There when Franny scored

I tend to agree with the below posted on "not606": "It appears that Ben Smith, who interviewed Cortese a week or two ago is leading the story. Says it will be up on BBC sport website soon. In which case, Cortese said it to Smith in that interview and both held back releasing it until after yesterdays' result. BRINKMANSHIP" Question is, what is he playing for? More cash or something bigger?

I very much like our current squad of players and the endeavour displayed by almost all has been excellent this season (both our managers this term should take credit for this). However, if we are to eventually progress to the top 6 or even 4, as we understand is NC's intention, then I find myself wondering who, if any, of the current squad are already good enough or have the potential to be good enough for a team of that ilk. For me, trying to be brutally honest, but perhaps still on the generous side: Good enough now Morgan Clyne Potential to be good enough Shaw Cork Rodriguez Ramirez

As CTH have secured the Prem TV rights for the next 3 seasons does anyone have any information about the packages they will be offering and if they will show all games as True have done? Obviously with the bias towards the "big 4/5" if they are not showing all games the coverage for Saints fans will be not be anything like as good as it has been under True. There doesn't seem to be much info out there so if anyone has any, specifically on what CTH will be offering and how to switch over from True I would be grateful. Cheers

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2013/04/08/projected-epl-table-with-6-5-matches-to-go/

This article apparently shows the referees that are good and bad for us although there are some major flaws in the conclusions drawn. http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/27818

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1584771-southampton-are-the-saints-finally-above-the-relegation-fray

http://www.thefa.com/video/England/Mens-Under-21s/2012-13/nathaniel-clyne-twitter-chat

By definition an internet fans forum should be a place where fans can express any opinion they like. Ideally, even fans with the most divergent opinions could respect each other's view and respond in a considered manner thus generating meaningful debate. Unfortunately, this forum seems to be a place where so many of the threads are now initiated with the sole purpose of provoking a reaction under the guise of the sacred "free speech" mantra. It's almost paradoxical that the forum posters who engage in this sort of behaviour are in fact the ones that have stymied the insightful views of others who are either too tired to read and respond to many of the threads that turn into thinly veiled, agenda driven, point-scoring nonsense (or were started for that purpose in the first place) or have simply given up on the forum altogether. I appreciate the mods are in an extremely difficult position because such posts are now so frequent that it would mean closing nearly every thread. A suggestion may be to limit members' posts to 3 or 5 per day. Perhaps there could be a function where if your post is recommended by 5 people you "gain" an extra post? Obviously, this is a fairly draconian step, but it is the only way I can see to encourage considered responses. In my experience, most of the more enjoyable posts to read are from those that don't post with a greater frequency than that in any event. Just out of interest, do the forums of other clubs experience similar problems? I occasionally visit an opposition forum to gauge their reaction to our performance and I must say I haven't noticed such hostility or continual provocation.

Stats indicate that a significant factor in the outcome will be how well we defend their set-plays. 37% of their home goals have been scored via this route whereas 35% of our away goals conceded are from set pieces (both high relatively). http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615218/Show/England-Premier-League-2012-2013-Norwich-Southampton If we defend well I think we will win, but you could say that about so many games this season. We certainly have goals in us away from home and have scored more away than Norwich have scored at home. Our away form and their home form over the last 6 games are identical (W-1, D-3, L-2). http://www.kickoff.co.uk/3828/norwich-v-southampton-prowess-from-corners-could-see-norwich-avoid-defeat/ I also think Tettey is quite a big loss for them given central midfield is our strongest area in my opinion. If we can dominate Johnson and Howson we have a good platform for a decent result. A game without a conspicuous individual error (or succession thereof) would be welcome as well of course.

For all the hatred and bile aimed at Fox, I thought Shaw was very poor when he came on, both going forward and defending, and it was his fault for the second goal, not Yoshida.

Nicola drives an orange Lamborghini with an Italian plate. True story.

Has anybody heard a whisper of anything involving us? Surely there must be something doing the rounds on twitter. I thought there was a certain implication of a signing from Pochettino last night.

http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/371637

Game in doubt? http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/371570/Saints-bubble-is-burst-by-freeze/

Anyone got an idea of a reliable place to watch this? Thanks. COYR

Interesting one! http://www.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=102626 CdS - 12 million for Cou : Southampton tries 01/06/2013 10:51 by Mario Garau Twitter: @ MarioGarau article read 1973 times Source: Corriere dello Sport Photo © Giuseppe Celeste / Image Sport Southampton comes forward to Philippe Coutinho . According to the Corriere dello Sport , the English club would have advanced an offer of 12 million Inter to make sure the young Brazilian playmaker. The club Gaston Ramirez joins the interest shown dall'Aston Villa. However, Coutinho of Inter tip us so much, even if faced with a genuinely important hardly shut up the doors.

Brighton only pay 30% of his wages and Mancini described him as the least motivated professional player he'd ever experienced. I think that says it all.

