saint1977

If they stay at the Holiday Inn Express at the Ageas Bowl then lasagne is definately on the menu! I've been to PP several times and never seen Saints win (the only one I can remember early in 08/09 I was at a wedding in Cornwall for and missed). Eranio and Baino (sp) diving so blatantly in 96/97 in the League and Cup, Sturridge winding up Deano so he got sent off at the Dell, Powell's injury giving added on time in which Beck scored for 3-3, coming back from 2-0 down against us under Hoddle and obviously the play offs. Some nicer memories are the 0-0 that kept us up 98/99, Oakley's superb drive in a 2-0 win that sealed their fate and a 4-0 tonking in our Champ promotion season including a rare goal by Aaron Martin (now of this parish) and an absolute arrow in the top corner from Tadanari Lee!

Mepham would be interesting - the club may be thinking that Bournemouth just blew out on Solanke and the Clyne loan fee/wages so could be an opportunity to pounce before they re-arm in the summer. He's not played that many games but has looked impressive when he has. Some people posting on here that's he can't get in the Brentford side at present, not really true as got injured and the replacements have done well whilst he gets match sharp again. He'd be a gamble at £20m but has the attribute none of our defenders - apart from possibly Yoshida - have; pace. Watkins I've seen a fair bit of when he was at Exeter and I thought he was banker to play in at least the Champ if not higher. He's not been absolutely prolific in striker terms but then prefers to pay just off the main striker and seen him do well out wide and cutting in, as J Rod sometimes did for us at his peak. Exeter would be chuffed if we bought him, IIRC they've got a decent sell on fee. Brentford have got good financial backing and very stable so at least £20m each I would think. That said, even with Benham's resources they are building a new stadium which in West London is never cheap. Can't see us buying both and could be a smokescreen for other targets from the Bundesliga but these players both have the attributes to help us - and them if they succeed and can aim for a top 4 club - and pleased to see the cub linked. SClarke - I know Liverpool took Caulker - but was rumoured that VVD and Hoedt didn't get on, and the former didn't especially rate him. Don't know if true or not. Don't know where Hoedt could be offloaded. Les Reed made some shocking decisions post-2016 but Wesley is on a par with Fraser's second extension. There's nothing about him that screams 'PL ready player you can develop and sell on to top 4'. In fact, he's one of the worst defenders I've ever seen over a sustained period at SFC.

Welcome to the board, he has certainly started well and I’ve been impressed with his attention to detail and energy. The return of our pressing game is much appreciated after the disenfranchising Puel, Pellegrino and Hughes spells. He needs help from the club hierarchy now in shifting some of the deadwood that he doesn’t see a future for.

You and Batman, read Buctootim’s post above. You’ll learn something, unlike those far right comics by Murdoch and Barclay Brothers you read. We haven’t actually left the EU yet as well....

Brilliant win given the circumstances before the game, let alone after Valery’s rush of blood to head. Didn’t prove costly in the end but has to be a learning experience for the lad. Great effort from the lads. Romeu motm for me, was everywhere. Vestergaard best game for the club and Bednarak continues to make a mockery of being left out after his superb display v Arsenal. Long as with Romeu rolling back to his form from late Koeman/early Puel period. With a couple of additions we should be OK. The levels of professionalism under Ralph are just night and day different and we haven’t seen that since Ronald and Poch.

Probably the same same people that whined about the HSBC adverts. In other news 209 MPs wrote to the PM from across all parties to insist no deal needs to avoid no deal and are seeing her tomorrow. Despite what Boris says - today anyway - no deal is crashing out. He takes his view from a sample of Conservative members but it’s the country that elects a PM, most of which he has slagged off at one time or another. Going to be a long time in opposition if he succeeds May.

Agreed. Don’t like Wes’s views but would never wish ill on him. Fellow Saints fan for a start. Extremism in the Tory Party - or Elemis of it - does need to be stood up to - but in the right way. I’ve criticised Robinson’s thugs just now for their facist, racist, sexist and general knuckle draggery of anyone with a brain cell, so it would be hypocritical to be consistent.

