The Kraken

Good news that the work-shy fops have to actually do what they're being paid for. However, this is just going delay matters and the cynical Unite leaders will now be planning a summer of chaos, so yet more innocent passengers are punished for the stupidity and downright pig-headedness of this archaic organisation. Just get a grip and get back to work, and be grateful that you're already grossly overpaid and still employed.

You could ask the same about SISA too; a supporters organisation which, it seems, is impossible to join (not that you'd actually WANT to stand alongside that bunch of imbeciles anyway).

The Echo did actually run a double page spread on it prior to NC's comments; one page with an interview with SISA chairman (Mick O'Callaghan I think) and one with "Saints Trust chairman" Nick Illingsworth. The SISA guy came out largely in favour of AP and said it would be madness to sack him (perhaps a rare semblance of sense from SISA at last), whereas Illingsworth was more constrained and suggested that AP had had an "OK" season. There's two sides to it. Firstly, neither said that they were speaking on behalf of their (defunct) organisations and only expressed personal views. However, when it's knowingly dressed up that the paper are speaking to you only because of the your title, its disingenuous at best to not point out that your organisation doesn't actually exist any more. Its even worse to continue to prattle on quite happily giving quote after quote living under the banner of a dead organisation, just to carry on getting your ridiculous fix of publicity. I've said before, the Echo are complicit in this and it is either poor or lazy journalism that they don't clarify the situation, or actually find someone worthwhile to interview. But the ultimate fault lies with Illingsworth et al and their pathetic need for attention and to be seen as some form of uber-fan.

The Saints Trust are clearly just an avenue for one or two very sad individuals to use a false title in a rather sorry effort of self importance and notoriety. It is either very poor or very lazy journalism on behalf of the Echo to carry on using these idiots for regular soundbites. I do agree somewhat with SRS's campaign against the Trust though. While most people on this board are aware that they are a defunct organisation, many people who read the Echo and get to hear the ramblings of Illingsworth, Perry McMillan, Mike O'Callaghan etc won't be aware that they are just individuals hiding behind the name of an organisation that doesn't exist and perhaps believe they are a formal mouthpiece for the views of the fans, which is clearly very wrong. Until the Echo get off their arses and actually start asking some questions of these fools (asking whether the Saints Trust/SISA actually exist would be a good start) we will continue seeing these publicity whores get their desired 5 minutes of attention.

Really? Reminded me of this....

Apart from the badge, I think that would be decent. And if they've got the away shirt anywhere near right, that would be quality. here it is without logo... Edited with new badge.

As am I; you enjoy yourself sweetums xxx

This whole discussion is a bit head mental, to be fair.

Unless the reason is that you don't understand their respective roles, then no, I don't. xx

Erm, I'm perfectly aware how its spelt. Go and google search "psychiatry", then maybe you'll understand.

Have another go, genius.

Should have gone with this, tbf....

Lager that tastes like lager.

In 30 years of flying I don't think it has ever taken me anywhere close to 3 hours to get through customs at LHR or LGW. And if you want to compare with Southampton; I've previously turned up 30 minutes prior to a European flight and had no bother checking in and getting the (on-time) flight.

This is Unite you're talking about though, an organisation to whom the terms "clever" and "imaginative" are completely alien. I think SRS had it right when he termed them as scum, because this new round of unjustified and thoroughly excessive strikes are designed only to cause chaos to the general public. I'd be more than happy to see any one of them on the picket line lose their jobs, it would be completely deserved for their flagrant disregard of their customers.

