Gordon Mockles

I had no idea and didn't even know Malcolm was ill until I stumbled across this thread. Really sad. I had kept in touch with Malc over the years and used to work with him so I saw him regularly and we always talked Saints all day but we lost touch in recent years. Very sad to learn of his passing. In fact, last time I saw him in a football capacity was at MK Dons away when I moaned about not being able to sit on the comfy, padded seats and he liked standing up for the match. Something we totally disagreed on. We disagreed on a lot and used to deliberately wind one another up but always in good spirit. Sadly missed.

I made a comment about a little boy poking his finger in a dyke in our canteen as my boss came in today funnily enough - regarding this Dutch saga - & she just smirked & said "I'm not getting involved. I don't want to know". Some people have twisted minds!! ;o)

Do you think the litigious nature of your threat against Atletico a by-product of the Cortese era except the current management are less ruthless at carrying out such threats? Also, do you think this idol threat cemented Atletico dealing with the parasitic Tottenham/Levy over Southampton, therefore the plan back firing? I feel Spurs were favoured due to upfront fees & less faffing around combined with Toby's desire to earn a larger wage.

Also, meant to add the club (SFC) may be using their heads and threatening legal action to get the deal over the line. They have a point and if AM are threatened with legal action and potentially losing out of even more money, or accepting a fair deal slightly less than Spurs, then maybe that will be enough to avoid being stitched by the snakes at White Hart Lane and that t*sser Levy. Just a thought. All is fair in football as all the big clubs use shady tactics (allegedly) and even Spurs so Saints need to play hardball to compete. Do laugh that people bring up the tapping up which does happen and should be investigated but the tabloids and the FA avoid it. They didn't side step it when they big clubs like United complained but money does have power eh?! Double standards.

I detest Spurs with every living pore. Never done us any favours whatsoever, not to mention the arrogant (talk like we're a big, top 4 club) mentality and general tw*tness of a significant part of their fan base. Stitched us thanks to that equally arrogant idiot Lowe with Tommy Forecast, wrote off Bale's sell on clause as part of that (unbelievable stupidity and naivety even when desperate), pinched our head scout, pinched MoPo the disingenuous lego head, made a derisory offer for Morgan so we believe and I know they think they're bigger and more attractive (in their heads) club and it's the way they go about their business which bugs me most. Way they were trying to tap up Jay Rod and countless others but Liverpool and the England set-up allegedly do that. Numerous more factors but I truly detest Spurs, always like vultures, picking off a carcass only we are far from dying, we are going from strength to strength, we are looking to surpass them and we have a strong squad which they openly show they want to destabilise and grind down, less competition. That's sport. No issue with competition but I just hate the way they go about it. Esp. Levy who has sniffed around and seen this legal issue and attempted to fly out to Spain to hijack the deal to weaken us and strengthen them. I absolutely hope he comes unstuck, trigger happy, helm(et) of the cocky cockney muppets! Wonder if Toby will sign purely as Spuds seem to think they're so attractive and stable purely based on playing alongside a team mate? Who knows. A fairly weak brag. Maybe there is the attraction of London (although Seven sisters is hardly Nirvana but St Mary's isn't Mecca either!) but he loved his time with us and we are certainly a more attractive club if you are a sentient, level headed being. Who knows?! Football has imploded. Look at Stirling. Money has sabotaged the game. Let's hope this gets resolved quickly, for everyone's sake. In the mean time, Jordi Clasie please. Then I won't feel so sad for losing Morgan.

