angelman

I lived there for far too long - I think I managed 16 years or so. It wasn't a **** hole when I moved there. It was by the time I left.

The old girl on the other side of them's not that bad.

Loyal servant? You're taking the **** with that one. October 2015, he signs a contract extension July 2016, Portugal win Euro16 Aug 2016 - Fonte says he wants to move thinking Man U want him Jan 2017, Fonte slaps in a transfer request. Loyalty didn't last too long, while the club showed its loyalty by extending his contract. I want to thank the manager, Les Reed, Ralph [Krueger], Katharina [Liebherr] – all of the staff and all of the board – for showing their trust and belief in me. I am extremely happy that they are giving me this opportunity to keep being in this great club, and I hope I can give back with good performances and by helping the club move forward. This is where I feel happy and where I’ve been very successful, so this is where I want to be and where I want to win.”

The wife wanted to go to London. FFS, he was at the end of his career and he was the bread winner so really, I am sure she could have stuck it out in Winchester or wherever they lived, for a wee bit longer. Its not as if it a complete and utter **** hole (at least not compared to London). As for JF - do I feel sorry for him? Simple answer is no. He is 32 or what ever, and is well able to make his own bed. As I don't know the full facts of what went on, then I am loathe to pass judgement on him. From the outside it looks like he rather misread his worth and appeal to other clubs, but I have no idea how true it is that he thought that he was destined for Old Trafford. But then I am not a complete and utter heartless bastard and do feel a little something that he has discovered that the grass isn't quite as green in the big smoke as it is at Saints.

I was in the second front row of the home lot at Stamford Bridge. We lost 1-0 (March 97). I felt that I had to stand up when they scored (cos I'm a bit of a pussy really)!

Didn't hate it last season pal. Just found it very boring. Don't hate the football, just the tourists.

Hating it at the moment. The STs next to me on one side have moved. Swansea I had some people from France. Yesterday I has some from I think Italy. Both times they were more interested in taking photos/videos. I think that they supported Saints, but couldn't be sure.

Its the Southampton Way, We March On, blah blah blah.

I would have thought, given the short time available, and games coming thick and fast, you announce when you can.

Conte has got his sights on the Southampton defensive trio Virgil van Dijk, Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand - who started his career at Stamford Bridge. The trio could cost as much as £150 million but face competition from Liverpool for van Dijk and Bertrand while Soares is believed to also interest Spurs. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/843367/Chelsea-Transfer-News-Antonio-Conte-Virgil-van-Dijk-Cedric-Ryan-Bertrand-Danny-Drinkwater Maybe our new owner will be open to a bid of £210m for the 3?

The Express (!!!) reporting that CFC want Bertie, Cedric and Virg!

No one is enthusing about our 1st goal, as like the WHU fans were chanting "2-0 and you ****ed it up". That **** up rather surpasses the very good first goal, ably helped by really really poor defending by Fonte. But their goals...1st one FF shouldn't have beaten it back out. 2nd, not much he could have done really. Shame his instinctive save hit the bar rather than go over it.

Def McCarthy. Would be interesting to see if he can replace Forster in the first team. Boufal for Tadic as well.

I wouldn't insult my backside by putting it anywhere near the Express.

Forster could have tipped the ball behind for a corner rather than bump it out into the danger zone. Maybe.

What usually happens is that they get sold and we then all say he was crap anyway and won't miss him & good riddance. Or something like that.

Wonder if his knee will start playing up when the weather gets a little colder, say, November/December and he'll need to go and get that operation re-booked. After all, last time (at QPR) he couldn't walk and taking training was nigh on impossible.

Apparently Spurs want him!! http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/842978/Chelsea-Tottenham-Southampton-Cedric-Soares-Transfer-News-Betting-Odds

Where is the value to be had? With a brand that you can build, or one that is already established? I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows the Chinese market and what potential/appeal we might have. Or is it all a bit of a closed shop with Man U, PSG, Barca type clubs? I'm not envisaging ever rivalling them, but just getting a small piece of the action. You can look at this article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world/china-watch/sport/growing-nations-sports-economy/ - which states Man U has a following of 100m in China. Maybe (or maybe not) we can get a million or two (or more) and that there is probably were the value is. I do think that we can look at ourselves, and under estimate what the club is and what appeal it might hold. Again I am not saying we are on the level of the Big 6, but then neither am I saying that we have no appeal at all.

So this Matt Hughes writes...."Gao’s backers are demanding a return on their investment and will not grant him a transfer budget so the club will continue to operate as it has done throughout the Liebherr family’s ownership." Who are Gao's backers? And although Batman says its Aldridge () who divulged all this info, how does Hughes know all this? I work a little bit with the Chinese, and would be surprised if the backers would be so forthright so soon after investing. Its not a message you would send out days after buying the club.

Out of interest, and because of the pay wall, how do the Times know that there are no extra funds? The language "Mauricio Pellegrino, the manager, is aware of the situation, however, and has been told not to expect any additional transfer funds this month" means that the info came from on high. Not the sort of thing Les would say. Did Ralph say it? I suspect the Gao's didn't - they haven't said anything and it would be a strange first statement. So who told the Times that there were no more funds? And does that mean we aren't signing Hoedt?

You see, you have used the word "potentially". That may or may not turn out to be true, but people seem to have come to what ever conclusion they have while not knowing any of the facts. Supposition and assumption. Much better to get all exercised about it when it actually does happen. That is unless you like to do the "I told you so" routine.

Is it worth pointing out that the debt lies with Gao rather than SFC?

Surprised José has survived the "chop". Having said that, if they tried to farm me out, given his age, I would tell them to shove it.

I think he then backtracked to say 0% or 100%.