Whitey Grandad

It's a lot of money to pay for someone who's not being used otherwise. Adebayor comes to mind of course but there have been plenty of others who have been 'overlooked', often when a new manager comes in.

It would be good news at last. Just a shame that he won't get much time to train with those members of the defence who are off with their national teams.

Tadić should have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour but Whittaker's actions were unbelievably stupid, even for a footballer. Edit: somehow my iPad changed Tadić to Radical. I swear it happens after I hit 'send'.

How times have changed. Some of us remember our first £1 million pound player.

No, he can be fined.

They really do have more money than sense.

Still some way to go but every minute on the pitch brings his rehabilitation nearer. However, I don't think he was the right choice on Thursday night.

Yes, very good today. Kept popping up in the right position and keeping things moving with quick passes. Did well to win the ball and set up our first goal.

All very true, but we need someone better right now.

Lazy journalism. Saints have sold a lot of players therefore they are going to sell every player.

It would have been a lot easier to stay in the competition this year than qualify for the next.

We should, but only if we play our best team with the right system.

I don't think so. Playoffs are separate from the group stages. I think.

Nah, our players are always giving balls away.

Drunk

I'd rather we won tomorrow but even if we're bottom afterwards I wouldn't be bothered. The table will look a lot different in a couple of months.

The table is meaningless after only four games.

Likewise Sadly I'm not the player I was in my student days and my wrist is worn out from years of misuse and if it hadn't been for the couple of jars of Dansk øl beforehand I might have shown you something spectacular. Ah, happy memories ?

We are drifting off topic, at least, I have been.

The Southampton Pirelli site was ruled out because it is reclaimed land. I don't know the significance of this, maybe it would have made a large structure expensive because of the need for extensive foundations. That area is low-rise at the moment and a West Quay is closer to the original land. I never did find out why.

At a referees meeting when Strachan was in charge he came to talk to us and I asked him for his views on the transfer window. He said that he was in favour because it meant that he had to concentrate on coaching the players. If one of them came to him and said that he thought he was worth more than he was getting then he could be told 'fine, get on with your job and we'll see who comes in for you during the next window'.

Yes, that would have been a problem and one of the concerns in Eastleigh has always been to maintain a separate identity from Southampton and to vigorously maintain the physical separation of the two with some semblance of countryside or green space. The fear was that once one block of this space was filled with developments then the rest would be filled in very quickly. Let's not forget that it wouldn't have been just a stadium, the proposals included a host of retail and leisure facilities. At that time I had regular contacts with Eastleigh Borough Council and we often talked about these proposals.

When the plaster's removed he has a chance

We have just over three days to wait. I'll wait until Tuesday evening before wetting the bed.

Me too. I have a nostalgic affection for the older grounds that nestle amongst rows of terraced houses.