I don't know but certain media types seem extremely uncomfortable with our current success. Any large sport or business will always be influenced by the money and power of the main players, as is our economy by the banking heavy weights (despite all the current reassurances/prevaricating of banking and loan safeguards spouted in the news). Why not let those detractors like Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail and the Sunday supplement on Sky hear your views. Neil seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Saints so I am sure he'd love to hear from you on Twitter or other outlets since he seems so keen to share his misguided opinion. https://twitter.com/neilashton_ https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/neil-ashton/5b/275/a67 Or, contact the Neil or The Daily Mail itself: Neil - n.ashton@dailymail.co.uk Editorial News and features - 020 7938 6000 / news@dailymail.co.uk Send letters to the Editor at letters@dailymail.co.uk The Daily Mail is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). If you wish to report any concerns over accuracy, please email corrections@dailymail.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/readerseditor or write to Readers’ Editor, Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-1227210/Contact-Us.html#ixzz3IrKKPpn5 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

How can you tell when an agent is lying? His lips are moving. ;o)

Whilst I would absolutely love Clasie to come here, I see Clasie got stretchered off last night against Beskitas according to my Dutch counterparts. Damn! Seems Forster is on the way though although heard not mention of Van Dijk but that doesn't mean a great deal. Here's hoping this becomes an even better week. Rojo and Forster alone would represent very good business. Definitely need another striker or attacking options though.

Clasie to replace Morgan but they're lining up the replacement this time? Perhaps not as that would destroy that little faith anyone has in Krueger. Now, the Rojo chatter has me most excited. Him & another CB like Van Dijk or Vlaar would truly bolster our currently weak defence. We need to start the season with quality, not the old League One defence. I hear a lot of talk about Ings but what are the chances of this happening?! I hope so. I can't believe people are questioning the addition of Clasie. He's absolutely top drawer & would be superb in this league. He's hardly a Svensson. Much grittier & direct & is like Morgan on acid. Clearly, if he did come in, he'd surely be above Cork, Davis & possibly Morgan or competition for places with MS If the Frenchman has motivational problems post his hissy fit. I would feel sorry for Cork who has serves us well but Clasie would be a step up from anyone in our midfield, excluding Morgan but he's much more direct & forward pushing than Morgan. The boy is mustard. United don't look to sign muppets. I don't believe we'd get him but what an incredible signing he would be. Be sure of that. Then ship out the fringe player he'd replace.

Celtic lost. I am beginning to hear a lot of noise & I am finally feeling somewhat confident. It's been a turbulent time which the board have not helped but if they pull off half of these signings, I will be ecstatic. Esp. Rojo or the outstanding Clasie. Even if we make him our marquee, top player, he represents good business & one good season, his value will double for the vultures. Hopefully we have learnt how better to fend them off next time. If we want to. We will get some good perms in by next week. I am confident. Rojo, Clasie, Van Dijk, Forster...maybe even Ings. That'd be incredible. Clasie or Rojo the real marquee signings. Clasie one of the best signings we are ever likely to make. Young & hot, HOT property. Him & Morgan would boss the park if they were to be played in unison with Tadic & Pelle (later Jay Rod) feeding off em. We would have one solid, much improved squad & pundits will go full u turn in praising what astute, intelligent transfer activity we completed. Odds tumbling for Clasie. Please be more than logical conjecture. http://soccersweep.com/southamtpn-favourites-to-sign-clasie/

He'll be gone in January & I'm likely reaching the end of my tether with football. It's broken & I don't think it can be fixed. Sad times.

Yes, Adam scored some good goals but he's never had a particular hard or powerful shot. They've clearly worked & coached on this point but he still has an inherently weak shot. He's certainly not irreplaceable & his stamina not ideal. I am also aware of his strengths & creativity but I think he has peaked with a team built around him & I truly don't think he'll set the world alight or have the same complimentary elements which Saints lent to the disingenuous fool. As for trolls, lots of it but that comment was so ridiculous, I had to post some riposte. Back on topic, I hope we sign one of Marshall (who was outstanding last season) or Forster & acquire Vlaar. We have the money, just get him in. Time is precious. I think RoKo will favour some width & pace in either the fullback (left) or midfield roles. Do people, perhaps Dutch fans, know if Tadic played out wide or centrally & which position suited him better?