Congratulations mate

http://www.areanapoli.it/calciomercato/di-marzio-astori-southampton-tutt-altro-che-fatta-c-e-l-interesse-ma-trattativa-difficile_82538.html Di Marzio: "Astori-Southampton, far from it. There is interest, but difficult negotiations" Cagliari in red, there is also the name of Davide Astori among the possible starters. Many teams have approached the defender, among them there is also a Southampton, which has already caught in Italy with Gaston Ramirez. The interest of the English club is real, Astori really like the Premier. However, there are few chances that the deal will go through, it is a difficult negotiation. Source: gianlucadimarzio.com

Statistical preview http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615095/Preview/?

Guly did the exact job he was brought on to do in that he maintained possession in the final third. Did Reading have any chances from open play when he was on the pitch? Anyone booing him at that stage of such an important game is brain dead and has no place supporting Saints in my opinion.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1434283-5-signs-that-southampton-are-on-the-right-track-to-safety#/articles/1434283-5-signs-that-southampton-are-on-the-right-track-to-safety http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615067/Preview/

It should be remembered that his individual ability is largely secondary to how he fits into the back 4(5) as a unit. As someone has pointed out we have conceded 3 goals in the last 4 games, all of which were goalkeeping errors (although Yoshida was partly responsible for the Swansea goal). Accordingly, it could be argued that we'd have a couple more clean sheets without those errors. This suggests that as a unit the back four are reasonably solid, without being tested against the division's best attacking threats. However, it is fair to say they have been tested against a variety of threats in terms of pace (Dyer, Ba, both Cisses), power (Holt, Ba) and guile (Michu, Hernandez, Taarabt). In terms of the unit Yoshida is a pretty good fit it seems (he's more mobile than Fonte, but not as strong). Individually, he has done reasonably well although was not as good last night as he was against QPR and Newcastle, but won a fair number of headers against Holt and for the most part was composed and positionally sound. Where the centre backs have a quick full back on both sides you notice they are more comfortable asserting themselves which they have done reasonably well of late. If this back four can stay together there is no reason why they shouldn't continue to improve particularly with the addition of a keeper they can rely on. For Yoshida himself, at best you would hope he could develop into a defender of the type (and ilk!) of Jagielka. He shows signs of reading the game well.

I think this has been on here before, but it's a good read (http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=977124): "Lunchtime With `Arry Redknapp... Posted 22/01/09 12:23 EmailPrintSave I'll never understand women. Some of them don't even bother with the golf. I've got up this morning and her indoors has left a note saying she's gone up the shops and I'd better have made the lunch by the time she gets back or else. She says she wants spaghetti bolognaise. Opened up the fridge. Jesus Christ, have you seen what she's left me with? I'm down to the bare bones and no mistake. There's spaghetti, a tub of pasta sauce, some minced beef, fresh herbs, some parmesan cheese, a bottle of Baron Philippe de Rothschild Opus One Napa Valley 1987 red wine and Claudia Roden's 'Simple Mediterranean Cookery' book! Bloody amateur hour, I'm telling you. How the hell am I supposed to make spaghetti bolognaise with that little lot? I thought there'd be some top, top ingredients in there. Whoever's bought that from the supermarket should be ashamed of themself. It's a mish-mash of lopsided ingredients. The whole recipe has been badly constructed. It's scary, I'm telling you. I'm just standing there swearing and muttering to meself when the phone rings. It's Jeff Powell phoning up to say how brilliant I am and that I'm one of the best cooks of my time and that I could have cooked for England. I have to cut him off though because I've got Brian Woolnough on the other line saying I'm one of the kitchen's great characters and it's a bloody miracle how many meals I've made out of literally nothing. They're saying I'm like a Cockney Jesus, the way I've managed to feed the five thousand with the tiny amount I've had to spend in the supermarket and just my wheeler-dealer know-how. I need some better ingredients and fast. When I saw the wife come home from the shops yesterday with some spaghetti, a tub of pasta sauce, some minced beef, fresh herbs, some parmesan cheese, a bottle of Baron Philippe de Rothschild Opus One Napa Valley 1987 red wine and Claudia Roden's 'Simple Mediterranean Cookery' book, I had no idea that's what would be in the fridge when she asked me to make spaghetti bolognaise. It's a hard job I've got on here this lunchtime believe me. If I can even get anything into a pan it'll be a massive achievement and I know Jeff and Woolly would agree with me. Trouble is the wife can't take criticism. Too precious these days, women. That's the trouble. I'm short of people with the right character in this house. When you're as stretched as I am, a lunch is a massive distraction from the really important meal: dinner. I think I'm just going to have to serve up the pot of pasta sauce with some tap water and just hope for the best. If I can pull this mess round it'll be amazing really."

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/statszone/archive/2012/11/09/the-silky-playmaker-who-could-save-or-sink-his-side-s-season.aspx