chuz

Personally I'm not a big fan of the way a comment made by Ralph after the Man City game has become indisputable fact that Bednarek didn't want to play (and that's not aimed at you @Appy but it seems to have become an accepted view that Bednarek was reluctant to play for us... I read the situation as Ralph didn't think Bednarek would give 100 percent in the game and decided to drop him. We only ever heard from Ralph that: "He [Bednarek] is ok. He has a big game for Poland next week and it seems to me that he is not 100 per cent with his mind for us here today, so I didn't want to take a risk that perhaps in some moments he didn't want to take the last step to hurt himself. We need everyone in this game." Personally I'm not a big fan of managers throwing players under the bus like this and I would have hoped Ralph had learned from doing so with McCarthy earlier in the season, which I believe he said he regretted later. Bednarek has (again) to the best of my knowledge never mentioned this but perhaps wasn't especially pleased to be singled out for criticism in a game he didn't play in.

This was a good one - although not an away game.... https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-portsmouth-07-january-1996-217153/

I'm not going to give a specific address but not true...Shawford SO21

Going back to the original question, I went to Hurghada (just before COVID kicked off big time) in February 2019. I found it all a bit soulless, with just an all inclusive hotel (which was nice but very boring after a few days). It was dark by 4.30 at that time of year. Nice to get some winter sum but won't be returning any time soon. I'm not sure how many Russians were there but they had Saints on TV...

Just been called up to England squad...

Top stuff. Thanks v much!!

My son paid for the United game from credit accumulated from ST refunds during COVID (he's no longer a STH as now at Uni). Still no refund even though it's surely easier to refund to a Saints ticketing account rather than a debit card. Also there's now no record of him attending the game on his history, so wonder if we will ever get the refund... Talking of attendance history, I cannot find in my account where the number of away games I've accumulate is. That would be handy as I'm keen to get a ticket for Chelsea...anyone know where to find it?

I was stood by the turnstiles for a while before the game. The issue in the Itchen was paper tickets - pretty much every other one would not scan. Season tickets were fine, at least where I was....

On 30th July, the club put out this statement about investing £2.5 million in stadium enhancements https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-07-30/southampton-fc-announces-st-marys-improvements It included the line: "To help enhance the concourse experience even further there will be a full refurbishment of the kiosks with the installation of new point of sale technology and an increase in till points by over 20% to help reduce queue times, as well as new digital signage throughout to help direct fans to less busy outlets." I thought these improvements might be done before the season started, but yesterday in the Itchen was the worst queues for food and drink I've experienced in 20 years at St Mary's (except when they gave everyone a free pint). There were two people serving across six pay points in the bar area. Normally I get a pint in the ground with mates before the game but didn't bother yesterday because of the huge queues. Not sure if that was true across the entire stadium, but surely its yet another revenue opportunity missed? I also understand that the half time beer tokens have been stopped? Curious whether this was specific for the Itchen or across the entire ground...

This and the constant refrain that we have such 'brilliant management'...Such as the reference in the Telegraph article on selling Ings about what a great job Semmens has done. The management should invest the same effort in running the club as they do in their own PR via The Telegraph...

Prowsey rested as a "precaution" https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/james-ward-prowse-rested-england-140943369.html

Southampton v Fulham, 1976. George Best sent off for Fulham (was it the first use of the red card ever or have I made that up...?) On my Dad's shoulders the whole game under the East Stand...

Its a decent recipe that one. The important thing being not to add sugar until you tasted the finished product and found out how much you need to add... Lots of people brew with the sugar it which in my view is a mistake as it doesn't need much, if any

Insane year for Sloes this year. We were picking ripe ones at the end of August. Still plenty around near us but with 3 litres of Slow Gin now brewing not sure how much more we can make... Anyone else experienced this bumper harvest?

The point is surely that, of those we signed that were first choices at other clubs, only one (Long) was a playing in the same division as us at the time...and we paid a significant premium to procure him. My issue is not necessarily that we sell players - we always have - it is that too many players have been sold to competitors in the same league. I accept that you cannot stop players wanting to go to Manchester United or City but it is pretty unprecedented for a club to sell five players over the course of three summers to one club in the same division. Still it has not worked out too badly so far I guess. I would be much happier to sell VVD to PSG, Barca or Real than United, City or Chelsea.

La Pindea might be an option depending on how much you want to spend. Long way from Madrid mind...

The one that does my head in is when a team "sets their stall out". I can just see Luis Van Gaal's millionaires neatly laying their tables in order to ensure early dominance of possession...

Good for you mate. These pop stars don't know they are born. That Nick Kershaw pushed in front of me at the Costa queue this morning and got a right good ear bashing for his troubles

Spending the next two days at Gleneagles - got lucky in the ballot!

I don't know what the take up is with the exec boxes but I do know that as a business we used to spend some money with Saints every year. Not huge amounts but significant enough (hospitality, the odd exec box, sponsorship of players etc). When we got promoted to the Premier League I got a call from someone in the Saints marketing/sponsorship department to tell me that everything was changing now we were a Premier League club and that he would be calling me back in a month or so to offer a bespoke package for the coming season. I never received a follow up call. Now, like I say we were not spending huge amounts as a business but it was five figures. In player wages terms it is a drop in the ocean but since then the business has not spent any money at all with the club, despite being happy to do so in the past and future. We just don't get called any more to see if we want to spend...

I don't know what the take up is with the exec boxes but I do know that as a business we used to spend some money with Saints every year. Not huge amounts but significant enough (hospitality, the odd exec box, sponsorship of players etc). When we got promoted to the Premier League I got a call from someone in the Saints marketing/sponsorship department to tell me that everything was changing now we were a Premier League club and that he would be calling me back in a month or so to offer a bespoke package for the coming season. I never received a follow up call. Now, like I say we were not spending huge amounts as a business but it was five figures. In player wages terms it is a drop in the ocean but since then the business has not spent any money at all with the club, despite being happy to do so in the past and future. We just don't get called any more to see if we want to spend...

http://uokhun.tumblr.com/

Avoid week commencing 25th Feb. Mobile World Congress is on and there will be around 60,000 mobile phone people in the City. Flights and hotels massively expensive and more pick pockets than usual. Oh and Samsung adverts everywhere...

Sorry, did not see this question..I was getting around 40mpg off the 1.9TDI. It was also one of the most efficient cars to have as a company car. Don't have it anymore because I run my own business now but seriously thinking about getting another one...

I had a 9-3 diesel as a company car from 2006-7. Very comfy and most popular car I have had for some time with the family. Only two issues with it 1. As Hutch says above, there is a good second or so delay after putting your toe down till anything happens on the turbo. When it does, it really does. Takes a bit of getting used to but you master it after a while. 2. I lost 4 tyres to blow outs over 12 months. Any pot hole seemed to kill a tyre. I thought it must just be me but another driver that I spoke to had the same problem. Other than that, never had a problem...