to have no trace of a Polich accent either.

Only trouble is when everyone does it it can get a bit smokey, hence why its not allowed. But it can make a special atmosphere.

Why is it that Man Utd always seem to be allowed to set a flare off whenever they come and score to take the lead down here? Same bloke as last time per chance?

Exactly 'There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.'

My thoughts exactly, people seem to ignore this point. If we sell oxo, Puncheon leaves or sulks for the rest of the season and lallana's out injured then it leaves us with 3 wingers to replace, I'm not sure who people think we will get in this league that will be as good as lallana and chamberlain. If oxo lives up to his promise then I'd rather watch an outstanding player than one who may not even force his way into the first team, after all we do already have Barnard reduced to starting on the bench.

actually I geuss you were being sarcastic, its difficult to tell with on this forum what is sarcasm and what's delerium.

I thought he was one of our most over rated players, cost loads, had a big reputation and never lived up to the hype, he was so slow and never looked fit, would prefer any of our current left backs/ left midfielders to Skacel. Even if he's found form again at hearts now, he was never very good the numerous times I saw him play.

Loan should finish this week, (on the 19th). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/9232116.stm Anyone know whether Doncaster are likely to sign him permanently? Would be interesting if he comes back and joins Dickson & Harding's fight for the left back spot.

I voted no, I like how the stands are named geographically, linking them intrinsically with the stadium's location and its roots with the area, St Marys means more in the club's history than Marcus. I'm delighted he saved the club, but there have been a great number of individuals associated with us in the past. Either rename all the stands after people, or keep them the same, and I'd prefer to keep them same. Would rather a different tribute, paint a mural, name a suite, even a street or the training ground after him (since it would be something his money has directly built). To name a stand or the stadium would belittle the achievements of Ted Bates, MLT, T Paine, A Ball, C Miller and the like.

Holloway just confirmed on 5live that he will field his reserves as they stand 'no chance' of winning the competition.

Most enjoyable game for a while. Anyone else think it's a bit silly to still be singing 'come on you reds' when we're playing in white against a team in red?

Anyone know why all the London games today were 1 o'clock kick offs as opposed to usual 3 o'clock? Surely it being boxing day they knew there would be bigger crowds home and away, and that people would really appriciate a lie-in on this day of all days (second only to New Years Day). By 3 o'clock I'm sure the pitch wouls have been fine.

Although there are no 'bad views', I found that moving to a drastically different paet of the ground as I have had to do for the cup games this season frustrating in terms of the view. It can be disorientating, and takes a while to kind of sus out the perpective, distance & angles etc, when you're watching the match, I know it sounds wierd but when you watch all the matches from one seat or from one block and then move to a completely different part of the ground it is annoying, I've sat in every stand and have settled in my prefered one because I prefer it.

There were worse performers today, no need to use the same old scapegoat. As Andy said the whole team was below par.

3 hours a week for 6-9k a year, doesn't sound like great value for money, I think that's partly what they are complaining about. Personally I do see an issue with the current system, in that every Tom, **** goes to uni often just because they are just copying everyone else and want to spend 3 yrs boozing. The argument saying that its all because students want to get good jobs and become wealthy is a bit flimsy since the country does need people with high qualifications, and they would pay for this anyway through higher tax rates which people seem to have forgotten. Having graduated a couple of yrs ago I can now consider myself quite fortunate. Although how any future graduates will ever get onto the housing ladder is beyond me since they will be saddled with such huge debt. I would propose a system where a quota of degree places on every course are free or heavily subsidised on a sliding scale for the students most capable, with the subjects which most need graduates having more than the micky mouse courses. Start making it more about the most able students and not something which is only for the very poor and very rich, which ultimately is quite unfair to the large middle class population who will be hardest hit. Base the system on ability and desire to learn as opposed to how wealthy they might get or be. To be honest a loan isn't really that generous, as they do have to be paid back, even with the new 21,000k threshold, it should only be a few years until that is the basic wage (think about what annual salaries were 10 yrs ago), so everyone's going to have to pay it back eventually.

Confirmed that he has now left Wolves. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/9241283.stm

No one cares about street art unless its a Banksy. I pointed out the stencil a couple of months ago on the grafitti thread, when I walked past it and recognised it from an image I saw on the web. It didn't take 2 months to verify it since it was on Banksy's website way back then, it's just that media have only just noticed it and brought it to the attention of morons who've now painted over it. Although the original could have been interpreted as being an insult to Bevois Valley or Southampton, to say that those from the area have 'no future' is quite discriminatory.