Yep, Tommy Robinson’s lot, and strongly pro Brexit quelled surprise. 52% of the electorate voted with scum like that, actually it much higher in England (and to an extent Wales) so let’s not cover the Scots and Northern Irish with English stupidity and chav behaviours. Irony of them shouting ‘Nazi’ at Soubry is that they need to have a look in the mirror - holocaust denial, overt and aggressive racism, xenophobia - yes it is all reminiscent of 1930s in Germany. Throw in the anti Semitic attitudes of Corbyn’s lot and it really is becoming a grim little dump of a country. If Robinson’s lot want to portray themselves as the Brexiteer general public, be my guest. They all bang on about being a traitor yet I bet none of that lot have ever done a day’s military service (or even work). No deal Brexit doesn’t really impact on them then does it? As for shouting sexual threats at Soubry and Kay Burley, pathetic, go and watch Green Street again and have a toss. Football holliganism is about their level although most firms probably wouldn’t want them either.

Justice after Cairney’s dive for the penalty Mitrovic then missed. Good save also, but penalty at an ideal height. Could argue there was slight contact but never should have been given Well done Barnet, winning at high flying Championship Sheffield Utd Newport were superb first half v Leicester, Claude at risk here. Shearer and Wright absolutely taking the pee out of a fuming Lineker!

If NI had voted leave, you could have a point, but they didn’t. So the DUP are obstructing the will of the NI people. As for not being a sovereign state, why don’t you tell the Queen that? Or explain to me why I’ve got Sterling ten and twenty pound notes in my wallet and not Euros? Or why the self assessment tax form I filled out was for HMRC. That is HMRC of he Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and her Majesty’s government, UK. See the commonality here? I hate to tell you this, but the Tory Party is literally dying in terms of its membership. Like Labour, it has been propped up by an influx of single issue extremists but history shows these people never build or sustain anything. So the main parties will go the way of the Lib Dem’s anyway. The biggest short term danger you have is that no deal pushes younger voters - and I mean 18-22 here - into the arms of Corbyn. I thought him being PM was impossible but the post Brexit UK you want and the leave voters in Sunderland, Barnsley, S Wales, cannot be reconciled. They want increased public spending and renationalisation, you want Singapore super light. So they aren’t going to like your post Brexit ideas and the miners strike showed those areas won’t take it lying down. The Uk is leaving - we all know that. It’s on what terms and what follows. I make no apologies for saying that I think May was appalling at the Home Office and set the Windrush scandal going, Boris is a useless oaf, Grayling is an example of why Brexiteers should never be allowed to be ministers. Pellegrino or Branfoot would be better as Transport Sec. Corbyn, Abbott, McDonnell all make me equally sick. Someone like Philip Hammond or Jo Johnston are my sort of politicians and the sort of people you can work with and live under. Nationalism and xenophobia don’t put bread on the table and make the world a s hit place. It’s bad enough with the c nuts in charge of the US and Brazil. ‘

And Corbyn and Momentum out of the picture too. Clean up politics from extremism all round and have a government people can actually live under, businesses plan and invest.

If that’s true Shurlock then May needs removing asap. The Conservative Party and its members - and the Labour Party as well - are irrelevant. What we need is the Labour MPs, Tory moderates/non far right loons, LDs and form a temporary coalition of national unity to save the economy. SNP would perhaps vote with them on certain issues. Would take the DUP and Tory Brexit nutcases out of it.

Gunn looked quality, so calm. Pleased with all of the players and the pressing was maintained. Hope Cedric injury only minor in case Ralph needs to sell plus Cedric himself. Disappointing to be in bottom three but now played Chelsea and City twice, and the club ought to be aiming at not just Burnley but also that group with Newcastle, Cardiff etc. Palace are on a run now but gap only 6 points to them.

Didn’t need to from training and attitude which it was abundately clear stank. Took Ralph a month, and we wouldn’t have bought such a lemon in the first place with him in charge. PS nice to see another Saint from Devon on the board and not far from me

VVD would be joint first with Mark Wright for me, just ahead of Killer and Super Ken. Claus would have been on a par with Killer but for the 04/05 debacle but very good before that. Fonte for his overall contribution and leadership. Deano very good too, better than Fonte technically but not quite in his league as an organiser and leader. Lovren good for a year but more mistakes than any of the above. Dave Watson before my time but my family rated him very highly.