From BBC... "The British Airways cabin crew union, Unite, has announced fresh strike dates in its long-running dispute with the airline. Cabin crew will walk out for four separate five-day strikes in May and June. The first strike will begin on 18 May, ending on 22 May, with the three further strikes beginning on 24 May, 30 May and 5 June. Unite members rejected a fresh deal for cabin crew earlier this month. The union said 81% of the cabin crew it represents voted against BA's offer last week, which sought to resolve the dispute over pay and working conditions. Details of that deal were not given, but Unite said BA had failed to restore the travel perks it withdrew from staff involved in the previous strikes in March. Those stoppages grounded hundreds of flights and cost BA an estimated £45m. The newly-announced strikes will see staff walk out for a total of 20 days, covering spring bank holiday and school half-term holidays. In a statement, Unite's joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley blamed BA for forcing cabin crew to again resort to industrial action. "There can be no industrial peace without meaningful negotiations and while management victimises trade unionists and uses disciplinary procedures in a witch-hunt," they said, claiming that a Unite approach made over the weekend had been rejected. "The seven days' notice period is sufficient time for BA management to do the sensible thing and reopen meaningful negotiations," they added. The sooner BA kick Unite into touch, the better. Totally and utterly out of touch with reality.

Charlton probably still have the supporter base to command some transfer funds and therefore be more of a potential threat, so I'd go for them.

Sad Old Git responds to a thread about tactics, and calls Alpine negative. Alpine calls Sad Old Git obsessed. Complete tedium ensues.

It's the paradox of supporting a mid-size club like Saints. This season has, for me in terms of attending matches, been more enjoyable than most others in recent memory. Being a big fish in admittedly a small pond brings its own benefits and, after 27 years of being the underdog in a higher league, its nice to be the team to be feared for a change. That said, it's also a natural ambition to want to leave all this behind and sit alongside the big boys again in the top division, where we'll be fantastically happy with avoiding defeat in certain games and 0-0 scorelines against the top sides will be considered a great result. Football for me is a little bit more than just looking at the league table. It's about the enjoyment of going to matches and the atmosphere inside the ground, which this year has been enormously improved from previous seasons. Ultimately I of course want to see us playing at the highest level, but that's not to detract at all from what has been a thoroughly entertaining campaign.

Yep, it's threads like these that make me so glad of this site. Brilliant stuff.

The FA also have the power to deduct points, as well as the PL and FL. "The Hatters had already been deducted 10 points by the Football Association after being found guilty of misconduct for paying agents via a third party. And the company which will take over the club has now been told it must accept a further 20-point deduction in order to be allowed in the Football League. The penalty came after Luton failed to satisfy the League's insolvency rules."

Still constantly trolling for an argument... Since your last post, where has anyone said he has not done well? I said twice that he has done a very good job; but that I believe there are a small number of other managers who I believe have done a better job with the resources given this season. Pompey blinkers have nothing to do with it; it can't be that hard to understand, surely? As for the Pardew comment, I'm not sure I understand. Are you suggesting he should be given the manager of year award next year if we finish 4th?

Indeed; he has done a good job, no doubt about that, but there is a tiny bit more to it than that for him to be given "manager of the year". Spurs have had the Premier League's 2nd highest net transfer spend in the past 3 years. Only Man City have outspent them. When 'Arry took over Spurs were massively, massively under-achieving. They had a decent squad and had added to it with one of the form strikers from Euro 2008 (Pavluchenko) within over £100M of spending in 18 months. This year, Spurs have finished 4th; they've not won the league, or even qualified for the Champions League yet, just the prelim round. Carlo Ancelotti may well this season win the league and cup double, signing only a reserve left back (Zhirkhov) and reserve striker (Sturridge) this summer. Is he really less deserving of the award than 'Arry? Redknapp has done a very good job at Spirs, there's no doubt about that. But to win a manager of the year award for 4th place in the league, despite huge transfer spending for the past 3 years? Nope, not for me. He would perhaps make top 4 or 5 (Ancelotti & Woy definitely ahead, Slur Alex and maybe Arsenal Wenger).

Spurs had played 8 league games when Redknapp was appointed. Even by your own negative and inane standards, to imply they were "near relegation" is utterly ridiculous. They had had a ridiculously under-par start to the season considering he money they had spent and the squad they had. Even still, 30 games away from the season and "near relegation"? Have another go. And we can only hope that you and some of your even less enlightened acquaintances will have to acknowledge a job well done when this does happen, yes.

More to the point, what BA cabin crew staff will actually want to leave and take lesser terms and salary for effectively doing the same job? May as well stay until you're pushed (whilst on better, cushier conditions) and drive the company into the ground with unsustainable costs.