Wow! What a myopic, harsh, discourteous & deluded view you have on Lambert, a true Saints legend. I'd hate to see how you spoke on your enemies. "Lambert was garbage, finished?!" You would think he scored no goals or had any assists in your dystopian world. That's why Liverpool bought him eh? Tadic a step down? What helped shape this sweeping assumption? Lallana is not that special & some forget his p*ss weak shot & lack of power mixed with questionable stamina to last 90+ mins. Looking at Tadic stats, I was hoping he may be a very shrewd bit of business & a cheaper upgrade but who knows how he will adapt but I am quietly confident. Dutch friends speak very highly of him indeed. First based fan opinion rather than media or agent agenda drivel. Clearly not a view you share but other opinions are clearly available. You don't think Pelle looks anything special?! Have you seen him in many competitive games then? Wow! Giving him a chance then although, according to your logic system, he's an apparent upgrade on our previous, "garbage" consecutive top scorer, 100% penalty taking record striker with a strong free kick, powerful shot, great assist record & hold up play, strong as an Ox in the box & good in the air who was instrumental in 3 promotions. I don't know how Koeman will manage to attract the calibre of player you fawn for &, if he did, would you even notice them playing well?! :/

Wow! What a myopic, harsh, discourteous & deluded view you have on Lambert, a true Saints legend. I'd hate to see how you spoke on your enemies. Lambert was garbage, finished. You would think he scored no goals or had why assists in your dystopian world. That's why Liverpool bought him eh? Tadic a step down? Lallana is not that special & some forget his p*ss weak shot & lack of power mixed with questionable stamina to last 90+ mins. Looking at Tadic stats, I was hoping he may be a very shrewd bit of business & a cheaper upgrade but who knows how he will adapt but I am quietly confident. Clearly not a view you share but other opinions are clearly avsilable. You don't think Pelle looks anything special?! Have you seen him in many competitive games then? Wow! Giving him a chance then although, according to your logic system, he's an apparent upgrade on our previous, "garbage" consecutive top scorer, 100% penalty taking record striker with a strong free kick, powerful shot, great assist record & hold up play, strong as an Ox in the box & good in the air who was instrumental in 3 promotions. I don't know how Koeman will manage to attract the calibre of player you fawn for &, if he did, would you even notice them playing well?! :/

Agreed. Don't understand the scepticism. Marshall is a very talented keeper and made some outstanding saves for a struggling Cardiff team. Still, at least our Scouts recognise that. Forster also good but I haven't seen enough of the latter to give a fair comparison.

I meant it WOULD fly off the rails!!

That's awesome. I have not been alone in desperately wanting a rank xerox style (this style) kit for a long time & it won't fly off the rails if they sanctioned this kit. Love it! I'd even buy my son a new kit.

It's easy to knock transfers with hindsight. No-one gets it right all of the time. Man United & Spurs have bought plenty of duds! Lots of factors dictate how a player adapts to a club.

Best news I've heard all day.

Not having much luck are we. Suspected altercation with another player. Oh dear.

Really liking that strong statement of intent & it seems she may have not agreed with Cortese's ruthless & contemptuous manner with people judging by some choice but subtle words. Particularly liking the heritage & tradition comments & the open communication. She must know the fans wanted to hear that & it's warming to read. That's the one thing we missed so could we now potentially have the dream set up? Only time will tell. I am confident she won't appoint muppets. Onwards and upwards. The only thing missing was talk of transfer funds. Well done Katharina.

3 key points. Ambition. Competence. Cortese was also able to secure financial investment with investors whom had faith in him. The most key factor, ambition & trying to keep our protégés as we succeeded with Lallana. We are no longer a feeder club & academy farm, selling any player that hits form. We also make ambitious, wise appointments. Unlike the past jokers.

