Crazy Diamond

One cap though, and not so much as a look-in since. I don't think that guarantees him Premier League football next year. This price of £10m being quoted as well - if someone is stupid enough to offer it, they'll get him. I'd be surprised if Wolves turned down something around £6m. I'm not even that convinced by him!

By any chance, did you happen to hear that from someone on Twitter? The same person who later retracted what he had said, when it emerged he'd got Butland and Buttner confused? He started off by saying he'd signed (I say he, I don't know which one he was talking about in the end) and then when asked, said he was wrong, he'd heard they were in talks.

This is a very good point. I'll repeat what I said a while ago - you ask anyone what colours or design Southampton play in. The answer is 'red and white stripes'. For the pedants, they don't say 'red and white pinstripes'. We're known for the proper stripes.

I don't normally do emoticons, but... Again, I agree that some criticism has been OTT. You cannot compare us to what's going on at Cardiff. With them, it's 'have red shirts from now on or we pull the plug'.

Norwich have just got Whittaker.

Turkish is yet to ship them from the warehouse. The red and white wigs were being shipped in from China and were delayed by bad weather.

West Ham fans seem to think they're going to see Del Piero and Seedorf in their team next season. HA.

Then I'm afraid I just can't understand that. If I don't like something, I'm not going to buy it. I didn't buy the 2005/06 shirt as I thought it was horrible. I wore my 84 replica instead that season, that expressed support just as well as any other Southampton shirt could have. That fellow was indeed inferring a link between liking or not liking a shirt and the level of support. I think to buy something you don't like just because it says one thing or another is utter stupidity and blind loyalty. I agree with you there however. That's just insanity.

Well indeed, if you asked someone about Southampton's kit, what would they say? They'd say Southampton play in red and white stripes. Would they say they play in red with white pinstripes? No. As I've just said, okay we've not had a 100% history of red and white stripes, we've even had blue shorts. Fine. But what are we known for? Red and white stripes. I think saying it's like Cardiff's current situation is a bit extreme but at the same time I can see why people are pretty unhappy. I'm not worked up over the kit. I don't like it, I shan't buy it. That's been my stance since it was announced. Mongs questioning levels of support has always annoyed me. I was told last season I was a plastic because I went to Palace away but not Hull. I'm not having it.

Using that fan's logic, if you don't buy the shirt because you don't like it, you're not supporting the team. So if I go to the game at the Etihad not wearing the latest shirt, I'm not supporting the team. Despite being in attendance, having spent money on the ticket, the travel, everything that comes with it. Oh and not to mention when I sing and shout, applaud, all of that, I'm still not supporting the team. I've not got the shirt, I'm not supporting the team. Unlike a minority of our fans, I'm not totally brainless, incapable of free thought. I'm not going to ignore my own taste and the club's tradition (despite what people say, whether we've had blue shorts and not a 100% history of red and white stripes, we are Southampton and we play in red and white stripes, not red with some pinstripes) just because to not buy it is to be seen not to be supporting the team. What a load of absolute b*llocks that statement I quoted is. If someone is willing to call me a lesser fan because I say I don't like the kit, good luck to them. They're completely wrong though and in any case have no right to judge how much of a fan I am anyway.

One of the dumbest statements I've heard so far in defence of the shirt. "You don't by the shirt because you like it, you buy it to support the team"

I know. I thought that we had our club back. I was wrong.

Well that and the fact there's no reason why we would have a say in the kit. I don't think you have to have a fan involved at the club to ensure you get a shirt with red and white stripes. Didn't Gecko Saint do our kits in 06/07? Didn't particularly like them either, so there's no guarantee a fan will get it right either.

You're missing an opportunity here. T-shirts with 'We want our stripes back'. Scarves with 'We are Southampton, we play in white stripes' etc. Come on Turkish, where is your business nous?

It's an interesting question. What was the reaction like when that kit first came out? We view it as a classic now because we've seen Keegan, Ball, Channon etc in it. Before that though...?

I can see the appeal of it for some, in all fairness. Dogs might like it, since they're colourblind. Liverpool fans will love it, when they come to St. Mary's it'll remind them of the good old days.

I tip my cap in your direction, for that recap.

I imagine the Umbro meeting went something like "What haven't we done?" "...Pinstripes?" "Perfect. Dish out some of those for the Swedes n'all"

I was of course joshing, as the kids say. But seriously. We get it, Mr. The9.

Or failing that, tell him to shut up. No one likes a smart arse.

Tom Cruise told me never to namedrop.

The more I see of it, the less effort I think went into it. I realise that won't be a universally popular comment but there it is.

If it's the one I think it is, I've got a superb picture of MLT celebrating a goal with Benali and Jeff Kenna. Doesn't look too bad there, though it's a black and white picture.

I was not a supporter of Southampton at the time, Mr. Kraken. I'm from a rather non-footballing family and my allegiance doesn't go back all that far. The only retro kit that stands out for me is the Air Florida/Rank Xerox strip.