Cumbria Saint

There must be a way to get him more publicity...and more money. £5s and £10s are great but surely there must be some Premier players who could manage £1,000 or more? He's still a long way off that £1m target but can you think of a more deserving cause of a more amazing man? His mental strength is incredible and deserving of every penny he raises. Having completed the Comrades Marathon back in 1984 I'm humbled by his achievement.

I took both my daughters when they were much younger than yours straight into the Northam. They were told 'anything you here today stays in here'. At home they were taught to sign 'we prefer not to associate with Pompey'! They loved it and now years later they are still avid Saints fans.

Although things look pretty bleak at present I'm not as downhearted as some here on the forum. We do have players capable of keeping us up and we have played some good stuff from time to time. A lucky, rather than unlucky, break somewhere along the line and confidence could well rebound. The other factor that is now potentially an advantage to us is the small number of points separating over half the teams. Look at what a win for Bournemouth has done for their league position today. If yesterday's 'goal' had been disallowed we would have been almost mid table. Keep the faith!

Does anyone know the score? Someone must know someone who is at St Marys.

I doubt whether it would make much difference in practice unless it increased capacity. Around 20% already stand, mainly in The Northam, and I can't see that percentage increasing if standing became 'official'. In fact it might even have the opposite effect with more rigorous patrolling of the non-standing areas resulting in fewer standing place overall. That would be a shame. At 62 I still much prefer the atmosphere when standing. For some reason it feels as though I am helping to create the excitement of the day rather than simply sitting down being 'entertained' at another 'sporting experience'. But each to his own.

A few of them mentioned here... https://phildouch.bandcamp.com/track/frightening-the-hard-men

A good evening and a few good chants.... 'Rickie Lambert, he wants to come home". "Jason Puncheon, he's gone fir a sh*t" when he was substituted. He then threw a bog roll into the crowd. "Richard Chaplow, he looks like my bum". "Sh*t refs, we always get sh*t refs" when Rickie was given offside. Plus the old favourites for Lee Barnard, Mattie and Rickie. Thanks for a great night and ten great years KD.

Well well. And there was me thinking I had started a vaguely interesting thread about how Saints nurture and improve their players. At the last count precisely 4 of the 40 replies have anything at all to do with nurturing players. They make some interesting points as do a few about nurturing our managers. The remaining posts though are just a load of point scoring b*ll*cks. What a waste of time

It seems to me that one of Saints strengths that it not often mentioned is the fact that once we sign someone we actually make them into better players. I'm not sure this is true so much for most of the other teams in the top half of the league? They seem to buy a player because he is already good and then expect him to perform the same way for them. In the current team I think you can say that Clasie, Cedric, Long and Romeu at least have all developed into better players during their time with Saints. Perhaps that is just due to them taking time to settle in but I think it is more than that, they have actually been coached to be better. It's not true for all our signings of course but I reckon we are better at it than most. I guess this links in with Ralph's message that we don't just buy success we breed it. In turn of course this means these players eventually leave for higher transfer fees, further helping to recruit new, improvable talent.

I still listen. We are anchored on our old sailing boat in a bay in Grenada, West Indies. Poor internet connection allows only audio, not video. It's a lifeline for me.

Whispering Dave so quiet today I can't hear him at all! Anyone else having problem audio commentary?

Ralph must have had plenty of job offers after his gold medal work with the Canadian ice hockey team. I just can't see he would have come to Saints merely to balance the books and consolidate. We may spend less transfer cash than in previous seasons but I believe he is looking to move us to whatever level we can reasonably achieve and that must surely be upwards next season. I predict one or possibly two positions higher than this season.

Brought up a Saint from aged 4 in Southampton. Now living on our old steel sailing yacht currently in Kas Marina, southern Turkey. Thank goodness for 3G Turkcell coverage. Planning to cross the Atlantic to join Caribbean Saints this time next year.

Thanks Bearsy. I knew I could rely on you!

Thanks Bearsy. I knew I could rely on you!

Anyone have a feed that works outside the UK? I'm in Turkey and ITV is blocked here.

I was in a small town in Turkey recently and got talking to a guy in the market about football. As usual he asked me if I supported Man Utd. When I told him "No, Southampton" he said "Ah yes, Ramirez, and Wanyama from Celtic", so I can confirm the global brand is building over there.

Just been into Riley's Sports Bar off Shirley High Street. They have a sign outside saying they show all Saints games and the guy on the door confirmed they will be showing the West Brom game there. Beer £1.99 a pint. You have to 'join' their club but that costs nothing and can be done on arrival on the day apparently. The membership lasts 1 year. I'll be there with my brother. John (Cumbria Saint)

This? If I read it right then 13th is most likely for Saints. Not far from my pre season prediction of 14th. http://www.sportsclubstats.com/England/Premier.html

My 'pay as you arrive' ticket was right down the front on the right so that's where I was first half and I thought the general atmosphere was poor. So, second half I moved back and into the middle and it was completely different. I really think it depends on just exactly where you happen to be, especially when the turn out is as large as today's was. Around me for the second half the atmosphere was electric and the singing pretty well non stop even before the first goal went in.

I rang Wigan today. They told me we WOULD be able to buy on the day for the Saints end.

I rang Wigan today. They said you CAN buy on the day.

Sorry guys. First response was on Saintslist so that's where it goes. thornhill_saints I will contact you if it all falls through. Thanks for your interest. John (Cumbria Saint)

I've been clearing out 25 years worth of accumulated possessions including the cupboard holding my old Saints memorabilia. I have available for free: 1974-2004 - over 70 Away Programmes, around 20 Home Programmes including Matt le Tiss Testimonial FA Cup Final (Arsenal) Echo "Echoes of a Century" momento publication Nottingham Forest Football League Cup Final Terry Paine Testimonial Ted Bates Testimonial (1974 – 10p)! Centenary Match Programme Last League Game at the Dell Saints red and white striped scarf - as good as new Page of Saints signatures (including Matt, Dodd, Dave Jones, Williams, Ostenstad) If anyone in Southampton would like them all (not just a few) let me know and I can deliver them when I am down in Southampton next week. They might make a good present for a budding young hagiologist or as a prize in a Saints related competition. John (Cumbria Saint)

Ticket now gone. John