Don't! So depressing to think about that. The dark lord "L" (can't even stand to type his name, I despise him that much for what he did) was so astute, just like his livestock buying prowess. He truly believed he knew best. Maybe we should amplify this news story and put it on his Wiki page although it has a libellous notice and alerts set up so if it is amended, they are quickly changed back and no doubt, alerts set with legal teams. Make of that what you will. Act like a **** and hide behind the law. http://leagueoneminus10.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/tommy-forecast-has-left-building.html Such was the prowess of self-appointed ‘Power Broker’ Rupert Lowe, his purchasing and visionary skills transferred to the cattle market as well as the financial world and the lucrative cash cow of retirement homes and share capital. However, what will probably not receive headline attention, or many column inches for that matter, even in the mediocrity and low level journalism of local rags, is the slipping of the forlorn youth goal keeper - never to make a first team appearance for Saints - Tommy Forecast (known by some as Tommy Fourpast. I won’t explain why). He has now joined Conference South side, Chelmsofrd City. For some, the future may have seemed bright for Tommy Forecast (possibly even Tomas Peckhart) and many must have felt astonishment for his good fortune when Rupert Lowe decided to bring the youth keeper to a flailing and financially troubled Southampton football club. It was worrying the then manager, Nigel Pearson, had recently offered Saints some saving grace by last minute survival followed by instant removal by the returning chairman (more worryingly, replaced by a Dutch duo plucked from sporting obscurity and offering little improvement to the club). However, what was most disturbing was the impact of some of the financial decisions being made at the club back in 2007. Yes, the club were struggling but would you write off a sell on fee of 15% from a clearly talented left back, the current hot topic of the football transfer world, Welsh Wonderkid, Gareth Bale? Even at the time, the majority of Saints fan felt this was a ludicrous decision which seemed to be taken rather casually. Today, the potential transfer of Bale to Real Madrid looks set to break the world record football transfer fee; Spurs are demanding a figure in excess of 100 million pounds. That could mean the Southampton chairman wrote off 11 – 13 million pounds in a few strokes of a fountain pen. It was bad enough Saints attempt at keeping such hot property was only manifested in a poor contract offer and a “we’re really look after you though” comment alleged from Saints. A familiar Saints tactic from the earlier years, poor contract offer, player refuses, club have carte blanche to say the player rejected the contract and have to sell. Feeder club antics. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8848979/southampton-could-miss-out-on-around-11million-if-gareth-bale-is-sold For Forecast, falling from the very top division, right into the doldrums of the conference may have been a shock. Maybe it was not. Maybe he was grateful of a very lengthy contract without even having proved himself. Writing off the Bale sell on clause must have made Forecast chuckle even further. Whatever happened? Forecast was touted for such dizzy heights. An ex football chairman was so convinced of this success, he wrote off a double figure million pound sell on clause in favour of this youth keeper. One word..........WOW!! It’s the most diplomatic term I can use legally.

Loved that kit and the Rank Xerox. Lad somehow got the Denmark kit early and came to school and was the envy of the entire school. I still have the same style kit (Hummel) for Coventry (obviously, sky blue) following their winning the FA Cup win v Spurs, given to me by John Sillet, as well as my Saints shirt, somewhere. Wish I had kept my Admiral kit from the 70s. Wasn't that the Rideout days (Hummel kit) as well as Shearer? Disclaimer: I just liked the CCFC kit when I was a kid, as you do, not merging allegiance elsewhere, before the trolls or perpetual argument seekers pipe up. ;o) Seeing all those other kits makes me realise how much I hate that new kit. Abhorrent. Stupid white, imbalanced neck bit with ridiculous gold motifs.....NO!!! Last season's kit I didn't like but it looks amazing compared to this current aberration. I bought my son the 2011/12 Striped kit (AAP) and that has to be the nicest of the recent kits. Oh well. It'll only last a season. Let's hope we don't win anything so it's stuck in the history books!! ;o)

If this is confirmed, I am hugely disappointed. I thought we were going along the lines of the rank xerox style or at least stripes but this is truly awful. Adidas too. What a let down if this is the shirt & I expect it is.