Would make sense to be those four out, and Davis going to Rangers seems imminent. Was hoping Forster might be moving on, on loan at least. Les really did the club in at the the knees. Figures that one of the three in would need to be an experienced RB. Suggests the other a striker/winger and perhaps a strong CM in the Wanyama mould

PL too fast for him now but if this squad had half of his professionalism, work ethic and ability the club wouldn’t be in such a mess. Rangers would be a good move all round but would like to see him return as a coach in the future. He must despair at sharing a dressing room with Lemina, Hoedt, Cedric, Moi et al. Gerrard won’t tolerate that rubbish so he’ll find it a more professional environment. Hopefully Ralph is allowed to rip the current shower apart and bring in a few younger legs with Davo’s attitude and work ethic. Getting rid of the dozen or so wastrels that need to go in the next couple pile of weeks won’t be easy though.

Spot on, and Les has left an enormous mess in terms of the squad. Fulham were going to buy Targett for £10-12m apparently but Les messed that up as well. JWP not really ever got into this season and needs a move badly. Needs to be a busy later part of next week, can’t wait until end of window, decisive business is the order of the day. Young lad Ramsay done OK.

We might not agree in some of the other threads but this is right on the money for me.

Apart from Bertrand, who is far quicker than Targett and suits Ralph’s style of play. Cedric does seem to be on his way out - let’s see if his very vocal agent can actually back up some of the wild links he has made since the Euros. My hunch is that we could re-start the Southampton Balloon festival based on all of the hot air. Hoedt - just take anything vaguely acceptable the club can salvage for him but will be a loss on the P & L sheet. Lee Todd was worse but a cheapie from Stockport, this buffoon cost £17m from Lazio. How they must have laughed at Les and saw him coming. Safely in Saints worst XI for me. Gabbi - clearly leaving and quite a few clubs interested. Ross should be able to get this over the line early in the new year if he wishes to demonstrate some competence post Les. JWP - doesn’t fit the system or style of play. Thanks for the service. Davis - back to Rangers, thank you so much for the last few years. Forster - a bit like the Rodwell situation at Sunderland last year. Fraser - you’ve made a tonne from the club and a DoF who was on the wane, go and find football now at the level below and rebuild your career. Move on the above and Ralph might have a decent chance of bringing in who he needs.

I’m not sure even then, if it hindered Pompey. The only times I’ve wanted Saints to lose was Branfoot’s final games and even then,it was plummeting gates like Ipswich that did it. Arguably losing that two goal lead v Man U helped the club long term by sacking Hughes and appointing Ralph but it wasn’t something I wanted at the time. Not worried who wins the league, still think City will take them to the wire. Despise Lovren but if Saints get a few million extra from all of the transfer clauses if Liverpool did win the league then silver linings and all of that.

Ever since I’ve been a supporter since early 1980s Everton mainly. Sheffield Weds awkward in 80s, but Everton have been the constant and suspect they were before that. Arsenal record was bad in 1990s but been good against them at home since we came back up. Can only remember 3 wins at Goodison - early 90s midweek with Glenda header, 2-0 with MLT and Davies and this season in the LC. Had a few wins at home but not many over that many games. Man U we haven’t been bad against, even in their glory years, three straight wins at home in the mid-90s, they considered us as an away game a bogey side. As someone else has said, Watford under Taylor first time around were hard to beat. West Ham feels about evens Stevens. Actually I’ve got one nobody has mentioned - Derby. The 6-2 that got Nicholl sacked, late 80s with Shilts and Wright, Eranio and his cheating mate at Pride Park mid 90s, coming back from 2-0 down opening day after Hassan double under Hoddle and the play offs. Did better against them in the St Mary’s era but still that play off defeat...

Too right CB and agree with Whelk as well. It’s about the respect cross-party Ashdown has, none of the current crop have it. May has been determined but she still bears a huge responsibility for the Windrush debacle and very limited by comparison. Wes rather misses the point - the inner workings of the Conservative or any party are irrelevant, it should always be about the national interest. Corbyn too - thousand of £3 Trots sing their pathetic White Stripes song but most of the country and parliament think he is a selfish and weak tosser.

Supports Watford from memory, so why he pops up in an SFC forum I have no idea. Stirs up trouble every time he emerges from the swamp and mods ought to grow a backbone and ban him.

Sad news. Another politician who was worth a million of today’s rabble across parties and truly cared about the fortunes of the country from lived experiences not led by a single textbook perspective and ideology. Great tribute from Sir John Major. Sad that we are losing these vastly experienced figures who operated in a highly competitive but more sensible and less partisan and extremist era. Similar comparison between George Bush Snr and Trump - class v trailer trash. Wasn’t so keen on George W Bush but still like Mary Poppins compared to the current lunatic and Putin’s puppet in the White House.