sydney_saint

imho, and I stress that part, peoples reactions towards stewards seem to be very similar as those towards refs. Whilst some support them, most are quick to criticise without always knowing the full details of their instructions. I am no steward (living is Aus makes that quite difficult) but I would imagine that the sitting down aspect is the FA rules or just a safety precaution. Regardless the stewards have to do the job they are paid to do which would not be helped by colourful language towards them. I am by no way excusing them however as all the details are hazy to say the least I can not condemn them, as there are many dickhead fans out there. Like towards refs many are quick to criticise but refuse to join and improve the standard of stewarding

Would rather people say that on every thread then the usual bull**** LOWE OUT, Jan Out etc etc. Unfortunately Alpine, and I did in my little corner mentally supprt you during the Burley days,you can not actually handle others opposing your own viewpoints making yourself rather hypocritical and are the sole reason why I rarely come onto this site often. I am sure there are others too. This is , or was supposed to be a football site but you and others have turned into a graveyard.

There are fans of about ten teams that are saying the exact same things as ours, we are 4 points clear, not much it might seem to us but i reckon it looks alot to those below us.

Must say I disagree. My truly honest opinion is that I'd rather play the way are playing now in a system that is best suited for younger players then bring in a manager, and I use that term very loosely, who lumps it up to a big man route 1 whilst kicking the oppositon to pieces. Many people say that money is ruining football but I believe it the lack of quality passing football and the increasing amount of route 1 that will be english footballs downfall. Many forget that we are actually 4 POINTS away from relegation, with the bottom 3 arguably playing worse then our own squad. A couple of weeks ago it was all doom and gloom at watford but they ain't looking too bad now. IMHO I would rather we play football in the purist sense then Davies football.

Completely disagree. Yesterday we looked most threatening (not very I admit) when we got the ball down and tried to play around them. Whenever we pumped it long, Palace would win the ball and counter against. Passing the ball will help us stay up and, in a dreamworld, when we go up in a few seasons time, will be better suited to the premier league and not get thumped like Derby or Watford. I would rather us play the way we are and lose then play like Palace and win. This is my opinion and I am not stating it as fact before people start callling me an idiot blah blah blah

I think I might add a bit of a different perspective on the training issue as I've played to a reasonable level as a keeper and was coached by imo the best goalkeeping coach in the country over here. Yes as a keeper alot is instict however, reflexes can be good without good training, or be brilliant with good training. Reflexes and shot stopping can always be improved upon and the ways upon doing so are always changing so training is very effective in that regard. So I'll give a point to the coaching department on that regard. Making yourself big and closing down angles is NOT instict in the main and can only really be taught effectivly through training by simulating match situations so thats another point to the training. Judgement in a match I'll give to the keeper insticts department as the coachs are not on the pitch with Davis. 1 on 1s I'll call a draw because they can be slightly proved upon through training but judgement plays a key part as well on this. I'll also give another point to the coaching set up because of the research they do on opposing teams which would enhace Davis peformance so I make that 3-1 that the coaching setup is working with Davis. All in imho of course.

So i guess there will be a large amount of people on here signing up to become local refs, because if there are more refs in the country,obviously, the standard will be greater in the higher leagues as there would be a larger pool to choose from. I'm a State ref over here so I'm not been a hypocrite either. If the ref had a shocker, so be it and he deserves a bit of abuse. But, as some have said, that every ref is bad i strongly urge them to take up the whistle themselves and try and improve the standard. I guess I'll just get abused for this however from the 'experts'

Was that a joke? Ummm I live in Sydney just to point out which is far more globalised then Southampton tbf. I've never used the word shela in my life and clearly you have actually never been here which puts you in a position where all racial tensions are stemmed from, stereotyping.

Where in my response do I blame the fans for everything? I believe that fans are compounding the problem with their constant negativity. Not ONCE this season has there been a moment where ALL the fans have been pushing the team to succeed. That is FACT. Even after our cup win against Birmingham where things were looking good a minority of fans were still been ultimately negative. Some may say they were been realistic but miracles can occur, look at Hull playing well and Spurs despite splashing the cash still rock bottom. In Australia, we support our sporting teams through thick and thin, hence why we overachieve in most of our sports. In football our recently formed A-League has a team in the Asian Champion league final, a spot well beyond their technical ability and with a rather inept manager. Aussies know that we are arrogant sh*ts but at least we support our clubs through thick and thin, without pessism but rather optimism

I am slowly but surely falling out of love with this club. And this is not due to the team, manager,boardroom or staff. It is the effing fans I can not stand anymore. Everyones calling for those that left after our terrible previous season to be brought back.... hang on weren't these players that everyone wanted out of the club now suddenly these same players will save us? If we were to get a new manager hypothetically and all that, have most fans actually realised that they would the new manager would have the same squad? In fact I'm sure with a new manager there is a greater chance of the likes of lallana and surman leaving. Many fans at the start of the season, apart from those who, like lowe, think the board comes before the actual team, said they would support the young lads because they would need the support unless we were adrift at the foot of the table. Now, many fans will now say give it time, we will soon be adrift etc but thats hardly giving them support is it. This team is capable of staying up but the fans are going to actually support not moan.

I'm with you on this. My brother was only recently diagnosed with it (January this year). He is only 16 but has already speant 4 months in hospital meaning he'll probably have to repeat a year at school, making it harder to connect with his mates. Also he's gone from dux of his grade to around the middle so it really is no joking matter.

I'm 5'4'' so feel an obligation to join in this debate. Many times 'short' players such as Wise, Gillet, Zola just to name a few, put the larger players to shame by actually contesting for the ball. I've seen and played against many players 6ft plus that fall over with a nudge from the little men so I don't think size has much to do with anything

Could you please further explain this contadictory notion that you mentioned between the referee and the linesman. Also if you think that the refs deserve abuse, then I question what sort of person are you. Nobody if the world deserves to be abused, particulary in a game. I'll let you in on a little secret as well no extra charge. This occured during grassroots football earlier this year. My brother was recently diagnosed with a mental illness (bipolar) but continued to ref to keep up his fitness. Some 'fans' decided that it would be fun to abuse him, and he is only 16. He suffered a breakdown and spent the next 3 months in hospital.

In a nutshell, everything that is wrong with the attitude of the modern day fan. Do you honestly think, and I mean thinking as an adult here, that refs actually go out of their way, and now I'm talking about the relative size of our club, and delibrately make decisions against us. Do you think that a ref sees his appointments, sees Southampton and thinks well I better give every decision to the other team?

May I suggest to all those, and there are many, who constantly abuse refs actually take up the whistle themselves. There is a worldwide shortage of refs so if more people become refs, the quality will also rise. If you are not willing to become a ref , could I suggest you shut the **** up, you are not qualified to judge whether a ref is good or not unless you know back to front all the rules yourself. Also, in a match when an offside is given, unless you are directly in line with the last man, it is IMPOSSIBLE to judge whether somebody is offside or not, this is for all fans that sit behind the goals and in the middle stands.

I think there will be a changing of guard on TMS